Ruger AR 556 MD Compliant Model

[HeatSeeker]

Yep I saw his long running "ins stock-sold out" post, very attractive price. He's just 60 miles away...

I drove it, about 60 miles but I have a good friend down there too so I hung out for the day. I have seen this rifle listed for $650 other places so the drive was well worth it. If you see he has them in stock message John and he will hold one for you.

 

[armed_economist]

Thanks all for the great depth of information, especially clandestine. Makes my head spin I will admit. Indeed I started this thread leaning toward getting an "entry level" bare bone AR, but I will learn about the various options named here and try to make a more educated decision.

At the end of the day though, to each their own. I suppose there is no right way to approaching a hobby, if you are enjoying it, all the more power to you. When I first got into photography, many suggested going straight to a $3000 camera and lenses equally pricey, stating that I will eventually get to that point in terms of money spent, so might as well use the best equipment from day one and save the trouble of churning through gear. I started off with an entry level camera, later upgraded to a mid range fast action camera as I got into shooting sports, added some expensive lenses along the way, and finally 5 years into this hobby, I bought that $3000 camera (had a new generation by then) before the birth of my child. Looking back I have no regrets. You really have to go through each step to know how you feel and which direction you wanna go further, or you may just be comfortable where you are and want to stay there. There are tons of great pictures taken by hobbyists with 10-year old cameras and modest lenses, the pedigree of their gear does not seem to dictate how much they enjoy shooting. Under those photos, there will always be that one guy commenting: "great pic, what body and lens did you use?". I was that guy sometimes, unapologetically

 

[armed_economist]

I drove it, about 60 miles but I have a good friend down there too so I hung out for the day. I have seen this rifle listed for $650 other places so the drive was well worth it. If you see he has them in stock message John and he will hold one for you.

Thanks, you like the gun so far though?

 

[HeatSeeker]

Thanks, you like the gun so far though?

I do like the gun, but I am far from an AR connoisseur. I just wanted a good gun for a good price and I think the Ruger fits the bill. Check out these couple video reviews from Hickock45 on the Ruger556. The man knows his guns and gives an honest opinion. https://youtu.be/BdSz_UQLmlg , https://youtu.be/oSXmf5bNLcc

 

[danb]

I do like the gun, but I am far from an AR connoisseur. I just wanted a good gun for a good price and I think the Ruger fits the bill. Check out these couple video reviews from Hickock45 on the Ruger556. The man knows his guns and gives an honest opinion. https://youtu.be/BdSz_UQLmlg , https://youtu.be/oSXmf5bNLcc

embedded for you





ETA: Hickok45 mentions the trigger about 5 times in the video. Not really surprising, that's about what I expected for a low end trigger. Otherwise it was a good review IMO. Brownells has a Geissele enhanced2-stage trigger on sale for $139. Other than that, seems like a good rifle.

Also, for the record, I would miss all those targets in the 2nd video (shooting offhand ), with any of my fancier more expensive rifles. Some rifles, ahem, are more like status symbols. In a real SHTF scenario, you dont want to be using your fancy shmancy rifle. The police are going to be holding it as evidence for 9 months while prosecutor decides whether it was really self defense. The one you want to use is the one you don't care whether it gets nicked scratched or banged up, and you can afford to replace it. The one you want to be seen at the range with, obviously is not that one. I have a lot of very nice revolvers, but if someone breaks into my house they will get the business end of a Taurus or police trade in, not the Colt Python.

 

[rockstarr]

I do understand where you're coming from and it is a valid point in many areas where people ask advice. In my experience most people Champion what they own, not because it's great, but simply because they bought it. Therefore it must be good. Right?

I usually question those who give advice on a few examples of something they own because it comes across as being biased. I'm not saying that the owner should not give positive Praises. I'm simply saying that unless they work one or own a very wide variety of models being discussed their experience is limited.

Another problem that I see all the time on gun boards and internet groups is not the advice given but the person seeking advice. They will ask advice on what they should purchase when the reality is that they've already decided on the purchase and simply want reinforcement of the decision they have already made. A vast majority of Internet postings are exactly like this.

