6 Best California-Legal AR-15s [2024]

If you’re a firearm or shooting enthusiast in California, you are probably already familiar with how strict the state’s gun laws are, particularly in comparison to nearby states like Nevada and New Mexico.

There are many firearms you can get anywhere else in the nation that simply aren’t legal in California, and many people think this means they lose out on the AR-15 platform, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

There are a surprising number of California-legal AR-15 builds that you can put in a shopping cart today. The catch is, that to be a California-legal AR-15, they need to meet a few conditions of barrel length, magazine size, and more.

Luckily, we’ve done the legwork, and sifted through all the options so that we could bring you the best California-legal AR-15s with offerings that run the entire spectrum from mild to wild.

Note: If this is your first time buying an AR-15, we have a detailed guide on buying your first AR-15 that you should check out.

Best Overall – LWRC IC DI

Specifications

Pros & Cons

The LWRC IC DI is a mid-range AR-15 that easily stands out from the other competitors, even on our list of the top 6.

It demonstrates unwavering accuracy, reliability, and a wide range of customization features. The LWRC IC DI features a 16.1-inch barrel and sports a 10-round capacity.

It’s built with some of the highest-quality materials and leading technology available, such as a cold-hammer-forged barrel and a free-floating handguard. The LWRC IC DI was created to be both highly accurate as well as easy to handle and transport. The piston-driven operating system helps cut down on recoil and boost accuracy, making it great for mid to long-range shooting.

What really sets the LWRC IC DI apart from others in this category is the range of customization options. This rifle can be easily adapted to fit nearly any shooter’s style or preferences.

Additionally, while all guns are built for reliability, the LWRC IC DI sets a new benchmark and performs optimally in even the most brutal and challenging conditions. This is why the LWRC IC DI is the best overall on our list.

Best Value – Diamondback DB15

Specifications

Pros & Cons

For the comparatively lower price, the Diamondback DB15 represents one of the best values in California-legal AR-15 rifles.

It’s reliable, incredibly accurate, and offers unbeatable value for the price. The rifle has a 16-inch barrel, the California minimum legal, as well as a 10-round magazine, the state maximum.

It features advanced construction and components like the nitride-coated barrel and floating handguard. The Diamondback DB15 is designed to be highly accurate, and while heavier than other rifles, still relatively easy to handle. The direct gas impingement system cuts recoil and makes the Diamondback a solid option for both target shooting and hunting.

One of the biggest reasons why we chose the Diamondback DB15 as the best value for California-legal AR-15s is the affordable price point.

It’s not the lowest-priced option out there, but it’s also miles away from the most expensive, and for the price, you get a massive feature set. Not only is it highly customizable, but has some of the more advanced features that higher-end rifles have. If you’re looking for an affordable AR-15 with top-tier performance, the Diamondback DB15 makes an excellent choice and deserves significant consideration.

Check out our DB-15 review (non-CA compliant) for more information.

Best Budget Rifle – Colt Expanse M4

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Just as the name has been for far more than a century, the Colt Expanse M4 is a perfect example of accuracy and reliability, in a budget rifle that still brings solid performance to the table.

Like most others on our list, the Colt Expanse M4 features a 16-inch barrel and 10-round magazine. Notable components of this rifle include the chrome-lined barrel and flattop upper receiver.

Despite being one of the lowest-priced rifles on our list, the Colt Expanse M4 is also one of the lightest, coming in at less than 6.5 pounds, which means you save weight during transport and have more wiggle room for accessories or attachments.

A major contributing factor to the Colt Expanse M4 hitting our list as the best budget California-legal AR15 is the super-affordable price point. Even with the leading Colt quality, construction, and materials, this rifle is priced far lower than most other competitors.

Cheap firearms aren’t always the answer, but when a low price point makes legendary Colt quality and reliability more widely accessible, it’s definitely a good thing.

On top of all that, the Colt Expanse M4 is super-customizable, with tons of accessories and upgrades available for all shooting styles and needs.

The Colt Expanse M4 is more stripped down than some of the competitors, offering a more simplified design, but when you’re looking for a budget rifle, you know you’re going to have to compromise on some of the more top-shelf features. But with the Colt Expanse M4, you aren’t compromising much at all.

