Are AR's registered different?

[rwng]

I have been in the market for a new rifle for self / home protection. I have never owned a semi auto rifle before and was looking at a Mini 14 and an M1 carbine "paratrooper". Then I found another store where I can get a Stag AR for about the same price. This is something that I have never thought I would be interested in, yet always thought they were "a step above".  Also the price was always quite a bit more. And the Ruger and M1 seem to be a little more subtle. My question is, if a person purchases an AR, does it throw up red flags? Are they registered different? These questions may have never been thought of before I moved to Illinois; but wow, the gun laws here are pretty over reaching.

[SHOOTALL]

There are so many sold if it throws a red flag you will be in good company . Some places require a passport, birth cert. or voter ID card to show citizenship now . Some stores in Va. require it .

[rwng]

Well, I bought one. He knocked another 10% off the price and I took the bait. I have never even fired one, so I hope I didn't make a mistake. I have been told that it's completely different than a mini 14, yet more fun.

[SHOOTALL]

I have had both , They are different guns to be sure. Fun is subjective , I have fun with either  . The AR is more accurate the mini-14 may take abuse better. Both will defend you . The AR takes more care with regard to carbon removal and lube ( not over lube , it dosen't need to mark its spot everytime you lay it down ) . Both require good magazines to run smooth.

[John R.]

In my opinion an AR is every bit as tough as a Mini-14, and will outshoot one any day of the week and twice on Sunday! Abuse is the key word, I don't abuse any of my guns. Stag makes a good weapon, and you will never wear it out under normal use. Make sure you keep it lubed, (AR's do not like to be run dry.). Break-free CLP has been a good choice for years, these days I use Slip 2000, but any lube is better than none. Get a few Magpul magazines, and you're good to go. Have fun and let us know how it shoots!

[SHOOTALL]

Ok lets look . I have never ever heard of a slide breaking on a RM-14 from the way it was pulled back, Its somewhat easy to do so when pulling back the charging handle on an AR when gripping one side like when optics are in place. The Delta ring bbl nut on an AR is not as solid as a RM-14 its alum / steel mating. The action parts on a RM-14 are simpler and more robust also fewer of them. Yes we agree the AR is more accurate . I noted it needed more care IE carbon removal , if you shot alot you will see the honesty of that statement. Lube , there are many that work well and an AR that is clean and has proper lube will work if it was built correctly. But it need not be dripping off .
Abuse , OK you are nice to your gun some are not . That said a gun that will with stand abuse should last longer for a guy like you over a guy that works his guns . Like shooting steel cased ammo ( I have never seen a stuck case in a RM-14 but have seen several in an AR . Is the AR a step up ? sure it is some just think its a giant step others a baby step .
Or to put it another way if you had a choice of weapons the AR or the RM-14 both chambers open burried in wet sand on the shore both with a mag laying beside it and your live depended on it going bang which would you pick up ?Which would work better after dunking in salt water to clear the sand out ? That's abuse , real world abuse .

[John R.]

I have seen the bolt on a Mini-14 break in half during firing (my friends gun, I was there). AR's will take much more abuse than most folks will believe. I just finished reading Patrick Sweeney's article: AR Abuse: The final Chapter. They will take a lot of ABUSE, way more than I will ever give one. The 5 or so Mini's I have been around were 3" @ 100 yds. on a good day. I have around 4000 rounds of Wolf steel case through 1 AR, and probably a 1000 through another, with no stuck cases at all. Now granted that Wolf is 2" to 3" MOA ammo, but it works fine. Knowing me, if I found those guns laying on a beach, I'm sure I would grab both. YMMV

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive owned 3 minis through the years two 223 and one a 762x39. I think if anything i had more ammo problems with them then with my ars. Granted back when i had the minis i was new to mass loading and that may have effected it some. Ive ran steal case wolf by the cases though both without a bit of problem other then an occasionaly missfire with the mini but thats easily fixed with an updated firing pin spring. NIETHER will work filled with sand! Both will shoot many many rounds without cleaning if kept oiled. Ive shot 1500 rounds of ammo through one of my ars in a day without cleaning or reoiling without a single burp. MUCH more then your going to fire to protect yourself in one day. Ars are just as cheap if you dont want one with all the bells and whistles, there much more accurate, Parts can be swapped between guns to keep one going. There is probably a 100 times more ars out there then minis so finding parts will be easier. Same goes for magazines. Ar mags are a dime a dozen. try finding a mini mag just laying around. Bottom line is i own 8 ars right now if you count my mp22-15 I dont own a single mini anymore. Are they good guns? Sure they are. there accurate enough for self defense work and a good reliable gun. If they sold for 500 bucks like they should id proably own another. Or if i could find one of those old all wood guns that just look cool. But if im going to lay down 650 dollars plus for a battle rifle im going to get a battle rifle. Id guess if there as good as all the ruger fanatics say they are the goverment would have seen this long ago and ruger be supplying them to our troops.

