How To Register An Ar15 In California

What is a Characterless Burglarize?

A Featureless Rifle is the term used to depict a semi-automatic rifle that does non have whatever of the following:

A pistol grip that protrudes clearly beneath the action of the weapon
A thumbhole stock
A folding or telescoping stock
A grenade launcher or flare launcher
A flash suppressor
A forward pistol grip

What do Rifles with Features Look Like?

The figure below labels the features a normal AR-15 has that gun owners in gratis states typically have (minus the grenade launcher).

Disclaimer: I'm non a lawyer, this is meant to be helpful information not legal communication.

So even if you accept Simply Ane of these features on your semi-automatic centerfire rifle y'all own what California considers to be an "assault weapon" unless your magazine is fixed. The only mode for Californians to possess these features legally on a semi-automatic centerfire rifle is to either have A) the weapon registered as an "assault weapon" or B) have a fixed magazine which we will discuss later.

Can I All the same Register My Rifle as an Assault Weapon?

Nope. The option to register a rifle as an "assault weapon" in California only applied to guns that were congenital or bought earlier 2017, you so had until July 1 2018 to register with the DOJ. So again, if you lot are new to the AR game you have the pick of either fixing the magazine with some type of magazine lock or going characterless.

How do I know if My Burglarize is Legal?

We ideally don't desire to exist criminals, but the state sure is making things hard. Nevertheless, Calguns.net synthetic an informative flowchart to assistance gun owners make up one's mind if their burglarize is legal. Start at the top left of the chart and answer the questions accordingly.

Here are some definitions to assist understand the chart as defined by 11 CCR § 5469:

The following definitions apply to terms used in the identification of assault weapons pursuant to Penal Lawmaking section 30515:

(a) "Detachable magazine" means any ammunition feeding device that can be removed readily from the firearm with neither disassembly of the firearm action nor use of a tool existence required. A bullet or ammunition cartridge is considered a tool. Ammunition feeding device includes any belted or linked ammunition, simply does not include clips, en bloc clips, or stripper clips that load cartridges into the mag.
(b) "Flash suppressor" means whatever device designed, intended, or that functions to perceptibly reduce or redirect muzzle wink from the shooter's field of vision.
(c) "Forward pistol grip" means a grip that allows for a pistol style grasp forward of the trigger.
(d) "Pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the activeness of the weapon" means a grip that allows for a pistol style grasp in which the spider web of the trigger hand (between the pollex and index finger) tin be placed beneath the peak of the exposed portion of the trigger while firing.
(eastward) "Thumbhole stock" ways a stock with a hole that allows the pollex of the trigger hand to penetrate into or through the stock while firing.

Legal Barrel and Overall Rifle Lengths

California requires the post-obit minimum lengths for your rifle:

sixteen″ minimum barrel length, pinned and welded muzzle devices count for length (meaning you could accept a 14.5″ barrel as long as you accept a permanently attached muzzle device making the overall similar 16″ or more)
30″ minimum overall length for centerfire-semi-automatics (such as AR-15'southward chambered in .223/5.56 NATO), measured with stock in the shorted position the rifle can still fire in
26″ for rimfires and non-semi centerfires; measured with stock in the shorted position the rifle tin can still burn in

So this is helpful, but perhaps y'all want it spelled out a piffling more, I got it. Let'south continue going.

To have a featureless rifle you must, well, remove the features! Let's address each detail and discuss the options.

Featureless Grip and Stock Options

If you have become accustomed to shooting an AR-15 with features in the by, the grip and stock configuration will exist the most drastic change when moving to a featureless rifle. With that said, after you spend plenty of time on the range you volition eventually adapt. Everyone has a preference on what looks the "all-time" but the summit picks below are all swell functioning options.

The Thordsen FRS Stock is an incredibly pop choice for many California shooters. What you are essentially getting with a Thordsen is a conventional burglarize stock for your AR-15. The main advantage over well-nigh other featureless options is ergonomics. It allows for a much more natural feel since your thumb tin wrap around the grip of the firearm which provides more condolement and a sense of control.

The Hera CQR CA Compliant Stock is another choice that many feel is more aesthetic so the Thordsen, of grade this is subjective. At that place is a non-compliant version with a thumbhole and then be sure to purchase the compliant version as shown below. One thing I really like is that information technology has spacers available to adjust the length of pull.

Another option is to apply a fin grip similar the ane below. They are a cheap option that appears to gratify the powers that be in Sacramento. One time installed, your pollex cannot wrap around the grip making it good to go.

Using a "fin grip" and stock-still stock is the cheapest way to convert your AR-fifteen into a characterless burglarize (with compliant muzzle device of course).

