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f5manufacture · 3 years ago

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Extend the Use of Your AR with the Utility Launcher – The different Options from F5

Shooting your AR 15 with actual bullets is a regular on the range. What if you could also use your AR to shoot soda cans, tennis balls, paint cans, and whatnot? The ‘Utility (Can) Launcher’ from F5 lets you do all that with a lot of fun. All you need is your AR 15 lower receiver, bolt carrier group (BCG), a charging handle, and the F5 Launcher to let the fun begin. Our can launchers give you a kick of adrenaline when shooting with live rounds becomes a routine affair on the range. Excited enough? Well, who wouldn’t want to have exciting fun when a simple ‘BATF’ approved accessory lets you do so with your AR? We have different budget-buy options in our ‘soda can launchers’ range. This blog talks about all the different options. To know why our launchers are better than its competitors, read our blog, ‘Fun Accessories for your AR 15.’

The Utility Launchers from F5

The utility (can) launchers from F5 are 100% made in the US and are not considered firearms which is why you can legally own and use them to launch whatever comes to your imagination but fits inside the launcher. All our can launchers are compatible with the AR 15 and M16 lower receivers. They shoot with mil-spec M200 5.56 blanks and are extremely accurate because of the 5-axis CNC machining technology used to manufacture them. Our can launchers launch at a distance of 105 yards when shot at an optimum angle with the right spec blanks. With all that information, here’s a compiled list of our soda can launcher combos’ to make it easy for you to choose the best buy for yourself.

AR 15 Utility Launcher – The Complete Kit. This combo includes a can launcher with a picatinny rail, a launcher adaptor, a short foregrip, and 20 blanks.

The can launcher works with anything in 67 mm diameter and is a fun accessory to launch soda cans, beer cans, tennis balls, ice balls, or anything that isn’t too snug. The can launcher has a picatinny grip below it to attach an accessory of your choice.

The launcher adaptor (golf ball attachment) can be easily threaded inside the can launcher and works with anything in 37 mm diameter. It allows you to launch golf balls, drone nets, smoke canisters, or anything that easily fits inside it.

The short foregrip is attached to the picatinny rail on the can launcher. It gives stability to the launcher and accuracy to the shots.

20 blanks give you a good kickstart to have an amusing experience.

When bought separately, this combo would cost you more than $250, but we have brought it at an affordable price in this combo.

AR-15 Utility Launcher – The Three-in-One Combo. Our second combo comes with the soda can launcher with picatinny rail, a short vertical foregrip, and 25 blanks. It does not include the golf ball attachment but is compatible with the attachment from F5. It comes in a 4+1 offer, meaning we send 5 for the price of 4 when you group buy them. This is a reasonably priced combo with three AR accessories in one single offer.

AR-15 Utility Launcher with Adaptor. This combo includes only the can launcher and the gold ball attachment. The can launcher does not have the picatinny rail. You can go for this combo when you do not want a foregrip or picatinny rail on the can launcher. The foregrip gives good stability to the launcher when attached to the AR lower. But, the launcher takes equally accurate shots even without the foregrip. You can hold the launcher with your non-grip hand and shoot. This combo too comes in a 4+1 offer.

AR-15 Utility Can Launcher. It totally fits the bill when you want only the soda can launcher from F5. It is compatible with our golf ball attachment and launches anything in 67 mm diameter. This too comes under the 4+1 offer.

Apart from black, our soda can launchers are also available in different colors.

Distressed American Flag – OD Green

Distressed American Flag – Magpul FDE

Distressed American Flag – Armor Black

The soda can launcher is a perfect accessory to have exciting fun on the range. The golf ball attachment further adds to the thrill. It is completely safe and adventurous for everyone and puts your AR to fun use. Be creative with the projectile options and see the adrenaline rush kick in no time.

Explore our best selling launchers

ComboSave27.9%Save $81.00Only$209.00

AR-15 Utility Launcher Complete Kit

Save27.9%Save $81.00Only$209.00

Rated 5.00 out of 5

Highly-demanded product. Ships in 10 days or less.

$290.00 $209.00

Combo

67mm AR-15 Utility (Can) Launcher With Picatinny Foregrip & 25 Blanks

Rated 4.88 out of 5

Highly-demanded product. Ships in 10 days or less.

$199.00

Combo

67mm AR-15 Utility (Can) Launcher With 37mm Adapter

Highly-demanded product. Ships in 10 days or less.

$189.00

Out of stock

F5 MFG Can Launcher Sight

Highly-demanded product. Ships in 10 days or less.

$59.00

F5 EssentialSave10.1%Save $20.00Only$179.00

67mm AR-15 Utility (Can) Launcher – Black

Save10.1%Save $20.00Only$179.00

Rated 5.00 out of 5

$199.00 $179.00

F5 Essential

M200 5.56 Blanks for all Launchers – 100 cartridges

$75.00

The post Extend the Use of Your AR with the Utility Launcher – The different Options from F5 appeared first on F5 MFG / F5 Manufacturing.

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f5manufacture · 3 years ago

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Fun Accessories for your AR 15: The Soda Can Launcher from F5

While the aftermarket for firearm accessories is a barrel (get the pun) full of exciting and fun stuff for AR users, one thing that all the AR shooters love is the ‘Soda Can Launcher from F5 MFG. Fully compliant, our series of launchers are the perfect accessory to raise the adrenaline rush. There’s nothing that satisfies the itch better when you want to have fun on the range with your AR, but you are not in the mood to shoot live rounds. It gives you the option to launch anything that comes to your imagination that fits inside the launcher. Here’s a deep dig down on how to work with the F5 can launcher and all the fun things you can do with it.

How Does the F5 Can Launcher Work?

The F5 can launcher just needs the AR 15 or the M16 lower receiver, BCG, and a charging handle to get in operational mode. You can also attach the optics on the upper Picatinny rail to enjoy night time shooting but imagine the fun when shooting without the optics in low light, quite the thrill.

It operates with a gas-ported barrel and a small tube capped from the bottom that prevents the live bullets from loading. When the blanks are fired, enormous gases are released from the vent holes around the small tube into the launcher tube to push any projectile of your choice except the actual bullets. It launches at a distance of 105 yards when shot at an optimum angle with the right spec blanks.

This can launcher launches anything from

Soda cans

Beer cans

Wine cans

Tennis balls

Paint cans

And, with the Golf Ball Attachment, it gets even more fun with

Golf balls

Drone nets

Smoke Canisters

What Does the F5 Can Launcher work with?

The soda can launcher from F5 comes as a stripped upper receiver and is compatible with your AR 15 and M16 rifles. It shoots with mil-spec M200 5.56 blanks. This launcher is not considered a firearm which means you can legally own and use it to have extreme fun on the range.

What is the F5 Can Launcher Made with?

F5 MFG is the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) on the soda can launchers. The F5 launchers are manufactured using state-of-the-art 5-axis CNC machining technology to create an extremely intricate product with high precision. The manufacturing process delivers quality finishing, exact intricate details, high performance, and perfect accuracy to the can launchers. The performance of this bad guy is so good that it sells like hotcakes.

Why are the Can Launchers from F5 better in Comparison to others in the Same Category?

There are many things that make F5 launchers the best of the lot. The top priority for any buyer is the product’s quality and performance. The F5 can launchers rank high on the quality index because of the high precision technology used to manufacture them. And because of its high quality, it outperforms every other can cannon on the range. Check out the video to see the F5 launcher in action. Here are some other reasons why this can launcher should be on your buying list

Worth the Buy. Compared to other can cannons, all the fun and action on the range comes at a reasonable price from F5.

Picatinny Rail. The F5 launchers also come with a small Picatinny rail on the bottom to attach the vertical foregrip (not included with the launcher) for better device control and better accuracy.

Golf Ball Attachment. The F5 can launchers are compatible with the golf ball attachment device that launches golf balls, drone nets, smoke canisters, or anything that fits inside it without being too snug. The golf ball attachment (sold separately) is also the original product of F5 MFG. The golf ball attachment is easy to install and uninstall with an internal thread.

Group Buy. Buying the can launchers from F5 could be a treat for your plus one friend. Yes, when you group buy four launchers, you get the fifth one free of cost, further reducing the overall cost of each piece.

If the F5 Can Launcher sounds like the perfect accessory to have a thrilling afternoon of launching any creative projectile that can pass through it, go ahead and buy it with complete confidence and see your routine shooting get the adventurous makeover.

The post Fun Accessories for your AR 15: The Soda Can Launcher from F5 appeared first on F5 MFG / F5 Manufacturing.

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f5manufacture · 3 years ago

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How to Build a California Compliant AR 15 Rifle!

The Golden State, California, is quite a strict one regarding gun laws. The state of California regulates the sale, ownership, use, and transfer of semi-automatic firearms, classifying them as ‘assault weapons.’ Although AR comes from (AR)ma Lite, California calls it an ‘Assault Rifle’ and establishes its gun laws based on the ‘Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989.’ This blog talks about the definition of a semi-automatic firearm (assault weapon) per California gun laws based on its characteristics, the different options to build a California compliant AR 15 rifle, and how you can build one.

The Definition of an Assault Weapon as Per California Gun Laws

California considers Senate Bill 23 (Statute of 1999) to determine semi-automatic firearms like the AR 15 rifle and other firearms as assault weapons. Effective since January 2000, the bill states an assault weapon as any of the following:

A semi-automatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:

A pistol grip.

A thumbhole stock.

A folding or telescoping stock.

A grenade launcher or flare launcher.

A flash suppressor.

A forward pistol grip.

A semi-automatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

A semi-automatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.

Let us go in detail through the features you cannot have on your AR 15 rifle if you do not want it to come under the assault weapon category in California or any other state that regulates them as assault weapons. But before that, check out the legal regulations states put on AR 15 rifle in our last blog, along with the parts needed to build AR 15 rifle.

If your AR 15 rifle has a detachable magazine, it cannot have

A Pistol Grip.

You cannot have a standard pistol grip as in all other firearms. You need to have a pistol grip where the web between your thumb and index finger rests above the exposed trigger area.

A Thumbhole Stock. You cannot have a stock with a thumbhole because the thumb of the trigger hand cannot pass through the stock when firing. This is because a thumbhole gives you a better grip on the rifle to keep it steady and take an accurate shot.

A Folding or Telescoping Stock. The one that folds onto the side so that the overall AR becomes smaller and easy to store when not in use is a folding stock. The one that collapses over to the buffer tube without changing its length or side is a telescoping stock, also called a collapsible stock.

A Grenade Launcher or a Flare Launcher. A grenade or flare launcher goes below the barrel and is used to launch grenades or flares.

A Flash Suppressor. A flash suppressor is a muzzle device that suppresses or hides the flash generated with each shot so that the user can take continuous shots without being blinded by them.

A Forward Pistol Grip. Because it gives more stability to the firearm and more accuracy to the shots, a forward pistol grip is banned in the state of California.

Your AR 15 rifle cannot have a fixed magazine that holds more than 10 rounds. It means you cannot have a magazine that accepts more than 10 rounds even if it is fixed.

