How can you tell about a receiver? - The Firearms Forum

3ME · 03-05-2009, 10:33 AM

I am no expert on the AR-15, so here goes: Is there a way to look at an AR receiver and tell if it was manufactured pre-ban or post-ban?

SteyrAUG · 03-20-2009, 11:11 PM

Well first off I will assume we are talking about Colts only.

And when it comes to preban/post ban it gets kinda tricky.

In GENERAL terms prior to about 1989 they were actually marked AR-15 and after that they were marked Colt Sporter. The Colt Sporters generally had no bayo lugs but did have flash hiders, pistol grips and collapsible stocks on carbine models. Then came the 1994 ban (post ban) and these had NO flash hiders or collapsible stocks. These were also marked Colt Sporter.

Following the sunset of the 1994 ban the "preban" features were allowed again.

There is some more to it than the above, but that will get you started.

hayes1966 · 08-20-2009, 08:09 PM

Some more info can be found here

http://www.mp5.net/info/preban.htm

It doesn't seem to matter to most states now as the Federal AWB is gone but there are some states like CT (where I live) that still have AWBs.

03-05-2009, 10:33 AM	#1
3ME V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 57	How can you tell about a receiver? I am no expert on the AR-15, so here goes: Is there a way to look at an AR receiver and tell if it was manufactured pre-ban or post-ban? __________________ I have noticed that you don't see a lot of Obama stickers on cars that are headed to work. -->

03-20-2009, 11:11 PM	#2
SteyrAUG Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 21	Re: How can you tell about a receiver? Well first off I will assume we are talking about Colts only. And when it comes to preban/post ban it gets kinda tricky. In GENERAL terms prior to about 1989 they were actually marked AR-15 and after that they were marked Colt Sporter. The Colt Sporters generally had no bayo lugs but did have flash hiders, pistol grips and collapsible stocks on carbine models. Then came the 1994 ban (post ban) and these had NO flash hiders or collapsible stocks. These were also marked Colt Sporter. Following the sunset of the 1994 ban the "preban" features were allowed again. There is some more to it than the above, but that will get you started.

08-20-2009, 08:09 PM	#3
hayes1966 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Central Connecticut Posts: 24	Re: How can you tell about a receiver? Some more info can be found here http://www.mp5.net/info/preban.htm It doesn't seem to matter to most states now as the Federal AWB is gone but there are some states like CT (where I live) that still have AWBs. __________________ NRA Certified Instructor - Si vis pacem, para bellum - http://www.ct-permit.com