AR-15s For California Residents: Pt 1

Estimated reading time: 16 minutes

California is one of the biggest firearms markets in America. It also has some of the strictest Gun Control laws in America. So how do residents adapt, and do they still have access to America’s Rifle, the AR-15, and its clones.

Introduction

The AR-15 and its many versions are considered “America’s Rifle” for a reason.  (Although the true meaning of the abbreviation “AR” stands for “Armalite”, the initial company that built the platform.)  It’s not only the civilian version of the weapon our troops carry into the field. It’s one of the best platforms to learn on once you’ve graduated from rimfire cartridges.  You can learn to shoot the weapon easily and there isn’t much recoil.  Additionally, this gun is a great option for defensive use due to the same reasons, especially for those who may not be able to handle a handgun due to physical restrictions. 

There is no question, that the AR-15 is the top selling rifle in the US.  In 2020, these modern sporting rifles (MSR) made up about 23.4% of all firearms produced in the US. Per the NSSF, there are estimated to be about 20 million (19.8) in circulation in America.  The gun has risen steadily in popularity since the 1990’s when it only made up just over 1% of all weapons made in the US.

So how does this affect California, the nation’s most populous state and which is the number 2 market for firearms in the US.  It’s also the state with a reputation for some of the most stringent firearms laws.  The AR rifle has a very strong following from the citizens here. AR pattern rifles can still be purchased as long as they are configured to avoid California’s legal definition of an “assault weapon”, or what is more correctly referred to as a modern sporting rifle.  Any gun shop will have several to choose from, and they are commonly seen on any public shooting range.

Restricted Residents Have It Hard

For example, Mike Etienne from Turner’s Outdoorsman, our local “big box” store, said Modern Sporting Rifles (MSR’s) like the AR-15 are one of their biggest sellers, making up about 30% of their overall rifle sales.  David Chong, owner of Alpha Omega Sword firearms in El Cajon, CA, estimated he sells around 1 AR for every other rifle sold in his store.  Chong noted that the AR remains the most popular rifle in the United States. 

One should understand however, that the laws here in CA should not be taken lightly.  Compliance allows you to have a semi-auto rifle that comes close to the configuration of any AR in free states. But it is not exact.  Violation of these laws can put a gun owner in jeopardy of prison and losing all gun rights for possession of an unregistered assault weapon.  That’s why Etienne says Turners stays very conservative on their interpretation of the law to keep his customers (and the company) safe from legal jeopardy. In the state, compliance can come down to the kind of grip(s), muzzle device, or stock you put on the gun.  These all matter.

California’s Assault Weapons Law In a Nutshell

It’s well known that California has an Assault Weapon Ban (AWB) and has had a version of one since 1989. The state bans assault weapons as defined by California law. They are presumptively illegal in the state except for law enforcement or military use.  However, ones owned prior to when they started the ban in 1999 were able to be registered.  That said, these registered “assault weapons” cannot be sold to other civilians in the state.    

There are three categories of “assault weapons” here.  California bans some semiauto rifles and shotguns. Or guns that are similar to those in the AK/AR families (Categories 1 and 2).  These are completely banned, and there is no way to configure those named versions to get around that.  All other semi auto weapons deemed as “assault weapons” are banned by their features (Category 3). 

What California Considers An “Assault Weapon”

So, according to the state, what is an “assault weapon”?  Today, California defines an “assault rifle” or “assault weapon” as any semi-automatic, centerfire rifle with a detachable magazine that has any of the following:  A pistol grip that extends conspicuously below the action, a thumbhole stock, a folding or extending stock, a flare or grenade launcher, a muzzle flash hider, or a forward pistol grip. The definition also includes any fixed-magazine centerfire rifle that has a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds.

The state later banned an adaptation to the law called “bullet button” rifles as “assault weapons.” These are illegal if not registered with the state as an assault weapon. These were modern sporting rifles (usually a standard-style AR rifle) with a solid piece of metal for a mag button with a hole in it to access the release.  The shooter then had to insert a tool, or bullet, to press the button and eject the magazine.  What happened is some ingenuity ensued, with enterprising inventors creating a magnetic tool that sat in the hole, and became like a more conventional magazine release.

California-Compliant AR-15 Brands and Models

A rifle can meet the state’s requirements to make them “compliant” and not considered “assault weapons” in two ways. Fixed magazine or featureless. 

