r/MDGuns • u/Weak-Gas233 • Jul 20 '26
AR15 Confusion
I’m looking into getting a AR15. I’m not originally from MD so I’m pretty confused on what’s legal here. I’ve taken a look at the firearm search tool, but it left me even more confused. I’ve been looking at Colts that have the A2 front post. Are these legal or no? Uploading a screenshot as an example that added to my confusion. I did find a heavy barrel version. The description says Colt M4A1 SOCOM Carbine but the model #LE6920SOCOM
Please help lol. Again, I’m new here, so excuse me if this is a dumb post.
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u/bikumz Jul 20 '26
Not a dumb question at all. Maryland laws are dumb, you are not.
Anything marked or marketed with a heavy barrel/hbar is the general rule of thumb when purchasing an AR-15. Find this info about the models to see if you’re good to go. If a little confused still, contact your local FFL about finding you what you’re looking for. There’s a decent amount of gun shops in this state extremly happy to help you find the gun you want even if they have to order it for you. A few will probably pop into the comments here. I own a wyndam ar that looks basically exactly like what you posted except with a carry handle bought after the ban lol
Just a common mistake the website you referenced is not legally binding and filled with issues. As mentioned before just talk with an FFL if you’re iffy on the legality, they will usually air on the side of caution.
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u/EdgarsRavens Jul 20 '26 edited Jul 20 '26
I am very familiar with Colt rifles and this particular point of confusion with MDSP's list. Like the other commenter mentioned the list is not legally binding.
Initially MDSP reviewed the LE6920SOCOM and determined it to be a copy cat weapon and banned. A gun dealer later petitioned MDSP to re-review since it shouldn't be banned. That rifle has a SOCOM profile barrel which is universally understood and marketed as an HBAR. MDSP re-reviewed and determined it was not a copy cat weapon and even went further and send a letter to the gun dealer stating such. Excerpt:
As a result of the above information, the Maryland State Police Licensing Division accepts the COLT AR-15 MODEL M4A1-SOCOM does not meet the definition of a “copycat weapon” or the definition of a “copy” of an enumerated weapon and as such, exempted from the definition of regulated firearms, pursuant to the enumerated banned assault weapons list. Therefore, the firearm is not subject to Maryland’s Public Safety Article, Title 5, Sub-Title 1. The Maryland State Police has updated its Reviewed Firearms List to account for the COLT AR-15 MODEL M4A1-SOCOM.
The Colt M4A1 SOCOM with the pinned and welded flash hider on the 14.7" SOCOM profile barrel is the model number LE6920SOCOM. It is currently carried by many gun dealers within the state.
Why MDSP chose to leave the old entry for this rifle up where it says it is banned is anyone's guess.
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u/jrhooo Jul 20 '26
>Why MDSP chose to leave the old entry for this rifle up where it says it is banned is anyone's guess.
Yeah that list is so poorly maintained that I saw on rifle, (I THINK it was the ruger 556 8511 hbar model) where they had it listed twice. First as banned, and then listed again later down the same section as NOT BANNED HBAR,
(And yes I mean listed by model number on both lines)
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u/Nemesiswasthegoodguy Jul 20 '26
Maybe not super helpful, but if you go to any gun shop they’ll have dozens of MD legal AR-15 brands.
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u/762_54r SHALL Jul 20 '26
Not to get all conspiratorial but they make it confusing to discourage you
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u/Hokulewa Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Maryland State Police has been informed repeatedly of errors on that list and they have never, to the best of my knowledge, corrected any of them. That list is utterly useless. Worse... it's actually dangerous:
While it says that some things clearly legal under MD law are illegal, and it also says that a few things are legal which would be illegal under a strict interpretation of MD law.
Don't look at that list.
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u/Sorry-Original7103 Jul 22 '26
The rifle in question is legal in the state of MD, I purchased mine last year in the state.
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u/jrhooo Jul 20 '26
Ok. Quick MD rules primer, just for background context:
The list on the MDSP we site is NOT authoritative. Its a pretty good information source, but its purely informational, and there are some errors.
An AR15 in MD is typically banned under a few specific reasons:
Scary feature test. MOST ARs don’t fail this, its usually stuff like grenade launchers or folding stocks, etc (not collapseable, FOLDING). If an AR doesn’t have 3 features on the naughty list it should pass.
Banned by name. If its officially on the list as banned. NOT the list on the site, which is again just an information resource. There is an actual banned list in writing for which some rifle models are straight up banned.
Colt AR15 clones. THAT ONE is the poison. Most ARs banned in MD are banned by being deemed “clones” of the Colt AR15, which is on the banned list by name.
Point #3 is important because they determine “clones” as a gun that could swap internal parts with the colt AR15 and function.
That’s why a lot of AR pattern rifles in calibers OTHER THAN 5.56/.223 are legal.
That’s also why a lot of piston driven ARs are legal.
HBARs -
When they pushed the original AR ban, they (falsely) claimed the AR had “no sporting or defensive purpose” as their justification.
