Need some help choosing a semi auto 5.56

[drewthebrave]

All centerfire semiauto longguns must either be "fixed magazine" or "featureless". Use Google AI or ChatGPT to understand what that means. The Bullet Button is no longer a compliant method for a fixed magazine rifle. Individuals with eligible bullet-button assault weapons were required to register their firearms with the Department of Justice by June 30, 2018. If you still have BB rifle and did not register it, it is now an unregistered assault weapon, but you can convert it to a featureless or a fixed magazine rifle to become compliant.

Last year, before the new barrel and parts laws went into effect, I built a pretty nice featureless AR with a Geissele barrel and handguard. I spent a lot less than what a factory-built Geissele upper or complete rifle would have cost in a shop. I was able to customize it to my preference. And I only had to pay the extra gun tax on the price of the stripped lower.

I've gone the Featureless route with most of my rifles because the function supersedes the form. The ease of dropping mags & clearing jams without breaking the action is worth making it look a little stupid. Plus I can legally use my freedom week magazines. And it's easy to swap grips if I travel out of state.



Despite the new CA regulations on barrels requiring them to ship to an FFL, I still think it's worthwhile to buy a stripped AR15 lower receiver at your local gun shop, and then order a BCM Complete Upper Receiver from their website (any 16" midlength receiver is fine). You can get a stock stop to convert your adjustable stock to a fixed configuration and you can pick up any number of featureless grips that fit your preference: Fingrips (pictured above); Juggernaut; Sparrow; Zot Fin for MIAD grip (pictured below):



If you're considering the Tavor, you'll need to use a fin-grip AND have an extended muzzle device (non-flash-hider) permanently attached to bring the overall length to 30+ inches for legal compliance. It's too bad they don't offer a 20" model, as that would meet the 30" OAL requirement without needing to pin & weld anything to the muzzle - all while roughly matching the size of a 14.5" AR15. The Tavor is nice, but an AR15 costing half as much will still be more precise. Just need to decide what's important to you. I think everyone should have at least one AR15 because they are still the best rifles for the money.

 

[Negol]

I've gone the Featureless route with most of my rifles because the function supersedes the form. The ease of dropping mags & clearing jams without breaking the action is worth making it look a little stupid. Plus I can legally use my freedom week magazines. And it's easy to swap grips if I travel out of state.

View attachment 156912

Despite the new CA regulations on barrels requiring them to ship to an FFL, I still think it's worthwhile to buy a stripped AR15 lower receiver at your local gun shop, and then order a BCM Complete Upper Receiver from their website (any 16" midlength receiver is fine). You can get a stock stop to convert your adjustable stock to a fixed configuration and you can pick up any number of featureless grips that fit your preference: Fingrips (pictured above); Juggernaut; Sparrow; Zot Fin for MIAD grip (pictured below):

View attachment 156913

If you're considering the Tavor, you'll need to use a fin-grip AND have an extended muzzle device (non-flash-hider) permanently attached to bring the overall length to 30+ inches for legal compliance. It's too bad they don't offer a 20" model, as that would meet the 30" OAL requirement without needing to pin & weld anything to the muzzle - all while roughly matching the size of a 14.5" AR15. The Tavor is nice, but an AR15 costing half as much will still be more precise. Just need to decide what's important to you. I think everyone should have at least one AR15 because they are still the best rifles for the money.

thanks for the response

 

[Negol]

I ended up getting a sig MCX-R regulator in 5.56 for $1,300 from palmetto. It's literally $1k off the sportsman's warehouse price so. If I find it not to be good for the acog I'll just get something else LOL. 1st world problems and all you know :<) ty for the advice and responses.

 

[Tere_Hanges]

I ended up getting a sig MCX-R regulator in 5.56 for $1,300 from palmetto. It's literally $1k off the sportsman's warehouse price so. If I find it not to be good for the acog I'll just get something else LOL. 1st world problems and all you know :<) ty for the advice and responses.

The Regulator is probably 10x better than a Mini14. Its already featureless so no stupid mag lock needed. It takes AR mags and you can use lawfully acquired +10rd magazines. I think you chose well. Maybe 1 or 2 years ago Sig had a promo where you get a free P365 with every Regulator. Not sure if they still do that. Many FFLs in CA were participating.

 

[tradersarmory]

We've got a sweet platform for you!

WTS FNH M16 RIFLE W 20" AERO A2 UPPER 5.56MM CA COMPLIANT - RESEDA, 91335.

LIKE NEW FNH M16 RIFLE W 20" AERO PRECISION A2 UPPER AND COMPMAG

• tradersarmory
• Dec 4, 2025
• Updated Jul 20, 2026
• Expires Sep 30, 2026
• Views: 890
• Reaction score: 1
• Category: Commercial Listings

$1,250.00

$1,099.00

5 watching

 

[Negol]

We've got a sweet platform for you!