For more info on the similar Colt M4, check out our review.

Best High-End Rifle – Daniel Defense DDM4 V7

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Our pick for the best high-end California-legal AR15 is the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7.

The Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 is a cutting-edge AR15 that is well-known for not only its reliability but also customization options and accuracy that shooters are hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

It features the standard 10-round mag and 16-inch California-minimum barrel. It also has the relatively standard features of a free-floating handguard and forged barrel, and at just over 6 pounds it’s also one of the lightest rifles on our list. It’s ideal for both hunting and recreational shooting, and the low weight means you can pack this rifle just about anywhere and barely realize you’re carrying it.

We’ve got the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 as our pick for the best high-end AR15 for its exceptional performance and overall build quality.

Daniel is known for building their rifles to the absolute highest standards, using nothing but the highest quality materials and state of the art construction technology.

The manufacturing process is specifically designed to produce one of the most accurate and high-performance AR15s that you can legally own in California. With all that in mind, the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 is priced higher than any other firearm on our list, but for good reason.

If you’re looking for the best of the best for your AR15, the Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 should be high on your list of considerations and may be worth a test run if you can rent one at a nearby range.

Or, for more information, check out our DDM4 V7 review.

Best Lightweight Rifle – FN 15 Tactical Carbine

Specifications

Pros & Cons

The FN 15 Tactical Carbine is our pick for the best lightweight California-legal AR15, and while it’s not the lightest rifle on our list, it’s the best blend of lightweight construction and features that you’re likely to find in a similarly-priced rifle.

It comes with the standard minimum-legal 16-inch barrel and 10-round max capacity magazine that keeps it California-legal, but it also features a free-floating grip and collapsible stock. The FN 15 Tactical Carbine is designed to be a solid blend of features and maneuverability, making it highly accurate as well as easy to carry and handle.

It’s built around a direct gas impingement system, that helps to improve accuracy and decrease recoil. This makes it great for tracking targets in mid-range and long-range environments, while still being a respectable choice for close-quarters engagements.

We picked the FN 15 Tactical Carbine as our choice for the best lightweight rifle because it brings an exceptional marriage of weight and performance. While it’s built with a focus on lightweight materials, there are some compromises made for easier carrying and maneuverability, and even with the relatively lightweight this rifle doesn’t take any shortcuts with accuracy.

Additionally, the FN 15 Tactical Carbine has gained a reputation for being able to function reliably in some of the most grueling and potentially damaging conditions.

If you’re looking for a California-legal AR15 to take hunting, target shooting, or even for personal and home defense, the FN 15 Tactical Carbine should make your short list of rifles to seriously consider.

Best Featureless Grip – POF-USA Minuteman

Specifications

Pros & Cons

Another top-of-the-line California-legal AR15 is the POF-USA Minuteman, which is designed around a super-comfortable featureless grip, making it a pleasure to comply with the strict state laws regarding “featureless” requirements.

The POF-USA Minuteman is notable for having a slightly longer barrel in its default form, than many of our other entrants, coming in at 16.5 inches long.

It still comes with the standard California-maximum 10-round magazine, however, as well as industry-leading construction and components like a fully nitride-coated barrel to prevent corrosion in even the most rugged shooting environments.

The Minuteman is built around a direct gas impingement system, cutting down the recoil felt and increasing the accuracy of subsequent shots and making it perfect for defense or hunting applications.

A big reason that we picked the POF-USA Minuteman as the choice for the best AR15 with a featureless grip is the innovative grip and ergonomic design.

While a featureless grip isn’t uncommon and is even required for California-legal status, there are tons of grips out there that are just the most uncomfortable things you ever wrapped a hand around.

The POF-USA Minuteman featureless grip is free-floating and is able to be adjusted in multiple ways to accommodate different shooting styles and physical shooter requirements. The rest of the rifle is built with the same durability, attention to detail, and potential for customization as well.

From the moment you pick it up, you can feel the top-tier craftsmanship and state-of-the-art materials come together in a perfect blend of form and function. If you’re looking for an AR15 build that gets you quality and longevity, the Minuteman deserves serious attention.

If you’re considering buying a California-legal AR15 it may seem like there are only a few options, but this list is only the best of the best, there are countless other potentially “featureless” AR15 builds out there that would technically be California-legal.