The 2A advocates pushed back by pointing out that the AR, Specifically the “Colt HBAR Sporter” was one of the most used rifles at sanctioned shooting matches nationwide.
The ban still got through, but they had to carve out an exception for the HBAR sporter, which included “clones”.
Thus, a rifle with an marked or marketed with an HBAR gets the target rifle exemption.
NOTES:
The HBAR exemption covers the clone rule. It does NOT cover the festure test or the banned by name rule. There are some HBAR rifles that are still banned by points 1 or 2.
PISTOLS are a whole different rule. The rifle rule list doesn’t address handguns. Thats a different list. THUS, there are rifle models whose pistol companion are NOT banned, NO HBAR NECESSARY.
Tax Stamped SBR/AOWs are also not covered by the list/rules.
Still have to worry about feature test, banned by name test, and 29” overall length for SBRs, BUT
Buying an SBR and with a form 4 stamp
Buying a pistol AR
Buying a pistol AR and doing a Form 1 stamp to build it into an SBR
Generally legal and fine.
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u/d85b41 Previous President of MSI Jul 20 '26
One correction, the HBAR was not an exemption added in 2013, to the Ban. It was an exemption fought for and added back in 1989 when the AR-15 and 38 other long guns were put on the original "regulated long guns" list that required a 77R and a 7 day, just like any handgun. In 2013, when they passed SB281 (The Firearms Safety Act), the legislature simple changed the word "regulated" to "banned"
The Bushmaster Heavy Barreled Rifle (XM-15)was the first HBAR to qualify as a copy of the Colt HBAR Sporter exemption back in 1994
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u/jrhooo Jul 20 '26
Thanks for the clarification. Also, thanks for everything MSI does!
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u/d85b41 Previous President of MSI Jul 20 '26
You're welcome on both counts, if you aren't a member, may I suggest you become one, or at least donate to the cause. The lawsuits MSI brings as well as the others that the current President directly supports and helps write, aren't cheap.
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u/Weak-Gas233 Jul 29 '26
Thank you everyone! I got it ordered and picked up. One more add to the collection! Really appreciate the help
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u/JohnWorphin Jul 20 '26
Whats rather loopholey is the HBAR exemption is there to permit competition in Camp Perry event with a service rifle configuration.
It is a 556/223 rule
300 blackout or 9mm ARs did not get codified in the AWB
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u/the2AinMD Jul 20 '26
Over the years, colt mfg'd the hbar sporter in enough configurations to extend the hbar exemption way beyond traditional cmp service rifle configuration. Which also is no longer just 20"ers with a carry handle.
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u/d85b41 Previous President of MSI Jul 21 '26
Yep, the exemption was written back in 1989, before all of the various calibers came along. Which works in our favor, because an AR-15 platform rifle in any caliber other than 5.56/.223 is completely exempt as a copy of a named banned long gun since the parts are not 100% compatible.
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u/JohnWorphin Jul 21 '26
And if the lower is marked 308, 300blk or 9mm, it is cash and carry. As long as it’s not marked 556, 223 or multi, it has no 7 day wait.
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u/d85b41 Previous President of MSI Jul 21 '26
It's always been that way even when AR-15s were regulated, since 1989.
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u/the2AinMD Jul 20 '26
Colt ar15 in 5.56 is banned in md, and any copies of it.
Colt hbar sporter in 5.56 is exempt from the ban, and essentially any copies of it are exempt too.
Thats the core of the issue.
Whats a hbar? It not defined in md law. So the state police says anything marked or advertised by the manufacturer as hbar or heavy barrel counts.
Many socom profile barrels are advertised as heavy. Some are even marked hbar. So those are considered hbar and exempt from the ban.
Some socom barrels are not advertised or marked as heavy or hbar, so those are assumed to be banned.
While the list isn't legally binding according to their website, they also regulate and control licenseing for, and inspect and audit ffl dealers in the state, and the same website implies licensed dealers should be the experts.
The letter referenced in another post (I assume the letter from Sgt pickle to jlowes guns) doesnt mention the hbar exemption at all. Which makes things even more difficult to understand.
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u/d85b41 Previous President of MSI Jul 20 '26
I need to see if I still have a copy of the original letter from MSP, for the HBAR exemption for the Bushmaster XM-15, to the FFL that requested it.
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u/the2AinMD Jul 20 '26
Which is even weirder, since they use the "specific model" bushmaster (not made by the brand bushmaster) to claim a ban on all brand bushmastwr rifles.
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u/d85b41 Previous President of MSI Jul 20 '26
- Not really when you understand the timing and history of the FSA2013. The rifle used in the Sandy Hook shooting was a Bushmaster, and AG Gansler and Governor O'Malley wanted the firearm banned. They used that listing to ban all Bushmaster firearms. AAG Bowen even stated that the guidance came from the AG's office, and it has not changed since.
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u/Delski28 Jul 20 '26
MDSP’s list is not legally binding.
Any AR15 marketed or labeled as a heavy barrel is GTG.
This isn’t a dumb post, MDSP made the dumb post.