First, the weapon can be set up so it has a “fixed” magazine that holds no more than 10 rounds.  In this configuration, the weapon can have all the other characteristics most people want such as a pistol grip, flash hider, etc.. However, the magazine must be fixed so it cannot be removed. Unless the rifle is “dissembled” which generally means the upper and lower receiver are “opened” or parted.

The other way to be not be considered and assault weapon is for the rifle to be featureless.  The weapon can then have a detachable magazine (including standard capacity magazines). But it cannot have any of the above mentioned “features”.  It’s also very important to note, that once the rifle is purchased the owner cannot add the prohibited items as that would constitute manufacturing an assault weapon.  These may look goofy to those outside of California, but they do work quite well. 

Multiple Options

Many manufacturers make California compliant AR-models in either compliant style.  Brands such as Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Springfield Armory, Stag Arms, and Sig Sauer provide models for the Golden State.  These guns are modified to meet the requirements of California’s strict Assault Weapons law. They are sold directly from local FFLs. 

An important note, if you travel out of state with your AR for, say a competition, or to go shooting in a more “free” state, you could hypothetically reconfigure the gun to the laws of whatever state you are in.  However, before you cross the border into California, it must be legally reconfigured to California’s laws…period…full stop

Featureless Rifles For California Residents

Smith & Wesson

Many manufacturers make featureless models.  Smith & Wesson made the popular M&P Sport which was built for California compliance. I can’t find it on their website.  I have found their Response 9mm model with a compliant grip and stock with a thread cap for the barrel. They are still available, but you may need to hunt for or order one from your local FFL.

Sig Sauer

The Sig M400 Tread is a popular weapon sold as a featureless rifle that can be found between $1000-$1100.  This was the one I selected.  The weapon has a fixed stock and fin grip with a muzzle break.  The fore end is an aluminum M-Lock setup.  Mine wears a heat resistant wrap because it can get a little toasty while shooting.

Springfield Armory

Springfield Armory sells the Hellion and Saint rifles. All built as featureless rifles with compliant stocks and grips and muzzle breaks.  Colt and LWRC also have rifles made in featureless setups.  These use various configurations of pinned or fixed stocks, muzzle breaks, and mostly fin grips.  These range in costs from $1100-$2200.  There are even California featureless versions of the various versions of the AK, the FN SCAR and Steyr AUG if you feel the need for something other than an AR style rifle.

State Compliant Factory Models

These weapons are ordered from the factory as a state compliant model.  (Stores, and their FFL, must have specific permits to purchase a standard AR from a distributor, then convert it to a featureless modern sporting rifle.)  One local store in eastern San Diego County, Alpha Omega Sword Firearms, builds complaint rifles to customer specifications, as well as stocking several standard compliant builds from major manufacturers.  The owner, David Chong, said he strongly suggests going the featureless route for a defensive rifle due to the ability to use a standard magazine release for reloading and clearing jams, as well as to allow the rifle’s action to operate as it was initially created.  

Benefits and Drawbacks

The benefits of a featureless rifle are that you can use a regular magazine release.  There is no need to do any unusual methods to break the action, or feed the fixed magazine.  It operates like a normal rifle with the caveat that holding it is a little different. The most notable benefit is that if you have any legally owned magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, you can legally use them in your featureless AR. 

Additionally, I found many ranges prefer shooters use rifles with a featureless design.  It comes down to clearing them when there is a malfunction.  In a fixed magazine design, clearing a jam is problematic.  You cannot just pull the mag, which removes the source of ammo and released the pressure on the bolt, allowing you to clear the chamber.  Fixed magazine designs often require disassembly of the rifle to clear the jam, which is potentially dangerous and can end a range session quickly if you cannot do it there.

The downside of the featureless rifle is that it is a little odd in how you may need to hold it – especially in a one-handed manipulation such as charging the gun, depending on how yours is set up.  You also cannot have a traditional forward grip or flash hider…so if those are non-negotiables for you, then you’re better off to look at a fixed magazine. 

Standard Capacity Magazines For California Residents

Speaking of magazines.  People can currently own standard capacity magazines here for their AR’s.  Any magazines purchased before the ban which was enacted in 2000 can still be possessed or used. 

These magazines can currently be used in featureless rifles only, and registered assault weapons.  However, they cannot be used in a fixed magazine rifle, as it would turn the rifle into an “assault weapon” by the state’s definition.  Pistol magazines as well  can still be used in your handgun. 