Your AR 15 rifle cannot have an overall length of less than 30 inches. Being less than 30 inches in length would make the rifle easy to hold with accurate shots.

The Different Options to Build a California Compliant AR 15 Rifle

Following the features of the Assault Weapons ban as per the Senate Bill 23, you are left with either of the two options.

Go with a fixed 10-round magazine and have all the other features as any other regular AR 15 rifle.

Or, go Featureless with a detachable magazine of more than 10-rounds.

Let’s discuss the options…

Option 1. Going with a fixed 10-round magazine. The option to go with a fixed 10-round magazine allows you to use all the features of a regular AR 15 and still makes your rifle California compliant.

The ‘Bullet Button’ Roll Over

Back until 2017, AR builders in California used the ‘bullet button’ to work around the fixed magazine feature of the assault weapon ban. The bullet button was incorporated directly in the lower receiver, in the place of the factory mag release, and was so small that it could only be pushed with some kind of a tool to release the mag. It qualified the magazine as fixed since it required the use of a special tool to release the mag. This was until Senate Bill 880 was passed to curb the freedom of using the ‘bullet button’ for fixed mags.

Senate Bill 880 made clear that the user needs to disassemble the action in order to release the fixed magazine, not just with a bullet button. It cleared the air around the fixed magazine hack as “A fixed magazine is an ammunition feeding device contained in, or permanently attached to, a firearm in such a manner that the device cannot be removed without disassembly of the firearm action.”

This required the introduction of a device that disassembles the action meaning, separates the lower and upper receiver to release the magazine.

Introduction to MagLocks

The ban on bullet buttons gave rise to the invention of maglocks for AR. The maglock works with a rear takedown pin. It requires you to pull the takedown pin, separate the upper and lower receivers and push the magazine release to drop the mag. Some automatic maglocks require you to only pull the takedown pin, which separates the upper and lower receivers to automatically drop the magazine. The crux of working around a fixed magazine to make your AR California compliant is in separating the upper and lower receivers or disassembling the action, which until now runs with a maglock.

Option 2. Going with a detachable magazine more than 10-rounds – Featureless AR 15.

If you always fall on the detachable magazine side, your option to build your California Compliant AR 15 rifle is to go featureless or not equip your rifle with

A regular pistol grip.

A thumbhole stock.

A folding or telescoping stock.

A grenade launcher or flare launcher.

A flash suppressor.

A forward pistol grip.

You can go around the aftermarket for AR 15 parts to make your rifle California compliant and still enjoy some features. For example, you can replace the forward pistol grip with an angled foregrip or a handstop, but make sure the manufacturer calls it an angled foregrip or a handstop. Instead of a flash suppressor, you can use a thread protector or a muzzle brake/compensator, but again, make sure the manufacturer says so. The California compliant pistol grips for ARs are modified so that the web of your thumb and index finger rests above the exposed trigger. Explore the aftermarket for California compliant pistol grips. For a buttstock, you will need to get one that’s neither folding or collapsible. You can completely avoid the grenade or flare launcher.

Which Option to Go for?

It depends on your choice. However, the downside to a fixed magazine with a maglock is its inability to quickly release the magazine and clear the chamber during a malfunction. In case of a double feed, a missed feed, or any other malfunction when half of the bolt is locked in the buffer tube and the other half is locked in the upper receiver, you will need to perform a complete overhaul to fix this because you won’t be able to separate the lower and upper receivers to release the magazine. And if there’s a live round in the chamber, it would be totally unsafe to fix this. On the other hand, a featureless rifle with a detachable magazine eliminates the possibility of a long overhaul. But then, you will have to make yourself work with a rifle without many of the enjoyable features.

Wrapping Up

Those are the features that you cannot have in your AR 15 rifle if you’re building it in the state of California. Mostly, we’ve got all the features covered. But still, you should check with the state laws to confirm all the parts you cannot have in your AR 15 rifle if you are going for a featureless one.

The post How to Build a California Compliant AR 15 Rifle! appeared first on F5 MFG / F5 Manufacturing.

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f5manufacture · 4 years ago

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Buying or Building Your First AR! Here is How The AR 15 Rifle Works

In our last blog, we discussed the parts of an AR 15. Let us now take the discussion forward to the functioning of one of the most loved rifles in America – The AR 15.

Little Peek into the AR 15 History

The AR 15 was designed by Eugene Morrison Stoner in 1956 for ArmaLite to use for military operations, but because of less success of the model, ArmaLite sold this design to ‘Colt’s Manufacturing.’ In 1963, Colt manufacturing sold the fully-automatic military version of the rifle, the M-16 to the U.S. military. Because of the huge success of the full auto version, its semi-auto version, the AR 15 again came into production for law enforcement and the public. In the 1970s, Colt’s patents for the AR 15 expired, and that is when many other manufacturers started manufacturing AR 15 style rifles. Since then, different versions of the AR 15 like the semi-automatic rifle, the semi-auto carbine, or the AR15 pistol have been manufactured and famously sold in the US.

Firearm Safety

Before we get into the functioning of this amazing lightweight rifle, it is vital to go through some instructions everyone should follow for safe gun handling and to avoid any injuries or unforeseen circumstances.

Always treat any gun as a loaded one. If you treat any gun as a loaded one, you would be highly cautious around it and mindful of how you handle it. Not toying with your gun and treating it as a loaded one would get you into the habit of safe gun handling.

Always point the gun in a safe direction. Keeping it pointed in the safe direction will rule out damage to anyone or anything in case of an accidental discharge. This is equally important when you load or unload the gun.

Unload the gun when done using. It is always safe to unload your gun as soon as you are done practicing and keep the firearm and ammo secured in a safe place. Check the chamber and the receiver for any unfired round and keep it free of ammo when not using it.

Keep your finger away from the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Keeping your finger on the trigger when you are not ready to fire can have misfortunate circumstances. Do not keep your finger on the trigger till the time you are ready to shoot. This is one of the important rules of gun safety that every experienced shooter follows.

Be sure of your target and what’s behind the target. A majority of people use a firearm to target practice on the range besides self-protection or hunting. In any case, always be sure there’s nothing behind your target as the bullet may go right through the target and hit what’s behind it. This might hurt someone or damage anything that’s behind it.

Always keep your firearm on ‘safe’ when not using it. Although you cannot completely rely on the safety of your weapon for safe handling, keeping its safety on ‘safe’ is a step in the right direction.

Besides all the mentioned ones, there are many other safety rules you must follow while handling your weapon that could save you and others from uncertain situations. Let us now get into the details of how the AR 15 functions.

Loading the Ammunition in the Magazine

The first step to start shooting your AR is to load ammunition. Start by loading the magazine you intend to use with it. Use your dominant hand to load the rounds and your non-dominant hand to hold the magazine. When you see inside the magazine, it will have a plastic piece that stands on a spring. This is called the follower. The follower has the shape of the bullet it is supposed to hold. When you press this, it depresses the spring for the follower to go down. Start loading the rounds in the same shape as the follower. After loading every round, you need to lock it with a click using a little pressure to make sure it has fixed in its place. As you keep loading the rounds, the follower will keep going down until the magazine reaches its full capacity.

Check out our operating procedure to load and unload different types of magazines from F5 MFG.

Functioning of the AR 15

Inserting the Magazine

The first thing to start operating your AR is to insert the loaded magazine onto the gun. Before that, make sure the fire selector is in ‘safe’ position. Now, insert the magazine into the magwell, lock it with a click, and make sure its seated perfectly in the magwell.

Chambering the First Round

AR 15 fires from a closed bolt where every round is chambered as the bolt closes (locks). Loading the first round depends on whether or not the bolt is closed at the time of inserting the magazine. Now, there are two ways for this to happen.

If the bolt was open when inserting the magazine, push the bolt catch to close the bolt and chamber the first round.

If the bolt was already closed while loading the mag, you need to pull the charging handle to the rear and release it to chamber the first round. Pulling the charging handle would open the bolt and push it rearward. When you release the charging handle, the buffer spring inside the buttstock sends the BCG forward. The bolt takes the first round when it goes forward and locks in its place, ready to fire. The bolt also cocks the hammer and engages it with the disconnector when going rearward.

Usually, the magazine seats quite easily if the bolt is open. But if the bolt is closed, it might become a little harder to properly seat the magazine in the magwell. This is because the spring gets fully compressed if the magazine is filled to its full capacity. This is the reason some people never fill the magazine to its full capacity to leave some space for the mag to seat easily on a closed bolt.

Shooting The AR 15

Remember, the AR works on a gas impingement or direct impingement system. This means every cycle completes using the gases from the fired round.

Your gun is ready to fire only after the bullets are loaded, and the hammer is engaged to the sear by the bolt carrier’s forward movement. The action starts with pressing the trigger. The trigger cannot be pulled when the fire selector is in ‘safe’ position because the selector keeps it blocked from moving. First, move the fire selector to the ‘fire’ position, and you are ready to start shooting. Take the proper stance, rest the stock in between your chest and shoulders and press the trigger. As soon as you change the fire selector position to ‘fire,’ the recess on the selector moves to the position where you can easily pull the trigger.

How Does The AR 15 Trigger Works

Once the trigger is pulled, the hammer disengages from the sear and releases to hit the firing pin. After the shot is fired, the bolt carrier group moves rearward to release the spent casing and chamber a new round, it again cocks the hammer, and the disconnector locks it in place. Now when the trigger is released, the disconnector leaves the hammer while the hammer engages with the sear. The next pull of the trigger will again release the hammer to take the next shot.

The Main Function of the AR 15 – The Gas Impingement System

The hammer hits the firing pin. The firing pin strikes the primer at the rim of the bullet, which creates an explosion that ignites the propellant (gunpowder) inside the casing. The propellant, when ignited, reaches a temperature above 2000 degrees, creating a gas pressure inside the case. This pressure discharges the bullet from the casing through the barrel and out the muzzle at a speed of one km per second. The gases from the fired bullet leave through the gas port, enter the gas tube and leave the gas tube to enter the bolt carrier group. This enormous gas pressure moves the BCG rearward. The bolt then unlocks with the help of the cam pin and moves rearward to eject the spent casing through the ejection port cover. The buffer spring then again pushes the BCG forward. The bolt engages the hammer to the disconnector, takes a new round, and chambers it for the next shot while returning to its firing position. The bolt then locks in its place with the help of the cam pin. Then you leave the trigger, and the hammer is now engaged to the sear.

How Does the Bolt Locks And Unlocks

The cam pin is one of the parts of the Bolt Carrier Group (BCG) that does this. The cam pin moves left and right to rotate the bolt and lock it with its lugs onto the grooves on the barrel end. When the bolt moves rearward, the cam pin rotates the bolt and unlocks it to take the casing and eject it. When it comes back to its firing position, the cam pin again rotates and sets its lugs on the grooves after the bullet sits in its position.

How Does The Ejection of the Spent Casing Works

The extractor inside the BCG holds the bullet casing and preps the used casing to eject from the chamber. The spring-loaded ejector maintains the pressure on the casing. These two parts move the spent casing from the barrel extension and out the ejection port.

