Im thinking about buying a 15-22 as my first rifle, but im not sure of the legality of it in MA. On the S&W website, there are special models that are "CA and MA law compliant", what does this mean? I heard that CA rifles are limited to 10 round magazines, is this true with ma aswell? Please, enlighten me about any laws or regulations that may apply

The Massachusetts guns are limited to magazines that hold no more than 10 rounds, have no flash hider, and the stock is pinned at full length and is non-adjustable.

These items are "evil" and characteristic of "assault weapons", so in the infinite wisdom of the state government they've been banned.

Pistols in your state need loaded chamber indicators and must be sold with a fired case that can be used in ballistics comparisons.

There are probably more, but those reasons and others cause guns in places like MA to be more expensive and guns and magazines that are in the state prior to the ban and don't have these silly restrictions command a lot of money.

Hey Rustpot. Are you certain that the stock has to be pinned at full length? I thought they just had to be pinned, period.

I was stating that the 15-22 guns that are compliant versions are sold pinned at full length. You are correct, they just need to be non-adjustable/collapsing. I'm not sure if pinning the stock fully closed defeats any reasoning behind the law.

There is the added caveat that as soon as you remove the pin so you can re-pin it in another position you've got a collapsible stock on a rifle receiver. If the local cops or ATF guys really had it out for you and discover the change there's no way to prove how long you had the stock in an illegal configuration.

Aren't firearm laws grand in our country?

So is it safe to say that if you live in a compliant state, you can't (ever) temporarily remove the pin to adjust/replace the stock to your liking or shooting habits and then re-pin it? What if you were to drive to a non-compliant state, perform the adjustment then return with the altered compliant rifle.

Is it really reasonable that you are stuck with a fully extended factory stock for the life of the rifle (in that state), no if, and, or buts?

You are correct. We have some great people creating our gun laws for us. YouTube - What is a barrel shroud?

On the 15-22 you technically can never remove the pin. On a normal AR15 you can remove the receiver extension the stock is on and do whatever modifications needed.

I don't think it has stopped very many people since cops don't go out of their way to check that your stock is permanently pinned and always has been. It would likely require an in depth investigation from the ATF that came about after you break some other very serious laws.

I'm simply saying that the receiver extension being part of the lower receiver of the 15-22, and the lower being the "rifle" in the eyes of the law, as soon as you remove the pin your rifle has a collapsing/adjustable stock, even if only for 15 minutes.

Just like if you have the long 10 round magazines all that is required to convert them to illegal 25 round magazines is the removal of a pin. As soon as the pin is out you have a 25 round magazine, even if you put the pin back without using it.

I've read about people in ban states that modify their guns to accept a pin that is easily removable with a pair of pliers and they have their stock and tube predrilled. So at the range all they need to do is pop out the pin, move the stock, replace the pin, and continue shooting. I don't know if the ATF would see a distinction between someone obviously trying to dodge the law and someone who just wanted a shorter "fixed" stock. You removed the pin once, who's to say you don't do it regularly? I don't know how your state words their laws and if using a tool to make the adjustment is acceptable, like the "bullet button" that requires a tool to make detachable magazines legal in some states.

The ATF is also a bunch of psychics since they charge and convict people based on evidence of "intent" to break laws, such as owning a short barrel for a gun without the accompanying paperwork despite the barrel not installed in the rifle. There's nothing to stop them from saying you own a shotgun and a hacksaw so you obviously have intent to make a short barreled shotgun or destructive device.

By the way, this is not to scare you into leaving your stock pinned in a single position for as long as you own it. There are perfectly legal loopholes and sometimes the precise wording of the law may provide a workaround.

What if.....I repinned it, PERMANENTLY, like I put epoxy or something over the pin so it couldn't be pulled out ever? I'm not trying to be an ***, I'm asking legitimately.

Think of that, I know it would be a little more obvious if looked at closely, but in order to remove it again you would have to hack up your stock...

Then again you can go back to the "it was still unpinned at one point in time" argument, but like UpstateNY said,,, what if I was out of state.... lol

The M&P 15-22 is legal in Massachusetts with the 10 round magazine. I'm picking one up next month.

I just bought my MA compliant model this afternoon, woo! I'll be off to the range tomorrow! As the others said, 10 round mag, pinned stock.

I bought my 15-22 today. I took it to the range and put about 300 rounds through it without any issues. The 10 round magazine sucks, thanks Massachusetts!

Since when is there any reasoning behind laws in Massachusetts?

Not to mention several others.
As far as 'unpinning' a compliant MP, good luck.
The compliant stocks are not really pinned as far as I have been able to determine, they are actually molded onto or glued onto the buffer tube.
So unlike the pin they use in the mags to limit them to 10 rounds. Your going to have a bit more trouble trying to get a compliant butt stock to move.

Just purchase another 10 round magazine.

If your forced, by law, to use 10 round mags it makes no sense to buy or even have any of the longer limited 25 rounders.
The long ones can be a PITA on a bench anyway so in my case any new mags I get are going to be the new short 10 round mags and maybe cut down the long one I have.

After reading what NYS laws I can find, and the city laws where I live, most state that it if you have more than one of the qualifying traits of an "assault rifle" (i.e. more than 10-round, flash suppressor, collapsible stock, bayonet, pistol grip) than it is illegal. It does not give a minimum length for rifles - whether referring to a fully extended or collapsed stock - merely that it can not have the ability to collapse.

I would not test the waters, but I would like to believe that you would hardly be hassled at a range if your rifle was collapsed a notch or two and then made permanent - no longer having the ability to collapse. If you plan on using the rifle for something like knocking off the local 7-11 then you will have problems either way.

If you have to ask yourself more than once if it is illegal - don't do it. It isn't worth the hassle. Enjoy it as it is - as limited as NYS makes it for us. YMMV.

RB - also in NYS - with my stock fully extended and pinned and not tampered with - so NYS knows my rifle won't commit any crimes!