u/GTA-CasulsDieThrice

We all know that we’re essentially shut out of the semi-auto market starting 7/1, and it will likely be so as long as the Democratic Party remains in power in Richmond.

That’s the operative portion, however: “so long as the Democrats are in power.”

Yes, we’re in for a shitty few years, but here’s why I think it might ultimately be a temporary thing:

Since the late 70’s, Virginia state politics have been stubbornly contrary to federal politics: when DC goes one way, we’ve historically gone the other.

And last year’s gubernatorial confirms as such; Spanberger is in power because Trump is in power.

Let’s not kid ourselves: at this point in time, Trump is disliked far more than he’s liked, especially here in VA; the chance that he & the Republicans are out the door in DC come 2028/2029 is significant.

Which Democrat will succeed him? Doesn’t really matter. What matters is that, because of VA’s politically contrarian nature, should a Democrat win the White House, Republicans can be relied upon to win the Governor’s Mansion, and very possibly the GA too.

And any Republican with two brain cells to rub together will take one look at this ban and trash it as his/her first act in office.

Of course, I may be wrong, and we may be fucked for far longer than that.

But this is the optimistic path.

Comments/takes?

I need a 16in 5.56 AR-15 upper receiver, PREFERABLY w/ BCG/CH but will take separately if absolutely necessary.

MLOK preferred, but will take MOE if necessary.

Hand-guard length should cover at least half the barrel (so none of that exposed-crimped-barrel crap).

Preferred color: Black

Absolute, non-negotiable, can’t-go-a-single-cent-over budget for receiver & BCG/CH combined, including taxes/SH: $350

Options/vendors with a lower shipping cost/time than PSA?

As I understand it, One Horse is basically Anderson 2.0 (iirc it was founded by an ex-Anderson guy after the Ruger takeover).

Counting the parts/accessories on the way in the mail, all I need is a 5.56/.223 upper to complete my very first AR-15 build; Primary Arms stocks a 16in MLOK upper receiver (complete w/ BCG/CH) for $300 before taxes/shipping, and offers better shipping fees/times than PSA for uppers specifically, at 3 days vs 2 weeks.

Is this a good decision; is/was One Horse/Anderson “good”, and is PA a good vendor for such things?

What I have: A complete lower with a STOCK.

What I intend to get: an $80 BRACE off of PA.

If I swap out the STOCK for the BRACE, am I or am I not able to at that point establish the “firearm” as a pistol?

If yes, is it true that I could then go to a rifle & BACK to a pistol via switching uppers as desired w/o any further legal scrutiny (as opposed to going from R to P without it being first established as P?)

At no point would a <16in upper be paired with either a STOCK or a FOREGRIP, as I really don’t feel like going thru SBR paperwork.

Essentially, the plan is to pay $80 to not have any more of a paper trail than I already have; I want ONE lower to be changeable into one of the 2 firearm types as the situation/preference dictates.

Doable?

When receiving my complete PA-15 lower receiver from my local FFL, I was told 3 things:

-I canNOT, in fact, legally swap back & forth between stocks and braces on the same lower, meaning I can’t circumvent NFA/state regs that way.

-It’s too late to apply for the SBR Form 1 papers, as there’s no way it would be approved before 7/1.

-People should go with a 16in upper receiver for their first AR-15 anyway.

All this means I am effectively locked into the 16in-upper pipeline.

That being said, when searching for these online, most of them come w/o BCG/CH sets, which can cost ~$100 themselves, it seems. I have found 2 online that SEEM promising that DO come w/ BCG/CH combos that meet both my ~$300 effective budget and my color/handguard preferences :

-TacFire 5.56 NATO Complete Upper Assembly; 4.8 stars out of 6 reviews on Optics Planet; $318 after shipping/tax; MLOK

-PSA 16” Mid-length 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride MOE Freedom Upper - With BCG & CH; 4.7 stars out of 12 reviews on PSA; $338 after shipping/tax; MOE

As I possess both a set of iron sights & a foregrip (both aftermarket), which of these should I get, or is there another the community might suggest?

I have mags in possession & a complete AR15 lower on the way; including the tertiary accessories already in possession, I COULD just get a 16in upper + BCG/CH, a Pic-rail red-dot, and call it a day, right?

However, I’m noticing that the SBR/shorter uppers in some cases are actually CHEAPER than full length ones (which makes some sense, as it’s objectively less material); on the off-chance I DO decide to go down that path, what is the Cliffnotes version of VA regulations for this, and what would absolutely positively NEED to be done pre-7/1?

Palmetto State Armory has a Memorial Day sale going on, and I see that the price of a well-rated complete lower receiver and a few 30rd magazines can be under $200; as I understand it, it’s only the lower that counts as a “firearm”, and that uppers, comps, cans, all that good shit isn’t covered under the upcoming ban.

Ought I just grab it up and get it in my possession NOW, and then worry about further optimization later?