England’s ‘Sort of’ Semi-Auto AR-15-type Rifle, the Answer to CA’s New Gun Ban

Lever Release Rifle from Southern Gun Company in England
Lever Release Rifle from Southern Gun Company in England

DeNiro Marketing Group

USA-(Ammoland.com)- You probably have heard the bad news that Governor Jerry Brown signed more anti-2nd Amendment firearms laws to take effect in “Commiefornia” and that these laws included an elimination of almost all semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines.

Even before these new laws and regulations take effect, people currently have more firearms freedom, in regard to what they can own, in: Italy, Slovenia, Ukraine (with the exception of handguns), Poland, Germany, Canada (with the exception of some small handguns), Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, New Zealand, as well as other countries, than citizens of California do.

The answer for those still living behind enemy lines may be the Lever Release Rifle from Southern Gun Company in England. Since semi-auto centerfire rifles are not legal to own in England, the folks at this company have developed what I call “sort of Semi-auto” which are available in calibers 9mm, .45, and .223.

The way these AR-15 type rifles work is that every time you pull the trigger, a round is fired and the shell is ejected but then the bolt is held open even with a loaded magazine.

You then press your bolt catch release and another round is loaded and you are ready to fire again. It’s not technically semi-auto by our regulation definitions either and may be a legal alternative for gun owners in California (New York state too). I imagine that if a modification kit were available, it would be a quick fix for exiting AR-15 type rifles. Other MSR models could be pursued as well.

Possibly, the good folks at Southern Gun Company can license a U.S. manufacturer to make these. The differences between a California variant Lever Release Rifle and an English Lever Release Rifle is that the English don’t have a “high-capacity” magazine ban and can own standard capacity magazines but the California model should be able to have a standard magazine release as this is not technically a semi-auto.

I’ve been to England on firearms & defense industry business and there is a small but strong gun culture there. Southern Gun Company is a perfect example of it and I applaud them for their efforts and creativity. You can reach Southern Gun Company through their website and they have a nice video demo here:

About Vincent DeNiro

With a nine-page resume, Vincent DeNiro has more than 33 years of experience working in the firearm and defense industries, at the management and executive levels, for some of the largest companies in the areas of marketing, advertising, business development, import, export, product development/management as well as having top industry sales. He has also been credited with leading the defeat of the first city “assault weapons” ban in the U.S. back in 1989, has worked in the film industry as a theatrical armorer since 1991, is a former deputy sheriff, a 1992 Eastern USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee, was the Editor-In-Chief of Prepper & Shooter Magazine, and has been shooting and gun collecting since 1974. He can be reached through his website at DeNiroMarketingGroup.com .

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Wild Bill

@JC, So the British government could outlaw all firearms immediately, and commence confiscation at a moment’s notice. That is a dismal situation. Come to Texas.

Emma Rifles

Nice Post.
Emma Rifles also sells new & used air rifles. For more details visit https://emma-rifles.co.uk

Alan

I imagine that the anti gun aristocrats will bugger this up too.

Felix Hughes

To support Vincent’s comments,I’m a Brit and have held a firearms licence for over 25 years, I’ve not only owned one of SGC lever release rifles, but also: Benelli M3, SX3, AI AW, Tika T3, Winchester 94, Sako 85, 2 Armalon PC rifles a Marlin and 2 Ruger 1022 and as I’m in Northern Ireland: Sig P226, Taurus 66, S&W 586, AMT Javalina and Hardballer, CZ 75, P229, So not only are you allowed firearms in the UK and the use of moderators for use in target shooting is encouraged on the grounds of health and safety, in some parts… Read more »

Alan

Are you currently allowed to own such firearms? Many years ago, when I worked for a while in London, I got out to Bisley a couple of times, and exercised with the 303 Lee Enfield. To my surprise, a couple of fellows at the office were competitive target shooters. The officials I had contact with were polite to a fault, much more than were people I had contact with at the New York City Police Dept. I grew up in NYC and lived there for many years. Additionally, when I inquired about purchasing a particular rifle while in London, I… Read more »

Jc

Thanks for the welcome…..

Yes, the European Union were on their way there trying ban semi auto .22 rimfire, and MARS action fullbore rifles, thank god we are getting out.

Wild Bill

@JC and DeNiro, If no one has welcomed you to this site, yet, then let me be the first.

Jc

Well we have no firearm civil rights, you can own a section 1 firearm by having good reason, hunting and target shooting, and being vetted by the Police.
We can not carry only to and from shooting grounds, no semi auto fullbore

Owning a firearm is privilege nit a right.

The rifle I was referring to is a WW2 Mauser K98.
I belong to a target shooting club which has access to military ranges where we can use up to 50cal

TEX

@JC,a 7.92×57 Mauser !?!? What ?

jc

Well we can not carry, only to and from shooting grounds, they are not for home defence,there are separate licences for shot guns and rifles, hand guns are not allowed unless they are powder and ball. there are some exceptions fro historic reasons, say I had my granddads service pistol from ww2 I could own it but it would have to be kept at the range, no semi auto full-bore although the MARS action assault rifle is pretty close.

Wild Bill

@Vince DeNiro, You say, ” While England does not have anything near to what we have in regard to firearm rights…” What are the differences? What can’t the English do, firearms-wise? What firearms civil rights don’t they have that we do? And JC don’t be afraid to jump in any time?

JC

Hey I’m Just a working class English guy i have just got my firearms licence, my first rifle is a 7.92×57 Mauser, shoot at a local indoor range and twice a month i can go the military ranges to have a go on the sniper to 1500mtr 100mtr 300mtr ranges so yes the laws are very strict but we can still have fun.

Not sure where Mike was living but its not here unless you have a record of course for bad s**t then youve had it.

