Illinois is almost there. Bill introduced yesterday for CCW. It's a SHALL ISSUE system, being received very favorably, with very little bullshit, and a good reciprocity system.

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HB0997

Must inform officer.
No carry in bars, but restaurants OK.
Fingerprinting.
Signage carries force of law.
Normal training (NRA basic pistol) requirements.

There is some confusion on how FOID and CCW work together... the idea that obtaining a CCW negates the need for a FOID has surfaced... needs to be ironed out.

Overall it looks great. There will obviously be some changes as it makes it's way through the state legislature, but both sides have a vested interest in passing something quick, with the anti's being completely on the ropes. In January, the state goes de-facto Constitutional Carry (open and concealed) and while I think it's great, I don't think the City of Chicago would last the night.

 

Sam,

Could you give us gun noobs a quick overview of "shall issue" and "may issue". Kinda confused.

Thanks.

 

Basically a difference between the legal obligation to issue a permit. "Shall issue" means that, if there is nothing that legally disqualifies an applicant from having a permit, the state must issue him a permit. "May issue" means that the state has the right to deny permit applications based on a broader set of criteria -- in a lot of cases, what it means is that most applications are denied unless the applicant can demonstrate a particular need for a permit (death threats, public figures, etc.).

 

Okay, going off the top of my head here. My recommendations will be based on my own research for my AR build. My goal was to find that price/quality sweet spot, not to source the very best uber-commando SEAL Team 6 unobtainium parts.

Furniture

Magpul is always a safe bet here, reasonably priced, good quality, highly available. However, I went with a mishmash.

I prefer the shape and feel of the Tango Down Battle Grip to any of the Magpul designs. Note that if you use it with a curved trigger guard, you may have to sand/shape the little lip on the front of the grip.

I chose a Magpul MOE handguard. I don't need full length quad rails. I just want something comfy and durable. And if I really feel the need to hang stuff off the front of my rifle, I can add modular rail sections to the MOE handguard.

I don't have a stock yet, but I've settled on a B5 SOPMOD Bravo. I don't need extra storage for batteries or whatever inside the stock. I just want something lightweight and tough with a good cheek weld that doesn't snag beard hair. This stock is backordered everywhere...might be a few weeks before it's available again.

Upper parts

I'm a big fan of Palmetto State Armory for complete uppers and upper parts. They can be slow on shipping, but their prices are excellent for the quality. FN barrels are excellent. I prefer middy-length gas systems.

Don't cheap out on the BCG. You want a good maker, with mil-spec parts. Other stuff to look for -- MPI, Carpenter158 steel, proper staking on the gas key. Coatings like Nickel Boron are nice for cleanup but not absolutely necessary if you properly clean and lube your rifle.

Lower parts

Lower parts kits are pretty straightforward if you are happy with a regular mil-spec trigger. Order from a reliable source and you'll be fine. Don't be tempted by commercial-spec buffer tube assemblies -- it will severely limit your stock options. Get mil-spec and you can choose from all of the stocks on the market instead of 20% of them.

Don't forget to pick up a stock wrench/AR armorer's tool for the buffer tube installation and a spring-loaded center punch to stake the end plate/castle nut. You can stake it with a chisel or a cheap screwdriver but you're more likely to mess it up. A punch is $10 at Lowe's.

Other stuff

It'd be good to consider how (and if) you want to sling the rifle before you start ordering parts. There are lots of options for 1, 2, and 3 point slings and mounting options. I'm probably going to go with a 1 point Magpul sling attached to a Noveske QD endplate, but I haven't entirely made my mind up.

If you are going to use some kind of optical sight, then I think the Magpul MBUS sights are good enough as BUIS. If the plan is for only iron sights, then I'd invest in all-metal units from one of the reliable makers -- I'd probably be looking at the Troy Battle Sights.

Magpul PMAGs are (normally) the best reasonably priced magazines. Unfortunately they are hard to find right now, so options might be limited, but that's what I would want if I could find them at a good price.


That's all I have for now, I might think of more stuff later.

 

I'm gonna go ahead and leave this here:



Headspaced and ready to fire... Can't wait!

 

Palmetto State Armory appears to have polymer ATI Omni stripped lowers in stock for $69.99 - ATI Omni Stripped Lower Receiver

 

Geoff's take is exactly correct. Issuance of CCW permits has been delegated to the states. No two states have identical issue laws, even among the Constitutional Carry states.

Depending on how each individual State Constitution is written, and the various laws within the state will determine how that state issues. Some states leave the administration of the program within an actual STATE agency, such as the Fish&Wildlife Dept or State Police. In applying for a permit, you would actually apply to the STATE. Some states delegate authority down to individual county Sheriff's, such as California. In those states, you'll have an absurd patchwork of policies, some counties being profoundly NO ISSUE, and some counties where the Sheriff goes on the evening news begging people to apply so he can issue them.

In the end, the key "problem" in MAY ISSUE states is generally on the application, there will be a "INDICATE GOOD CAUSE OR REASONING FOR ISSUANCE OF THIS PERMIT" section. In almost all cases, "for self defense" does not qualify as "good cause". However, being rich, owning a jewelry store, being a celebrity, a politician, or having some other connection will be good enough.

In Califronia, large metropolitan counties like LA, San Diego, Orange County, San Fran, Oakland, etc... are essentially NO ISSUE unless you're special. But more rural and almost all the counties that border Nevada/Arizona/Oregon are good to go. MAY ISSUE in general is absurd.

Illinois problem has always been that the population base in Chicago has controlled politics within the state. It took the Supreme Court to tell them to **** off, and now Emanuel is being forced to literally open wide and swallow this dick. Granted, it hasn't always been just him, but it is this year.

 

Been keeping an eye on this and will continue to do so. Breaking in my Supertuck...

 

One thing I forgot -- skip the standard charging handle for something like a BCM Gunfighter. Regular charging handles put all the stress on the roll pin of the latch. The Gunfighter charging handle is designed so that the force on the latch is transferred to the rest of the charging handle instead of just the roll pin.

 

Thanks for all the feedback. I'll try to do some online shopping this weekend.

 

Arrgh. Someone just put a Dan Wesson .357 revolver up the local Armslist for $250. I don't really want or need a full-sized .357 but that price is stupid low if it's in decent shape.

 

Out of stock :(

 

Those were out of stock 9 milliseconds after they were IN stock..

 

I just want one of their uppers, or 16" midgas pencil barrels :(

How in the hell is anyone finding parts these days?

 

Have something to trade for. I currently own 10 PMAGs, and have 50 on order now. Once the first 10 show up, to give me 20 total for my own use, any more that I get goes up for trade. I'm gonna put a feeler on CL to see if anybody local sitting on a few stripped lowers wants to swap me straight for one... maybe for ammo. Will see.

 

I have one and love it. By far my favorite pistol to shoot. Can't afford the 357 for it and while their not as fun, the .38spcl are great as well.

 

Since I think I've got all the guns I "need" right now except a Sub2k, my next gun may have to be a toy... classic single-action revolver... Ruger Vaquero in .45Colt gives me a boner. Still, nothing in stock anywhere... not that I have $1k to drop on a toy right now anyways.

 

If I was going .45 and revolver I'd go S&W 625 for the 'perfect' revolver?

 

If I wanted a tool, I'd certainly be buying a K-frame Smith .357 4" barrel... but I'm actually entertaining the idea of a "toy" gun... something just for fun.

That Ruger makes me sooooo happy in my pants... I'm thinking polished with cherry grips>

 

If you buy it though... you must immediately purchase the following though:
Cowboy hat
Denim outfit
Cowboy boots (with spurs)
Assless chaps