Caution re disassembly sequence of 22LR rimfire AR conversions & 5.56 chamber/bbls

[bwiese]

Many of you have seen threads and my warnings about "broken AW is still an AW", and that clear affirmative steps need to be taken to ensure an OLL is clearly not in AW status - as opposed to being just a broken gun.

[Breifly: some time ago, a dude in LA land took the bolt carrier out of his FAL (clone?) and tried to assert non-AW status. He was found to be, um, "incorrect".]

One situation directly relevant to this concern regards certain "Ciener"-style 22LR AR rifle conversions.... in fact, any 22 AR conversion where the original 223/5.56mm barreled AR upper is retained, but a new rimfire-only bolt carrier and special 22LR mags are used. [No BulletButton would be present, either, since the gun would be expected to be 'rimfire exempt'.]

IF SUCH A CONFIGURATION HAS THE 22LR RIMFIRE BOLT ASSY REMOVED BUT THE UPPER & LOWER ARE STILL ATTACHED, SUCH GUNS AREN'T ARTICULABLY DIFFERENT THAN REGULAR CENTERFIRE AR RIFLES THAT JUST HAPPEN TO BE MISSING BOLT CARRIERS BUT WHICH ARE OTHERWISE CENTERFIRE ARs.

IF YOU HAVE SUCH A RIMFIRE AR - having regular 5.56mm/.223 barrel and chamber - you should USE CARE IN YOUR DISASSEMBLY & REASSEMBLY SEQUENCE TO NEVER TRANSITION THRU WHAT MIGHT BE REGARDED AS "BROKEN AW" STATUS....

• NEVER REMOVE THE 22LR RIMFIRE BOLT CARRIER FROM THE UPPER,
  UNLESS/UNTIL THE UPPER IS SEPARATED FROM THE LOWER!!!
  .
  
• NEVER REINSTALL THE UPPER ONTO THE LOWER, UNLESS/ UNTIL THE
  22LR RIMFIRE BOLT ASSY IS FIRST INSTALLED!

Now, if your 22LR AR upper indeed has a 22LR-specific barrel/chamber, the above is not an issue. The goal of the above warning is just to note the very transitory rimfire status of such configuration and likely departure from exempt rimfire to prohibited, "broken" centerfire.

[nhanson]

Just leaving a bullet-button installed will resolve any issues won't it?

[Ubermcoupe]

Just leaving a bullet-button installed will resolve any issues won't it?

Yes but one of the benefits of using a .22 conversion is the un-nueterd lower; being able to drop mags while plinking around 'n such.

[nhanson]

Yes but one of the benefits of using a .22 conversion is the un-nueterd lower; being able to drop mags while plinking around 'n such.

Understand the functional positives however,
1) Bill explains the craziness of our beautiful state.
2) I load mine up for the grandson and the BB slows him down. A bit easier on the wallet even though it is .22LR!
3) Forgetfulness won't get you into hot water.

[Ubermcoupe]

Understand the functional positives however,
1) Bill explains the craziness of our beautiful state.
3) Forgetfulness won't get you into hot water.

Not arguing there, just mentioning the positives of a .22 AR.

2) I load mine up for the grandson and the BB slows him down. A bit easier on the wallet even though it is .22LR!

This why my old man would never give me the 25rd 10/22 mags. If I blew through those too fast, I was relegated to the tubefeed

[nhanson]

This why my old man would never give me the 25rd 10/22 mags. If I blew through those too fast, I was relegated to the tubefeed [/QUOTE]

I found the lever action to work the whole issue. Kids have fun being John Wayne, slow fire rate, improves shooting with more time on sights and they are just plain COOL rifles!

Lever in the accomplished hands is near AR semi-auto speed anyway.

[otalps]

Just another example of how ******* asinine the laws in this state are.

[glockwise2000]

This "AW" issue is just getting messy. Can't we get Colt or some other listed manufacturer to get on board to sue the state? To reverse or eliminate the AW ban, I mean.

[bernieb90]

I have plugged the gas port on mine effectively making it a single shot even in centerfire configuration. Would that eliminate this issue?

[stitchnicklas]

since i have a dedicated lower for swapping uppers (from 450 bushamster to chiappa .22lr upper) ,i installed a bb and when i use the .22lr upper i leave the bb tool in since it is a rimfire.before i switch uppers i always remove tool.


any issue here bill???

[bwiese]

This "AW" issue is just getting messy. Can't we get Colt or some other listed manufacturer to get on board to sue the state? To reverse or eliminate the AW ban, I mean.

No, because we want to win.

Unless AW cases are done right, we will dig ourselves in a hole.

A case involving Colt AR15 vs., say, a Stag Stag-15 case is just a commercial discrimination matter and all it does is attack Kasler list - but SB23 matters are severable.

Suing just because you don't like a law is a sure Gorsky-esque way to fail. This has to be a civil rights case and dovetail with Heller, McDonald, etc.

Note that CGF is already danicing with the DOJ on Richards v. Harris (with Haynie v. Pleasanton as part of it) and more will be forthcoming... DOJ has some problems they don't yet know about.

[bwiese]

I have plugged the gas port on mine effectively making it a single shot even in centerfire configuration. Would that eliminate this issue?

An off-list AR with (1) no gas tube and (2) a deliberately blocked gas port would certainy show a lack of "semiautomaticness" in a clear fashion.

I'd recommend the gas port beling visibily blocked in the gas block (as opposed to a lack of a drilled gas port on barrel, for example). Taking the front sight/gas block and inserting ~1/2" of gas tube installed upside down clearly shows blockage.

Note that the gas port blockage is not really truly necessary for nonsemiauto operation - the lack of gas tube solves that. But it demonstrates clear intent to not be a semiauto, and to have safe operation so you don't burn your hands with hot gas during firing.

[bwiese]

since i have a dedicated lower for swapping uppers (from 450 bushamster
to chiappa .22lr upper) , i installed a bb and when i use the .22lr upper i leave the bb tool in since it is a rimfire.before i switch uppers i always remove tool.

any issue here bill???

As long as you remember to not screw up and actually use proper assembly/disassembly sequences so as to never cross thru AW status for even a moment, should be OK.

[Hdawg]

No, because we want to win.

Unless AW cases are done right, we will dig ourselves in a hole.

A case involving Colt AR15 vs., say, a Stag Stag-15 case is just a commercial discrimination matter and all it does is attack Kasler list - but SB23 matters are severable.

Suing just because you don't like a law is a sure Gorsky-esque way to fail. This has to be a civil rights case and dovetail with Heller, McDonald, etc.

Note that CGF is already danicing with the DOJ on Richards v. Harris (with Haynie v. Pleasanton as part of it) and more will be forthcoming... DOJ has some problems they don't yet know about.

When you post things like that I get all warm and fuzzy inside.

[Quser.619]

Wow it's the 22lr conversion Hokey Pokey.

"Remove the upper from lower, then bolts comes out!
Then you're free to legally move it all about!"