Side Charging AR a legal MD configuration

jrwhitt · Jun 24, 2016

DaemonAssassin said:
Incorrect.

If it can use the same internal parts as a banned firearm, the new firearm is also banned. A side charger does not have any internal parts for the upper that can be used in a standard AR upper. As such, a side charger is not banned, no matter the barrel profile.

The ASA side charger bolt carrier works just fine in a standard AR - be careful here.

Jollyllama · Jun 24, 2016

PowPow said:
Here's my DDC Hard Charger. I wouldn't have known about it if it were not for 2A Guys & Gear!

That looks more like a hammer than a charging handle.

outrider58 · Jun 25, 2016

Jollyllama said:
That looks more like a hammer than a charging handle.

Looks more like a mallet than a hammer...

PowPow · Jun 25, 2016

DaemonAssassin said:
Incorrect.

If it can use the same internal parts as a banned firearm, the new firearm is also banned. A side charger does not have any internal parts for the upper that can be used in a standard AR upper. As such, a side charger is not banned, no matter the barrel profile.

Good point! Time to get out the credit card...lol

OnTarget · Jan 12, 2017

Anybody care to provide any updates on the Devil Dog Concepts (DDC) Side Charging Handle for AR-15? How has it held up with use? Thanks!

Hawkeye · Jan 12, 2017

DaemonAssassin said:
Incorrect.

If it can use the same internal parts as a banned firearm, the new firearm is also banned. A side charger does not have any internal parts for the upper that can be used in a standard AR upper. As such, a side charger is not banned, no matter the barrel profile.

This is the correct answer. To be banned as a non-HBAR "copy" of a Colt AR-15, the gun must, by the determination of the MSP, be both cosmetically similar to a Colt AR-15 and have completely interchangeable parts. I would argue that since a side-charger uses a different upper, a different bolt carrier, a different charging handle, etc, that it is not completely interchangeable with a Colt AR-15 and is therefore not banned as a "copy."

jrwhitt said:
The ASA side charger bolt carrier works just fine in a standard AR - be careful here.

That shouldn't matter. The determination from MSP was that they need completely interchangeable parts to be "copies" of one another.

Pinecone · Jan 13, 2017

PowPow said:
It doesn't look like an HBAR profile barrel to me. If it's not, then it would only be legal paired with a pre-ban lower purchased (or from purchase order dated) before Oct 1, 2013.

Why?

Not interchangeable parts, just like a DI upper.

md123 · Jan 13, 2017

Love a side charging handle on an AR....

Will get one if it's not a copycat per SB281.

outrider58 · Jan 13, 2017

jrwhitt said:
The ASA side charger bolt carrier works just fine in a standard AR - be careful here.

True, but a standard BCG will not work in an ASA receiver. So where does that leave us? In my case, mine resides atop a pre-pre-prebanned old, old lower.

I personally would prefer a left-side non reciprocating upper on a shorter(SBR) gun, and a right-sided reciprocating upper on a long gun. 9mm ARs should have reciprocating right-side chargers, IMHO.

daggo66 · Jan 13, 2017

DaemonAssassin said:
Incorrect.

If it can use the same internal parts as a banned firearm, the new firearm is also banned. A side charger does not have any internal parts for the upper that can be used in a standard AR upper. As such, a side charger is not banned, no matter the barrel profile.

Not necessarily. MSP can arbitrarily make the decision to call it a copy, take the ARX100 for example.

PowPow · Jan 13, 2017

Pinecone said:
Why?

Not interchangeable parts, just like a DI upper.

Correct. DA made that point to me last summer. (see above)

Hawkeye · Jan 13, 2017

daggo66 said:
Not necessarily. MSP can arbitrarily make the decision to call it a copy, take the ARX100 for example.

They can do that, but they themselves have admitted that their arbitrary determinations do not carry the force of law, and that they're just "guidelines."

daggo66 · Jan 13, 2017

Hawkeye said:
They can do that, but they themselves have admitted that their arbitrary determinations do not carry the force of law, and that they're just "guidelines."

Try to buy one that's on the guideline list from a MD FFL.

rbird7282 · Jan 13, 2017

daggo66 said:
Try to buy one that's on the guideline list from a MD FFL.

There are some on that list that are regularly and legally sold in this state

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hawkeye · Jan 13, 2017

daggo66 said:
Try to buy one that's on the guideline list from a MD FFL.

rbird7282 said:
There are some on that list that are regularly and legally sold in this state

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Exactly. It happens all the time from FFLs who know what they're doing. MSP has actually changed some of the guns on that list based on this.

When they were called on the list being full of ******** as part of a lawsuit, their actual response was "Consumers should ask their FFL if a given rifle is legal."

Jradack · Jan 16, 2017

I see nobody has mentioned Fulton armory. I don't own a side charge ar but I do own some Fulton armory stuff and its top quality. Looks like they are making a ar10 side charger too.
http://www.fulton-armory.com
Oh and they are located in MD if you like supporting businesses in your backyard.

Side Charging AR a legal MD configuration

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