Unrestricted AR type rifle in .223?

6GunJustice

6GunJustice

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
2   0   0
Location
BC
I've been close to buying some type of AR a few times (Norinco CQ-a), but the one thing that keeps stopping me is the restricted status (I do have my RPAL) ... I want to be able to take it with me into the bush. If I understand correct, I cannot add a 18.5 inch barrel to an AR and have it reclassified as unrestricted. Anyone have any suggestions for a AR type unrestricted rifle? A friend recommended a Armalite or a Core 15, but he is realtively a noob when it come to firearms ... thought I would consult the experts up here for more info first before I make a decision. I would have a max budget of $1000 or less.

6Gun
 
The AR and any variation is restricted by name. Means no hunting or carrying one in the bush. Some Provinces(don't know if BC does or not) will give you an ATT to shoot in matches though. That means you must belong to a club that shoots on a range approved for restricted rifles.
 
No AR or variant of an AR is unrestricted no matter what barrel length you put on. If you want something that looks similar to one, there is an ACR with the custom barrel on it, XCR, AR180B, Swiss Arms but all of these are out of your price range by quite a bit. JR carbine is around 1000$, but it is a pistol carbine hence not the same caliber. You either have to get something else, or increase your budget by 1000$ There isnt too many options when it comes to something similar but NR.
 
There are no non-restricted AR type rifles. There are a few non-restricted .223 semis that are similar in appearance, but differennt in operation. $1000 limits your selection significantly. There is the SU-16 and VZ-58, possibly also the Type 97 in that range.
 
Thanks. That gives me a couple options to explore ... I should wait and save abit more, but I got that itch that scratching just dosen't satisfy!

One more question ... can any .223 rifle (unrestricted or not) use the LAR15 mags?

6Gun
 
Take a close look at the Type 97. It`s the closest tactical looking rifle that shoots .223 cal., takes the LAR mags and is NR to boot. It`s a few bucks above your budget but not far.
 
A Mini-14 in a ProMag Sparta stock would give you a NR Ar-15 looking gun in your price range. There's one on the EE right now with 3 mags & plus the original Ruger stock for $1150. Plus it's the Mini target model which should get you near 1 MOA accuracy as a bonus.
 
Type 97 or a VZ-58 gets my vote (Impartial, however, as I have both)

I faced the same thing as yourself, wanted a target gun that I wasn't chained to the range with. Just got my Type 97, and love it, although it's not optics friendly, but does take AR mags, and is excellent to handle (First time I've hedl a Bullpip too) The VZ can take some optics, and is great fun too. However, stick with the 7.62x39, the .223 flavor of this one doesn't look too promising, IMO anyways.
 
After my experience with a mini 14 I wouldn't go near one. The only thing positive I have to say about the one I HAD is that it was reliable with most of the mags I had.

If I had your budget and wanted something ARish I would go with a used AR180-B, I still regret selling mine and am waiting till I have some cash to buy it back.

I just sold my Swiss Arms and I thought it was a great rifle but didn't live up to the hype in the accuracy department. I now have an HK SL8 with a Hera lower and ACR stock and it is great, super reliable and more accurate than anything other than my AR's, The XCR-L is a fine rifle but not as accurate as an AR and more than double the price, I've recently had a chance to play with a Tavor and was impressed but once agaon it's way over your budget and nowhere near as accurate as an AR. I've only held the Type-97 so I don't know how it shoots but it's another option that's in your budget.

I guess I would have to suggest that you buy a nice $1000 AR for now to satisfy your itch and then later on you buy something non restricted when you can afford it. Nowhere does it say that you can only own one rifle so just start your collection with what you want and can afford then expand later as the funds allow.
Don't forget your going to need to feed whatever you buy so buying a decent AR will leave you some change for ammo and spare mags. If you save up then buy a $2000+ rifle you'll be strapped and won't be able to feed it till you get some more cash. These things are hungry so be prepared to be buying ammo by the 1000.

Good luck
 
cr5 said:
After my experience with a mini 14 I wouldn't go near one. The only thing positive I have to say about the one I HAD is that it was reliable with most of the mags I had.
Click to expand...

Care to elaborate? Considering they've been made for about 40 years they are obviously a successful design. I know accuracy was spotty with the earlier models but the newer ones and especially the target models have made that argument passé.

Maybe you got a dud but that's not much of a basis for dismissing the model outright. I'm sure there has even been a sub-par Ferrari produced at one time or another but that isn't a solid rationale for not buying one. I've had 4 Minis at various time (still have two of them) and they had all been solid performers.
 
Hi,

If you aren't in a rush, there is a new rifle that has just entered the US market, the Masterpiece Arms MPAR 556.

https://masterpiecearms.com/proddetail.php?prod=MPAR556&cat=23

Blue Line has an agreement with Masterpiece Arms to distribute it in Canada. Masterpiece Arms is going to produce a Canadian non-restricted version (18.5" barrel). The reason I say that it is only an option if you are not in a rush is because once the Canadian version is manufactured, it will have to be submitted to the RCMP for classification. That could easily take 12 - 24 months.

If you are interested, there are threads about it here:

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/857922-SHOT-SHOW-2013-Master-Piece-Arms-MPAR
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...ine-is-proud-to-announce-the-MPA-RC-556-Rifle!
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/936341-Any-update-on-the-MPAR-556
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/972732-could-this-be-in-Canadian-hands

TTYL

- Jayne

PS, I have a Mini-14. It is a decent rifle and works very well with original Ruger mags. It is not a sub-MOA sniper rifle, but that is not why I bought it. I bought it because it is a non-restricted semi-automatic with a detachable mag under $1000.
 
Last edited:
adriel said:
SU-16, VZ58, T97, Mini14, used AR180b, M14 if you want 308, everything else is more expensive.
Click to expand...

I doubt you can find a used AR180B for $1000 or under! And if you did you did you can bet theres something wrong with it! $1200 or $1300 maybe. Big maybe cause they go quick! I had a few of them from the last shipment into Canada and the last one I sold about 3 years ago went for $1500 unfired except from the factory. I have one unfired (except at the factory I know!) example left. Not for sale FYI.
Op's best bet is to save a little more money and it will expand his choices. T97 might be fun as long as he's not lefthanded like me LOL.
 
My vote is to buy once and cry once. I have had trouble learning this but if I had only known then what I do now.

Save all you can for a while untill you have enough for a Tavor. You simply will not regret it. Look at some of TV-PressPass' vids on youtube. You will soon also lear that there is a better alternative to lar mags as well. :)
 
If it is for a "bush" only gun I recommend the Kel Tec SU 16. It is not an AR-15 firearm I know but it is well under $1,000.00.

I have had great success with it as a "novelty acreage/farm/bush" fun gun and you can make it sort of resemble an AR-15 if that's your thing.

It has been very reliable for me with no FTE or FTF using Norinco Non Corrosive, Lead Core and Reloadable ammo. It loses it accuracy quite a bit though once that stock barrel heats up. Very lightweight which is a plus but I personally don't like how cheap it looks and feels with all the plastic. Using LAR10 Magazines coupled together and LAR15 and they both work flawlessly. The 2 stock magazines that come with it are crap IMO. You get what you pay for but for what I am using it for, I am very happy.

Good Luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom