Fixed Magazine for AR-15's

[Cookie Monster]

I got two John Noveske rifles held out of state because I moved to a communist state.

I never thought about making them California Complaint until I learned about fixed magazines - so you put a fixed magazine in the gun and that is the only change you have to make. No changing the stock, grip, barrel, etc.

Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations for kits?

It would be nice to have my guns with me, instead of out of state. It's better for my family for me not to be a felon then something sketchy.

[SoCalDep]

I like the Mag Latch. That’s what I used up until I moved.

https://maglatchusa.com/ar-15-f-n-g-r-fixed-magazine-kit/

You use a regular 10rd magazine with a shim and a modified mag catch. If you want extra security you can install a set screw to lock the shim in place. Otherwise it can drop out when the upper and lower are separated.

Super easy to convert back to Merica version if you go out of state.

I had six of them but sent them back to a buddy in CA a few weeks ago.

[Exiledviking]

I'm in the process of putting one together and after looking at a bunch of options I'll be going with the CompMag. https://www.compmag.net/ar-15-compmag-gen-3/

It's not ideal, but I like that I won't have to pop the rear pin out and pivot the upper forward each time to load the magazine. And, according to the manufacturer it "allows for easy clearing of type 3 malfunctions (such as double feeds)".

[Cory]

In NYS shortly after the safe act, I assembled my first AR.

I used an "MR2" magazine lock. It prevents magazine removal, then when the rear take down is pulled the mag release can be depressed and mag changed. It came with a rear takedown that had a loop as well.

Legality was questionable. Maybe it's cleared up now, no idea. I got out of there. But GandR sent me a normal lower (knowing it would be fixed mag) my FFL transfered it to me because it wasn't yet semi auto (coulda been bolt), and I installed the MR2 at the FFL immediately upon possession.

[JohnO]

Not telling anyone what to do here just an observation.

I've seen match videos from the Piru Gun Range https://ctala.com/. I watched competitors with AR15s firing more than 10 rounds and dropping magazines without the California Bullet Button.

So I asked the guy who sent me the videos about what I saw. He said no one cares about the restrictions/laws! I went on to ask what about CA Law Enforcement Officers present and seeing the blatant disregard for the law. The response: "I already told you no one cares".

Obviously no one cares, until they do! I was definitely surprised at what I saw in the videos.

[ECVMatt]

I run all my AR's in the Featureless configurations. It allows me to use detachable magazines of my choice.

My neighbor prefers to run is with a mag lock.

I think they both have their plusses and minuses, but since I travel out of state often, I like to be able to reconfigure my rifles for free states with minimal hassle.

I have had a few rural county sheriffs and police officers tell me they don't care how my gun is configured as long as I am not using it in a crime. They felt the laws were too confusing to enforce or did not believe in California's gun control schemes. I have also been told by a BLM cop that she was going to arrest me for possession of an assault weapon even though I had my assault weapon registration showing the gun was legal. I stayed calm and asked her to contact her supervisor for advice. I am not sure what they said, but she basically threw my rifle on the ground, mumbled something at me and drove away. I always keep a copy of my registration in the butt trap of my A2 but that scared the hell out of me.

I have a job that I would loose if I were convicted of a gun crime. I am also three years away from retirement. I play by the rules regardless of what some cops say. I just can't afford to be on the receiving end of a cop's bad day.

I can't wait to leave this state and get my monthly reparations check sent to me each month in freedom.

[entropy]

Off subject kinda, but pertaining to above...

So this “officer” threw your property onto the ground damaging it? I’d be all over that like a fat kid with a twinkie.

[ECVMatt]

Off subject kinda, but pertaining to above...

So this “officer” threw your property onto the ground damaging it? I’d be all over that like a fat kid with a twinkie.

No damage to the rifle; it is a good old A2 and pretty stout. To be honest I was pretty shaken up and just happy I did not get arrested and then have to prove I was innocent. That is the trap with a lot of CA gun laws.

I did not mean to sound overly negative about law enforcement. I have friends who are cops and work with them on a weekly basis (I spent yesterday morning working with one). I was trying to convey that the laws are complex and often not understood. There are varying degrees of enforcement depending upon where you are in the state. Any even in an area that I would label as gun friendly, I had a very negative interaction with a federal police office because I mostly shoot on public land that is overseen by BLM.

Fixed mags are a good idea to ensure compliance and are fairly simply to show to an LE officer if you are stopped. That is not a bad thing in CA.

[entropy]

Some people can’t handle the responsibility that comes with a badge.

Interesting education for folks who are lucky enough not to have to deal with such things. Thank you. I have a good buddy that lives in San Bernardino County in the desert south of Apple Valley. Very Pro 2A Sheriff and area from what he tells me. Loves the area but hates everything that goes with it. If you’re in the area, stop into Off the Grid Brewing and tell Mike hi!

[Kanly]

I went featureless to comply with DC's "assault weapon" ban.

Took me about a year to get them to approve my configuration.

No flash hider (brake, compensator, thread protector fine)

Pinned or fixed stock

I got three of the chopped grips approved: Juggernaut, Sparrow and Resurgent Arms.

Of those three the Juggernaut is the most comfortable (and pricey).

I didn't feel like doing the fixed mag option as i didn't want something "permanent."

[Cookie Monster]

Thank you for all the input so far.

I want to be alignment with the laws in case I shoot a scum bag and then have all the folks putting me through all the cavity searches. I got some kids and a wife and not a large sum for legal fees.

Thinking the fixed magazine is simpler than replacing the barrel (pinned flash hider), stock, and grip.

Still thinking…. Thank you gentleman.

