postban ar15 to noban -- I can't decide

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zougou

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My very first rifle was an Oly arms AR15 kit I assembled (postban 20"). Now that the ban is over (for now) and there are no bans where I live (so far) I can't decide what to do.

  1. Leave it as-is
  2. Buy a complete new upper (preban)
  3. Have a new barrel installed to replace the postban one
  4. Have the barrel threaded for a FH and don't worry about the bayonet lug
  5. Install a collapsable buttstock and leave the upper alone
  6. Install a collapsable buttstock and change the upper in one of the aforementioned ways
  7. Get a new preban upper and put on a collapsable stock and get a really expenisve scope and buy a suppressor and wear camo all the time
    [/list=1]

    As to what I use the rifle for, it is more about enjoying what I'm able to own as oppossed to a real-world need. I shoot at paper targets only. The last option is a joke.
 
You and I have very similar rifles and purposes - mine was built from other parts but basically the same.

Part of me wants to convert it to a pre/no-ban configuration Just Because. But I can't really justify the expense. The only thing that is influencing me is that the current barrel is an HBAR and it's rather heavy. I plan to keep an eye out for a 20" chrome-lined government profile barrel threaded with a bayonet lug and then I'll have the upper rebarrelled, thereby killing two birds with one stone.

My other option is to buy a 16" upper to complement the 20".

Now, if the purpose is to establish "preban" status in case the ban is updated then you could just buy or borrow a collapsible stock, put it on and take a few pictures which prominently show the serial # and a newspaper to establish the date.

Nope, I didn't answer your question. That's because I have the same one. :rolleyes:
 
I forgot to mention that it is a heavy barrel.

I should also mention that I do own a preban that has all the goodies, so it's not like I don't have these features.

I like the idea of getting a gov't profile barrel. I could have it freefloated, too.

#7 is the best option, but it is very expensive and I would get beat up wearing camo in downtown Portland. :(

Thanks for the replys -- keep 'em coming!
 
What I plan to do to my Bushmaster Superlight built during the ban, when I have a chance:

1) Send the upper to LCW or someone, and have the barrel threaded and a flash hider added. Also have new front sight tower with bayo lug added.

2) Buy and install collapsible stock kit on the lower.
 
I have an Oly I made into an XM-177 clone after the ban.

I then had almost enough extra parts left over to build another rifle.

So I bought another lower and built it. (Had the old barrel threaded though)
 
It just so happens I'm in the same position myself. I have a Colt 20" HBAR Match Target that I also use for paper targets at the range. My rifle is accurate but is quite heavy for what it is. When I bought it four years ago I really wanted a "pre ban" with all the "evil" features but couldn't justify a $2000 price tag.

I found somebody to buy my Colt for $800. I've decided to go with an A3 Bushmaster M4 style carbine or maybe a Colt LE carbine. So for a couple hundred $$ I'll have what I wanted in the first place.

Down the road I'll get another upper with a 20" pencil barrel and a Beta C.

Randy
 
I'm going to convert mine to a no-ban configuration just because the ban pissed me off. I don't need a flash hider and I certainly have no use for a bayonette, but I want the toys for the simple reason that so many people don't want me to. :D

I think I will do as BryanP suggests as far as photo evidence. Good idea man.

- CM
 
Thanks again for the replies.

So far, the consensus seems to be option 3, new barrel.

The Vlltor stocks look nice, but they are spendy. Hmmmm.

Next question, anyone have any favorite online places to order a barrel and possibly the Vltor stock?
 
If you are looking for photo proof also to prove that you're no ban configuration is indeed post ban and not subjected to pre ban rules(isn't that a mouthful!), take the photo of it, and then shove it in an envelope and mail it to yourself but don't unseal it. Then you have the postmark on the envelope that is legal documentation that you did this when you said you did. The only time you shoudl have to open it is if the police or atf or whomever is an authority figure that oyu need to prove this to asks for proof. It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but it is legal documentation. I've heard of people using this route for patent proof for an idea they came up with. That way when the rush to get to the patent office occurs, they can say their's was done first. et cetera. You get the drift.
 
zougou:
#7 is the best option, but it is very expensive and I would get beat up wearing camo in downtown Portland.
Click to expand...

Not if you're carrying a suppressed AR you won't. :uhoh: :cool:



-Owen
 
I just had to make these decisions.

What I ended up doing was converting my Bushmaster 20" barreled A2 upper. I removed the barrel and had a local machinist turn it to A2 profile under the handguards. That lightened it up by about a pound. I then had him remove 2" of length and thread it 1/2 x 28. I reparkerized the barrel and an FAL barrel I had done at the same time in my garage.

I purchased a Grizzly mfg. flattop upper for $46 and switched my parts over, remounted the barrel, mounted a 5 slot phantom and a YHM BUIS on the flattop and now I have a great, light, somewhat long, but really usefull carbine.

I just have to save $ for Glass. I got all of this work for much less than the cost of a new barrel and got exactly what I wanted.

Cutting, threading and turning a barrel is simple lathe work. Any local machine shop can do it. My cost for 2 barrels was $60.

The new upper was less than $50 and the sight was less than $70. ADCO firearms sells the phantoms for $23 and they are local to me so no shipping.

I'll write this up with pics after I have a change to zero the rifle.

--usp_fan
 
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