The Role of The Forward Assist

The residue from the fired shot leaves deposits on the inner walls of the firearm. This could create a problem for BCG to move forward and load the round because of increased friction with the upper receiver. This happens especially when you do not clean or field strip the firearm regularly. If, in any case, the BCG does not work correctly, the forward assist can help. The inner end of the forward assist works with the notches on the BCG to move it forward. The continuous push of the forward assist again locks the bolt to its position.

How Does the Bolt Stays Open After Spending All The Rounds

After all the rounds are fired, the follower on the magazine engages with the bolt catch to hold the bolt in the open position (Rearward). When you load the next magazine and push the bolt catch, the bolt will move forward, take the first round, and lock.

This is how the AR 15 works. Check out F5 MFG for AR parts made with utmost precision using the latest CNC manufacturing technology to help increase the performance of your AR. Keep an eye on our next blog that talks about the legalities of AR in different states of the US, along with the different rounds of magazines your state allows.

The post Buying or Building Your First AR! Here is How The AR 15 Rifle Works appeared first on F5 MFG / F5 Manufacturing.

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f5manufacture · 4 years ago

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Buying or Building your First AR! Here’s a Complete Guide to the Parts of an AR 15

The AR-15 is one of the most popular rifles in America and also one of the best defensive and dependable firearms, well of course, apart from being the best sporting rifle. This is F5 MFG’s series of blogs on ‘AR for beginners’ who are looking to buy or make an AR for the first time. Through this series of blogs, we will talk in detail about the parts, functioning, legalities, different versions, differences between these versions, and everything in between you should know about your AR.

This blog talks about the anatomy of an AR-15 or the different parts that constitute your AR-15 rifle. While you can buy a complete rifle from the gun store, you can also build this highly customizable firearm yourself from the ground up. To make this incredibly flexible, accurate, and easy-to-use firearm, you need to have a thorough understanding of its parts and the different accessories available to customize the firearm as per the configuration you like. Even when you go to the gun store to buy a factory-made AR, you need to have full knowledge of its parts and configuration to buy the best one as per your need. Let us dive into the detailed explanation of every part of an AR-15.

But before that, there are few things to note:

AR is a platform to manufacture rifles and pistols (or handguns), developed by ArmaLite, which is where the rifle gets its name from. AR comes from the first two letters of ArmaLite and 15 denotes the 15th design of the AR series, hence the name AR15.

Many firearm manufacturers now make their own version of an AR and its different parts.

An AR can be a rifle or a pistol depending on its barrel length and shoulder stock.

A standard configuration AR-15 famously sold in the US is a semi-automatic rifle, or a semi-auto carbine (rifle with a shortened barrel), or an AR15 pistol (with a short barrel less than 16” and without a stock).

The semi-auto rifle or pistol means you can shoot only one round with one pull of the trigger, unlike a fully automatic rifle or pistol that keeps shooting rounds until the trigger is pressed or the magazine is empty.

While there are other versions of an AR rifle, like the AR-10, AR-50, or AR-47, we will specifically talk about the AR-15 in this blog.

Let us now understand the different parts of a standard configuration of an AR-15.

Different parts of an AR-15

The AR-15 consists of an Upper Receiver and a Lower Receiver. Let us first talk about the parts in an upper receiver.

Upper Receiver of an AR15

The Parts in a Complete Upper Receiver of an AR15

The upper receiver consists of parts like a stripped upper (assembled upper with forward assist and ejection port/dust cover), bolt carrier group, charging handle, barrel, gas block, gas tube, handguard, and a muzzle device, as in the image above. The upper receiver is attached with the lower receiver to form a complete AR, ready to shoot. Let us see the different parts of a complete upper receiver.

Stripped/Assembled Upper. An assembled upper comes with the forward assist and a dust cover. It goes on the bolt carrier group and the charging handle. On one side, it is attached to the barrel and the handguard, while on the other, with the stock. Check out F5MFG’s assembled upper with Picatinny rails and dust cover from Strike Industries. You can also check out F5MFG’s stripped upper without forward assist or dust cover. It comes dust cover ready but does not include one.

Barrel. The barrel is the most important part of an AR. It is responsible for good accuracy and excellent velocity of your shots. The barrel should be more or equal to 16” because if the barrel length is less than 16”, your rifle will be called a ‘short-barreled rifle’ and you will be committing a felony if you build it without the NFA paperwork and the federal tax stamp. Check out our ultimate guide if you wish to apply for a tax stamp. Or, if you want a barrel less than 16”, the best you can do is buy or make an AR15 pistol, without a buttstock.

The other things you need to measure when selecting the barrel are its weight, handling, material and lining, rifling method, gas system, and chamber dimension. Apparently, button rifling or cold-hammer-forged are two of the best rifling methods to manufacture highly accurate and reliable barrels for your AR rifle, but these are also on the expensive and heavier side. Overall, make sure your barrel can tolerate aggressive firing if you make a decision to practice at least 100 rounds a week at the range.

Bolt Carrier Group. The AR15 is a gas-operated semi-auto rifle that has a bolt carrier group that works on a direct impingement gas system. The bolt carrier group is responsible for the semi-automatic function of your rifle. It has a bolt, cam pin, firing pin, extractor, carrier key/gas key.

The BCG is responsible for loading the rounds in the chamber, firing them with each pull of the trigger, and finally ejecting the spent bullet casing from the chamber. The BCG does this by using the gases from the fired cartridge and directing it through the barrel towards the gas block, into the gas tube, and to the bolt carrier or the side assembly for every cycle to complete while ejecting the used casing and loading a new round. The direct impingement gas system makes the rifle more accurate, lighter, and less expensive to build. You can buy an assembled BCG or buy the parts and assemble them together. Check out F5 MFG’s bolt carrier group (BCG) for AR15. This assembled piece comes with a charging handle and is priced affordably at $139.

Gas Block. It is the gas system that operates the cycling of an AR. The gas block maintains how much gas leaves the barrel and enters the gas tube and the receiver to push the BCG rearward for proper cycling. A standard factory-fitted gas block works fine for the factory-bought AR but when building the AR, you work with different weights of BCG or buffer. This is why you should go for a gas block that fulfills the purpose. You can go for a standard gas block that fits perfectly with the barrel or go for an adjustable gas block that can

Control the amount of gases entering the gas tube.

Use the exact force to push the BCG backward.

Control the gunk build-up on the inner walls of the gas system, upper receiver, and other parts.

Decrease recoil for even quicker cycling of the rifle.

The adjustable gas block might take more time to operate and clean but it would definitely make cleaning the firearm a less tiring task. You need to have a good know-how of the method of gas block mounting too. There are three mounting types for gas blocks – pinning (taper pins or straight pins), set screws, and clamp-on. Go for the one that solves your purpose and does not put much pressure on the barrel.

Gas Tube. The gas tube is connected to the gas block and allows the gas to pass through to the bolt carrier group. You need to buy the gas tube as per the length of your barrel namely rifle-length, mid-length, carbine-length, and pistol-length.

Charging Handle. The charging handle helps to chamber the first round to make your AR ready for use. The shooter does so by pulling the charging handle until the position where it can no longer be stretched and then letting it go with full force to load the first round in the chamber. The charging handle basically pulls the BCG rearward and strikes the hammer while making the BCG ready to pick a round and chamber it. It also helps when the AR malfunctions. You can do so by pulling the charging handle, releasing the faulty cartridge, and loading a new one.

There are three types of charging handles. The type of charging handle you should get depends on your usage.

Standard Charging Handle. This is the most standardized cocking handle for an AR. It is a cheaper option when you want to get the job done without any fancy stuff.

Ambidextrous Charging Handle. Often referred to as a tactical charging handle, this type of charging handle is great for left-handed as well as right-handed shooters because it can be accessed from both sides of the firearm.

Extended Charging Handle. This type of charging handle is great for shooters who wear gloves while shooting because it comes with an extended latch that is easy to grab and pull when wearing gloves or during night shooting.

Gas Buster Charging Handle. While using a suppressor, the gases blow back on the shooter’s face through the charging handle channel. A gas buster charging handle helps in mitigating or diverting the gases away from the shooter’s face.

Forward-Assist.

This feature is included in the ARs to make them more reliable. An AR works on a gas impingement system. These gases leave behind dirt, grime, and carbon deposit. If you do not clean the rifle after every use, the bolt carrier group may become dirty with carbon deposits and malfunction. It might not close properly and fail to load the round in the chamber. Another reason why the cartridge might not load is because of a bad round. A faulty spring is yet another reason why BCG fails to return to the battery. This is where forward assist can help you in pushing the bolt carrier group forward and placing it in its ready position while loading the round in the chamber. However, most of the shooters do not use it and find it as a useless feature on the AR. In the end, it comes to your personal preference whether you add the forward assist to your AR or not.

Ejection Port Cover or Dust Cover.

Located on the right side of the AR, the ejection port cover ejects the used casing out of the firearm after the bullet is fired. The ejection port cover is always left open when you are using the firearm. Other times, when the firearm is not being used, this port is always closed to protect the bolt carrier group from dust. And we need not tell you what even a little bit of dust can do to your rifle performance. This is where dust cover helps you. You only need to keep the dust cover closed when not using the rifle so as to keep the BCG protected from dust.

Handguard. As the name says, a handguard keeps your hands protected from the heat generated while continuous shooting. It works like a cover for the barrel and is also used to hold and support the rifle with a non-firing hand. There are two types of handguards you can go for; drop-in or floating handguards.

Drop-in handguards are usually cheap, easy to install, lightweight, and generally made with polymer. They come with a heat shield just below the polymer that is made with aluminum or steel to keep the polymer protected from the heat. But, the only drawback to this type of handguard is it can affect the accuracy of the rifle because of its design that goes to the forward part of the barrel with a handguard cap. They come equipped with mounting systems like Picatinny.

Floating handguards are mostly made with aluminum, are more costly than drop-in handguards, and do not extend till the forward of the barrel meaning they will never affect the accuracy of your AR. Floating handguards too come equipped with mounting systems like Picatinny, M-Lok, and Keymod to mount slings, sights, lasers, lights, bipods, forward grips, and other accessories.

Few things to consider before buying the best handguard for your AR are its mounting options, weight, accuracy, heat resistance, price, and ease of installation. Remember you will mount certain accessories on your AR for which you need the best mounting system and the accessories you buy will also need to fit on the type of mounting your handguard has. The accessories will also increase the weight of the firearm so make sure you buy something you are comfortable with, probably a lighter one. The handguard should also be easy to install and uninstall as you might want to clean your AR as and when you use it. Choose the handguard accordingly.

Muzzle Devices. There are many kinds of muzzle devices like compensators, suppressors, flash hiders, and muzzle brakes to tame recoil, prevent muzzle climb/barrel rise, cool and disperse the burning gases, and controlling the sound of the gunshot.