[ECVMatt]

Some people can’t handle the responsibility that comes with a badge.

Interesting education for folks who are lucky enough not to have to deal with such things. Thank you. I have a good buddy that lives in San Bernardino County in the desert south of Apple Valley. Very Pro 2A Sheriff and area from what he tells me. Loves the area but hates everything that goes with it. If you’re in the area, stop into Off the Grid Brewing and tell Mike hi!

Too funny, Apple Valley is about 25 minutes from my desert house and I the guys who told me they didn't care about the configuration of my rifle were from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's office. The Sheriff is great!

I will head over there for a beer next time I am up there.

[Suvorov]

Not telling anyone what to do here just an observation.

I've seen match videos from the Piru Gun Range https://ctala.com/. I watched competitors with AR15s firing more than 10 rounds and dropping magazines without the California Bullet Button.

So I asked the guy who sent me the videos about what I saw. He said no one cares about the restrictions/laws! I went on to ask what about CA Law Enforcement Officers present and seeing the blatant disregard for the law. The response: "I already told you no one cares".

Obviously no one cares, until they do! I was definitely surprised at what I saw in the videos.

No one cares until SOMEONE CARES! I’ve watched the same California Leo’s arrest surfers for violating Covid lockdowns stand and let a city burn. Get sideways with Dudley Doright on the the way home from the range and I would be in for a lot of crap I didn’t want to deal with. I played by the rules with my rifles when I lived there because I knew I wasn’t going to get any breaks from the powers that be. I was in the belly of the beast - San Francisco Bay. Might have been different if I was in San Bernardino or Shasta but not in the leftist cesspools.


Thank you for all the input so far.

I want to be alignment with the laws in case I shoot a scum bag and then have all the folks putting me through all the cavity searches. I got some kids and a wife and not a large sum for legal fees.

Thinking the fixed magazine is simpler than replacing the barrel (pinned flash hider), stock, and grip.

Still thinking…. Thank you gentleman.


While I can certainly understand the desire to keep the rifle looking unmolested - a “featureless build” is really the way to go. Far more usable in a practical or defensive situation. There is no constructive possession of AWs in Kail so I would just buy a featureless upper and run that with whatever gay fin grip you choose on your lower. You can keep your original upper un-molested for when you are out of state or the “party” starts…..

[entropy]

Too funny, Apple Valley is about 25 minutes from my desert house and I the guys who told me they didn't care about the configuration of my rifle were from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's office. The Sheriff is great!

I will head over there for a beer next time I am up there.


Tell him “Jim...Sack of Doorknobs” sent you. The beer will flow!

[zaitcev]

Since we're on topic, does anyone use MEAN Arms chargers aka "loaders"?

Do they work with any normal upper (with dust cover)? All the promo videos use their sample upper, with an ejection port without a dust cover, and shaped to accept their charger (or accept it better).

Also, now that they are focused on the Bearing Delay uppers, are they going to continue to supply the chargers? They are obviously wear items.

[Exiledviking]

While I can certainly understand the desire to keep the rifle looking unmolested - a “featureless build” is really the way to go. Far more usable in a practical or defensive situation.

I fully agree with the above if the AR is going to be assigned to a self-defense role. There have been massive discussions about the issues of the mag locked ARs for defense use. Primarily in regards to clearing malfunctions. For example with a double feed you'd have challenge on your hands vs a featureless AR that allows you to quickly and easily drop the magazine. Another example would be; how do you drop the mag to clear a malfunction if the bolt is jammed and has partially traveled back into the receiver extension?

[zaitcev]

If we're taking practical, I'd rather buy a FightLIte SCR or KelTec SU16CA. In fact, I did when I lived in California.

[Suvorov]

I fully agree with the above if the AR is going to be assigned to a self-defense role. There have been massive discussions about the issues of the mag locked ARs for defense use. Primarily in regards to clearing malfunctions. For example with a double feed you'd have challenge on your hands vs a featureless AR that allows you to quickly and easily drop the magazine. Another example would be; how do you drop the mag to clear a malfunction if the bolt is jammed and has partially traveled back into the receiver extension?

Yep, when I used to work the line at my range I would say about half my time fixing and clearing malfunctions was with fixed magazine ARs.

The other advantage is that the use of standard capacity magazines does not turn the rifle into an unregistered “Assault Weapon.” While possession of standard capacity magazines opens a can of worms as to their “legality”, the use of them in featureless builds is not prohibited.

[SoCalDep]

In my initial post I recommended the Mag Latch... and for me it was great for ARs that had features. In light of other responses here I'll add some more.

I always had one rifle that was featureless and I'll agree with previous posts that for a practical use rifle in CA you want to go featureless. Unless I was planning to stay in CA forever, which I wasn't (and I'm no longer there... Ha! Pffftttthhhh!!!!!), I wouldn't mess up a good AR build making it featureless. I'd get an upper with a muzzle break or nothing, and build a new lower with a fixed stock and CA legal grip. I don't remember the brand I used as I gave them away right before I left.

Other options include "native" featureless guns such as Ruger Mini-14s, Springfield M1As, the Fightlight (or whatever it's called) lower and there are others.

I shot at Piru going back to around 2001 and taught all around the state. I won't go into detail, but rules are frequently ignored... that doesn't mean that one day the cop gets you with a laser or radar and you get a ticket, or one day they decide to show up where you are and start "enforcing". I wouldn't take that chance myself.

[LowAndLeft]

Check out CompMag to make your AR CA compliant. It's a fixed, 10 round mag that side loads and is removable with a tool. There's no mod to your rifle. You can just pop the CompMag back in to instantly become compliant. https://www.compmag.net/ar-15-compmag/