Dark Storm

Nothing prohibiting the sale in NJ that we are aware of. Worth nothing that there are a number of different pockets. Some are anit-auto like the Colt shown above. The M16 pocket (per mil-spec) is also slightly different than the M4 pocket (per mil-spec). All of our current productions lowers are true to the M4A1 mil-spec pocket.

To put some perspective on it. We usually sell about a skid of each 9mm and 5.56 each month. We sold that in about 2 hours today when they arrived.

Now I have a machine gun HO-HO-HO! SATURDAY December 7th, 2019, Savage Cerakote is hosting one badass Christmas Party featuring Dark Storm Industries. This is a family friendly event. Music! Snacks! Firearms! SWAG! Great Deals and Holiday Specials! Handle a selection of NJ legal DSI firearms We're here to have fun, educate and celebrate. SEE YOU THERE!

This Sunday, November 17th, from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, come down to Legend Firearms and Union Hill Gun Club for some hands on experience with Dark Storm Industries. FREE DSI rentals during the event. Great deals on site! Handle several different models. Learn what you can legally own in New Jersey and understand how. Ask questions. We will be taking special orders. It's going to be a great time. We hope to see you there! 8 Union Hill Rd. Monroe, NJ

This Saturday, November 16th, from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Dark Storm Industries will be spending the day at Reloaderz NJ. This is a great opportunity to come through and handle several different DSI models, ask questions, and put some rounds down range on our free rentals. We will be onsite offering great deals, taking special orders, and having a great time. We hope to see you there!!

In order to obtain an FFL, the ATF requires you to be in the business. You will need to submit a business plan, list of planned vendors, hours of operation, etc. Getting an FFL (outside of a C&R) to do you own transfers will not pass muster. Also, you need to operate in compliance with local zoning, so if your plan is to operate from your home, make sure you are allowed to do so. You will need to get a letter from the local municipality stating you can operate "a business" from your residential property.

You can, but it has to be manufactured as a firearm non-NFA and sold complete. Most big manufacturers don't seem to want to offer them because the demand / volume is too low to justify. Thats where we have made our market. Serving the markets the big guys don't want to. We do have a custom shop at DSI and can build you almost anything you want. What are you looking for.

As mentioned, it obviously varies by caliber, but there are two general concepts when it comes to barrel length and accuracy. First is velocity. Starting with a barrel is that ridiculously short, as you go longer, you gain velocity. That means the bullet's trajectory is flatter (less drop over a fixed distance) which generally is viewed by most people as being more "accurate". This factor does have a diminishing return and eventually does go the other way as you get longer. In 5.56 for example, peak velocity is generally encountered between a 18" and 20" barrel. It will vary depending on bullet and powder load. So a 24" 5.56 barrel will yield a slower velocity and theoretically be less accurate. Just for comparison, 6.5 creedmoor gains velocity out to about a 28-29" barrel, but that starts to be unwieldy so most companies stop at 24" or 26". Second it twist. As you probably know, different twists are used to stabilize different weight bullets. In a 5.56 16" barrel, generally a 1:9 would be ideal for a 55gr, 1:8 for a 62-65gr and 1:7 for a 75-77 gr. The second part of twist is the number of complete rotations it takes to stabilize a bullet. As usual, there are a number of factors, but generally you want to be between 1.5 and 2 rotations. So for a 16" barrel, a 1:8 would be 2 full rotations. For this reason, shorter 5.56 barrels (i.e. the 12.5" in our non-NFA) need a faster twist 1:7 vs 1:9 to stabilize the same weight bullet. As usual, there are multiple factors in play and a lower limit on where you can go. A 10-11" barrel should probably have a 1:6.5 twist for maximum stability but once you go below 1:7 other factors can negatively impact the accuracy. It also gets cost prohibitive to make custom buttons for low twist rates.

Thanks. Anything anyone needs, you have a direct line to us here or you can always call us at 800-963-7700. -Ed

For those of you interested in our Variant-1 model firearm non-NFA, here is a detailed article and two videos on it by GB Guns. https://www.ammoland.com/2019/07/non-nfa-firearm-review-variant-1-from-dark-storm-industries/#axzz5u7wXsy9k

Great article. This is why we use 1:9 as the standard twist on our 5.56 guns. Our 1:9 barrel will out shoot a 1:7 using the same 55 gr ammo. Yes, our 1:7 will out shoot the 1:9 when using 77gr but we have found most people aren't into shooting $1 a round ammo in their AR's. Also keep in mind that optimum performance does not come from Federal XM193. The best performance in the 1:9 barrel was found to be Hornady 55gr V-Max

We had that question with NJ and it seemed irrelevant since the adjustable brace fully collapsed is pretty much even with the end of the buffer tube.

