Got a nice note from Walter J. Kuleck, who’s the author of several books, including the new Ruger 10/22 Complete Owner’s and Assembly Guide, The AR-15 Complete Owner’s Guide (new version), and The AR-15 Complete Assembly Guide, among others. He wrote:
“Per your latest issue, which includes the Ruger SR-556 TD, I have some background information that you might find interesting. I had noted the TD feature in the original SR-556 patent application. However, possibly because it was an application and not the final patent, no one besides myself seems to have noticed. The year that the SR-556 was introduced, I met the designer and patent holder at that year’s NRA Meeting. That’s what caused me to keep a lookout for the patent.
“I had the privilege of seeing the TD in ’13, long before its release last year. At that time, the project engineer told me that one of the designer’s criteria was that the barrel should be interchangeable by a soldier while he was running in full battle dress, wearing gloves. I would submit that the criterion was met: big latch, no loose parts, nothing fragile or tender that could be bent or broken even if said troop fumbled the ball.
“The product manager told me with a wry smile that the initial release of the ‘556 was to be the takedown model, but the decision was made to start with the fixed barrel version. That’s why the product designation for the first model released was “SR-556 FB,” for “Fixed Barrel.” Of course, the meaning of “FB” was never revealed. Ruger had already ordered up those cool tactical bags that were shipped with the FB; that’s why those bags have an extra pair of Velcro loops. The extra loops were for a spare TD barrel assembly.
“Eventually Ruger did introduce the “original” TD version. By that time Ruger, figured out that they could adapt the 10/22 Takedown bag to the SR-556 TD. By the way, I can fit a spare 300 BLK barrel assembly in the bag with my TD.
“I’ve been informed that the FB has been discontinued. From here on, the only SR-556s to be offered will be the TD. However, the SR-762 remains a fixed-barrel version. Still enjoying Gun Tests!”
Maura Healey, the attorney general of Massachusetts, recently rewrote the state’s 1998 Gun Control Act to reinterpret what it had meant since 1998. Healey explained how she would now enforce the state’s gun law. The Massachusetts assault weapons ban prohibits the sale of specific weapons like the Colt AR-15 and AK-47 and explicitly bans “copies or duplicates” of those products. “Copies or duplicates” mean “state compliant” versions of Modern Sporting Rifles sold in Massachusetts, which might lack a flash suppressor, a folding or telescoping stock, or other features. The effect could mean that all AR-15s that have been modified to comply with Massachusetts law are now illegal purely because they are AR-15s.
