Noob to AR15's. What can I build in MD?

[TonyB.]

First off, apologies if there's a thread for this already. I searched and couldn't find my answers.

I became involved in the gun community in 2012 just as prices were starting to get crazy, so I didn't have much interest in AR's. I chose to have fun with unregulated and C&R arms. Now things have settled down a bit and I want to build an AR but have some questions as to what I can legally build in the Republic of Maryland. I think I have a good idea of what's legal but just want confirmation from the pros before I start narrowing down the build list. The goal is for a SHTF/BOG that's relatively lightweight, reliable and chambered in 5.56.

1.) I can still buy a stripped lower as long as it's built into a compliant rifle, right?

2.) Must use an HBAR upper?

3.) What about barrel length?

4.) Can I use a flash hider or compensator?

 

[Vile Shadow]

1.) I can still buy a stripped lower as long as it's built into a compliant rifle, right?

Yes, or an SBR if you want to go that route.

2.) Must use an HBAR upper?

Well, you must use a heavy barrel, but any upper is fine.

The barrel profile is the key.

3.) What about barrel length?

16" minimum, unless your muzzle device is pinned and welded. If so, then your muzzle device counts as barrel length.

4.) Can I use a flash hider or compensator?

Obviously AR's don't have folding stocks, so either one is okay.

 

[MKR03]

SBR or AR pistol, barrel contour is irrelevant. Non-NFA rifle with a stock must be an HBAR. What constitutes an HBAR? Don't ask me. Don't even bother asking MSP for that matter.

ETA: If you go the SBR route, make sure OAL is >29". For a pistol, barrel length/OAL is irrelevant.

 

[TheRealJimDavis]

Are they still doing the 77r on the lowers, or are they C&C now?

 

[MKR03]

Still need the 77R.

 

[Boom Boom]

77R as Other. 7-day wait. No HQL.

 

[TheRealJimDavis]

Lol. Love it. No hql so it's not a pistol. But 77r cause it's not a rifle.

 

[Boom Boom]

Yep. Stupid defined.

 

[TonyB.]

Excellent info, thank you. Now to start a shopping list and try to hide the toys from the wife.

 

[Tomcat7810]

So you can still buy a lower in maryland even after the ban? What happen with that? Looked for a thread, couldn't find one, someone point me to the new information on this rule.

 

[Vile Shadow]

So you can still buy a lower in maryland even after the ban? What happen with that? Looked for a thread, couldn't find one, someone point me to the new information on this rule.

You can buy lowers again because it can still be built into a legal configuration.

 

[swinokur]

Because Engage Armament and a few others showed MSP that it was still legal to build HBAR's, pistols and SBR's as long as not a copycat. The statute didn't prohibit that and MSP finally and reluctantly agreed.

 

[Tomcat7810]

.

That's great. Any recommendation on good ffl's in my area? The few I deal with don't seem to fully understand this yet. Let me know who you recommend in the glen Burnie md area.

 

[swinokur]

2A sales in Jessup

http://www.2asales.com/

Engage in Rockville.

www.engagearmament.com

Duffy's Gun Room in Sparks

http://duffysguns.com/

all corporate sponsors (IP) here.

Support them.

There are others but these shops are standouts IMO.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

Excellent info, thank you. Now to start a shopping list and try to hide the toys from the wife.

Try bribing her by building a rifle, after you build yours. That's how I was able to build my rifle. Still working on getting all the parts for her rifle, but I've already gotten all the parts for another rifle for me.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Hey don't overlook our own LOU, Grand Poobah of Shooters Discount. This very weekend having a sale on complete lowers at Fredrick gun show. There is a current thread in the Shooters Discount subforum.

 

[TonyB.]

That's great. Any recommendation on good ffl's in my area? The few I deal with don't seem to fully understand this yet. Let me know who you recommend in the glen Burnie md area.

Engage is well worth the drive. They've got all the parts you'll need and the guys took the time to explain everything; even though it was a super busy Satruday. I also decided to buy all of my parts there as a thank you for what they did to get the law changed.

 

[swinokur]

x2

 

[mrgnstrn]

So I have a question about this. After one gets an AR pistol, does this count as a pistol or regulated forearm for purposes of getting an HQL ?

One of the exemptions to the training requirement is to already be an owner of "a handgun or regulated firearm." Would the AR pistol count ?

Seems like a particularly excellent workaround for absurdity.

 

[Vile Shadow]

It would count, if you bought one. Problem is, if you built it, the MSP wouldn't yet have any record of it so they can't check the serial number against their database to verify your exemption.