Posted: 7/19/2011 7:55:47 PM EDT
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Hello everyone,
As you can see by my post count this is my first post here. I was a member a looong time ago. So long in fact that I forgot my log in and have since changed my email address so I could not even recover my old account. I just wanted to introduce myself since I am new and I hope to be able to learn about my AR from the people who know what they are talking about. So here is my story, I bought myself a Pre Ban Colt Hbar AR15 a few months before Gubna Davis told us all that we would no longer be able to own them. At that time I didn't have much interest in owning an AR. But I sure as hell didn't like the idea that my right to own one someday was being taken away. So I did a little research (which was limited at the time without the web tools we now take for granted) then went out and bought her. I put maybe 300 rounds thru her and then put her away because I got into hunting and was using a different long gun for that at that time. She has been sitting in my gun safe ever since then. I remembered that I went thru the process to register her as an assault weapon, but was damned if I could find the proof that it was ever completed. Well I was recently going thru my old rifle cases looking for something else and I found my golden ticket. That's right folks, I found my proof that she was registered as an assault weapon after all. So I have recently been re-bitten by the AR bug and am interested in learning everything I can about this class of rifles. What I would like to do is turn her into a walkout varmint rifle. Mainly for coyote and bobcat under 200 yards here in California. I would like to lighten her up a bit if possible without switching out the heavy barrel. I would also like to switch the front hand guard for one that I can mount a front hand grip on. Not because that makes sense. But because I would like to try shooting it from a seated position without having to use shooting sticks. The front hand grip is not a deal breaker, it is just something I would like in the set up. I would like to lighten the buttstock and maybe add a collapsable version. For optics I would prefer a fixed 3x quick acquisition red dot type set up over a traditional scope. I do want to get rid of the carry handle and the barrel mounted front site. Brands, websites, set ups, instruction, books on the subject, suggestions, and helpfull tips would be of great help to me. Any and all recommendations and ideas will be greatly appreciated! And I thank you in advance for any help you might be able to offer me. |
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Good call on finding the registration paperwork. Make sure that the address on the registration is the same as where you presently live. If not, you probably will want to change it. I don't know if there is a formal process for it, but I sent a copy of the "old" registration along with a copy of my drivers license (with my current address) to the CDOJ.
I asked them to enter my new address and let me know if there were any fee's involved. My "new" registration arrived about a week later with nothing else in the envelope! I call that great service 
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Welcome back.
Bravo Company is your friend. They have non ramped A4 uppers (Assuming you have normal sized take down pins, not the typical over sized Colt ones)and low profile gas-blocks. You may have to research for a flat-top Colt compatible upper (if you do have odd sized pins-remember too, if you decide to upgrade your FCG/trigger, those pins are probably over sized also.) TA-11 or TA-33 by Trijicon. Or a good variable low power. Even some less expensive Nikon, Leupold, or Weavers. Probably best to leave it as is, and just get the aforementioned scopes (ACOGs). They were designed from the 'get go' to be carry handle mounted. The flat-top stuff...well your mileage may vary. |
| This site in has exellent manuals and such for technical information, Also the ar15 discussion or Build it yourself forum has a few people in there that really know thier stuff. Since the reciever is the part of the gun that is regulated, you are pretty much free to do what ever you like to the rest of the gun, change out the whole top end if you wish. Many of the site sponsors will have the parts you are looking for. Brands and stuff are all a matter of opinion and there are alot of them on this site, the best advice I have it dont be suduced by cheap parts, you will regret it. Lurk around the forums a bit and see what people have to say, you will find out quickly what works for people and what doesnt. |
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Preban...
Do remember that even though your AW is registered and legally possessed, it has significant restrictions.. - it must be transported locked and unloaded - it must be transported between specific authorized destinations - you can't just 'cruise around' with an AW, and should go directly between your house, the range, out of state, a specific area where AWs are allowed, etc. Whereever you are hunting/shooting with an AW you should have express authorization from the property owner to use AWs - i.e., property owner, etc. True BLM land expressly allows use of legal registered AWs - there's a 2003 memo out there from director of Region 5 - not all BLM rangers know this, but it's improving. Bill Wiese San Jose CA |
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Quoted:
Make sure that the address on the registration is the same as where you presently live. If not, you probably will want to change it. I don't know if there is a formal process for it, but I sent a copy of the "old" registration along with a copy of my drivers license (with my current address) to the CDOJ. I asked them to enter my new address and let me know if there were any fee's involved. My "new" registration arrived about a week later with nothing else in the envelope! I call that great service There is NO REQUIREMENT to inform CADOJ of an address change. This includes those who registered Assault Weapons back in the day. You can inform them if you wish, but there is no legal requirement to do so. 
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Is there a section here on just handguards? I have not been able to locate it.
I would like to read thru user reviews and ideas on different manufacturers and set ups. There are so many options out there in handguards that I would like to research what I can before I start asking unnecessary questions that I could have found the answer to on my own. once again, thank you in advance for your help |
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Many online houses will ship parts to CA, some won't.
Some are irrationally picky about certain parts (flash hider). Some ship completely illegal parts (the SlideFire SSAR15 bumpfire stock) into CA thinking it's "just a part" when that specific device is intrinsically illegal, whether or not attached to/possessed with a firearm ("multiburst trigger activator"). If they do advertise on Calguns.Net, they are indeed CA-friendly. Bill Wiese San Jose CA |
| I actually found a shop here in SoCal that will get or already stocks most of what I could ever need for my AR. Every gun shop I went to sent me to this place for anything to do with AR's. I'm happy I finally found a shop that knows what the hell they are talking about when it comes to CA legal AR's. |