2. Collecting, Cloning, Competing, Building, Shooting, Using, Hunting
Why the AR-15?
Collecting, Cloning, Competing,
Building, Shooting, Using, Hunting

4. What is the AR-15? The lower receiver – the “other”
Not a rifle, pistol, or shotgun until it is shootable
Sold only to 21 & up by FFLs, 18 private party
If never before assembled as a rifle or shotgun, can start as a pistol

5. The upper receiver Not a firearm (certain exceptions)
Calibers from .17HMR to .50 BMG
Bbl length from 1” to 27” and beyond
16” bbls minimum on rifle receivers (pin & weld)
Direct gas Impingement (DI) or gas piston system
.410 shotgun uppers too

7. The M-16 Full up Title 2 machinegun Registered Receivers (RR)
Registered Lightning Link (RLL)
Registered Drop In Auto Sear (RDIAS)

9. The Colt SP1 & later models
Title 1 semi-auto
Early rifles are now C&R (rolling 50 year line)
Modern and surplus M-16 uppers don’t drop on SP1 lowers without adapter parts
Some later Colt guns have larger diameter trigger & hammer pins
Prices somewhat inflated by continued legality in Connecticut & Massachusetts of pre-’94 lowers and rifles

11. Building Complete lower with stock or arm brace attached
Stripped lower from FFL (pre-bans valuable in MA & CT)
80% lower – requires router & jig or drill press/mill
Machine from aluminum block, plastic or wood
Weld steel flats together
Cast of 2-part epoxy or aluminum

13. M-14 vs M-1A, & US-built FALs
M-14 is a full-automatic military rifle, whether or not the happy switch was installed
M-1A is a Title 1 semi-automatic copy of the original M-14 – what we will call a “clone” today
Most FAL builds on US semi-auto receivers, using original FAL or L1A1 parts – also clones

15. Cloning
Title 1 or 2 firearm that resembles a particular military issue rifle, just like the M-1A
Use surplus upper or new made parts
Some recent factory clones, including Colt and FN
Modern lower, “retro” lower, or 80%
Original M-16A1 parts getting expensive
Competes w/ SP1 for original parts
M-16, XM-16E1, M-16A1, M-16A2, XM-177, M4 and beyond clones...

16. 16” barrels 14.5” and sometimes shorter bbls
Pinned and welded or 1000 degree silver soldered
Legal length, makes it difficult to change out muzzle device
Cheaper than a $200 stamp for 1.5” of barrel

18. Competition Service rifle competition
Must have original “look” of service rifle
Internal steel free-float tubes, lead weights in buttstock
Optics now allowed up to 4.5X magnification

19. Magazines Magpul is the modern standard
Service Rifle requires straight 20 rounders
Pistol calibers mostly use Glock magazines or modified Uzi mags known as Colt pattern
Pistol mags require a mag block inserted in the magwell or a specialized lower for that mag
Pre-’94 mags can still be sold in Massachusetts
Even some specialized AR lowers that take AK mags

21. .17 HMR
.222 Remington
.277 Wolverine
10x25mm Norma
.17 WSM
.223 Remington
.300 Blackout ”
.17 Remington
5.56x45mm
7.62x39mm
.45 ACP
.204 Ruger
.224 Valkyrie
.30 Remington AR
.450 Bushmaster
.22 LR
.22 Nosler
9x19mm Luger
.458 SOCOM
.22 WMR
6.5mm Grendel
.375 SOCOM
.50 Beowulf
5.7x28mm FN
6.8mm SPC
.40 S&W
.50 BMG

22. Hunting .223 adequate for Texas whitetails, banned in some states
6.5mm Grendel, 6.8mm SPC, .300 Blackout, 7.62x39mm popular hunting cartridges
.450 Bushmaster gaining popularity in straight- wall states

24. Pistol Caliber Conversions
Straight blowback, delayed blowback, or Direct Impingement (DI – normal AR gas operation)
Most use a magazine well adapter, or magblock
Some use a dedicated lower
Some use special magazines
Glock and Colt-style (modified Uzi) are most common

26. Pistols and Other Firearms
Any “virgin” AR lower can be built as a pistol
Can convert from pistol to rifle & back, not from rifle to pistol
No “pistol” marking required on lower per ATF
Any buffer tube can be used per ATF
Arm “braces” may be shouldered this week per ATF
No Vertical Forward Grip (VFG) on pistols
Other firearm is at least 26” long, has a Vertical Forward Grip (VFG), and may not be concealed on the person

28. .308, the AR-10, DPMS, etc
.308 length and longer cartridges won’t fit in the length magwell of the AR-15
4x different magazines have been used for ARs; BAR mags have been used for
3 different receiver lengths, and different receiver shapes used; the MILSPEC standardization of the AR-15 not used here
12 ga 2.75” shotgun available that takes DPMS Gen 1 uppers

29. Acknowledgments: Questions?
Turnbull Manufacturing, Double Tap, H&K, AR15.com, Orion’s Hammer, the FAL Files, HenryKnoxFineBooks, Stern Defense, American Tactical, 308AR.com, Trinity Ordnance.
Questions?