Compensators. Every shot fired leads to a muzzle rise or barrel rise from recoil. This impacts the accuracy and speed of the firearm to make itself ready for the follow-up shot. Compensators help compensate for the muzzle rise, meaning they divert the gases produced during firing to the vents on the sides and upward and lets them out. This way compensators help control muzzle rise which in turn improves the accuracy of the shots. This also allows the shooter to take quick follow-up shots.

Muzzle brake. The muzzle brake helps tame recoil while continuous or rapid firing by venting the gases out from the sides of the muzzle brake. Both compensator and muzzle brake work alike by venting the gases out of the barrel, the difference being compensators help control muzzle rise and muzzle brake helps tame recoil. Muzzle brakes, too make the firearm more accurate and quicker to fire the follow-up round.

Flash Hiders. When the projectile exits the barrel, the unspent gunpowder, and high-temperature gases leave behind a trail of combustion that comes out of the barrel. Flash hider works by suppressing this combustion giving a clear vision to the shooter. Flash hiders are a helpful accessory especially in low light or no light conditions.

Suppressors. Officially called silencers, suppressors help by reducing the sound of the gunshot. They do this by slowing the release of the propellant gases and transforming the sound of the gunshot into heat.

There are many styles and designs for every type of muzzle device for an AR. Choose as per your budget, the size of the muzzle, and your specific needs.

The Parts in a Complete Lower Receiver of an AR15

The lower receiver includes stripped lower, lower parts kit, trigger, buffer kit, magazine, buttstock, pistol grip, and all other necessary parts like safety selector, bolt catch, and foregrip. Like the upper receiver, you have the option to buy a complete lower receiver and throw it on the upper receiver to complete your AR. Let us talk about different lower receiver parts.

Stripped Lower.

The lower receiver comes with the fire control group, which includes trigger, magazine eject, safety, and bolt release. There are two ways you can obtain a lower receiver.

Buy a complete stripped lower.

Build from an 80% lower receiver.

The stripped lower receiver is legally considered the firearm itself and regulated by the ATF with a serial number. Why? This is because the lower receiver of the firearm can be easily and readily converted to expel the projectile. You will need to buy the stripped lower and have it shipped to the FFL licensee. Only after undergoing a thorough background check can you have the lower receiver shipped to you. We will leave the legalities of a lower receiver to another blog. You can also buy an 80% lower receiver and complete it yourself. Buying this won’t require an FFL license as it is not considered a firearm and is manufactured at home for personal use. 80% receivers require a drill press or precision jig to complete them. Check our F5 MFG’s 80% lower receiver along with the machining jig to complete your 80% lower receiver from F5.

AR 15 works with different calibers of ammo, the most common being .223/5.56 x 45. It does not depend on the lower receiver what caliber ammo you use. Just mount a different upper and you are good to use different calibers.

Lower Parts Kit. It will have all the parts that will help you to complete your lower receiver like a bolt catch – plunger, spring, roll pin, the hammer – pin and spring, takedown detents and springs, disconnector and disconnector spring, pivot pins and detents, a safety selector – detents and detent spring, the mag catch and button, and other hardware. Buy a quality lower parts kit from a renowned manufacturer so that you can always rely on your weapon.

Trigger.

The trigger is one of the most important parts of a rifle because this part is the one that helps shoot your AR and become a pro shooter over time. The trigger group consists of a trigger, disconnector, hook, hammer, sear, pins, and springs. You can buy the trigger in the lower parts kit or separately as the trigger group. Always buy a trigger group as per your requirement. Nonetheless, it should be reliable, dependable, and accurate. An accurate rifle should have a smooth trigger pull, neither too light nor too heavy. A trigger with a heavy pull weight won’t be accurate and faster as your hands would shake when you try to exert more pressure on the trigger, ultimately missing the target while, a lighter trigger stands a chance of negligent firing.

Majorly, there are two kinds of triggers – single-stage triggers and two-stage triggers. All the rifle triggers fall under either of these two categories but with different weights, styles, shapes, and materials.

Single-Stage Trigger. This is the standard mil-spec trigger that you get in an AR15 when you buy it as a complete rifle. Single-stage trigger fires as and when you pull the trigger. In other words, it’s just a single pull until you reach a specific pressure where the hammer releases and hits the firing pin, and the round is fired. A new shooter should go for the single-stage trigger until they become an expert to use the two-stage trigger.

Two-Stage Trigger. A two-stage trigger comes with a custom disconnector and two hooks on the hammer in spite of one hook as in the case of a single-stage trigger. This means the hammer hooks at two places with the disconnector before hitting the firing pin. A two-stage trigger uses a little force until it reaches a wall and then some more pressure would complete the shot.

Binary Trigger. When you want to experience a somewhat full-auto fire on a semi-auto rifle, you can get a binary trigger for your AR. Binary trigger shots the first round on the pull of the trigger and another when releasing it. Binary triggers have a higher rate of firing. Binary triggers need a lot of practice before you can use them. There are some state restrictions on buying and using a binary trigger. Check for your state laws before adding one to your AR 15.

Adjustable Trigger. These are the ones on which you can adjust the trigger pull weight by adjusting the take. The minimum weight of your trigger pull should be 3-4 lbs, it won’t be too light or too heavy.

Drop-in Trigger. Drop-in triggers come pre-assembled in a cassette type housing and need to be dropped in the lower receiver, hence the name ‘drop-in.’ They do not create any take-ups, stacking issues, over-travel, or creep. They are easy to install and come in as a single-stage, two-stage, binary, and adjustable trigger. The adjustable ‘drop-in’ trigger would only allow you to adjust to different preset trigger weights.

Buffer Tube/Buffer. Also known as the receiver extension, the buffer tube is a metal tube that houses the buffer and the buffer spring. Buffer absorbs the recoil when the round is fired. Buffer tube goes from the receiver to the stock to work as an attachment system for the stock. Buffer also helps the bolt move back and forth to eject the used cartridge and load a new one. The bolt moves back with the gas from firing and goes back forward by the action of the buffer. Buffers come in different weights, sizes, and housings. The weight of the buffer is critical to the smooth functioning of the bolt carrier group. The different weights for a buffer are

Carbine – 3 oz

Heavy (H) – 3.8 oz

H2 – 4.6 oz – 4.7 oz

H3 – 5 oz to 5.4 oz

HSS – 6.5 oz

Get the one that’s heavy, but not too much, to allow your rifle to take a full cycle without any error. If your rifle is able to lock with an empty magazine, it means it has a good buffer weight. The best way to find a suitable buffer is by loading a single round in the mag and checking if it locks many times in a row. Also, make sure you go with the exact size that goes for your AR 15 rifle.

Buttstock. Also called the shoulder stock, the buttstock is the part that is attached to the firing mechanism at the end of the rifle. The stock rests on the shooter’s shoulder for support to the rifle and accuracy in shots. Shouldering the rifle from the stock also helps to control muzzle rise by transmitting the recoil to the shooter’s body, well then, of course, there are many other parts to control muzzle rise. There are two kinds of buttstocks, fixed and adjustable stocks.

Fixed Stock. As the name says, fixed stocks are permanently fixed to the rifle unless and until you change them or field strip the rifle. Fixed stocks are rigid and sturdy and offer good accuracy and stability to the weapon because you become used to the same sized weapon every time you use it, in the end making you adjust to the stock’s specs.

Adjustable Stock. Adjustable stocks can be adjusted as per the length of pull you prefer. They adjust to 6-7 different positions depending on the brand you use. This makes the weapon more versatile to use and easy to carry.

Stocks come in different enhanced shapes and sturdy materials along with features like a replaceable buttpad, rounded cheek weld, QD sling socket, and more. It totally depends on your personal preference what kind of stock you prefer on your AR. The market gives you innumerable options to choose from. Get the one best suited to your needs and preferences.

Magazine. A magazine is the part that holds the cartridges. The magazine should be selected as per the firearm manufacturer, model, caliber, and capacity. This means a magazine which is compatible with your rifle will accept the cartridge with a caliber that the rifle can chamber, that fits with your firearm’s brand and its model. You should also consider if the mag is easy to feed, disassembles easily, and works flawlessly. There are different capacity magazines but civilians usually go for 20 rounds, 30 rounds, or large capacity magazines with 50 rounds and 100 rounds. It, however, depends on your state and local laws if you can use high-capacity magazines or not. You can either buy a

Polymer Magazines. They are lightweight, reliable, heat-resistant, do not rust, and work in almost every weather condition. Some polymer magazines also come with a transparent window which allows you to see how many rounds you are left with. Polymer magazines generally do not have deformed feed lips and work well unless and until they are broken, they become completely useless.

Aluminum or Metal Magazine. They are highly durable with their metal feed lips that work without any error. However, make sure you check the feed lips of any magazine you buy to be sure of any deformity. They are reliable, robust, lightweight, and can resist heat when coated with a heat-resistant material.

The magazine of an AR 15 fits with a caliber according to the make and model of the rifle. Usually, the AR 15 mags are chambered for .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO. Check out F5 MFG’s 5.56/.223/.300 AR-15 50 rounds drum magazine. It’s a robust, reliable, and a high performance magazine.

Grip. Yes of course, you hold your rifle with the grip. A perfect grip ensures rifle’s accuracy, better management of recoil, and a good shooting experience. There are two kinds of grips on an AR 15 rifle.

Pistol Grip. Pistol grip is the one on the lower receiver. Your trigger hand holds the pistol grip which is why it needs to be the perfect one that you are comfortable with. There is a huge aftermarket for grips, find the best one that feels comfortable in your hand and gives you the best hold.

Foregrip. Apart from holding the rifle with the pistol grip, a shooter needs to keep a firm hold of the long barrel of the rifle with their other hand. Yes, that can be done with the handguard. But if you can legally use the foregrip on a rifle, then why not? The foregrip gives a much better control on the rifle and recoil. Well, because two are always better than one, right? Check out the vertical foregrip from F5 MFG that allows for the ambidextrous use, picatinny mounting deck, and storage compartment.

Those are the parts that make up your AR 15, buy the rifle as a complete gun or make one at home. F5 MFG offers a wide range of AR 15 parts and accessories that help you make a complete rifle from ground up. Stay tuned for our next blog where we discuss the functioning of this amazing rifle.

The post Buying or Building your First AR! Here’s a Complete Guide to the Parts of an AR 15 appeared first on F5 MFG / F5 Manufacturing.

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f5manufacture · 4 years ago

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Difference between a Braced Pistol and a Short Barrelled Rifle

Amid the ongoing confusion amongst braced pistol owners regarding the classification of weapons with stabilizing braces, the BATF, on Sept 7 2021, has finalized the comment period for “The Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached “Stabilizing Braces.” The new and contradictory proposed regulations evaluate firearms equipped with a stabilizing brace to determine whether these weapons would be considered a rifle or a short-barreled rifle under the Gun Control Act of 1968 subject to regulation under the NFA act.

Why contradictory? Because

ATF itself approved the stabilizing brace in 2012

Disavowed the approval in 2015

Reversed the 2015 regulation, commenting that the stabilizing brace does not qualify for an SBR, even if shouldered or not.

