Shorter than a rifle but still capable, the Diamondback Carbon DB15 with a 10 inch barrel is a compact AR chambered in 5.56 NATO. It takes a 30-round magazine and has an M-LOK handguard in flat dark earth and black.

A 10 inch barrel keeps the length down and makes the rifle handy in a vehicle or in tight spaces. It does lose some velocity compared with a 16 inch barrel, so it suits shorter ranges. Spend an afternoon at the range before the season so you know exactly where it shoots. Wipe it down after wet weather and store it dry, because North Carolina humidity is hard on steel.

M-LOK slots on the handguard let you mount a light, a foregrip and other accessories. The carbon-fiber style in the name points to a lightweight handguard. The semi-automatic action fires once per trigger pull.

A compact AR makes a fine truck gun or a project for a shooter who likes to tinker. Take the time to learn the paperwork. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer, where the background check is done at pickup.