[SHOOTALL]

I would think dunking an open system would be obvious to dunking a more closed system The mini 14 system is considered self cleaning same can't be said of a gun built to place residue from firring in the system not to mention heat. . I guess i know little since I have only owned several mini 14's maybe 4 and several mini 30's . I admit to only having owned 8 or so ARs over the last 20 years . The last 5 I built . They all work fine .
To each his own but It should be noted the system used on the mini is a modification of a system that proved itself with only a few modifications , same can't be said of the AR as it was plagued with problems from the start and it is still being considered for replacement in part if not in whole.
As alway some defend their pet I admire that . I listed truths as I have experinced . To be honest I don't have a dog in the fight as I consider the M1-A superior to either 

[Bart Solo]

The laws pertaining to purchase and ownership of an AR vary from state to state.  Several states have very specific and somewhat restrictive laws concerning "assault rifles" such as the AR, AK and the Mini 14,  while most don't.  Check with your local FFL or attorney. The legal advice you receive on any website is worth just about what you pay for it.
 
The interesting thing about the AR is the "firearm" is the lower receiver.  People can and do own multiple interchangable upper receiver/barrel assemblies, each designed for a specific activity, sometimes in varying calibers, but they only own one rifle.   Try that with your Mini-14. 
 
The AR is much more accurate than the Mini-14, and vastly more accurate than the AK.  Old timers often talk about the unreliability of the AR.  The early M-16 models had real teething problems and a lot of Vietnam Vets are convinced the gun is a piece of crap.  The Army has had better than 50 years to improve its reliability and has.  Most of those improvements which cost the taxpayers untold millions of dollars have extended to the civilian versions.  Modern AR rifles are far more robust than the early models but anything mechanical can break.  If they are about the same price I would pick the AR over the Mini-14.  The AR can do anything the Mini-14 can do and can actually hit the target.     

[SHOOTALL]

"Registration" or the laws pertaining to purchase and ownership of an AR varies from state to state depending on your local laws.  Several states have very specific and somewhat restrictive laws concerning "assault rifles" such as the AR, AK and the Mini 14,  while most don't.  Check with your local FFL or attorney. The legal advice you receive on any website is worth just about what you pay for it.
 
The interesting thing about the AR is the "firearm" is the lower receiver.  People can and do own multiple interchangable upper receiver/barrel assemblies, each designed for a specific activity, sometimes in varying calibers, but they only own one rifle.   Try that with your Mini-14. 
 
The AR is much more accurate than the Mini-14, and vastly more accurate than the AK.  Old timers often talk about the unreliability of the AR.  The early M-16 models had real teething problems and a lot of Vietnam Vets are convinced the gun is a piece of crap.  The Army has had better than 40 years to improve its reliability and has.  Those improvements which have cost the taxpayers untold millions of dollars have extended to the civilian versions.  Modern AR rifles are far more robust than the early models but anything mechanical can break.  If they are about the same price I would pick the AR over the Mini-14.  The AR can do anything the Mini-14 can do try fireing one with the stock broken off behind the action     had to mention that after the cut about uppers , but then a good upper cost as much or more than a mini 14  and can actually hit the target.   

[Bart Solo]

  The AR can do anything the Mini-14 can do try fireing one with the stock broken off behind the action     had to mention that after the cut about uppers , but then a good upper cost as much or more than a mini 14  and can actually hit the target.   

Good point.

[SHOOTALL]

My point was each has its place , each has strong and weak points . We can pick sides and fight all day since we all have a different use in mind. After getting a M!-A I have no use for a mini so I traded them . The AR I didn't care for but after building them they are fun on the range. Also a 1 in 9 and a 1 in 7 twist rate helped along with a 6.8 bore . My main dislike of either the mini or AR 15 was cal. ( no need to open that can of worms here we can't hunt deer with a 223 or any .223/.224 so that is why i like bigger bores )

[Old Syko]

Kind of like comparing a stock pickup truck and a Corvette.  One won't haul nuthin and the other won't do 180 MPH. The norm for a shooting session for me and my ARs is around a can of ammo or around 1200 or so.  I don't accept reliability problems but then again, I don't fill any of my guns with sand and if I need a club I almost assuredly can find a better one than any firearm would turn out to be and for a lot less money. 


As to the legal question Bart has it covered.  BTW you have my sympathies on having to deal with the communist laws of the state of Illinois.

[rwng]

Thanks for all of the advice. Having never owned a weapon like this I will use all the advice I can get. I picked it up after work and brought the gun home this evening and just had to try it. (my sons were chomping at the bit too) I went over some basics at the store and it is fairly straight forward. I love how light it is, It has next to zero recoil and the cans went down with ease. I only got off about 40 rounds due to the dusk setting in, but I can say THAT WAS FUN! I bought the model 2 with nothing extra. (I want to learn with it being bare bones) I did discuss the registration etc. with the shop owner and he said that there were no special requirements or differences.
Again, thanks for the help!

[Old Syko]

Since you've determined the fun factor I'll warn you.  ARs go through unbelievable amounts of ammo in a hurry.  Be prepared.      With elections coming, it ain't going to get cheaper.