New to AR. Question about AR labeling

[RiverRat]

Question about AR labeling on magazine holder.

I did it. I bought an EBR to celebrate (console me) after the election. I'm not sure I see the usefulness of a .223 (actually 5.56, not .223), but I didn't have one. Besides Mrs. RiverRat approved the purchase prior to Jan 20. Sure are expensive for .22 ammo. I digress.....I bought one to insure that I have one for my children and grandchildren if they start trying to legislate my inalienable rights.

I bought the last one in the gun shop...paid too much, but got one......a Colt model LE6920. It's label on the box says "law enforcement carbine". It's a semi-automatic so I didn't give it a second thought. I bought it to stick in the safe and put back for some other year. Well, curiousity got the best of me here two weeks later so I broke the seal and opened the box to look at it.

To my surprise, it has "RESTRCTED, MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EXPORT ONLY" stamped in the side of the magazine cover!

Does anyone know the meaning of this? I find nothing questionable about barrel length (~17"), semi, etc. Should this gun be returned??.......should I not have it as a civilian? , non-LEO?

Honestly, they all look alike to me. It looks just like my sons DPMS.......except for the little horsey on one side and that stamping on the other. The last thing I need this year is some agency that is protecting my safety, well being and freedom to pull a Waco in my back yard.

Thanks in advance...been reading the other AR posts....it's a 1:7 twist. I will enjoy playing with different ammo weights.

[Mike1951]

You need not worry. Just like ammo that is labeled for LE use, it is just Colt's marketing.

6920's often go for around $1500-1600, although I have seen them as low as $1300.

I must admit the $1300 was before the current madness, as I probably couldn't find one for that now.

[flb_78]

Yep, you shouldn't keep it. It's dangerous. It's too late to return it so you better just get rid of it through a private sale.

I feel your pain and wish to help you.

I will give 200 cash for it and we shall never speak of it again.

[Mike1951]

That's cold!!!

[flb_78]

Just trying to help

[RiverRat]

Yep, you shouldn't keep it. It's dangerous. It's too late to return it so you better just get rid of it through a private sale.

I feel your pain and wish to help you.

I will give 200 cash for it and we shall never speak of it again.

Appreciate the offer, but Mrs. RiverRat wants me to paint it pink, with accessories as camo, then no one would notice.

[flb_78]

[135boomer]

Ask and ye shall receive...

[RiverRat]

You have fed a fire that's going to cost me MY AR. Mrs RiverRat particularly likes the pink camo.......and asked me how difficult it might be for me to do that.....

I told her she had to get an AR for herself, first. Her reply was that the whole idea of the camo was to cover my error in judgement by buying one with the bad stamping on the side of the mag holder..........I might need to go get one (my own)?....and I needed to read on it this time, before I purchase it.........

I'm seeing where this is going......remind me to thank you for posting the photos IF I am able to find ME another AR at the gun show in the morning.... .

[flintknapper]

You have fed a fire that's going to cost me MY AR. Mrs RiverRat particularly likes the pink camo.......and asked me how difficult it might be for me to do that.....

I told her she had to get an AR for herself, first. Her reply was that the whole idea of the camo was to cover my error in judgement by buying one with the bad stamping on the side of the mag holder..........I might need to go get one (my own)?....and I needed to read on it this time, before I purchase it.........

I'm seeing where this is going......remind me to thank you for posting the photos IF I am able to find ME another AR at the gun show in the morning.... .

Nothing wrong with that stamping! Of course, it is a perfectly legal weapon for civilians to own.

The LE6920 has some desirable features that "may" not be found on some other offerings you might have chosen from. If you are partial to the "Colt" then you have found a very nice weapon. I certainly would not take a LE6920 and paint it pink, get another gun for that project.

The LE6920 has a 1:7 barrel twist, (good for stabilizing heavier bullets), most other AR's these days (in 5.56) are 1:9, which is fine. The barrel of the LE is 4150 chrome lined, you have a flat top receiver and M4 feed ramps. You might even have an M16 (full auto) bolt carrier (some have them). The barrel and bolt are Magnetic Particle tested and the overall quality is generally better than some other offerings.

A good price for a LE6920 these days (when you can find one) is about $1200.00 to $1350.00 with some going much higher (NIB of course).

I believe the pins for the firing group (trigger assembly) are a non standard size, so you may want to pick up some extras while you can.

[Kythas]

I think it mainly has to do with the barrel twist. Non LEO/Military versions of the AR have a 1/9 twist, but LEO/Military versions have a 1/7 twist.

This mainly means you can use ammo with a grain higher than 69gr and still be accurate to 500 meters.

It's not illegal for you to possess it, it's not illegal for the store to sell it to you, but usually those are sold to dealers with a contract restriction stating they will only be sold to LEO. The dealer should have asked to see a badge prior to selling it to you, but since he didn't you got a great rifle. Again, no law was broken, but the dealer probably violated a provision of his contract with the manufacturer in selling it to you.

Well, it's not illegal YET......

[RiverRat]

[quote="flintknapper
I believe the pins for the firing group (trigger assembly) are a non standard size, so you may want to pick up some extras while you can.[/quote]



Good info, Thanks.

I wasn't going to paint the Colt pink.....but might consider getting a kit and "pinking it out".
I guess I'll keep it.

I think it mainly has to do with the barrel twist. Non LEO/Military versions of the AR have a 1/9 twist, but LEO/Military versions have a 1/7 twist......
This mainly means you can use ammo with a grain higher than 69gr and still be accurate to 500 meters..........

Well, it's not illegal YET......

That's why I got one......cheers. I won't worry about the stampings as long as it works the way it's supposed to.