WTS FNH M16 RIFLE W 20" AERO A2 UPPER 5.56MM CA COMPLIANT - RESEDA, 91335.

LIKE NEW FNH M16 RIFLE W 20" AERO PRECISION A2 UPPER AND COMPMAG

• tradersarmory
• Dec 4, 2025
• Updated Jul 20, 2026
• Expires Sep 30, 2026
• Views: 890
• Reaction score: 1
• Category: Commercial Listings

$1,250.00

$1,099.00

5 watching

You're in LA so um no lpl

 

[tradersarmory]

You're in LA so um no lpl

I can always ship to an FFL of your choosing

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

I ended up getting a sig MCX-R regulator in 5.56 for $1,300 from palmetto. It's literally $1k off the sportsman's warehouse price so. If I find it not to be good for the acog I'll just get something else LOL. 1st world problems and all you know :<) ty for the advice and responses.

Should have just bought the PPT mcx-r i found for you from classifieds at 1300 with Romeo and Juliet optics included.

That 1300 from palmetto costs you with tax and shipping cost 1420. If you bought the unnecessary shipping protection, 1462.

Your FFL will now charge shipping transfer fees which could be another 100+ since you are in norcal. 1562, + another 11% tax and dros fee.
1750 - 1420 is what youll pay at the FFL.
Total, about 1750+ for something you could have purchased at 1300 with optics.8

The optics on that 1300 mcx is about 250 street price. So if you hawked the optics, your total cost for mcx-r could have been 1100.

Just a thought.

I sold mine, bought at 1250, to a cagunner few days ago for 1250 (bought it earlier this year). My finger was not comfortable shooting it. Kinda need long fingers to reach the trigger, that stock was good on a mossberg, but not mcx. Finger to trigger reach was too long for my liking, and I have enough ARs as it is.

 

[2muchsoysauce4allthisrice]

Kinda need long fingers to reach the trigger, that stock was good on a mossberg, but not mcx. Finger to trigger reach was too long for my liking, and I have enough ARs as it is.

Sounds like the LOP was too long and needed to be shortened to custom fit you better. Were you already down to the last spacer? With the last spacer should be 13 inches?

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

Sounds like the LOP was too long and needed to be shortened to custom fit you better. Were you already down to the last spacer? With the last spacer should be 13 inches?

Yea. It wasn't LOP, it was just the way my hand grasped the grip part and my finger reach to the trigger. CZ handguns kinda felt the same unless you had the reach shortened via trigger job.
But I doubt there are any mcx triggers that would shorted the trigger reach.

Even without placing the stock to my shoulder, trying to grip and reach the trigger was uncomfortable like hell. I do have a completed AR lower with sig mcx stock adapter, sig mcx trigger, and sig mcx stock which would have been better, but I just gave up on the mcx platform project. I have enough 556/223 guns as it is.

If i find a cheap mcx spear or virtus upper, well, my project would statt back up lol, but it is unlikely, so I may list the mcx compatible AR lower built later on classifieds.

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

And the mcx-r lower is just ugly as hell lol. That built in arca rail sucks balls unless you have a arca tripod. Wasted space and makes the lower look ugly. Imo.

 

[AR15barrels]

Sounds like the LOP was too long and needed to be shortened to custom fit you better. Were you already down to the last spacer? With the last spacer should be 13 inches?

Length of pull is measured from the trigger shoe to the buttplate and is normally adjusted at the buttplate.
Length of pull is not a factor in trigger reach from your hand to the trigger.

Notice how the length-of-pull spacers are nowhere near the trigger or your trigger hand:

 

[tancoyote]

The mini14 is a decent, reliable choice. Go for it if it speaks to you. Compare to ARs, the main downside is that it's not as customizable and parts availability is worse.

 

[Negol]

The mini14 is a decent, reliable choice. Go for it if it speaks to you. Compare to ARs, the main downside is that it's not as customizable and parts availability is worse.

I think the optics mounting is way forward on the mini 14 too right like the M1 scout? Remember this gun was for an acog.

I didn't feel like driving to Modesto and back twice either so ... As much as I appreciate someone trying to push some private sale I'll stick with a new weapon and no drive nothing against the seller himself he seemed nice. I also already have an acog for it so I don't need an optic /shrug. I had some issues before with private sales so I'm not really too interested in ppt's I would say it seemed like a pretty good deal though so if anyone else was interested I'd check it out.

 

[david9collins7]

I have an unfired mini14 for sale, with many accessories

If you're in the Bay Area or Livermore/Dublin Area and are interested dm me

absolutely interested. how much were you asking $?

 

[david9collins7]

The Regulator is probably 10x better than a Mini14. Its already featureless so no stupid mag lock needed. It takes AR mags and you can use lawfully acquired +10rd magazines. I think you chose well. Maybe 1 or 2 years ago Sig had a promo where you get a free P365 with every Regulator. Not sure if they still do that. Many FFLs in CA were participating.

that deal ended like mid 2025 i believe.