ATF has yet again opened discussions on stabilizing braces and is inviting comments from people before making final regulations on categorizing stabilized pistols as rifles or SBRs. While your stabilizing brace pistol is still a pistol, away from the legal formalities of an SBR, but it might not be one in the coming months. Before that, it is important that you know the exact difference between a stabilized pistol and an SBR, especially if you are a beginner. This blog will discuss all the technical and legal differences between a stabilizing brace pistol and an SBR. Note that a stabilizing brace is generally attached to AR pistols, AK pistols, pistol version of the pistol caliber carbine, and other pistol-style guns.

Differences between a pistol brace and an SBR

Technically, there is no significant difference between the two firearms but still, a vast difference between the legal technicalities that each of them is categorized differently. For the unversed, let us first elaborate what is a stabilizing brace?

A Stabilizing Brace

Stabilizing brace is a device that attaches to the back of the firearm and helps in stabilizing heavier handheld weapons to shoot with one hand easily. Originally, a stabilizing brace was designed to help a disabled army veteran easily shoot an AR with one hand. The brace attaches via the velcro strap or the loop to the shooter’s forearm for improved performance. It also comes in hook style or a blade style that rests against the shooter’s forearm.

A Short Barreled Rifle

A short-barreled rifle is a firearm with a rifled barrel less than 16 “ and an overall length less than 26”. The main component that differentiates an SBR from a braced pistol is a buttstock. Without a stock, it’s not an SBR, it’s a pistol. A buttstock or, simply stock, is a device that is also attached at the end of the firearm to shoulder the weapon for stability and control. The stock can be fixed, folding, or telescoping. It can also be detached from the firearm. The stock is made with either wood, metal, or polymer.

The significant difference between a stabilizing brace pistol and an SBR is the use of the stabilizing device. A short-barreled rifle is attached with a stock that the shooter shoulders when firing using both hands. On the other hand, a stabilizing brace on the pistol is attached to the shooter’s forehand for stability, control, and accuracy. Both the devices help in getting better control on the weapon and taking precision shots.

Legal Differences

ATF keeps changing its stance on the purported use of the stabilizing brace. As per ATF, you cannot shoulder the brace like a stock as it changes the intended use of the firearm and classifies the pistol as the SBR. This clear yet unclear rule from ATF keeps changing from time to time. Sometimes, ATF says shouldered or not, it does not alter the intended use and vice-versa.

Although the barrel length is the same in an SBR and a braced pistol, it is the buttstock that puts the firearm under the SBR category and the firearm with the attached stabilizing brace under the pistol category.

To acquire an SBR, you need to pay a $200 tax fee and go through a proper background check and paperwork to get it registered with the ATF while getting a pistol and attaching it to the stabilizing brace does not require any major paperwork or tax fee. You can get the pistol brace in no time, but getting an SBR will generally take around a year for all the formalities to get done.

Since the pistol brace is not registered with the ATF, you can easily carry it anywhere, but the SBR cannot be taken across the state lines without the permission of the ATF. You need to fill the form 5320.20 to take permission from ATF to transport your SBR across state lines.

It is illegal to do any modifications to your stabilizing brace, even replacing set screws with thumb screws. You will be treated as a felon if found guilty of doing so, as any modifications to the pistol brace redesigns the pistol and changes its intended purpose, turning it into an SBR.

You cannot use a vertical foregrip on your pistol because it turns the firearm to be fired with both hands and changes the intended use of the pistol. This will classify the pistol as an ‘AOW’ (any other weapon), putting restrictions on transporting it across state lines, just like an SBR.

Conclusion

All the responsible braced pistol owners bought the firearm when it’s legal. If ATF decides to classify it as a rifle or a short-barreled rifle, you wouldn’t have any other option than to get your braced pistol registered or dispose of it. We suggest getting it registered as ATF has waived off the $200 tax stamp for those who get it registered, if the rule is imposed.

Every shooting lover or the owner of a legal braced pistol opposes this proposed rule. One such oppose was seen on June 10 from Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, who opposed the proposed rule calling the move as unconstitutional. On the other hand, many people also feel it might be a violation of our second amendment act too.

The 90 days comment period keeps the future of pistol braces under the dark cloud. If the proposed rule comes into existence, the pistol owners will go through a long procedure to get the firearm registered. At the same time, it would be a lengthy procedure for ATF to register more than 4 million pistol braces floating in the US market.

The post Difference between a Braced Pistol and a Short Barrelled Rifle appeared first on F5 MFG / F5 Manufacturing.

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f5manufacture · 4 years ago

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Make Yourself Heard with Your Comments on the BATF Proposed Ruling

Nine years ago, the BATF established that attaching stabilizing braces to pistols or any other firearm serves a legal function. These firearms were not subject to the provisions of the National Firearms Act (NFA). Since then, the BATF has continued changing its stance over the legal use of pistol braces. On June 7, 2021, the BATF published the “Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached Stabilizing Braces,” attacking the constitutional right of the American citizens.

The Proposed Ruling

In its new proposed ruling 2021R-08, the BATF intentionally targets legalized stabilizing braces with the aforementioned rules intended to bring the future of pistol stabilizing braces to a predetermined outcome. The new proposed regulations are divided into three sections. The first section aims at the weight of the firearm, which needs to be at least four pounds , and the length should be between 12 to 26 inches. A firearm moves to the second section only if it passes the first criteria. In the second section, the brace is evaluated on specific parameters and features. The third section evaluates the entire firearm with the brace for some other features, design, and intent. A point system covers the second and third sections via ‘worksheet 4999.’ If any firearm scores a total above 4 points (hardly any firearm would score four or below), it will be classified as a ‘short-barreled rifle.’ The owner of the braced pistol will be considered a felon till the time they register their firearms with a $200 tax, or remove the brace, destroy the firearm, or give it up to the BATF.

The Criticism

No pistol brace lover is in favor of the new proposed regulations. Many representatives, senators, attorney general, and millions of law-abiding braced pistol owners criticize the proposed ruling.

On June 24, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Rep. Ashley Hinson, and Rep. Randy Feenstra, among others from the House of Representatives, signed a letter opposing the ban. They pointed to the war veterans who still enjoy recreational shooting, citing reasons that the proposed ban poses potential penalties making them felons overnight if they decide to not turn in the pistol to the BATF, or pay $200 tax fees. They said this ruling is an infringement of every American’s Second Amendment right. They also said that the ruling imposes direct taxes on those war veterans.

Also, on June 24, Senator John Kennedy and 47 other Republican senators too condemned the Justice Department and the BATF for their proposed ruling on stabilizing braces, citing similar reasons.

On June 10, Attorney General of Texas, Ken Paxton, opposed the BATF’s proposed ruling on stabilizing braces citing reasons that the ruling infringes every American citizen’s right to the second amendment.

Post Your Comments Effectively and Make Yourself Heard

The proposed regulations on pistol stabilizing braces are not something any legal brace lover likes to see but we do have an opportunity to fight back. Thankfully, the US constitution allows everyone the right to have their voices and opinions voiced, and often heard. The best way to let the BATF hear your voice and opinion is by effectively posting your comments online, via mail, or fax. Let us elaborate on the best way to effectively post your comments on the proposed regulations by the BATF.

First and foremost, this proposed ruling is separate from the previous pistol brace rulings. The comments posted during initial rulings will not be considered for this one. You have to post new comments in this ruling (2021R-08) for them to be considered.

Stay On Point. The proposed rule 2021R-08 is specifically targeted towards stabilizing braces on pistols and other firearms to be classified as ��rifles.’ Talking about ‘frame or receivers’ from the proposed ruling 2021R-05 won’t make any sense in this proposed ruling (however these tenets are applicable to that situation as well). Such comments will be marked irrelevant and thrown out of context by the BATF. Talk about things relevant to this proposed rulemaking.

How subjective is this ruling in nature, and how it looks like the BATF has intentionally planned to remove pistol braces from the market with a predetermined outcome of its future and that this proposed rulemaking is merely a formality?

How the ruling would directly affect the law-abiding pistol brace owners, instead of bringing the crime rate down.

How the proposed ruling is complex and contradictory as per the BATF’s previous stabilizing brace approval.

You could also relay your feelings about how worksheet 4999 is so absurdly written that adding or changing the magazine or adding or removing a sight would add further points and could make a gun fall out of compliance.

Be Real. While it’s convenient to remain anonymous when posting comments for proposed rulings like this, it will not be good for the impact you want to bring to the ruling. Using a real name would help your comment count, as no official regards comments written under any fake name. We advise refraining from using any alias name, imaginary name, or name other than your real name. It’s always better to stay away from name-calling or using obscene language as it would only work against the judgment we want the BATF to come to. Being precise and clear with strong points to hold on to is always better when posting comments for such rulings.

Be original, factual, and logical. Write in the comments your own opinion on the matter and how you think, maybe bring up that the proposed ruling is vague in nature and completely based on the BATF’s previous unilateral rulemaking. Copying anyone’s comments or flooding the comment section with the same comments written differently would not make any sense. The BATF will completely ignore such comments. Politely add your thoughts on the proposed ruling. Be precise and respectful while mentioning all the logical facts on how the BATF plans to turn legal pistol brace owners into criminals overnight when it legalized the braces in the first place.

Spread the word. Use social media and personal connections to create awareness on the issue at hand. Talk about how the BATF plans to infringe their second amendment rights instead of working to curb the crime. Tell your friends and family to comment on the proposed rule as well in the same way.

Pistol stabilizing braces were invented and approved for disabled war veterans who couldn’t hold heavy handheld weapons with one hand. It promises to improve the performance and the stability of the firearm. The BATF itself legalized it for the same reasons. Unfortunately, some criminal minds misused the pistol brace for wrong reasons. But, jeopardizing the right of the law-abiding pistol brace owners and war veterans for the deeds of a few criminal minds isn’t justified. On top of that, the BATF’s proposed regulations are complex and at the same time rather vague, leaving some room for interpretation, with the BATF mentioning in the ruling if the brace incorporates shoulder stock design “features”.

Remember, right now the only direct way to counteract this regulation is by posting effective comments based on facts, logic, and real-world effects of the regulation. Be respectful, polite, and to the point when commenting, and hopefully, logic can prevail when we as a firearms community work together.

The post Make Yourself Heard with Your Comments on the BATF Proposed Ruling appeared first on F5 MFG / F5 Manufacturing.

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f5manufacture · 4 years ago

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June 7 Pistol Brace Ruling

In another attempt to restrict the right of the American people to bear and keep arms, ATF has once again published in the federal register, “Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached Stabilizing Braces.” Signed by Biden’s Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, the document of the proposed rules (2021R-08) is based on Joe Biden’s executive decree that asks the ATF to clarify the position of stabilizing pistol braces.

The Proposed Rule and The Worksheet

The proposed rule aims at evaluating firearms equipped with a stabilizing brace to determine whether the firearm would be considered a ‘braced pistol’ or an ‘SBR’ under the Gun Control Act of 1968, subject to regulation under the National Firearms Act. This document is open for public comments for 90 days. It is very closely related to the document published in late December 2020 with little to no changes.