Anyone who has talked to me for any length of time or has taken an AR class or had me work on there AR15 will tell you that I'm far from a gun snob. My recommendations on things change so often I rarely give the same advice from year to year on what brands I buy and recommend. I'm not a person who usually Champions certain brands as I know from personal experience that Brands tend to rise and fall with their quality. The great ones don't often stay great forever.

For example BCM for years has been the gold standard for a defensive AR15. The bolt carrier groups that they are selling as of late look like they came from the seconds bin at Palmetto State Armory. They look terrible and Bravo Company has been called on the carpet about it and they say that they are okay with the product. For some time now I have been seeing problems with their extractor Springs.

I'm not here to sell anything that I own or make. I'm just trying to give Sound Advice within certain budget parameters for a person so they can actually enjoy their purchase and not end up with problems that they simply lack the knowledge to resolve. The Next Step often leads to a phone call or a private message asking someone like me for help.

Big true story here. I see it all the time and was that guy myself lol.

With regard to what you mentioned about higher end vs lower end rifles and what you want out of them.

I will certainly agree, you don't need a high end rifle to enjoy it. I have a del ton that I love to shoot, and it does what I ask of it just fine.

I've done a few things to it that were a must for my tastes but its far from highly modified. I have nothing but praises so far about it. However, I know now what I want in a rifle more so than I did when I bought my first, Much more so in fact.

That is why I mentioned the lwrc for a first buy. I like a lot of the things that rifle comes with stock vs buying a lower end rifle now and having to end up doing certain things to it to make it how I want it. All depends on what your plans for the rifle are imo, but as a first time buyer you really aren't going to know what you like vs could deal without as your tastes will certainly change after experience. I know mine did.

 

[armed_economist]

Big true story here. I see it all the time and was that guy myself lol.

With regard to what you mentioned about higher end vs lower end rifles and what you want out of them.

I will certainly agree, you don't need a high end rifle to enjoy it. I have a del ton that I love to shoot, and it does what I ask of it just fine.

I've done a few things to it that were a must for my tastes but its far from highly modified. I have nothing but praises so far about it. However, I know now what I want in a rifle more so than I did when I bought my first, Much more so in fact.

That is why I mentioned the lwrc for a first buy. I like a lot of the things that rifle comes with stock vs buying a lower end rifle now and having to end up doing certain things to it to make it how I want it. All depends on what your plans for the rifle are imo, but as a first time buyer you really aren't going to know what you like vs could deal without as your tastes will certainly change after experience. I know mine did.

May I ask which Delton model you have that is legal in MD? Both the sport and echo models are banned according to the MSP website.

 

[armed_economist]

I do like the gun, but I am far from an AR connoisseur. I just wanted a good gun for a good price and I think the Ruger fits the bill. Check out these couple video reviews from Hickock45 on the Ruger556. The man knows his guns and gives an honest opinion. https://youtu.be/BdSz_UQLmlg , https://youtu.be/oSXmf5bNLcc

Yeah I have seen those reviews and some others, just a simple basic no frills AR, I think that's what I'm looking for too.

 

[danb]

The Del-Ton echo 316 HBAR is what FFLs were selling. It in fact, has a heavy barrel and is marketed as such.

This starts to get into the highly controversial world "MSP is making shit up again." And also contradicting themselves.

Also, trying to figure this out will give you BGOS, a form of PTSD. Lots of people bought it up until July 2017 when they arbitrarily decided this. The Del-ton echo 316 HBAR identical to the Ruger AR-556 #8502, which is listed as not banned. Except I tend to think Ruger is a higher quality. There have been rifles sold, listed as banned, then un-banned. MSP told us the list on the website does not have the force of law.

There is no logic here.

 

[rockstarr]

May I ask which Delton model you have that is legal in MD? Both the sport and echo models are banned according to the MSP website.

Sierra 316H I believe

Its a mid length, heavy barrel, Magpul furniture model.

