These opinions are my own personal ones. If you can't figure it out IM me. Back in the day I use to do all kinds of equipment reviews on optics and such but after being tapped for moderator duty in the General Discussion I sort of had to give that up. I placed this here because I figure only Californians are doing bussiness with these guys and ought to know exactly what they're getting.

I am one of the thousands (and thousands) of Californians that bought an AR lower over the last few weeks and wanted to construct mine in a legal manner. I searched around a bit and discovered a "Fixed Magazine Kit - 10 round" available on the Internet which is really a fixed nine round magazine, an unmodified magazine release, a washer, and a nut. I puzzled over the picture and the price figuring that there was no way that was all there was to the $29.95 plus $5.85 shipping kit.

Being the wild and crazy guy I am I sent my $35.80 to see what was what.



Sure enough the kit is a nine round magazine with a plastic extension on the bottom of it, an unmodified magazine release catch and matching release catch button, a single silver colored washer, and a silver colored nut. You'd figure they'd come with a black washer and nut for that tactical look. There were no included instructions but they were available on the Internet site.



The 9-round magazine is a bit of a puzzle as the law states 10-rounds is the limit. Is there a state with 9-round limits? It must be that they're just be extra safe. I guess it's called a ten round magazine kit because there can also be a round in the weapon.



There's an extended plastic base plate that sticks out of the bottom so that you can grab the bottom of the magazine ... but hey, it's a fixed magazine anyways right?



Bushmaster also sells magazines but they have ten round ones for $14.95. These things look full sized and appear to be pinned 20-round magazines from the pictures.
New Design 10 round Magazine

They also sell unmodified magazine catch assemblies and magazine catch buttons (part numbers 8448638 and 8448636) for $4.20 for the pair.
Individual Parts for Lower Recievers

Ace Hardware sells washers for $0.02 each and crown nuts for $0.08 each.

I figure you can support our site sponsors Bushmaster and Armalite (they sell similar parts too!) and save yourself about $15 - almost enough to pay for a membership here ... or a year's worth of NRA magazines, gun insurance, and membership. Actually you don't even need the magazine catch release if you buy a lower competion kit - and you really don't need the button as the nut replaces that part so you save $4.20 more! Run down to Ace, Lowes, or Home Depot and buy ten cents worth of washer and nut and you're legal. If you can buy synthetic washer as to not scratch the finish on your lower that would be even better.

Returning your weapon to full function if the socialist leave the state, the US Constitution becomes inforceable here, or you leave the state is as simple as removing the nut and replacing it with a button.

This kit is ending up in the garbage - I will save the magazine catch and button - they're all right for the spare parts kit.

Quoted: How about returning the kit for a full refund

I was wondering the same thing.

BTW, is that receiver purple?

Quoted: How about returning the kit for a full refund

Shipping is $5.85 plus my return minus 15% or whatever they're going to charge me for restocking ... and really the thing isn't worth it. I sort of "knew" what I was getting and just wanted to investigate for myself and then share that with you ... that's the kind of nice guy that I am!

Quoted: BTW, is that receiver purple?

Ain't it pretty? To the naked eye it appears a really dark black. I just got it and haven't taken it out into the sunlight to see what it really looks like ... mainly cause I don't get to see the sun much any more! It's one of the CMMG lowers BTW and looks really well done. I might build it up this weekend if I find the time and the furniture ... I've got all the parts: plenty of pistol grips and all the internals in my spare parts pile but the only furniture I think I have left in the state is some stuff I painted in a whacked color scheme using that speckle "art" paint in desert colors.

I know that I can get more than a few "free" uppers from my storage buddies outside the state, I'm just going to have to ask one of them to pull the buffer extension, spacer, and shoulder stock off of one of them ... or buy something different. I enjoyed the look of the Ace stocks but I don't know if they're strong enough.

Wonder where I could find opinions on them ....

Yeah if you just finger tight you're screwed ... use a wrench and go way way tight ... and use locking compound too.

Jam?

I hadn't thought of that

A not so purple looking picture.



Must have been the lighting