The only significant change from the December 2020 proposed ruling is of the ‘Worksheet 4999’ that allows firearm owners to evaluate their ‘braced pistol’ as per ATF guidelines.The worksheet aims to “score” the firearm. If this score exceeds 4, the gun needs to be registered as a Short Barrel Rifle, and if the score is less than 4, the firearm is considered a braced pistol. ATF has now placed all the clear and unclear guidelines from over the years into a single worksheet to give a better ‘clarity’ as it pertains to this matter. However, these are so severe that most of the braced pistols in the US are sure to become illegal if this ruling is forced upon gun owners.

The Contradictory ‘Intended Use’

The new proposed rules take into account not just the design of the firearm with an attached stabilizing brace but also its intended use by the consumer. In 2015, the ATF stated their opinion that stabilizing brace, when shouldered, changes the intended use of the firearm. But, later retracted their statement a year down the road establishing the fact that shouldered or not, a brace does not change the intended use of the firearm and that the owner “misusing (apparently)” the brace isn’t part of their ability to regulate. However, ATF now targeting the intended use of the braced pistol is a radical change from their previous statements.

The Accessory Characteristics

After a firearm has passed the prerequisite of weighing a minimum of 64 ounces with an Overall Length between 12 and 26 inches, it will be rigorously checked for its accessories not to have the characteristics that qualify it for an SBR.

Accessory Design. The more features of the stabilizing brace design resemble the design of the shoulder stock, the more points it will get.

Braces with no design matching feature with the stock won’t score any point.

A brace with one or more design features that match the design of the stock will score one point, and

The brace, which is the modified version of a stock, will score two points.

Rear Surface Area. The rear surface area of the stabilizing brace in similarity with stock is yet another characteristic that ATF aims to analyze.

The rear surface area that makes the brace impossible to shoulder wouldn’t score any points.

The minimal rear surface area that makes it possible to shoulder would score one point.

A sufficient area to shoulder the brace would get it 2 points.

A brace that uses material clearly designed to increase rear surface area to make it shoulder the firearm would score 3 points.

Adjustability. As per ATF, the adjustability feature comes only with weapons that are meant to be fired from the shoulder.

Firearms with the non-adjustable stabilizing brace will score o points.

The ones with the adjustable brace will score 2 points.

Stabilizing Support. Support is the primary function for which stabilizing braces were invented and used. ATF considers different stabilizing devices with the support they provide based on three main categories;

The counterbalance design. As per ATF, firearms with a counterbalance design brace are meant to be fired from the shoulder. Therefore, it will score 1 point.

The fin-type design. Firearms with a fin-type brace design that has no arm strap of a suitable length will score 2 points, and the ones with the arm strap will not score any point.

The cuff-type design. The cuff-type brace design that completely wraps around the shooter’s arm will score 0 points. The ones with partial wrap around the shooter’s arm will score 1 point, and the ones that do not wrap at all will score 2 points. The split-stock stabilizing brace design will score 3 points.

Length of Pull. The more the brace is positioned rearward, the more points it will score.

Firearms with a length of pull (LoP) less than 10 1/2 inches will not score any points.

LoP between 10 1/2 and 11 1/2 inches will score 1 point.

LoP between 11 1/2 and 12 1/2 inches will score 2 points.

LoP between 12 1/2 and 13 1/2 will score 3 points.

LoP of 13 ½ or more will score 4 points.

Attachment method. ATF will also analyze the attachment method of the stabilizing brace to the firearm.

The braced pistol with a buffer tube extending 6 to 6 ½ inches from the rear of the firearm will score 0 points.

Firearms with a buffer tube with adjustment notches will score 1 point as it gives the freedom to adjust to the brace.

Firearms with buffer tube more than 6 ½ inches, folding adaptors, and the use of spacers will score 2 points.

Any modified attachment method that increases the length of pull will score 3 points.

Brace modifications/configuration. Modified stabilizing brace accessories will be analyzed by the ATF.

Cuff-type or fin-type accessories with a very short arm strap or an elastic arm strap will score 2 points.

A fin-type accessory with no arm strap will score 2 points too.

Any modification to the brace turning it into a shouldering device will score 4 points.

Peripheral accessories. Accessories like secondary grips, hand-stops, flip-up rifle-type sights, sights and scopes with limited eye-relief, and bipods or monopods don’t justincrease the weight of the firearm. They indicate that the weapon is not intended to be fired single-handedly. These accessories on the braced pistol will each score separate points.

To put the gravity of the document in layman’s terms, if the owner has a gun, and it is legal under the worksheet; but later the owner decides to add sights to make the gun usable or just more accurate to fire, the gun could be illegal, and the owner would now be committing a crime.

This brings us to the fact that ATF is still keeping people confused with its regulations for the classification of SBRs. Take a look at the below images of a pistol with different attachments, this showcases the minefield that is about to occur.

The firearm above is considered a braced pistol.. This gun is still legal to possess without any special documentation, tax payment, etc. You can buy this gun from a local gun store, or put this together with parts online you can order (except for the lower).

The same firearm (AR style), with a different buffer tube and brace is not legal without going through the SBR process, involving a long-form background check, $200 tax payment, and lots of paperwork; plus you cannot use/own/transport it like a standard firearm (depending on where you live).

Again, the same firearm (AR style) with 3 additional accessories able to be purchased online, or in any gun store, has just been deemed a crime, if owned without proper tax stamps and background checks etc. Highly technical firearm owners can tell the differences, but most first time gun owners cannot, and might accidentally commit a crime.

The US gun laws have always confused and mislead firearm owners. What in the world makes the above guns different? Just a few attachments and the same firearm is categorized differently. These guns are identical sans a few attachments; still, one is classified ‘legal,’ while the other becomes ‘illegal’ once the ruling comes through. This is definitely not a good idea to make one associated with a felony when what they did is just buy a legal firearm with a legal attachment.

The Analysis of the Proposed Ruling

All the guidelines of the ATF sound very harsh and unrealistic on this class of firearms. It should be stated that no matter how one feels about this regulation, it is easy to analyze that the only intention of ATF here is to eliminate the market for this type of firearm.

Another interesting aspect of this regulation. In the May 7 Personally Made Firearms regulation (the so-called ‘Ghost Guns’ by Biden) that the ATF published, there are a plethora of crime statistics related to those firearms. However in the most recent document released, there are no statistics, only a few cases of shootings (less than 10) using these weapons.. The ATF is not revealing the true story as to how big (or small) of a public threat a braced pistol is, but is merely saying that people need to stop the “skirting” of the SBR laws. This lack of statistics for crimes committed with a braced pistol is likely a point of contention that the ATF will have to deal with in the comments on this situation.

ATF has set itself five alternatives to creating these proposed regulations. Those five alternatives are

Proposed alternative – Make ATF Worksheet 4999 the law of the land and regulate braced pistols with this worksheet.

No changes from what is happening now. It won’t incur costs or have any benefits. This alternative was not implemented becauseATF is “supposed” to uphold the laws as written for a certain category of firearms.

Super simplified rules for pistol braces. This alternative would consider only one component of how a stabilizing brace or stock would be, e.g., length of pull.

Grandfather all existing firearms with an attached “stabilizing brace.”

Guidance documents. It would issue guidance documents instead of enforcing rules. This would make compliance voluntary and not legally enforceable.

Forgiveness of the $200 NFA tax. This would ask owners to register firearms with pistol braces without paying $200 NFA tax. But, it wasn’t implemented because ATF was under the dilemma that people would get all the firearms registered and later use other kinds of stock or unserialized braces with these firearms.

If these proposed rules come into effect, US economy will be impacted to a significant degree. Take a look at the screenshot below from ATF’s published document to have a look at primary estimate, minimum estimate, and maximum estimate of costs.

The primary cost estimate stands at $125.7million and the maximum cost estimate stands at $303.5 million. Spending millions of dollars to curb something that was made legal by ATF itself doesn’t seem to make sense to us. This money could be spent better on mental healthcare and gun violence prevention programs instead of regulating a firearm accessory that the ATF cannot specifically link with statistics related to crimes. The firearm industry, too, stands at a risk of losing millions of dollars and a huge loss of jobs.

Conclusion

These are just immediate impacts that our economy and gun owners are set to face if these rules are imposed. The long-term impacts will be seen for years to come. On the other hand, ATF has also clarified that it is free of all obligations to ignore the point system based on things like social media and other forms of communication involving these products. In that case, they could classify a firearm as an SBR even if it scores less than 4 in the worksheet (which is a very possible thing for any braced pistol). Stay tuned for our next blog where we will guide you on how to post relevant comments and make your voice heard.

The post June 7 Pistol Brace Ruling appeared first on F5 MFG / F5 Manufacturing.

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f5manufacture · 4 years ago

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The Future of the Pistol Brace

As we discussed in our previous blog, the heated discussions on pistol braces started AND ended (for now) all over again in December 2020, when the ATF published in the federal register, “Objective Factors for Classifying Weapons with Stabilizing Braces.” While the ATF is yet to outline new and contradictory regulations for its June 7 release, let’s take a look at what the near future holds for pistol stabilizing braces.

We at F5 want to make it clear that this analysis on the future of pistol braces is purely speculation based on past and current ATF regulation and how those affect you as a consumer. These are based on information available to the public and are purely a possibility based on F5 MFG’s experience in the firearms industry.

On December 18, 2020, the ATF stated all the objective factors it considers when evaluating firearms with an attached stabilizing brace to analyze whether these firearms qualify under the National Firearms Act or the Gun Control Act.

The ATF, however, continues to change their stance on stabilizing braces ever since its invention and approval by the ATF itself. Here’s a look at the timeline of how ATF continues to change its stance.

In 2012, the ATF approved the stabilizing brace invented by Alex Bosco to use on AR 15 pistols.

In 2015, the ATF disavowed the approval citing that the stabilizing brace, when shouldered, changes the intended use of the firearm, turning the brace into the stock.

In 2017, the ATF reversed the 2015 regulation, commenting that the brace, shouldered or not, is not a buttstock and doesn’t come under the SBR category.

In 2020, ATF again stated the objective factors that classify a braced firearm into the SBR category but failed in doing so, subject to the massive backlash from the firearm community.

April 8, 2021, President Biden announced executive actions his administration will be taking to curb gun violence. Redefining pistol braces was included in these initiatives.

Leaked regs, “rough drafts”, and the braces future

‘Ghost Gun’ regulation leak.

On April 21, 2021, 16 days before the “Ghost Gun” regulations were to be released, a “draft” of the proposed ATF rules was leaked. There was good evidence to suggest that this was the final version of the regulations. This ‘draft’ had few changes for the final May 7 release, bringing us to the possible conclusion that these regulations were initially written inside the ATF. Since the drafts showed little review, it can be concluded that these regulations did not have an external review. If true, this is just one more example of the ATF making unilateral decisions that affect the public with no due process.