 

[armed_economist]

The Del-Ton echo 316 HBAR is what FFLs were selling. It in fact, has a heavy barrel and is marketed as such.

This starts to get into the highly controversial world "MSP is making shit up again." And also contradicting themselves.

Also, trying to figure this out will give you BGOS, a form of PTSD. Lots of people bought it up until July 2017 when they arbitrarily decided this. The Del-ton echo 316 HBAR identical to the Ruger AR-556 #8502, which is listed as not banned. Except I tend to think Ruger is a higher quality. There have been rifles sold, listed as banned, then un-banned. MSP told us the list on the website does not have the force of law.

There is no logic here.

Thanks. So did MSP allow or ban Delton HBAR in July 2017? Is it currently legal?

The Delton HBAR version is currently not mentioned on the MSP website. They might as well just list only the banned models, that should do an even better job of discouraging potential AR buyers.

 

[danb]

Thanks. So did MSP allow or ban Delton HBAR in July 2017? Is it currently legal?

The Delton HBAR version is currently not mentioned on the MSP website. They might as well just list only the banned models, that should do an even better job of discouraging potential AR buyers.

"did MSP allow or ban Delton HBAR in July 2017"-> the answer is yes, they did one of these things!

You have to check with an FFL. The Del-Ton website currently says for the models "This rifle is not available in CA, HI, NY, NJ, MD, & MA due to local state guns laws. " Even if actually legal, a lot of people just dont want the headache.

 

[armed_economist]

"did MSP allow or ban Delton HBAR in July 2017"-> the answer is yes, they did one of these things!

You have to check with an FFL. The Del-Ton website currently says for the models "This rifle is not available in CA, HI, NY, NJ, MD, & MA due to local state guns laws. " Even if actually legal, a lot of people just dont want the headache.

This is really effed up, how laws are enforced so arbitrarily, sadly, by design.

 

[danb]

This is really effed up, how laws are enforced so arbitrarily, sadly, by design.

Yup. Welcome to MD!

How is this not unconstitutionally vague? Because guns.

 

[DutchV]

The Del-Ton RFTMH16-0 is MD legal, HBAR with mid-length gas, and comes with a ten-round magazine. I assume that their website is not quite up to date.


Edit: It is also possible that distributors are swapping the 30-round magazine for a ten-rounder to make it MD legal. Otherwise it is advertised as HBAR so that part is covered.

 

[Exuberon]

Adding more fuel to the fire; almost forgot about this MD budget AR:

Armalite Eagle -15; net reviews are positive, and specs are very similar to Delton and Ruger.

Gym Ratz has these for stupid cheap... AND part of their new John Wick and SHTF packages.

 

[Ranchero50]

This is really effed up, how laws are enforced so arbitrarily, sadly, by design.

These are the repercussions of feel good laws. The MGA wanted to ban AR15 style rifles but decided to allow Colt Sporter HBAR rifles to stay legal for 'sportsmen'. As long as your copycat rifle has HBAR marked in it, it is legal. The 'spirit' of the law says you should be using a heavy profile barrel to copy the Colt 'Sporter', more or less. MSP has been tasked with enforcing a poorly written law.

Hoping it doesn't get worse in '18...

 

[songlaw]

Clandestine is a HUGE gun snob!

I took Clandestine's AR course, and let me tell you, that guy is a HUGE gun snob!

He wants to measure head space and look through a borescope and all that schit. What a snob!

I don't see why you can't just shoot the damn thing, and if it blows up in your face, so be it.

The dude tried to teach me all sorts of stuff about the AR.

 

[DaemonAssassin]

This is really effed up, how laws are enforced so arbitrarily, sadly, by design.

This about sums it up...

 

[clandestine]

I took Clandestine's AR course, and let me tell you, that guy is a HUGE gun snob!

He wants to measure head space and look through a borescope and all that schit. What a snob!

I don't see why you can't just shoot the damn thing, and if it blows up in your face, so be it.

The dude tried to teach me all sorts of stuff about the AR.