Day: December 20, 2016

I’ve had a few e-mails recently from customers thinking their tele-stocks were broken as they would not adjust. One person broke the latch trying to move a permanently extended tele-stock from one of our Ban Compliant guns. Unfortunately not all people know what the laws regarding assault weapons are in their states and some gun dealers fail to inform them of these laws. If you live in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland* or New Jersey please note the following differences in the guns we manufacture for those states. Note: * Maryland is not a ban state, but does have a magazine restriction. Only magazines with capacity of 20 rounds or less are legal.

First, the permanently extended tele-stock. These are not adjustable and the length of pull cannot be changed as the receiver extension is longer than on an adjustable tele stock. These are not simply made out of adjustable stocks.

Top image above shows an adjustable tele-stock with recesses for the locking mechanism. Lower image shows the non-adjustable stock – no adjustment recesses on the receiver extension.

Second, the permanently attached muzzle brake. These are welded on and cannot be removed.

Third, NO Bayonet Lug:

Ban compliant models also are not supplied with 30 round magazines. They will have a 10 or 20 round magazine depending on the state they are intended for.

California Models

We also make models intended only for sales in California. For California, the only difference in the rifle is that they are required to have a “bullet button” magazine release installed and have a magazine that holds no more than 10 rounds for legality in that state. The law states that a tool is required for magazine removal. These models have a sleeve that replaces the magazine catch button that cannot be depressed. In order to remove the magazine a tool must be used to push in on the center of the sleeve where threaded end of the magazine catch comes through.

I have had rifles come back to me where it is stated in the notes “magazine catch does not work” and they are actually California models. I think sometimes California models accidentally get ordered through distributors for states other than California and that’s where this confusion comes in.

Now and then I get the question “Is my flash hider or muzzle brake removable?”

Currently we sell rifles that are “pre-ban” style or “Sunset” rifles which means they now have all of the features that were banned when the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban was in effect. When the AWB sunset in 2004 these features were once again legal in most states as there is no longer a federal ban on them. One of these features is removable flash hiders/threaded barrels. On all of our 16 inch rifles which are of the “sunset” configuration (flash hiders/threaded barrel, bayonet lugs, collapsible stocks), the flash hider is removable with a ¾” end wrench. Photo of a typical A2 Flash Hider here…

We also build rifles for the states that enacted their own assault weapons ban when the federal ban sunset in 2004. These states are NY, CT, MA, MD and NJ. The rifles we build for these states must not have removable flash hiders or access to the barrel threads. They must have a muzzle brake instead of a flash hider and this muzzle brake must be welded on. These muzzle brakes are NOT removable and to try to remove them with a wrench will destroy the barrel. These are pinned and welded in two spots that go down into the threads on the barrel. Photo of a welded on Muzzle Brake shown here… 

We are also going to start building rifles with 14.5 inch barrels and welded flash hiders. Federal law states that all rifle barrels must be no shorter than 16″ in overall length (unless you file the appropriate paperwork and pay a $200 tax). Any barrel we build for the commercial market that has a 14.5″ length will have a flash hider welded onto the end to make the overall length over 16″. These flash hiders will also NOT be removable. Photo of a welded on Vortex Flash Hider here – note the weld mark…

 In the many years I’ve been repairing AR15s I’ve seen a lot of ruined barrels where people tried to remove a welded brake or flash hider. Before trying to remove one, be sure that it is not welded on! 

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I’ve had a few customers inquiring recently as to whether they can shoot 5.56 NATO ammunition in their Varmint Exterminator rifles since the barrel is marked “223”.

The Varmint Exterminator is safe with decent factory loaded 5.56 NATO ammo. We put .223 on the barrel as that is what is recommended for best results – match grade .223 ammunition.

The VEX has what is called a “5.56 Compass Lake” chamber. This means the leade (amount of freebore before rifling) is shorter than on a 5.56 but not as short as a .223. Also the angle into the rifling is a little different.  The overall chamber dimensions are slightly tighter as well and the bolt is matched to the chamber for better accuracy. Frank White, of Compass Lake Engineering, developed this chambering many years ago for competition shooters and this chamber is widely used in many service rifles used for target competitions at Camp Perry.

I have fired Federal M855 5.56 NATO ammo in VEX rifles with no ill effects. If you should fire any foreign 5.56 ammo through it, just keep checking the primers to make sure they aren’t backing out, popping out or severely flattened.  Some of the foreign military ammo can run a little hot and may not run efficiently in the tighter chamber of the VEX rifles.

Erik Winter, Gunsmith

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