The ATF has yet to release its new regulations on pistol braces. If the same process is followed by the ATF for the pistol brace regulations, we can easily surmise that there won’t likely be many changes from the ATF’s December 2020 regulations on classifying firearms with stabilizing braces. This gives us some insight into what actions they may be considering, as well as what arguments the firearms community can provide to combat them. If this holds true, we as legal firearms owners have “ammo” ready for this possibility. For the argument of this article we’ll assume this idea that the December 2020 regulations on pistol braces will remain the stance of the ATF.

How will the new regulations affect the braced firearm owners?

With over four million+ braced firearms in the US market, many responsible and law-abiding braced firearm owners will be affected by the new and contradictory regulations set to be published in June. The key aspects of the new regulations as they relate to the customer are:

Firearms purchased with stabilizer braces before the publication of the notice will be granted an expedited application process to register stabilizer-equipped pistols as “Short Barreled Rifles” in compliance with the NFA rules.

Exemption of stabilized pistols from the collection of the $200 NFA tax.

If you do not wish to register your braced pistol, you will have to either:

Permanently remove the stabilizing brace from the firearm and dispose of it.

Replace the barrel of the firearm (16” or greater for a rifle, or 18” or greater for a shotgun).

Surrender the firearm to ATF.

Destroy the firearm completely.

Repeating history with another amnesty?

In the years after WWII, many guns (machine guns, MP 40s, handguns, machine pistols, etc) were brought back by veterans as trophies. Since there were so many illegal and unregistered guns in the US market, the US government decided to provide a legal framework to have them all registered in a way that provided incentive to civilians. This is why the US govt. introduced a machine gun amnesty in 1968, asking all the unregistered and illegally bought firearms to register legally in the govt. records without being subject to any prosecution. The amnesty period ran for just a month after 120 days of public notice. Even felons could register machine guns during the amnesty period, provided they would be prohibited from owning any other gun except the one they registered.

We believe that there might be a similar amnesty for braced pistols following the proposed regulations of the NFA. The ATF would announce a time frame and cut-off date for legal action to occur for improperly tax-stamped SBRs. This would suddenly leave any unregistered braced pistol owners in a vulnerable state of having committed a felony.

Potential Legal Arguments surrounding the Regulations

Legitimate use for certain ‘stabilizing braces’.

In its December 2020 document, the ATF also stated, “Consequently, ATF agrees that there are legitimate uses for certain “stabilizing braces,” with subject to the needs of the disabled combat veterans who still enjoy recreational shooting but are unable to control heavy pistols without any assistance.” This ‘legitimate use of stabilizing braces is the low-hanging fruit every pistol brace owner must hold on to. This could be brought up in the comments section when the ATF brings up the final draft of the regulation.

The ‘common use’ ground.

The District of Columbia v. Heller case concluded that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to arms with respect to ‘common use’ of firearms for lawful purposes like self-defense within the home. One of the possibilities of classifying something as ‘common use’ is its status as a best-selling item from popular manufacturers. This argument brings ‘stabilizing braces’ into the picture as ‘common use’ due to their prevalence and popularity. Braced pistols have well over 4 million units sold in the US and are used by civilians for recreational shooting, competition shooting, as well as self-defense at home. This gives credence that braced pistols are a “common use” item in the firearms community, and this aspect will likely be fought aggressively in court.

Marketing with an intent.

In the December 2020 document, the ATF stated that “Although not a determinative factor, the actual use by members of the firearms industry, firearm writers, and the general public may provide further indication of the design and intent.” The same document mentioned, “The same manufacturers will then advertise their products as devices that permit customers to fire their pistols from the shoulder, making it a short-barreled rifle.” These statements are highly contradictory as ATF itself confirmed in 2017 that braced pistols, when shouldered, do not change the intent of the pistol and do not qualify it for an SBR. None of the manufacturers market braces or braced pistols as a shouldering device.

Publishing for public comment is not mandatory per ATF.

The ATF acknowledges the fact that none of these writings are direct law, they are merely internal opinions through which laws can be enforced. The ATF wrote, “Although there is no requirement that a guidance document be published for notice and comment, the ATF has decided to publish the proposed objective factors in the Federal Register for a brief comment period, given the public interest surrounding these issues.” While statutes mandate a 90 day comment period for the public, the ATF does not see it as a requirement but a mere gesture of goodwill and continues making rules and regulations based on their own internal opinions.

What is the ATF likely to use to determine brace viability.

The “objective” design factors that will likely be considered for braced pistols in the June 7 release of this regulation are (These points are taken directly from the December 2020 document)

Type and Caliber of the firearm. A large caliber firearm that is impractical to fire with one hand because of recoil or other factors, even with an arm brace, is likely to be considered a rifle or shotgun

Weight and length of the firearm. A firearm that is so heavy that it is practically impossible to fire or aim with one hand, or so long that it is difficult to balance the firearm to fire with one hand, is likely to be considered a rifle or shotgun.

Length of Pull. Length of pull is the distance from the center of the trigger to the end of the buttstock where the firearm touches the shooter’s shoulder in terms of rifles and shotguns. Generally, the distance between trigger to the end of the brace in a pistol should be less than the distance between the trigger and the end of the stock in a weapon meant to be fired from the shoulder. If the length of the brace is impractical to attach to the shooter’s forearm, then it qualifies for a firearm meant to be fired from the shoulder.

Previously a 13.5” length of pull was considered the maximum for braced pistols.

The ATF will be looking into the difference between a braced pistol’s length of pull and the rifle’s equivalent length of pull to determine rifle or pistol classification.

Attachment Method. The ATF is considering the methods for attaching devices as well, focusing on “Devices like modified stock attachments, extended receiver extensions, and the use of spacers that increase the distance between the trigger and the end of the weapon that touches the shoulder”. The ATF will be looking into the method of attaching a brace and how that pertains to its ability to be used as a stock instead of a brace.

Stabilizing Brace Design.

What does the product perform better as? A brace or as a stock.

How does the brace look in comparison to a stock?

Rear contact surface comparison between use as a “stock” and use as a brace.

The material used in the brace.

Shared or interchangeable parts with a known stock system for the firearm.

Any feature that improves firearms’ effectiveness when fired from the shoulder without any improvement on the effectiveness of the stabilizing and supporting element.

Aim Point. If, while using the firearm with an attached brace, the projectile follows an upward or downward trajectory and does not hit the target accurately, it would prove that the device is not designed as a stabilizing brace.

Secondary Grip. The firearm with an attached brace should not use a secondary grip to prevent it from qualifying as an SBR. It would indicate it is not designed to fire with one hand.

Sights and Scopes. The firearm should not use additional sights or scopes as it would indicate that the firearm is incompatible with one-handed firing and designed to be used as a shouldered weapon.

Peripheral Accessories. The use of bipods and monopods to improve the accuracy and use of high-capacity magazines that increases the firearm’s overall weight that it becomes highly impossible to hold or fire with one hand and that they need to be shouldered will be categorized as an SBR.

What can I, the customer, do about this…

If the ATF applies the same regulations as drafted in December 2020, which is very much expected, you need to do certain things to keep your braced pistol within your possession and exempt the NFA tax of owning an SBR.

If you would like to, in the future, own a braced pistol OR a short barreled rifle, it is imperative that you buy it before the date of publication, likely to be June 7 or shortly after. Proof of date of purchase may be required for an expected expedited NFA registration in this case.

Check out some of our stabilizing braces and brace systems.

F5 Modular Brace System

Modular Brace System for CZ Bren

Modular Brace System for CZ Scorpion with Cyberarm

Modular Brace Sytem for Stribog with Cyberarm

Modular Stock System for Stribog with Adaptor

If you buy only the brace system, it should, also, have proof of purchase.

Make sure that you have the ability to own an NFA item (specifically SBR or AOW) in your jurisdiction.

Colorado, DC, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island all have issues relating to this. Check your local laws for clarification.

Getting an NFA fingerprint card, passport photo, and possibly an NFA trust in place before this regulation is published would expedite the process and ensure that you are not waiting in line forever to get your gun processed. We don’t know what the “grace period” will be.

SBR’s have the unique need for owners to inform the ATF when they are transported across state lines. Again check your local laws to stay clear.

Write a comment to the ATF, making sure it follows all the applicable ‘comment rules,’ make it highly professional, use no profanity, and most importantly, make it a relevant argument that shows your position. Make sure it is posted or sent before the comment period is over, and make your voice heard. In our next blog post, we will go into greater detail about this exact process.

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f5manufacture · 4 years ago

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The Current State of the Pistol Brace

In our last blog, we talked about the history of pistol braces with regards to the changing gun laws in the US. Let’s move the discussion towards the present state of pistol braces under the Biden administration.

The Biden administration issued executive actions to tighten restrictions on firearms and firearm accessories.

In his April 8 address, President Biden announced six executive actions on gun control. Pressure from Democrats, gun control activists and recent events have urged Biden to announce these four executive actions.

All four actions aim to tighten restrictions on firearms and firearm accessories.

Some of these actions could bring drastic changes to the firearm industry and firearms owners. These actions are:

The Justice Department has been tasked with proposing a rule to curb the proliferation of ‘ghost guns.’

The Justice Department shall make clear whether a stabilizing brace turns a pistol into an SBR, and is subject to the requirements of the NFA.

The Justice Department publishes a ‘red flag’ legislation model for states while urging Congress to pass a national ‘red flag’ law and legislation to incentivize states that follow suit.

He urged Congress to pass legislation banning assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and gun manufacturers’ protection from lawsuits.

Biden’s new main focus appears to be on ‘ghost guns’ and ‘stabilizing braces’.

Unlike conventionally purchased firearms, a ‘ghost gun’ is something assembled out of a kit with unfinished firearm parts. These parts do not contain a finished “receiver”, and thus are not considered a firearm, which is why they do not require a background check. Biden wants the Justice Department to curb the proliferation of “ghost guns”, stating that these kits (or parts in it) should have a serial number, the fabricated weapon be legally registered as a firearm, and the buyers go through a NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) background check.

A stabilizing brace is undoubtedly an innovative and useful invention for shooting competitions, self-defense, or recreational shooting for wounded or disabled shooters. Here at F5MFG, we understand it is essential to stop mass shootings and the illegal use of firearms; statistics show that legal gun owners are by far the minority in firearm crimes. We also know reinterpreting the current laws and legally classifying the braced pistol as a short-barreled rifle (SBR) will, in turn, classify law-abiding citizens owning pistol braces as criminals. This clearly impinges their Second Amendment rights as this move would turn responsible gun owners, abiding by clearly written laws into felons overnight.

Executive action is merely a call to action from the President and holds very little legal weight.

When Biden was running for president, he promised to act on gun violence, and these executive actions are the mere ‘call-to-action’ on those speeches. His intentions to work on gun violence as a Senator are commendable, but it should not be his main focus as President. It is our opinion that he should focus more on passing his relief bill and infrastructure package than gun violence, all of which took a back seat when the outcry from the recent Boulder shootings reached a fever pitch.

