Mini 14 Tactical rifle - MA OK?

[pcgod]

So a friend of mine got a chance to shoot one of these at his uncles in Virginia. It is a basic Mini 14 ranch rifle with a 16" barrel rather than 18" and a flash hider. Apparently it was fun to shoot and very accurate (for a Mini 14, I guess). Well, he wants one and did some research and finds out they sell it with a 5 round mag. Then he looked thru the gun laws and finds that it would only have 1 evil feature (flash hider) so it should be MA compliant. I tag along to a gun shop with him and they don't have one, they did have a standard ranch rifle but he didn't want that. He asks if they will order one and the sales guy says they are not compliant due to the flash hider and it being semi automatic.

While my first reaction was these aren't MA compliant, after doing a search here and the info he got it does seem they should be. Has anyone seen these in MA or have any info they can offer?

http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14TacticalRifle/specSheets/5848.html

Note: I did explain to this guy that preban mags are VERY expensive and hard to find (especially ones that work). I also explained that he was very close to the price of an AR.....he wants this.....

EDIT: I called him and told him I posted this. At this point, he has called another gun shop and got the same response, not available in MA due to the flash hider. He also asked a LEO who was unsure,but didn't think it was compliant.

 

[WindMeUp]

I'm on a cell phone so it's hard to see details. There are two evil features, flash hider and detachable magazine.

Two evil features aren't an issue as long as it doesn't go over that amount, I don't see a problem with it in the small picture I can see.

Disclaimer: I'm not a shop owner or a lawyer, and I definitely don't claim to be an expert!

 

[drgrant]

How is the flash hider affixed to the barrel? If it is threaded on there with a crush or peel washer being the only thing holding it in place, you are borked, because it has usable threads, and usable threads would be the third evil feature (it counts as having a threaded barrel ) pushing you over the limit. You would need to pin and weld or silver solder the FH to keep it under the limit.

This is of course ignoring the fact that the rifle is a complete waste of money, but that's beside the point here.

-Mike

 

[Kevlar]

IThere are two evil features, flash hider and detachable magazine. Two evil features aren't an issue as long as it doesn't go over that amount

How is the flash hider affixed to the barrel? If it is threaded on there with a crush or peel washer being the only thing holding it in place, you are borked, because it has usable threads, and usable threads would be the third evil feature (it counts as having a threaded barrel ) pushing you over the limit. You would need to pin and weld or silver solder the FH to keep it under the limit.

Huh?

It's semi-auto with a detachable magazine (pre-requisites), and has one "evil" feature.

It's perfectly legal in MA.

 

[drgrant]

Huh?

It's semi-auto with a detachable magazine (pre-requisites), and has one "evil" feature.

It's perfectly legal in MA.

I think I misread the law, apparently an FH or threaded barrel is an "either or" statement. So it still counts as "one" regardless. That said, if you take off the FH you still have one, apparently. Or if he was changing the FH out to a comp to get rid of the evil feature, he would have to weld the comp on to actually make it count.

-Mike

 

[lupis42]

It should be entirely legal.

Save your money, the number of better options beggars belief.

ETA: At a guess, the dealers your friend talked to were checking to see if they could get this: http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14TacticalRifle/specSheets/5846.html

The one he wants is 5848, not 5846. He may have to be more specific with the dealer.

 

[Kevlar]

I think I misread the law, apparently an FH or threaded barrel is an "either or" statement. So it still counts as "one" regardless. That said, if you take off the FH you still have one, apparently.

I see what your saying now. I guess it could be construed as two "evil" features.

Of course, permanently attaching the flash hider would undoubtedly ensure compliance.

Or if he was changing the FH out to a comp to get rid of the evil feature, he would have to weld the comp on to actually make it count.

If a comp/brake was installed in its place, it would not need to be permanently attached.

The threaded barrel would remain as the one allowable "evil" feature.

 

[drgrant]

If a comp/brake was installed in its place, it would not need to be permanently attached.

The threaded barrel would remain as the one allowable "evil" feature.

Well, I said "to get rid of the evil feature. " EG- if he wants to make the muzzle score 0 (say he wanted to put on a pistol grip or something like that) he still needs to weld it on. If he puts a brake on the threaded barrel, it still counts as a threaded barrel, even without the FH attached, so it would still be worth one point.

-Mike

 

[Kevlar]

Well, I said "to get rid of the evil feature. " EG- if he wants to make the muzzle score 0 (say he wanted to put on a pistol grip or something like that) he still needs to weld it on. If he puts a brake on the threaded barrel, it still counts as a threaded barrel, even without the FH attached, so it would still be worth one point.

-Mike

Ah, gotcha. Sorry, I seem to be having reading comprehension issues today.

 

[Lignum Vitea]

Would it be lawful to own one of these non-evil Mini's with only a FID or does one need a LTC.

 

[lupis42]

Would it be lawful to own one of these non-evil Mini's with only a FID or does one need a LTC.

High-cap mags exist, so it'd be LTC only.

 

[Kevlar]

Would it be lawful to own one of these non-evil Mini's with only a FID or does one need a LTC.

It's an open question which also impacts the 10/22s. Until recently, both were shipped from the manufacturer with only 10-round magazines, and were therefore FID compliant. Recently, Ruger has started shipping some models with magazines in excess of 10 rounds. The unanswered question is whether the models that ship with 10-round magazines are still FID compliant, or is the whole line now considered large capacity, making FID holders who own one instant felons. It's become a gray area, and I believe LenS has requested clarification from EOPSS, but at this point, it's anyone's guess.

High-cap mags exist, so it'd be LTC only.

The mere existence of large capacity magazines is not the issue. See above.

 

[lupis42]

The mere existence of large capacity magazines is not the issue. See above.

Right, sorry. I will rephrase: this particular model (Mini-14 Tactical) can ship from the manuf. w/ high caps, hence LTC-B only.