Maryland vs Virginia AR-15 Advice

[CATMdude]

If you just buy the whole rifle now, you won't have to do the wait, or register it like a lower. If you were just going to buy a lower, and build later, you could just buy a whole rifle now, have it ready for use, and then swap uppers later on when you get to Virginia.

The correct MDS answer is to buy both...

 

[ken792]

Do a 14.5” barrel with mid length gas as a pistol with an SBA4 brace. A 14.5 mid is what all the cool kids are doing these days. By doing it as pistol, it’s MD legal without having to SBR (you can do that too since it exceeds the 29” OAL).

Then, when you get to VA, you can have an appropriate muzzle device pinned and welded to put a stock on it. You can also leave it as a pistol to be able to drive around the whole state with it loaded since it’s a handgun.

You could also just do a 11.5” barrel pistol. That’s a very handy size

 

[echo6mike]

The correct MDS answer is to buy both...

Winner winner, chicken dinner!!

 

[SkiPatrolDude]

Do a 14.5” barrel with mid length gas as a pistol with an SBA4 brace. A 14.5 mid is what all the cool kids are doing these days. By doing it as pistol, it’s MD legal without having to SBR (you can do that too since it exceeds the 29” OAL).

Then, when you get to VA, you can have an appropriate muzzle device pinned and welded to put a stock on it. You can also leave it as a pistol to be able to drive around the whole state with it loaded since it’s a handgun.

You could also just do a 11.5” barrel pistol. That’s a very handy size

Criterion makes perhaps one of the best mid-gas 14.5 barrels out there. They offer it in a hybrid profile (beefy M4) and a Core profile (their proprietary taper).

If I had to choose, I would probably go with the Core series.

 

[ken792]

Criterion makes perhaps one of the best mid-gas 14.5 barrels out there. They offer it in a hybrid profile (beefy M4) and a Core profile (their proprietary taper).

If I had to choose, I would probably go with the Core series.

I’m a fan of the Ballistic Advantage Hanson profile barrels. It’s tapered, kind of like the Criterion Core, but nitrided

 

[04RWon]

Do a 14.5” barrel with mid length gas as a pistol with an SBA4 brace. A 14.5 mid is what all the cool kids are doing these days. By doing it as pistol, it’s MD legal without having to SBR (you can do that too since it exceeds the 29” OAL).

Then, when you get to VA, you can have an appropriate muzzle device pinned and welded to put a stock on it. You can also leave it as a pistol to be able to drive around the whole state with it loaded since it’s a handgun.

You could also just do a 11.5” barrel pistol. That’s a very handy size

Guessing everyone forgot supreme leader northam and his reign of terror in va. None of that will probably be legal at that point.
As far as the 2a is concerned if northam gets his way, md would be a better place.

 

[sixspeedshift]

If you just buy the whole rifle now, you won't have to do the wait, or register it like a lower. If you were just going to buy a lower, and build later, you could just buy a whole rifle now, have it ready for use, and then swap uppers later on when you get to Virginia.

So buying a lower requires a waiting process even if I don't register it as a pistol? as opposed to just the 20 minute in store background check for the off the shelf fully built rifle?

 

[sixspeedshift]

this sounds cool but I am trying to avoid getting the HQL --> regarding the 14.5 barrel as pistol

 

[ken792]

this sounds cool but I am trying to avoid getting the HQL --> regarding the 14.5 barrel as pistol

No HQL needed to buy a lower. You just need to be 21 and willing to wait seven days. No HQL needed to possess a handgun either.

Lowers get papered out and state registered as an “other.” There’s no subsequent registration process that’s mandatory once you build it into a pistol or HBAR rifle

 

[Neutron]

I live in Maryland but plan to move to VA in the next few years. I have been waiting until I move to pick up an AR. I don't have much knowledge of the AR platform because of this.

Looking at Biden's gun plan, I am thinking I should try and get an AR in Maryland right now.

How much of a drawback comes between Maryland compliant firearms (29 inch length requirement, HBAR, etc) vs what I could get in Virginia assuming I can get something in VA in a few years?

Basically how much of a drawback is the HBAR specifically, as well as the other requirements? Since I am not familiar at all with this platform I don't know the real world difference between a HBAR or not, etc.

thanks!

I'm having trouble with your second paragraph. Are you assuming Biden is going to be #46?

 

[sixspeedshift]

I'm having trouble with your second paragraph. Are you assuming Biden is going to be #46?

Yes, I currently think the risk of Biden being #46 is a lot higher than previously. If I thought Trump had this in the bag, I would wait for a few years until I lived in VA to get into the AR platform (though their own state laws changing is a different story).

 

[atblis]

Stripped lower for the win.

 

[Sirex]

So buying a lower requires a waiting process even if I don't register it as a pistol? as opposed to just the 20 minute in store background check for the off the shelf fully built rifle?

Yeah, I think since it can be built into a pistol, I believe you have to wait 7 days, and I believe it is registered. A Hbar is just the pay cash, fill out the form, pass, walk out with rifle. Pop 2 pins, swap upper later on if you want.

 

[04RWon]

Stipped lower, baptize it as a pistol. Sacrifice a pig, say 10 hail marys, leave out 7n6 for brandon herrera. In the name of the flannel daddy, gun jesus, and the holy operator, amen. BAM, you have an ar pistol and do what you want.

 

[sixspeedshift]

Stipped lower, baptize it as a pistol. Sacrifice a pig, say 10 hail marys, leave out 7n6 for brandon herrera. In the name of the flannel daddy, gun jesus, and the holy operator, amen. BAM, you have an ar pistol and do what you want.

amen

 

[atblis]

amen as well.

I have a similar spiel, but yours is better. My friends never understand.

 

[04RWon]

amen

amen as well.

I have a similar spiel, but yours is better. My friends never understand.

The key to good fortune is the sacrifice. Now there is a grace period. You may need to build the weapon first, then make the sacrifice.

Leaving the 7n6 out for ak jesus keeps the ar malfunctions away, the spirit of the kalash aids in reliability.

 

[sixspeedshift]

I just vastly overpaid for a Ruger 556, but I figured I would get a complete rifle while I could since its my first and I have never built a firearm before.

I do want to go back and get a pistol designated lower if I ever get the funds together.

Any words of encouragement to avoid the feeling of overpaying welcome haha

 

[Art3]

I just vastly overpaid for a Ruger 556, but I figured I would get a complete rifle while I could since its my first and I have never built a firearm before.

I do want to go back and get a pistol designated lower if I ever get the funds together.

Any words of encouragement to avoid the feeling of overpaying welcome haha

Buying before building is always a wise choice. You want your first AR to work, right out of the box.

If you bought now, yeah, you probably overpaid compared to the rest of us with a lot more buying history...but what other option do you have? Depending on how things go politically, this may have been your only opportunity. You could have waited for a better deal and ended up with nothing...ever

So, enjoy your new rifle for what it is, rather than what it cost.

And don't forget to vote to keep it (and get others to vote to keep it).

 

[sixspeedshift]

Buying before building is always a wise choice. You want your first AR to work, right out of the box.

If you bought now, yeah, you probably overpaid compared to the rest of us with a lot more buying history...but what other option do you have? Depending on how things go politically, this may have been your only opportunity. You could have waited for a better deal and ended up with nothing...ever

So, enjoy your new rifle for what it is, rather than what it cost.

And don't forget to vote to keep it (and get others to vote to keep it).

thank you!

it's crazy to see a couple hundred dollar difference online for the same rifle, but ofcourse they are all sold out

will definitely vote the right way