New Year, New Car, New Car Gun Build

[js8588]

Ordered an Aero Precision Ambi Lower the other day for $126 shipped. Why? Well...

The great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a quirky anti-poaching law where you may not carry a loaded rifle in your vehicle. Ammo must be stored in a separate compartment.

Towards the end of 2019, the heater died in our car so the wife & I decided it was time for a new vehicle. Absolutely loving the new ("Certified Pre-owned") VW. Only problem is, the "trunk" is one of those removable pieces of fabric board held in place by a couple of bungies.

I really don't feel like arguing with an officer of the law over the definition of "separate compartments" during occasions where traveling with something that has a little more punch than the EDC seems prudent.

AR Pistols ARE covered under Pennsylvania LCTFs

So, new car, new year, new AR build.

Ordered the rest of the parts for the lower & should have it put together by this time next week.

For those curious:
SBA4 "Brace" (includes a 7075 buffer tube/receiver extension)
Spikes Tactical H2 Buffer (I hate the rattle of standard buffers, drives my OCD nvts)
Strike Industries Carbine Buffer Spring
PWS Ratcheting Castle Nut/End Plate
JP Enterprises Oversized Pivot/Takedown pins (I consider these mandatory on a forged lower.)
Radian Talon Ambi 45° Safety
2A Armament Trigger Guard
Ergo TDX-0 Grip
KNS Anti Walk/Rotation trigger pins
Optics Planet RA 242 Trigger

Just have to decide on barrel length, what rail to put on it, red dot, and light.

 

[adcoch1]

What cartridge are you going to build it in? I know a few guys having real fun with 6.5 grendel pistols.. And my favorite pistol at the moment is my 458 socom.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I'd go 300 BLK in 8"-11" range. With subsonic loads, the muzzle report isn't "as" sharp as 5.56 in a small barrel... At least to my ears

Of course, over only shot anything with ear pro and no can.

And SIG HT supersonic 300 BLK is a good performer if you need something speedier.

All my AR pistols run PSA uppers so I have no complaints with their gear.

 

[Demi-human]

Love me some Aero Precision!

I have been lucky to find their Enhanced Builder Sets on sale several times. I need to try their Atlas S-One hand guard. I really like the Enhanced ones I have, but they may be too large a diameter for some.

What cartridge have you decided on?

The JP Silent springs are worth it, as are the tungsten powder buffers.

Seekins makes a nicely priced adjustable gas block, I highly recommend it.

On the PWS Ratchet plate, does that button push down for release, or is it just a click pin?

 

[js8588]

Love me some Aero Precision!

I have been lucky to find their Enhanced Builder Sets on sale several times. I need to try their Atlas S-One hand guard. I really like the Enhanced ones I have, but they may be too large a diameter for some.

What cartridge have you decided on?

The JP Silent springs are worth it, as are the tungsten powder buffers.

Seekins makes a nicely priced adjustable gas block, I highly recommend it.

On the PWS Ratchet plate, does that button push down for release, or is it just a click pin?

Anything I may rely on for self defense as far as the AR platform goes will be in 556. Ammo commonality uber alles.

I will build a 6.5 Grendel pistol though when we move to Texas by year's end. Staying in PA just long enough to vote in November...

Current frontrunner for the barrel for this build is an 11.5 BCM ELW Fluted. Right at ~ 1lb in weight.

If I could find a 12.5 inch carbine gassed barrel under 24oz though, I might go that route.

Keeping the weight down is important as I need the wife to be comfortable with it as well.

 

[Theohazard]

Ammo must be stored in a separate compartment.

You don’t need to store it in a separate compartment of the vehicle if you have a bag or container that properly encloses the ammo or magazine. For example, if you have a rifle bag in the trunk with your rifle in one part of the bag and loaded magazines in a separate, closed pouch, that’s fine. From PA law:

“A firearm is loaded if the firing chamber, the nondetachable magazine or, in the case of a revolver, any of the chambers of the cylinder contain ammunition capable of being fired. In the case of a firearm which utilizes a detachable magazine, the term shall mean a magazine suitable for use in said firearm which magazine contains such ammunition and has been inserted in the firearm or is in the same container or, where the container has multiple compartments, the same compartment thereof as the firearm. If the magazine is inserted into a pouch, holder, holster or other protective device that provides for a complete and secure enclosure of the ammunition, then the pouch, holder, holster or other protective device shall be deemed to be a separate compartment.”

Here’s a PA firearms lawyer on this subject:

https://blog.princelaw.com/2014/02/17/the-great-pennsylvanian-trunk-gun/

 

[js8588]

You don’t need to store it in a separate compartment of the vehicle if you have a bag or container that properly encloses the ammo or magazine. For example, if you have a rifle bag in the trunk with your rifle in one part of the bag and loaded magazines in a separate, closed pouch, that’s fine. From PA law:

“A firearm is loaded if the firing chamber, the nondetachable magazine or, in the case of a revolver, any of the chambers of the cylinder contain ammunition capable of being fired. In the case of a firearm which utilizes a detachable magazine, the term shall mean a magazine suitable for use in said firearm which magazine contains such ammunition and has been inserted in the firearm or is in the same container or, where the container has multiple compartments, the same compartment thereof as the firearm. If the magazine is inserted into a pouch, holder, holster or other protective device that provides for a complete and secure enclosure of the ammunition, then the pouch, holder, holster or other protective device shall be deemed to be a separate compartment.”

Here’s a PA firearms lawyer on this subject:

https://blog.princelaw.com/2014/02/17/the-great-pennsylvanian-trunk-gun/

Absolutely true. I still don't want an officer to decide he'd rather let a judge sort it out.

 

[Theohazard]

Absolutely true. I still don't want an officer to decide he'd rather let a judge sort it out.

Fair enough. It’s also a great excuse for another AR!

 

[js8588]

Fair enough. It’s also a great excuse for another AR!

The "not wanting to argue with..." clause is also why I'm going 12.5/11.5 instead of just grabbing a 14.5 & calling it good.