These days, the President of the United States of America holds a lot of power, creeping up administration by administration. The President can issue rules and regulations called executive orders, but these executive orders are subject to judicial review and interpretation. On top of that, President Biden has issued executive actions, not orders. Executive actions bear little weight as they are not published in the federal register and do not fall under the legal category.

Executive orders, on the other hand, go to the federal register and are legally binding.

The President of the USA has the unilateral powers to make national policies. These powers are expressed with formal directives, officially known as executive orders, as they provide instructions to the officials of the executive branch. These executive orders are published in the federal register and are legally binding. The executive orders can be revoked by the court if found unconstitutional. Once registered in the federal register, they cannot be overturned unless until the next President does so, or the legislation annuls them.

Again, here, President Biden has not issued executive orders. He announced executive actions that do not hold much weight.

Let us now talk about pistol braces in detail and the changing stance of the ATF.

A brief on Pistol Braces.

A pistol brace or a stabilizing brace was invented to help wounded war veterans or disabled people to easily hold and shoot the heavier handheld firearms with one hand. Approved by ATF and widely used by shooters all over the US, the stabilizing brace helps to take more accurate shots. Check out the ‘MBS CYBERARM BRACE’ from ‘F5 Manufacturing. You can use this brace with or without the strap to gain better control of the weapon.

A Pistol Brace and a Buttstock are not the same thing.

There’s a distinct legal difference between a stock and a brace. A pistol brace attaches to the end of the weapon and to the shooter’s forearm to stabilize the firearm. It allows the shooter to take one-handed and accurate shots. It is one of the most innovative inventions for wounded war veterans and disabled people to appropriately use the firearm. The ATF has previously stated that using a brace improperly does not change its legal status.

A stock, on the other hand, is designed to be placed into the shoulder of the shooter. It allows the shooter to shoulder the weapon, to gain better control than just handheld, and to better manage recoil. Using a stock as a forearm brace does not change its legal status.

Although some shooters use pistol braces like a stock, this does not make them both the same thing. As per ATF, a braced pistol when shouldered does not qualify as an SBR. However, the ATF has continued to change its stance on this designation.

ATF ruling.

According to the ATF, a short-barreled rifle is a firearm that has a rifled barrel less than 16” and an overall length less than 26” with a buttstock. Note that, if a firearm qualifies for an SBR, it needs to be registered with the ATF.

In 2017, the ATF clarified with a letter that attaching a brace to a pistol does not classify it as an SBR as long the overall length of the firearm is less than 26” and it does not include a vertical foregrip. Changing from a brace to a buttstock will qualify your pistol as an SBR.

Unfortunately, the ATF has also made specific rulings in “secret”, not publicly published but discussed openly among manufacturers and lawyers. These rulings have stated that a braced pistol, with a Length of Pullover 13.5” in their eyes constitutes an SBR. Again this is not publicized and has further muddied the water between law, and opinion, especially since this detail has been used to prosecute an individual. This case was thrown out when the ATF tried to measure the Length Of Pull improperly; given this oversight, one could speculate that the ATF does not understand their internal opinions or criteria for developing case law.

The ATF tried to change the designation officially in December 2020 but failed to consider public outrage and invoked the ire of more than 70 thousand negative comments.

While Federal regulations mandate a 90 day comment period, the ATF gave only 14 days for the comment period commencing the day it was published in the federal register. It is not known how this regulation was sidestepped. The regulatory change started the two-week period around Christmas holidays, wherein most people wouldn’t come across such news. Given these circumstances, the firearms community still managed to post 73,536 comments in this brief period. The agency decided to publicly announce that they were going to table the issue after only a week.

Why so much stress on Braces?

Pistol braces are under consideration, drawing attention from Democrats and gun control activists majorly because of misunderstood or misguided reasons. Some of these reasons are:

Pistol braces allow the heaviest full-sized firearms to be “handheld” and highly stable and easy to shoot.

The firearm used in Boulder, Colorado shooting was sold with a pistol brace. This has caused speculation that this pistol brace enhanced the shooter’s effectiveness in this mindless tragedy.

Many anti-gun advocates have never shot a gun, and don’t understand the issues relating to them in a technical manner.

Impact on law-abiding gun owners.

In 2012, when pistol braces were given ATF approval, it didn’t take any time at all for braces to become all the rage. Pistol braces were sold in huge numbers and many companies quickly capitalized by manufacturing and selling their own stabilizing braces. Today, approximately 3-4 million+ braced firearms are owned by responsible gun owners in the US. Any change in the legal status of the braced pistols would turn the law-abiding gun owners into felons overnight without the passing of new laws, and no due process. The gun owners could be charged for violating the federal law, of which penalties are $10,000 in fines and ten years of imprisonment or both.

Till the time ATF again comes forward with a new proposal for SBR classification, we must steel ourselves to fight for gun owners’ rights and to help all of us legally practice our Second Amendment rights.

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f5manufacture · 4 years ago

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History of Pistol Braces with the changing Gun Laws in the US

Pistol stabilizing brace is one of the greatest inventions in the gun industry. It makes any firearm stable for the user to shoot with one hand. Pistol braces were invented to get better control of the weapon and to take more accurate shots. Later, ATF approved them to make handling firearms easier in times of need. But, many people misused the legal approval of a stabilizing brace leading to an increase in mass shootings in the US.

In his latest address, President Biden urged Congress to pass new gun control laws, citing recent mass shootings that took the lives of hundreds of people. While we stand totally against the illegal use of a stabilizing brace, we also know, being in the firearm industry, what an impeccable and revolutionary invention a stabilizing brace is for use in the army, legalized shooting competitions, or self-defense of disabled people.

While a lot is going on at present with the pistol stabilizing brace, let us revisit the history of gun laws and the rise of pistol braces over the years.

The 1934 NFA Act.

In 1934, under the leadership of President Roosevelt, Congress passed the National Firearms Act (NFA). The NFA act is applicable even today and regulates a category of firearms.

It states that all automatic weapons that can fire continuously without manual reloading will come under the machine-gun category and regulated with proper background checks.

Any weapon fired from the shoulder and has a barrel length of 16 inches or more will come under the rifle category.

Any firearm with a buttstock and barrel length less than 16 inches or with an overall length (OAL) of less than 26 inches (including stock) will be a short-barreled rifle. This will be regulated with a $200 tax, special tax stamps, and background check.

A handgun with less than 18 inches barrel length will be considered a short-barreled shotgun and regulated with the same taxes and background check.

Forearm as a Stabilizer for Bushmaster Arm Pistol.

One of the first firearms to specifically use the forearm as a stabilizer was the Bushmaster Arm Pistol. In 1968, a multi-purpose, semi-automatic weapon was invented with a bullpup layout that had the magazine behind the pistol grip. This firearm was designed as a compact personal defense weapon for US Air Force pilots for use in the planes. After initial testing, the USAF rejected the firearm for being inaccurate. Later, Gwinn Firearms took over the bushmaster arm pistol and improvised the weapon with AR-15 and M16 components to redesign it into a fully automatic firearm. Its production began in 1972 and continued till 1988, evolving the pistol over the years as per the user’s needs.

Gun Control Act of 1968

In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Gun Control Act that saw a ban on interstate shipments of firearms and ammunition to private individuals. It also stated a ban on selling guns to minors, drug addicts, and mentally ill people. This act focused on granting licenses to gun dealers and keeping their records. It put a ban on importing surplus firearms made in a foreign country, except the ones meant for sports shooting.

However, in 1986, Congress passed the Firearms Owners Protection Act, which changed some aspects of the Gun Control Act of 1968. It allowed the interstate sale of rifles and shotguns if the same was legal in the buyer’s and the seller’s states. It did not require keeping certain records for ammunition and firearm dealers making it easier for them to sell without getting a license.

The 1994 Assault Weapons Ban (AWB)

Under the leadership of President Bill Clinton, the assault weapons ban came into effect in 1994. It stated a ban on assault weapons (also called semi-automatic firearms) and large-capacity magazines for use by civilians. The ban was, however, passed only for ten years.

Just before the ban, Olympic Arms modified the basic AR-15 to make its pistol version, called the OA-93. With the ban in effect around the same time, the OA-93 could not be released because it had the elements of being an ‘assault pistol.’ This made Olympic Arms again modify the OA-93 and develop the OA98 that excluded all the aspects of being an ‘assault weapon.’ The OA98 did not have the barrel shroud and thread muzzle. Its weight was reduced from 71 to 48 ounces to categorize it for normal civilian use.

This revolutionary change in the gun industry paved the way for AR pistols, and other rifle chambered pistols.

The Invention and Approval of Pistol Brace

In 2012, army veteran Alex Bosco invented the pistol stabilizing brace and sent the design to ATF for approval. The ATF approved the pistol stabilizing brace for use on pistols and other firearms. Later, Alex Bosco formed a company called ‘SB-Tactical’ and started producing and selling pistol braces, free from NFA restrictions. This revolutionary invention was welcomed by many and pistol braces sold in huge numbers.

Later, in 2015, the ATF disavowed the approval, citing reasons that the pistol brace, when shouldered, changes the intended use of the firearm and turns the pistol brace into a buttstock. The ATF reversed this decision in 2017 after a two-year battle with SB Tactical to approve the stabilizing brace once again.

Market Leaders in Pistol Braces and Pistols that accept the Brace

From 2012-2020, there were at least ten new additions to the pistol brace market. Many companies like SB-Tactical started manufacturing and evolving pistol braces to adjust to the users’ needs, following the legal guidelines. The massive increase in the sales of pistol braces also saw an increase in the production of pistol caliber carbines, classified as pistols that could accept a brace.

ATF proposes to classify a Braced Pistol as a Short-Barreled-Rifle

In December 2020, ATF had the opinion to reclassify braced pistols as Short Barreled Rifles. They welcomed people’s views on the matter during a one-week comment period. This gun control news had over 80,000 comments, most of which were negative. Later, the agency decided not to pursue this issue any further at that time.

F5 MFG Introduces the Cyber Arm Brace

F5 MFG introduced the Cyber arm brace to use with the modular brace system on AR15 pistols and every firearm with a buffer tube. The cyber arm brace helps the shooter stabilize their pistol and gain control over the weapon to take perfect shots on target. F5 MFG proudly makes this pistol brace in the US under the most advanced and innovative technologies. This cyber brace has an ergonomic design and is compatible with the MBS brace attachment from M5 MFG. This device comes in aluminum and nylon.

The Current State of Stabilizing Brace

On April 7, President Joe Biden, under the Biden-Harris administration, announced six steps the administration will undertake to address the gun violence. President Biden said that the justice department would issue a proposed rule to make clear when a device marketed as a stabilizing brace effectively turns a pistol into a short-barreled rifle, subject to the requirements of the NFA. This statement takes 60 days before Justice Department or the ATF act upon it, and these 60 days will likely be seen as a comment period where people and other activists will oppose or support the rule. President Biden also stated that these actions do not impinge the second amendment under any circumstance.

However, what remains to be seen is if the ATF and Justice Department announced that the stabilizing braces turn the pistol into an SBR and what impact this would have on the firearm industry that generated a total of $63.49 billion in the US economy in 2020.

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