Alan

JC, I hope you are using hearing protection, especially shooting 8mm rifles indoors, shooting glasses too.

Jesse

The best answer to the California ban is Thordsen Customs http://www.thordsencustoms.com, not only your not going to need to register you ar15 in 2017, also going to allow you to use a regular mag release, also the flash hider will need to be replaced by a compensator.

Alan

Years ago, late 1960’s, I lived in Berkley, later in Oakland. Used to shoot informal rifle matches at Chabot Park, in the hills above Oakland, and also on the Marine Corps base at Vallejo. Oakland was pretty nice back then, I used to walk to work downtown, we lived just up from Lake Merit. Of course, SanFrancsco was lovely back then, without the idiot political types that abound these days. As for this British rifle, sounds interesting, I wonder how long it might be before British Anti Gun Nuts screw that ..up. Strange to note, when I worked in London,… Read more »

Hank

Wouldn’t it be possible to simply hold the bolt release button down and thus have a fully fledged semi-auto? Regardless, we’re detailing with vague ‘technicalities’ and the same folks who have a problem with ‘bullet buttons’ will surely find fault with this ‘gimmick’ too.

codenamedave

So-called “featureless” semi-auto rifles/carbines are still legal (for the nonce) in CA. The writer either hasn’t bothered to check his facts or is deliberately being misleading by saying “these laws included an elimination of almost all semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines” , a trend I find rather prevalent in Ammoland articles. The kicker for me is that 10+ round capacity magazines are now illegal to possess, meaning the likely millions that were previously grandfathered in are now required to be surrendered to The State w/o compensation. (Not that a few bucks would make it alright.) Also, the banned list is… Read more »

Vincent DeNiro

Dear “Code Name” Dave, I am very familiar with CA laws and was not trying to be misleading. Featureless rifles are still legal as you stated as I am very well aware of BUT when more and more features of a Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR) get eliminated, through un-Constitutional laws, – AT SOME POINT ITS NOT AN MSR ANYMORE. The fact that something is grandfathered means that it cannot be purchased in the future by “new” buyers therefore it IS banned. Maybe I should have stated: ” these laws included an elimination of MSR-type semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines.” The… Read more »

kcshooter

Too black, too scary. Ban it.

Tionico

it has the “shoulder thing that goes up”, therefor must be banned…. and AtG Harris will assure that it is enforced.

David Phillips

Typographical error noted. Search for ‘exiting’, correct with ‘existing’. Feel free to leave this comment out, whether you fix the typo or not.

Vincent DeNiro

Thank you – I missed that typo!

Jim in Conroe

This will probably be characterized as evading the law, rather than obeying the law. It is a manufacturer obeying the law.

Unfortunately, California has a list of banned guns. Guess how long it will take for this firearm to be added.

SuperG

It’s probably already there.

Mike McAllister

Isn’t it amazing that in a country where all guns are ban (yes you can keep a shotgun at the range ONLY) can produce a kind of semi-automatic gun. Maybe Brown should go to London and see if he can get along with their mayor!!!! Both seem to be POS SOB’s!

Vincent DeNiro

“in a country where all guns are ban[ned] (yes you can keep a shotgun at the range ONLY)” Your statement is not correct. While England does not have anything near to what we have in regard to firearm rights, they can own: – all types of center-fire rifles (bolt-action, lever action, pump, lever-release) except semi-auto – shotguns of almost all types are legal with “standard-length” barrels (although no longer in production, even the SPAS-15 with detachable magazine was legal there the last time I checked) – suppressors aka silencers are legal AND they are encouraged to own for deer hunting… Read more »

Mike Mcallister

Don’t know where you got your info, but I lived there for three years and you are dead wrong!

Just the first statement. Yes you can keep your bolt action rifle, AS LONG AS THE BARREL IS LEAD FILLED to make it non-functional. And so on down the line!

Vincent DeNiro

Hmmm, let me see where I got my information. 1) I ran International Sales for Beretta USA for over 6 years (Beretta, have you heard of them???) I also founded the division. 2) I traveled to England on firearm industry and defense industry business participating in high level small arms related events and demonstrations 3) I handled this company’s account in England for sales in England (as well as others) – https://www.gmk.co.uk/ . Take a look at all of the bolt action SAKO rifles they have for sale (lead in barrels not included). 4) I imported and exported firearms from/to… Read more »

Vincent DeNiro

Direct link to Sound Moderators (AKA sound suppressors, silencers) for sale to citizens of England https://www.gmk.co.uk/rifles/sound%2Bmoderators

throwedoff

So suppressors are called “moderators” in England? Maybe manufacturers here should all agree to a name change overnight and never refer to them as silencers or suppressors again. Moderators sounds so much less intimidating and fearful. Maybe then we could get some favorable federal legislation passed doing away with the NFA restriction on them. Of manufacturers wouldn’t be able to charge a premium for them just because you wouldn’t have to jump through hoops and wait an eternity to get one. Competition would spring up……

Mike Mcallister

No dumbass I was in the military stations there. I guess while you stayed home and sucked your thumb. Oh and check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms_policy_in_the_United_Kingdom
If your an elite in the UK you can get a gun, but the normal person can’t afford the license.
Take Care!

Jason

And even Wikipedia agrees with what Vincent said.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms_policy_in_the_United_Kingdom#Prohibited_firearms

Why link to something that disagrees with you as though it did?

Alan

There’s seems to be a significant difference of opinion, fact too here. It has been a long time since I lived in London, I was there is 1970, I have visited there since then too, however I have no current experience with British law as it impacts or addresses firearms. THe differences in the story are interesting, to say the very least.

Alan

Regarding the rifle discussed above,might the California version of this piece require a “time delay” between pressing the button and the action closing,possibly 60 or so seconds? One wonders.