Back a couple weeks ago I posted about my first black rifle range toy which is a discontinued M16A1or2 clone and it is a fun gun, decent accuracy (minute of torso) at 100 yards with 55 grain ammo.
I've now completed a bunch of research and discussion with other folks and chased down some tips you folks brought up in comments and found out some more things I never knew, and I thought I'll just pass some info on in case anyone else is considering their "first" AR type rifle, especially if you might be looking for a Viet Nam clone...they can be tricky LEGALLY, even now with the "ban" expired in 2004.
So what I THOUGHT I had was a complete Stag Arms, Stag-15 Retro rifle that was discontinued some years ago, but what I really have is a PRIVATE BUILD,circa after 2015 but before 2019 using a Stag Arms lower and a Brownells 1-12 twist barrel installed into good quality upper parts.
I did have to disassemble the rifle over the last week, to confirm for myself, that all of the "pre-ban; post ban; original NATO parts that could be made a "machine gun" (BATFE definitions, not mine), were machined correctly to semi-auto form, thus "legal" by any definition now days. I felt this was necessary because my lower receiver is serialized, but by Stag Arms when they were in New Britian CT, and this was exactly 2014 when the BATF shut them down after finding non-serialized receivers and "machine guns" on their premise which forced the sale of the company to White Wolf Capital, who continued to make rifles in New Britian until 2019 when they moved to Cheyenne Wyoming and started whole new series of serial numbers and logo stamping. When Stag Arms customer service told me the records of my serial number were held by the BATF I thought I better check the parts to make sure they were not in M16 configuration.
The 5 parts that must NOT be M16 are: Trigger, Disconnector, Hammer, Selector, Bolt Carrier...so you must disassemble and compare your parts to known comparison photos of the original USGI M16 parts. I did this and found all parts to be AR 15, and NOT M16. I have attached a photo of my Bolt Carrier that shows the milled area (1" lg x 3/8" wide) that means it cannot trip a full auto sear. My Selector switch did NOT have the additional cutouts required for M16 select fire/full auto use.
The detachable carry handle with A2 flip sight (0.200" large and 0.070" small) apertures was made by Leapers and is very nice quality.
Like I said before, I'm happy with the rifle and now that I feel comfortable that it is legal according to today's standards (who knows what tomorrow may bring), I'm ready for the range as soon as weather cooperates, especially with the small aperture.
I do apologize in advance for this long winded post, but if my research and findings help anyone with their first "black rifle" M16 Clone (Viet Nam era) buy or build, then good. You experienced folks probably know all of this stuff too and if so...sorry you had to wade through it.
I've now completed a bunch of research and discussion with other folks and chased down some tips you folks brought up in comments and found out some more things I never knew, and I thought I'll just pass some info on in case anyone else is considering their "first" AR type rifle, especially if you might be looking for a Viet Nam clone...they can be tricky LEGALLY, even now with the "ban" expired in 2004.
So what I THOUGHT I had was a complete Stag Arms, Stag-15 Retro rifle that was discontinued some years ago, but what I really have is a PRIVATE BUILD,circa after 2015 but before 2019 using a Stag Arms lower and a Brownells 1-12 twist barrel installed into good quality upper parts.
I did have to disassemble the rifle over the last week, to confirm for myself, that all of the "pre-ban; post ban; original NATO parts that could be made a "machine gun" (BATFE definitions, not mine), were machined correctly to semi-auto form, thus "legal" by any definition now days. I felt this was necessary because my lower receiver is serialized, but by Stag Arms when they were in New Britian CT, and this was exactly 2014 when the BATF shut them down after finding non-serialized receivers and "machine guns" on their premise which forced the sale of the company to White Wolf Capital, who continued to make rifles in New Britian until 2019 when they moved to Cheyenne Wyoming and started whole new series of serial numbers and logo stamping. When Stag Arms customer service told me the records of my serial number were held by the BATF I thought I better check the parts to make sure they were not in M16 configuration.
The 5 parts that must NOT be M16 are: Trigger, Disconnector, Hammer, Selector, Bolt Carrier...so you must disassemble and compare your parts to known comparison photos of the original USGI M16 parts. I did this and found all parts to be AR 15, and NOT M16. I have attached a photo of my Bolt Carrier that shows the milled area (1" lg x 3/8" wide) that means it cannot trip a full auto sear. My Selector switch did NOT have the additional cutouts required for M16 select fire/full auto use.
The detachable carry handle with A2 flip sight (0.200" large and 0.070" small) apertures was made by Leapers and is very nice quality.
Like I said before, I'm happy with the rifle and now that I feel comfortable that it is legal according to today's standards (who knows what tomorrow may bring), I'm ready for the range as soon as weather cooperates, especially with the small aperture.
I do apologize in advance for this long winded post, but if my research and findings help anyone with their first "black rifle" M16 Clone (Viet Nam era) buy or build, then good. You experienced folks probably know all of this stuff too and if so...sorry you had to wade through it.