With that in mind, there are some things to consider when you’re browsing. Take a look at the criteria that we used to evaluate and rank our choices.

We evaluate all of these firearms according to their legal compliance, first and foremost, as well as by their intended use, how they mesh with the buyer’s budget, the overall brand reputation, and of course, the ergonomics or how the gun feels in your hands.

Features To Consider

When choosing a California-legal AR15, there are several features to consider, including the barrel length, magazine capacity, gas system, handguard style, and overall price or affordability.

Barrel Length

The barrel length of your firearm can have a considerable effect on both the rifle’s accuracy and its ease of use. While longer barrels are able to provide a much higher degree of accuracy than shorter barrels can, they are less maneuverable and add significant overall weight.

In the spectrum of California-legal AR15 barrels, a 16-inch barrel is a very popular length, since it offers a good compromise between accuracy and ease of use.

Magazine Capacity

The number of rounds that the magazine is capable of holding is a significant factor to consider, for a couple of reasons. First of all, the more rounds you can hold in your firearm the less likely you are to run out at a crucial time.

However, there is a point where high-capacity magazines become illegal in California, so ensuring you have a compliant capacity is important. California-legal AR15s are limited to 10-round magazines unless the magazine was bought during the infamous “Freedom Week”.

Gas System

The gas system used by your choice of California-legal AR15 will have a dramatic effect on the way it operates and the amount of recoil the weapon generates.

A longer gas system helps to reduce the recoil and improve accuracy by considerable margins. The most common gas systems in the AR15 platform are rifle-length, mid-length, and carbine-length.

Handguard Type

With California-legal AR15s, they need to be a “featureless” build, which means they cannot have a pistol grip or foldable grip that sticks out “conspicuously” from the gun.

This means the type of handguard on your potential firearm is important, since you’re going to be limited in options, and it’s going to have a significant effect on the firearm’s versatility and customization. Free-float handguards are going to allow a wider range of accessories to be used without sacrificing accuracy. M-LOK is one of the most common varieties.

Price

AR15 rifles can vary in price to an incredible degree, so it’s critical to find one within your budget before developing any serious feelings for the iron.

While pricing is always fluctuating depending on the market conditions, you can always find one that fits your budget and performs just as well as one that costs as much as a down payment on a new truck.

Once you’ve picked out a new California-legal AR15, it’s important to always store and operate the firearm safely and responsibly. This includes following best practices such as:

1. Proper Storage: Storing your rifle in a secure location when not in use, such as a locked cabinet or gun safe. Always store ammunition separately from firearms, and never store a gun while loaded.
2. Handling With Care: Be sure you always handle your firearm with extreme care and never point the gun at anything you aren’t prepared to shoot. This also includes practicing trigger discipline and keeping your finger off of the trigger until ready to fire.
3. Regular Maintenance: Clean and maintain your rifle regularly to ensure it’s always in good working order. This includes cleaning and oiling the barrel, bolt carrier group, and other critical components of your rifle.
4. Attend Firearms Training: Even seasoned shooters can benefit from occasional training refreshers. Attend a local firearms training class to ensure you are always practicing safe operation.

Our guide on the best AR-15 ammo discusses the importance of selecting the right ammunition for your AR-15, emphasizing that the choice depends on your preferences and your rifle’s characteristics.

When choosing ammunition for your AR-15, it’s essential to match the ammo with your rifle’s specifications, such as barrel length, twist rate, and gas system, as these can significantly affect performance.

It’s also important to balance cost and performance, ensuring you get reliable ammunition that suits your budget.

Experimenting with different types of ammunition is key, as each rifle may have its own preference, impacting accuracy and overall shooting experience. Testing various options will help you determine the best choice for your specific AR-15.

For a comprehensive understanding and specific recommendations, read our full article on selecting the best AR-15 ammo.

When it comes to options for California-legal AR15s, there are plenty that are not only reliable but incredibly versatile and adaptable to various uses, while still staying within the strict California gun laws.

By thinking carefully about what you need from your rifle, as well as the information we’ve laid out for you here, you should be in a great position to make a well-informed decision about your next firearm.

What do you think about our picks? What would you do differently? Leave a comment down below and start a conversation!