Bemmster
Member
Hey all! I'm totally new to guns and shooting but I have wanted to dive into it for a while now and I've been doing tons of research. I've done quite a bit of digging and reading regarding the MD laws around AR15s - but I'm getting confused over a few things (seems like that's the norm).
I understand that a Colt AR-15 or a "clone" or "copy" is banned, except for a Colt AR-15 Sporter H-BAR rifle "clone" or "copy". I get that's because of the HBAR. What I don't understand is the following:
#1
There are some random posts (from other sites) saying that a gas piston AR15 doesn't count as a "clone" or "copy" in MD. I'm not sure how accurate this is, and I can't seem to find a straight answer. Maybe this is a dumb question, but again I'm a newbie.
#2
Is every single AR15 "clone" or "copy" required to have an HBAR? Period, end of story? OR, is that just the common method of making an AR15 fall into the Colt AR-15 Sporter H-BAR rifle "clone" or "copy" category. For example, if #1 above is true and a gas piston AR15 is not considered a "clone" or "copy", is it still required to have an HBAR?
Another example for #2 above - on the Maryland State Police site, it lists the H&K MR556A1 as not banned because "it would appear that the following internal components of the H&K MR556A1 are not interchangeable with the Colt AR-15; the bolt carrier group, upper receiver, barrel nut, barrel extension with supporting extractor, gas block, piston rod group, piston with rings therefore the H&K MR556A1 is not a copy". Based on that quote, would a MR556A1 still need to have an HBAR to be legal in MD?
I'm basically getting confused over that fact that if an AR15 is NOT considered a "clone" or "copy", I can't figure out if an HBAR is still required or not. Is the HBAR requirement some separate law or reg? Or is using an HBAR just the common method of making it fall into the Colt AR-15 Sportster category?
#3
Are there certain calibers where these type of rules don't apply. From what I'm reading it seems like 300 BLK doesn't apply. Anything else? 6.8?
#4
I also don't understand where people say "just put an approved brace on it and register it as a pistol". I get the concept, but it seems like those laws are constantly changing and I don't know what's current (maybe this needs to be a separate post - seems like it gets complicated).
Thanks in advance! I know stuff like this probably gets posted constantly - but I haven't been able to find anything that specifically answers those questions. I want to stay legal with everything due to having a clearance and making sure I can pass a poly if needed.
I understand that a Colt AR-15 or a "clone" or "copy" is banned, except for a Colt AR-15 Sporter H-BAR rifle "clone" or "copy". I get that's because of the HBAR. What I don't understand is the following:
#1
There are some random posts (from other sites) saying that a gas piston AR15 doesn't count as a "clone" or "copy" in MD. I'm not sure how accurate this is, and I can't seem to find a straight answer. Maybe this is a dumb question, but again I'm a newbie.
#2
Is every single AR15 "clone" or "copy" required to have an HBAR? Period, end of story? OR, is that just the common method of making an AR15 fall into the Colt AR-15 Sporter H-BAR rifle "clone" or "copy" category. For example, if #1 above is true and a gas piston AR15 is not considered a "clone" or "copy", is it still required to have an HBAR?
Another example for #2 above - on the Maryland State Police site, it lists the H&K MR556A1 as not banned because "it would appear that the following internal components of the H&K MR556A1 are not interchangeable with the Colt AR-15; the bolt carrier group, upper receiver, barrel nut, barrel extension with supporting extractor, gas block, piston rod group, piston with rings therefore the H&K MR556A1 is not a copy". Based on that quote, would a MR556A1 still need to have an HBAR to be legal in MD?
I'm basically getting confused over that fact that if an AR15 is NOT considered a "clone" or "copy", I can't figure out if an HBAR is still required or not. Is the HBAR requirement some separate law or reg? Or is using an HBAR just the common method of making it fall into the Colt AR-15 Sportster category?
#3
Are there certain calibers where these type of rules don't apply. From what I'm reading it seems like 300 BLK doesn't apply. Anything else? 6.8?
#4
I also don't understand where people say "just put an approved brace on it and register it as a pistol". I get the concept, but it seems like those laws are constantly changing and I don't know what's current (maybe this needs to be a separate post - seems like it gets complicated).
Thanks in advance! I know stuff like this probably gets posted constantly - but I haven't been able to find anything that specifically answers those questions. I want to stay legal with everything due to having a clearance and making sure I can pass a poly if needed.