So this change only applies to non-NFA firearms and any other weapons. The issue is people who have what was a non-NFA firearm with a folding brace now may have an AOW because it is under 26” folded which would make it an NFA item requiring a tax stamp. This does not apply to pistols (no front grip).

Some breaking news on ATF length measurements Looks like ATF is measuring folded / collapsed / removed now https://blog.princelaw.com/2019/07/05/atf-rescinds-prior-methods-to-measure-a-firearms-overall-length-when-equipped-with-a-stabilizing-brace/

Yes folding brace. But the ATF says every item evaluated stands on its own and they are known for issuing conflicting decisions. They are also no longer issuing letters on parts or accessories, only complete firearms for exactly this reason. Don’t get me wrong. I an all about pushing the limits but you need to be prepared to fight the fight if it comes to it and most individuals are not. If there is enough demand for a folding version, I am sure us, or another manufacturer will go through the process to get a determination on one.

This is where it gets risky. As far as I know the ATF has never issued a determination on a non-NFA firearm that has a folding stock so you would be in uncharted territory even federally. As an FFL we have a process with ATF to get a legal determination made by them. The process involves us sending then a firearm to evaluate and takes 6-12 months. We also have the benefit of having an SOT (tax stamp for NFA weapons) that covers everything we own so if they decide something is an SBR it does not matter. This does not work for individuals building their own. So if you build your own, especially outside of the approved formula, you do so at your own peril.

Good question as to what a 1919 would be? It is not designed to be shouldered. I wonder if there is a ATF determination letter for it. It's not designed to be shouldered so it would not be a rifle. Is it a pistol? That would be crazy if it is.

Got it. The one "feature" is the mag outside of the pistol grip. Weight it under, no "shroud", non-threaded or pin/weld comp.

My understanding is no, but that is really not our direct area. We work with them about what directly impacts our manufacturing of complete firearms. Hopefully there will be some clarification in the letter to dealers as I know this is a definite point of concern for a lot of people. I can tell you there are a lot of nuisances with this type of gun and a small mis-step can have you facing a 10 year federal felony so even in free states, you need to tread carefully.

@PK90 if you are an FFL in New Jersey, it is my understanding you will be receiving a letter from NJSP clarifying a lot of these questions. That should take place in the next few weeks from what I have been told. The last few months have been just working with the manufacturers to get all of the details worked out on their (our) side.

Here is the exact language from NJSP... "Firearm must have an overall length of more then 26 inches with the pistol brace collapsed." Per the ATF determination letter, the guns are classified as "firearm non-NFA". If you log them in and out as anything else, you may be subject to violations during an ATF audit. A copy of the ATF determination letter is attached as addendum to the NJSP/NJAG letter. If you are referring to 26 USC 5845a, for the 26" length, that refers to the modification of a rifle of shotgun to have a length less than 26". It does not refer to a weapon that was not originally built as a rifle or shotgun which is the case for these guns, as well as the Mossberg shockwave and 500 cruiser pistol grip.

Yes, and it has been posted numerous times already. NJSP measures with the brace collapsed. ATF measures extended. Don't ask me why, it does not make sense. The new guns we are discussing are NOT "pistol grip firearms" , they are "non-NFA firearms". It is a different classification. Federal regulation limits this classification to a minimum length of 26". There is no federal law that limits the overall length of rifles of shotguns. Federal law separates whether rifles are shotguns are "short barrel" or not by barrel length, not by overall length.

The guns we are primarily discussing on this thread are NOT pistols, they are non-NFA firearms. As far as I know, the only AR pistols legal in NJ are our DSI fixed mag and (probably) the Franklin Armory bolt action (not semi-auto) one they make for California. Any AR pistol that is semi-auto with a detachable magazine would be an assault weapon in NJ because the magazine is not in the pistol grip (and it is likely over the 50 ounce weight limit).

The NJSP letter about the Dark Storm Industries and Troy Industries "firearm non-NFA" configurations is what is new. Our fixed mag pistols and rifles have always been legal in NJ. "Standard" AR and AK pistols are NOT legal. With the ejection port speed loaders we sell you can reload as fast as a mag change. Video demo is on a rifle, but the same process applies to the pistol.