AR-pattern rifles for Minnesota shooters

In Minnesota an AR gets used three ways: calling coyotes across the western prairie in January, shooting matches and steel at clubs around the Twin Cities and St. Cloud, and standing by for home defense. A 16-inch .223/5.56 carbine covers all three. If you plan to take deer with one, check the current DNR regulations for legal cartridges and bullets first. Most AR-pattern rifles meet the state definition of a semiautomatic military-style rifle, so the dealer must see a permit to purchase or transfer (Minn. Stat. 624.7131) or a permit to carry before handing it over. Apply at your police department or sheriff before you order. As of our last review there is no magazine limit, but check current law. Binary triggers are never listed here. See Minnesota gun laws.