Some say that you can't own an AR-15 in California or own magazines more than 10 rounds. Wrong on both accounts. Though the efforts of some clever folk including inventors and lawyers there's more than a few ways to own the AR-15 in California.

Registered Assault Weapons -  AR-15's weren't banned. Only the sale of certain "by-name" and then later "by-feature" rifles in a series of three laws. More AR-15 rifles were sold in California for the decades prior to the ban and tens of thousands of those rifles are legally registered with the state - pretty similar to full-auto weapons in other states. The sale of magazines with a capacity of greater than 10-rounds were also banned but the possession of existing magazines were allowed. Those magazines didn't require registration and can be repaired replacing any and all parts including the body legally.

Off-list-lowers (OLL) - these lowers avoid the Roberti-Roo's list of rifles which means that they now are able to be used to avoid the "by-feature" restrictions. My OLL is made by CMMG - not on the Roberti-Roo's list. The methods below all use an Off-List-Lower.



The MonsterMan Grip (MMG). The MMG avoids the "by-feature" qualification of a pistol grip by closing the section of the grip preventing the thumb from reaching around the grip. The legislation carefully defined what a pistol grip was and the MMG changes the pistol grip into one closer to the legal Springfield Armory M1A, the Ruger Mini-14 or Mini-30, and the Browning BAR semi-automatic rifles. The rifle is then constructed without the other named prohibited features which allows the use of existing pre-2000 full capacity magazines. The looks are a little odd but in use it's perfectly acceptable and doesn't fundamentally change the feel of the rifle. Since I have a bunch of pre-2000 magazines this is my default configuration.

Here's a 10 round magazine. It you want a semi-automatic rifle you can buy as many 10-round magazines and use the MonsterMan Grip.



A full-size pre-ban magazine.



The use of either the MonsterMan Grip prevents one to put other features like a flash suppressor, forward pistol grip, or a collapsible stock on the rifle.

Prince 50 Kit - The Prince 50 kit was one of the first methods of locking the magazine in place avoiding the feature of a "detachable magazine" - note the prohibition is against detachable magazines. We'll come back and look at that again here in a bit. The Prince 50 once installed is used with a 10-round magazine. The kit replaces the magazine release button with one that has a threaded hole into which one - or optionally two - small hex screws are put into. Once the replacement magazine release is installed the longer screw goes in first bottoming out against the lower receiver.



The optional second screw can put put on top of the first locking it in place. A bit of Locktite can be used to hold the second one in place.



The kit is provided with a small hex driver used to lock the 10-round magazine in place.



Once locked in place I assembled the remaining portions of the rifle and tested it. To reload the magazine the rifle is "shotgunned" open. DO NOT USE THE HEX SCREW TO REMOVE THE MAGAZINE. If you loosen the screw you are creating a centerfire rifle with a detachable magazine at that point that does NOT need a tool to detach the magazine.



Often an extended rear take-down pin is installed allowing one to open the weapon for reloading more easily.



The Prince 50 allowed one to put other evil features onto the rifle as it changes the centerfire rifle with "detachable magazine" into one with a fixed magazine. If one leaves the state the provided hex tool removes the top hex screw and backs off the second far enough to allow the button to depress.

Spring Retaining Block (SRB) - this is one of the most radical methods of allowing an OLL to be used. The SRB is a small bit of metal that screws in place of pistol grip holding the spring in place for the safety detent. The rifle is then able to use high-cap magazines but like the MMG no other named features can be used. One side benefit of the SRB is that lowers the vertical height of the rifle a bit making it easier to store in a cache tube.







AR15Plus "kit" this is one of the most spartan methods of locking the magazine in place. Retail on this "kit" is nearly $40. It consists of a 9 round magazine - yeah you read that right, nine rounds, and a washer and crown nut. This kit wasn't functional enough for me to bother to install it and it ended up in the trash. The magazine uses a plastic bottom plate that sticks out from the bottom of the receiver by a bit.



The "kit"



The magazine.



Bullet Button and Rad Lock are similar methods to allow for an attachable magazine. The law prohibits detachable magazines but not attachable ones. The use of a tool is required to remove the magazine once locked in place with either of these kits. The tip of a bullet is considered a tool so both allow for ones use.

The Rad Lock is slightly different than the Bullet Button in that it allows you to simply un-screw a central threaded portion to return the weapon to normal function. DO NOT USE BOTH A MAGAZINE LOCK AND A NON-PISTOL GRIP LIKE THE MONSTERMAN WITH +10 ROUND MAGAZINES.



Here's a close up of the tool and the part that turns to lock or unlock the magazine release.



To lock the magazine in place simply turn the tool in the slot clockwise until the Rad Lock bottoms out against the gasket. To return the magazine release to normal function simply rotate the slot counter-clockwise four complete turns and the gasket rises slightly.



The Bullet Button is slightly different in that the central locking portion doesn't sit as high as the Rad Lock but the opening in the button is larger so a wider variety of tools will work. With the Rad Lock I had to be firm with the tip of the bullet where with the Bullet Button the larger hole allowed for a quicker disconnect. A half a turn loose with the Rad Lock and the bullet tip worked well.



Using either of these two buttons allows one to use 10-round magazines such as the 10/20 pictured below.



The FreeLock Conversion Kit or the Bullet Button Wrench (below) will allow you to quickly unlock your Bullet Button equipped rifle for out-of-state use.



The use of either the Bullet Button or Rad Lock allows one to put other features like a flash suppressor, forward pistol grip, or a collapsible stock.

This list is not all inclusive as there are other methods like the U15 stock and other magazine release locking/blocking devices.

None of these are CA DOJ approved but they are in use by thousands of folks.

And finally a visual flow-chart to help if you're still confused. (courtesy www.CalGuns.net)

Really just some of the options. I'm trying to encourage Californians and educate the out-of-state folks.

Needs some loving.

Sorry I don't do commie weapons.

I tried to get a pistol grip for my FAL that would come close to working with that thing and after $75 worth of them I gave up. Now I'm afraid my collection of four different FAL pistol grips is going to grow into a collection of rifles. I contacted Solar Tactical and after a few months they replied back that a Penguin trap door grip would work ... yeah OK, now someone sell me one.

I keep poking MonsterMan hoping that he'll make a quality one.

Yes this is true - NO NOT use a magazine locker with a non-pistol grip rifle.

It is legal to use a magazine lock with a pistol grip rifle.

It is legal to use a non-pistol grip rifle.

BUT using both, a fixed magazine on a non-pistol grip rifle has only one purpose and that's for killing innocent babies as they sleep ever so peacefully in their cribs ... and therefore they are illegal.

I bought five or eight different methods of CA compliance and ran them through my weapon and posted reviews on the ones worth the scratch. I have settled on the MonsterMan with my cache of detachable magazines. My magazine lock is un-locked and kept in the fully upright and stowed position, babies are safe.

Check the post at the top of the forum with the facts and cross referenced (and as best as we have) authoritative sources.

Raised from the dead!