California Compliant characterless AR-15 with Monsterman grip

If you do go with fin grip option, be sure to select a non-folding or non-telescoping stock. Many people will accept an adjustable stock and permanently pin it while others prefer to just purchase a fixed stock similar the ones below.

See all AR-15 Fixed Stocks

Peak Compliant Muzzle Brakes

Flash suppressor means any device designed, intended, or that functions to perceptibly reduce or redirect muzzle flash from the shooter'due south field of vision. On the other manus a "cage brake", also know every bit a compensator, is a device continued to the muzzle of a firearm that redirects propellant gases to counter recoil and unwanted rising of the barrel during rapid fire.

For this reason, muzzle brakes are a pop pick for gun owners fifty-fifty where flash hiders are permissible. Some of my favorite muzzle brakes include:

Encounter all Muzzle Brakes

Is Going Featureless the Just Way to Be Compliant?

No! There is some other option that allows you to keep your features (pistol grip, folding/telescoping stock, frontwards grip and wink suppressor) while still being completely legal. This is the fixed or magazine lock pick.

Fixed or Locked Mag Choice

This option allows the use of features on your AR-15 by fixing or locking the x round magazine (or less) in your rifle while the lower is fastened to the upper receiver. This is often done with a device like the Juggernaut Tactical Hellfighter Kit available at Brownells. With a device like this you lot can utilize all the "evil features" described at the beginning of the commodity and still exist legal. This is a dandy choice for those that can't go over the looks of a featureless burglarize.

Come across latest Price on Spotting Scopes

Important Annotation: Every bit mentioned above, the stock-still or locked mag selection requires a x circular magazine (or less). The mag laws in California have been in flux allowing opportunities for CA denizen to legally purchase standard capacity magazines (also improperly known equally "large capacity magazines"). Fixing a legally acquired 30 round magazine to your rifle with features is illegal, don't exercise information technology.

However, using legally acquired 30 round magazines in your featureless rifle is immune. With that said, you still might get hassled for doing so, the option is yours.

Below is a sit-in on the apply of a Juggernaut Tactical AR-xv Hellfighter California-Compliant Modernistic Kit.

DIY AR-15 Fixed Magazine

There is a way to inexpensively ready a x round magazine in your AR-15 assuasive you lot to proceed your features. This configuration requires a loader like the BF-ten seen here. For the fixed install yous will need the following tools:

Drill
vi-32 Drill and Tap Set
3/8″ Set Screw

Step 1: Remove bolt catch and magazine catch from your lower receiver (for lower receiver associates/disassembly bank check my article here).

Step 2: Drill pigsty for 6-32 tap through the top of your receiver at the terminate of the bolt catch groove like shown beneath.

Step iii: Thread hole with 6-32 tap.

Step 4: Reinstall magazine grab and then install your 10 round mag yous want to fix in place.

Step 5: Thread 6-32 set screw (3/8″ long) into hole so that it is tight confronting the mag catch.

Step vi: Reinstall bolt catch. That'southward it!

Merely brand certain you have the set screw tight and then that the magazine won't release even with lots of force. The dainty thing nearly this option is that it is hands removable if traveling to other states. Again for this option, yous will want a loader like the BF-10.

Helpful Additions to Characterless Rifles

Several of the grip and stock options higher up keep the thumb of your trigger paw in an unusual position and tin can make information technology more hard to select the safety. There two items I recommend to address these issues. The get-go is a thumb rest made by Juggernaut Tactical. It replaces the rear takedown pin and provides a comfortable position to balance your thumb.

The second item we recommend is an ambidextrous safety. If yous're right-handed using a featureless burglarize your trigger hand will non be able to select the safe; you'll have to use the opposite hand. Once you install an ambidextrous-condom y'all can easily select the safety with your trigger hand.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Going Featureless

From a practical perspective, the featureless rifle remains completely usable in the sense that you can reload the rifle in a conventional and timely way without the demand of any tools or disassembly of the lower receiver from the upper receiver. From this perspective using a featureless rifle is a amend pick for self-defence force.

Some people that are critical of the featureless option complain of the aesthetics of the available options. While that may be truthful for some, the overall function of the rifle is more often than not maintained. Some other possible downside of the featureless set up is that the regime could eventually alter the laws once more forcing constabulary-abiding citizens to conform again and again.

Determination

For the fourth dimension existence, going featureless seems to exist the all-time legal configuration when keeping the functionality of the burglarize in heed. We are already seeing several companies keep to innovate and provide new products that expect decent and perform well considering the constraints of the police.

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