Posted: 2/1/2013 2:37:09 PM EDT
| Ok so I am fairly new here. I am in the market apparently at the worst possible time in the worst possible state. I am not 100% familiar with all the terms yet but I have been reading how to have a NJ neutered AR-15. I have been looking a lot at the S&W MP-15. I like my M&P 40 so why not try their LR. My main question is .22 vs. 5.56. I have never shot .22 and have always shot 5.56 (military, federal law enforcement). Obviously I see the the .22 LRs are about half the price of the 5.56s and I am curious why. Should I hold off and find a 5.56? I think since the market is up and the supply is limited I will get basic and get pretty much a bare naked rifle and slowly build my way up to a decked out AR. If this is a total noob question I apologize but I couldn't think of a better place to ask than here with you guys (I put it in HTF NJ because of all the insane restrictions.... bayonet lug......really?) All input welcome, good and bad... THanks in advance!! |
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With the NJ AWB, you can only have 2 of the 5 evil features that define "assaultness" which are flash suppressor(internal diameter larger than the bore), bayonet lug, detachable mag, pistol grip and collapsible or foldable stock. Most so called "ban compliant" guns choose a pistol grip and detachable magazine. I think S&W makes ban compliant M&P-15 as do many other manufacturers. You could also assemble your own. Options for muzzle devices are 11 degree target crown or a permanently pinned muzzle brake (ID same as the bore). It must be permanently attached with a pin and a weld. You could dremel off the bayonet lug or get a gas block that doesn't have one. The stock can be A1 or A2 style, ACE, Magpul Rifle stock or a permanently pinned M4 style stock. There has been controversy if the PSG style sniper stock is "collapsible"; I would probably avoid it.
You could shoot .22LR with a 5.56 gun using a conversion kit (about $200), but not the other way around. The .22 is cheap to shoot, good for varmiting but sub-optimal for self defense. The 5.56 is more expensive probably because it is more popular and supply and demand would dictate a higher price. This is a bad time to be buying guns and ammo. you will get raped! The last time this happened in 2008 when BHO was initially elected, the prices soared and the shelves were bare for almost a year. Good luck. |
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Wink - first and foremost, welcome! Good to see new people coming in. Hope you enjoy the forum.
As to your timing, well, yeah - it sucks  As to your first question, .22LR vs. 5.56 - it's kind of like Chevy vs. Cadillac. The .22LR can be made cheaper, because it's dealing with a less powerful round. You can get a basic AR-style rifle in .22LR for around $500. Your basic AR-15 in 5.56mm USED to run about double that. Since those rifles are now basically extinct, their cost has risen a bit.
There is also quite a difference in price on the ammo. A brick of .22LR (500 rounds) can still be had for $25-$30 (or about 6 cents per round). 5.56mm ammo is running $.90-$1.20 per round, IF you can find it. Prior to the craziness, you could buy a case (1000 rounds) of 5.56mm for a little over $300 (30 cents per round). So, given that, you may want to just pick up a .22LR version to plink with, until this all settles down (maybe by the summer). On the other hand, if you're worried about more restrictive laws being passed, either at the state or federal level, and you want to get something before "it's too late", well... it just might be too late. As to specifics in NJ, the AR-15, being a semi-automatic rifle with a detachable magazine, can realistically only have a pistol grip on it. It can not have a collapsible/folding stock, it can not have a bayonet lug, it can not have a flash suppressor, OR a threaded barrel that can accept a flash suppressor. "Ban-compliant" is the term you're looking for when talking to a vendor about their rifles. That will mean either a fixed, A2-style stock, or a pinned M4-style collapsible stock (making it a fixed configuration). It will also mean either a barrel with no muzzle device (simple barrel crown), or a permanently-installed muzzle brake (the usual method is to blind-pin the brake to the barrel, then weld over the pin). Most manufcturers offer these versions directly. I know for a fact that Bushmaster, S&W, Stag Arms, Rock River, and Colt all offer this option. Some FFLs also offer a service where they will make any rifle NJ-compliant - usually for a reasonable fee. Magazines are currently limited to a 15-round capacity (for now - subject to change), and are basically out of stock across the entire planet. Whatever you buy, you'll probably be limited to the one magazine the rifle comes with, at least for a little while. Sorry to be the bearer of such bad news, but, like you said - your timing stinks. Again - welcome! |
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Well first off, Thanks for the replies!
I am new to the forums but have got so much information from them already! (I lurked for a while before actually joining and then before actually posting). The timing litereally couldn't be worse but as life would have it, now is the time when I can realistically handle this. I do not plan on being in NJ for much longer (thankfully with a federal job I can move to another state!). I am not "running from my problems" I am running from a nazi state. Don't get me wrong I love NJ but I hate it as well! I am an NJ Air National Guard member and was first to volunteer to go to Afghanistan when we deployed and first to sign up for disaster relief during Irene and Sandy! I do love this state BUT I think between how restrictive and the taxes, it just isnt as wonderful of a place to live as it once was! SO southern bound I go (although NH has a good facility and some pretty laid back laws involving gun control) One of my biggest hang ups is the bayonette lug. This literally makes 0 sense to me. Now I am not so cheap that 10-20 bucks to have it removed is THAT big of a deal, and I have no plans to put a bayonette on my rifle BUT its besides the point. How many peoplein NJ have been stabbed to death via bayonette being attached to an AR15 style rifle that requires this to be an EVIL feature. Hell, how many people in the country have been in the past 500 years been kiled via bayonette (excluding civil war lol). I know I am preaching to the chior here but man it is annoying. It is hard enough to ge a good rifle at a reasonable price these days. lol Also I heard the gun show in PA was cancelled so there goes THAT idea! Anyway I am sure i will have a milion more noobish questions and you will all get a good chuckle out of them. Like I said I am not new to the weapon just new to owning my own (or trying to own my own). I should stick to pistols but I have ALWAYS wanted a rifle, and never buy anything for me it all goes to the wife and kids and the wife insists that I do this for me so who am I to argue ;) |