So I have a customer / client that wants me to build him an AR. While most of the people who come to me to do so are older/wiser and I feel can make their own decisions so if they want to go against NY compliance, it’s on them.
This customer is a 17 year old kid. I told him that I would build him one, but ONLY to NY compliance as he would be throwing the rest of his life away if he were to get caught with a rifle that was built otherwise.
I know Stag Arms makes and sells NY state compliant barrels, I’ve used them and have been happy with them, but does anyone know of another company that makes them? I’m trying to keep the cost down for him. It doesn’t need to be chrome lined like the Stag.
I also don’t want to pin a cap on a barrel as it would honestly cost more in the end than just buying a Stag barrel.
Thanks for any help.
Pretty sure White Oak has some offerings as well, but I’m not sure if they come in a 16" length. Stag really is probably your best bet.
Have you considered building him a typical, full-featured gun, but permanently securing a 10rd mag in place? There’s a lot of discussion currently about which is worse–a featureless rifle, or a pinned magazine which requires top-loading. A rifle is only an “assault weapon” in NYS right now if it has a detachable magazine, plus one “evil” feature (collapsible stock, brake/FH, bayo lug, pistol grip…) With a permanent magazine, you can have anything else you want. Plus, if/when the law is overturned, he would only require having a gunsmith re-configure the magazine setup.
The easiest method of pinning the magazine is the use of a T-Nut. Spin it onto the threaded portion of the magazine catch (in place of the button) and weld it on permanently. For a paying customer, I would probably clean up the T-Nut nice, first, and use Birchwood Casey on it so it matches the gun.
I could definitely give him the option. I just personally hate the pinned mag. Also in NY it is legal to go “shooting” with a 10 round mag, but you can only have a 5 rounder for hunting so I would have to pin a 5 rounder in. His other option is an ARMagLock and an enhanced / extented rear pin like I have in my 300 blk hunting AR.
And honestly, with a Thordsen FRS-15, you take it off with one screw and you can throw a $5 LPK grip and a $30 Magpul stock on it in less than 5 min; IF the SAFE act ever was repealed. But it won’t be. They’re always pushing to make it even tougher.