DD is a fantastic pick. I will say that there are a ton of decent rifles and you are definitely getting a nice one. I've got a bunch of cheapo Palmetto State rifles that run just fine too. I don't shoot them often because I like the nicer stuff obviously. But I did want to say that a lot of stuff can get the job done without spending a lot. Remember you'll need some budget for optic, sling, and light. Don't call me biased, but I like the stuff on the Warrior Poet website. Whoever picked out all those things must be a super swell guy... :)

I didn't realize that Evan picked out all of the stuff on the site...Cool ;) Evan told me he would give a discount off my next order if I said that (Checks in the mail). Just ordered the light and the sling. Red Dot that I want is out of stock but I got time. Thanks for confirming the DD for me especially on Easter. BTW, Love the content.

Can confirm, the sling is awesome! Good pick!

Im rocking a Holosun 515GM, seems to be an awesome sight. I did change the stock mount to a Midwest Industries though...

That is the optic that I'm waiting for

Thanks, I have never heard of hexmags. I just assumed that all the mags were the same they just made them similar to the 10 round mags. I will look up what a Kali Key is. Never heard of that before.

OMG!!! Talk about Neutering an AR. So you think the KaliKey is the way to go vs going featureless vs having the pin that you have to pull out to change the mag like on the DDM4 V7 Pro?

Now we have touched on the debate among California gun owners. I am also in California. There are three ways to have a California compliant AR.

1. Featureless
2. Fixed mag
3. Not a semi-auto (like the KaliKey)

There are pros and cons for all three.

Featureless means giving up a lot of ergonomics, but retaining easy reloading by swapping the magazine. If you have >10 round magazines purchased during Freedom Week (the 1 week between a Benitez decision and an emergency stay) or before the magazine ban law you can still use them until the magazine ban case is decided.

Fixed mag - you can retain the ergonomic features of the AR platform like pistol grip and adjustable stock. However, reloading is a pain - you have to either use a tool (bullet button doesn't count), reload while in the gun (think like an SKS or M1 Garand reloads), but can't use Freedom week magazines. The challenge to the 10 round limit was not to the part of the law that limits fixed magazines to 10 rounds. However if the California Assault weapons ban gets overturned by SCOTUS I don't think anybody will retain fixed mag.

The law listing features is specific to centerfire semi-auto. So converting your AR to essentially a straight pull bolt action is another way around it. Also another thing seen is single shot AR pistols because the pistol assault weapons definitions also specify semi-auto. Calguns maintains a flow charts for determining if your rifle or pistol is considered an assault weapon.

https://www.calguns.net/caawid/flowchart.pdf - Rifles
https://www.calguns.net/caawid/hgflowchart.pdf - Handguns
https://www.calguns.net/caawid/sgflowchart.pdf - Shotguns

The key features you have to avoid on a semi-auto centerfire rifle with the capacity to accept detachable magazines to be "featureless" are:
- Thumbhole Stock
- PIstol Grip
- Folding or telescoping stock
- grenade launcher or flare launcher
- flash suppressor
- forward pistol grip

-Has to be 30 inches or longer in its shortest configuration regardless of fixed or detachable magazine.

So for example an SKS that has not been modified to have a detachable magazine is considered fixed magazine. It can have a folding stock, but not if folded the entire length is under 30 inches.

So it looks like I basically need to replace all my pistol grips with fin grips to be legal and featureless? Is there a separate attachable "fin" I can get to temporarily add on until I move out of Kommiefornia?

Yes, but one DA argued and pushed a legal gun owner into surrendering an AK-47 because the DA was threatening to prosecute him on felony possession of an assault weapon because the fin grip was "too easy" to take off. A YouTuber not on WPSN did a video about it (Reno May). There are some made out of Kydex but cost more than a cheap fin grip from midwayusa / brownells / etc for under $15. EDIT: Clarification the cheap fin grips that replace your pistol grip are under $15 The cheapest I could find for a Kydex wrap to put on was $23 on Amazon. Also they are specific to the grip based on if you have any ridges on the grip for your fingers. I think the Kydex wraps are a good option if you are using something like the Hera CQB stock. They can fill in the opening so it is no longer a "thumbhole" stock.

When the cheap fin grip from one of those wouldn't fit on my build very well my adult son bought be the Sparrow Dyanamics grip as my Father's day gift last year. He is cheap and got one labeled as a blemish, but I can't find a blemish on it. ($25 at the time, they have gone up since then to $28)

I already planned on using the Strike Industries stock stop. It works with almost any adjustable stock. Locks it in one place and makes it very difficult to remove. They are $7-10 online

The one a lot of people overlook especially when getting a build kit is the Flash Hider. The muzzle device has to be a muzzle brake or compensator only. Mine was $30.

So my cost to be compliant was $10 (grip that didn't fit well on the lower) $7 for the stock stop, and $30 for the muzzle brake ($47+$25 if it hadn't been a gift for $72 total). KaliKey is about $100 if you modify your existing BCG. + cost of a BCG if you don't. KaliKey sells a bundle for about $220 last I checked.

Fixed mag means you have to separate the upper and lower to change the mag, reload in the gun, or use a tool to release the mag. Early on the argument was made since you can use the tip of a bullet to adjust the sights it is a tool. CADOJ came out with an opinion that wasn't the case and required anybody who wanted to keep their bullet button to register their AR as an Assault Weapon with CADOJ. As far as I know it hasn't been challenged in court other than the issues with the registration process and making CADOJ re-open the registration process.

Perfect, thanks. I thought I seen a video of John one time oiling is guns in the living room and I just thought I had to lay the guns on the table and throw the oil in the air. It should know where to land right? At least I think that is what John said.

Some ARs need to be cleaned and oiled before first use. I saw an AR style shotgun that seemed to have more petroleum grease in it than an SKS straight out of storage.

It would be nice if you could just throw oil in the air and be done, but sadly, it does require a little more precision than that. And David is right, some guns may need to be cleaned before you use them. Take out the rear pin on your AR and open it up. if the barrel or chamber are dusty or dirty, you should probably clean it first. There are some great Youtube videos to help you learn how. Always clean from breach to muzzle with an AR. The brush, jag, etc. should always travel in the same direction as the bullet, don't pull it back and forth, and never put anything in from the muzzle (front) side.

For those not from California instead of just dismissing that with answers like "just move" (trying - applying for jobs outside of California regularly), maybe understanding exactly what is being pushed for in Congress and the details will help you advocate against these restrictions going federal. I know there are some who think - oh, not a big deal it is only in California.

Huh? A little confused with your response to me. I live in Kommiefornia.

It was intended for others reading the forum. Call me cynical but I have been on plenty of forums where Californians get dismissive responses from other gun owners, and I was trying to preempt that.

ok, all good, make sense!