Proposition 63, a citizen’s initiative passed in 2016 attempted to make possession of a magazine holding more than 10 rounds illegal.  This was meant to force owners of these magazines to remove them from the state, turn them in for destruction, or modify them to hold only 10 rounds or less.  This law was stayed by a federal court and is still in the process of appeals (see below).  Exempt individuals such as law enforcement officers may keep them when retired, but these magazines cannot be transferred except to other currently exempt individuals.

“Freedom Week” Magazines

You may have heard the expression in California “freedom week magazines”.  These are magazines purchased from March 29^th – April 5^th of 2019, under which time the state’s ban on magazines that held more than 10 rounds was ruled unconstitutional by the San Diego based judge known affectionately as “Saint Benitez” in the gun-rights crowd.  Shortly after this the Federal 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals re-instated the ban.   Currently, residents can still posses these magazines and use them in their featureless rifles or in a registered assault weapon.

Another issue with standard capacity magazines in California, is that they cannot be imported into the state.  What this means, is that if a California resident travels out of state with their standard magazine, they cannot re-enter with the magazine because it would be considered “importing”.  Residents are also prohibited from giving, lending, or selling their legally possessed standard or “Large Capacity Magazines” (LCM).  A word to the wise, if you travel outside of the state, do not take those mags out of state…

The above is all pending the outcome of court cases regarding magazine restrictions making their way up to the Supreme Court.  California’s case is Duncan v. Bonta.

Fixed Magazine Guns For California Residents

Three Types For the California Resident

Then there are fixed magazine rifles.  Many people still gravitate towards these so they can have all the standard AR-style features such as stocks, grips, etc..  These shooters believe that these items are more important than the standard magazine release.  Mike Etienne from Turner’s Outdoorsman says customers view the fixed magazine version as the AR as the “purest form” available in California. 

There are generally three versions of fixed magazine systems.  One version forces you to fully break the action open to load the magazine from the top of the lower receiver, while a second allows you to break the rifle’s action just slightly and then use the magazine release to quickly reload that have shown a lot of innovation.  A third version loads the magazine from the side, while it remains fixed in the mag well. 

Stag Arms

Stag Arms, has several CA compliant models that are done as fixed magazine rifles such as their Pursuit model (in both AR-10 ands AR-15 versions).  This rifle comes with all the features you would want on an AR, but comes with a Cross Armory fixed 10-round magazine to make it state compliant.  These come in various calibers in both left and right-handed versions.  As the ones I saw were configured designed, the shooter had to pull the rear pin, and separate the upper from the lower.  They then load the 10-round magazine through the top of open action.  These range from $1100-$1300 from what I could find.

Juggernaut Tactical

Juggernaut Tactical sells multiple version that are configured as a fixed magazine rifle using their Juggernaut Tactical Hellfighter Rear Takedown Pin Assembly.  JT has been a California based company that has worked to find ways to make AR-style rifles compliant.  Per Etienne, he sees more of the Juggernaut Tactical Hellfighter kit sold in the company’s stores.  Daniel Defense sells several models of their excellent AR’s using an AR Maglock in California that use a fixed 10-round magazine.  This is a similar design that allows you to slightly break the action open, then release the magazine. 

CompMag

The other, innovative design by ”CompMag” keeps the 10-round magazine fixed in the rifle.  The shooter then loads the 10-round magazine from a side door, almost reminiscent of older lever action rifles.  Many shooters prefer these as they can be removed easier were an AWB ban to be repealed. 

Affordable California-Compliant AR-15s

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While some exceptional quality California Compliant AR’s can reach the stratosphere on cost, there are many affordable versions sold in California, such as the Smith and Wesson, as well as the Sig M400 Tread.  Stag Arms makes models in the $1000 – $1200 range for California, Palmetto State Armory also sells an affordable California Compliant version. These weapons are made economically and offer reliable weapons that can be had in the $700-$1100 range.  Regardless, there does seem to be a “sunshine tax” on any gun in California due to our legally restricted market and added taxes on firearms.

In Conclusion…

It’s true, the AR platform is alive and well in California.  They may have some tweaks and differences than those in more open states, but the gun community has created an uneasy compromise or adaptations with the state’s mandates and bans.  It gives us options here in the Golden State…and options are good. 

In my next article, we will explore building your own AR in California, which still remains one of the most economical options…again, it’s good to have options.

For resources: California DOJ Assault Weapons Information

California Assault Weapons Guide

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