Are belt-fed guns legal in CA? If so, how?

[N_S]

I heard that you can get a belt-fed gun like the M2/Browning 1919/PK in California but HOW is that legal? A belt is way over 10 rounds (usually anyway).

[69Mach1]

1. Belts are considered magazines, so the same rules apply. Preban belts are OK over 10 rounds. New links must not go over 10.

2. As long as the firearm doesn't have a pistol grip, flash suppressor, or forward grip it's just like any other OLL. The 1919's with pistol grips have them behind and above the action, rendering them non-pistol grips.

[N_S]

If it's a disintegrating belt then how do they enforce the 10-round rule?

[AJAX22]

Also the 1919's are not shoulder fired weapons (i.e. not rifles by CA or federal definition)

They are Crew served weapons and therefore exempt from SBR, AW etc. law

You can legally (in the state of CA) have a 10 inch barrel on your 1919 if you want to.

[M. Sage]

If it's a disintegrating belt then how do they enforce the 10-round rule?

The same way they enforce it with other magazines.

[N_S]

So if it's a cloth belt you need to cut it up into 10-round lengths and if it's a disintegrating belt woe is the knave who mistakenly attaches the 11th bullet to the chain.

Amrite?

[69Mach1]

Correctamundo. Just make sure the clothe belt is cut up before it enters CA.

[Librarian]

So if it's a cloth belt you need to cut it up into 10-round lengths and if it's a disintegrating belt woe is the knave who mistakenly attaches the 11th bullet to the chain.

Amrite?Unless you owned the cloth belt or had the links assembled prior to 1 Jan 2000. You are allowed to reload a magazine legally possessed, or repair a broken (or disintegrated!) one.

[snobordr]

This is why all my belts are made from ammo bought and linked in 92, with a dead shell in position 12.

;)

[N_S]

Is it legal to have disintegrating belts with every 11th round being an empty casing? That would mean firing 10 rounds, pulling the charging handle, firing 10 more, etc.

[m24armorer]

Now that is a good question.

[CSACANNONEER]

Is it legal to have disintegrating belts with every 11th round being an empty casing? That would mean firing 10 rounds, pulling the charging handle, firing 10 more, etc.

My guess would be, NO! I don't think it would make a difference if there was a dummy round in an ammunition feeding devise or not. If the ammunition feeding device is CAPABLE of holding more than 10 rounds then, it would fall into the "high cap" catagory regardless of what it was loaded with.

[Beelzy]

I was told when I got my 1919 to NEVER have more than 10 rds linked at
any time. You will get static from the range about that as well when you
take it there to shoot. No biggie, seeing how its a semi, I can handle that.

Great guns they are, and a real head turner at the range. Once I was
booted off my local range by an ignorant boor who told me, and I quote,
"You can't shoot that thing here, it attracts too much attention"
I laughed, packed up and went back the next week when his boss was there
and watched his boss correct him right in front of me.

Happ Hunting!

[Beelzy]

Oh I forgot to mention, If you do find a FFL crazy enough to bring one in, they
will probably only do it if you get a spade on it and not the pistol grip. Even
though it should not matter legally, FFLs in Kalif. are very paranoid of a visit
from DOJ.

[drclark]

I have asked this question before but never gotten an answer so I'll try again. Given that it is unlawful to offer for sale linked belts > 10 rnds are these bullet belts (http://www.machinegunbelts.com) legal to mfg and sell here? Note, the linked website is based in CA and even had a prop-65 warning on their policies (http://www.machinegunbelts.com/info.htm) page. If they are legal, it might answer the question whether or not a linked belt >10 rounds of inert ammo is legally considered a high-cap ammunition feeding device. If that is true, do these belts offer a loophole that allows the sale of hi-caps? Is all that's needed is for someone to make a fashion accessory out of them? "Here you go ma'am, how do those 17 rnd glock earings look?".

All that aside, I think belt fed guns are cool range toys. If you've got the $$ to afford them then go for it. However, given that full-auto NFA is verboten for the average guy in CA, I personally don't see the thrill of buying a semi auto 1919 (or other belt fed gun). Its really no different than any other semi auto rifle, except that its alot heavier to lug to the range.

drc

[ohsmily]

I was told when I got my 1919 to NEVER have more than 10 rds linked at
any time. You will get static from the range about that as well when you
take it there to shoot. No biggie, seeing how its a semi, I can handle that.



If you had the linked ammunition in a belt greater than 10 rounds before 1-1-2000, then you can continue to use and shoot those links.

[50BMGBOB]

Some companys won't ship links to CA. When I wanted links for a Lakeside mini 1919 in 22LR they wouldn't ship links to CA only the 10 round cloth belts. They do have a CA distributor that would sell me links. I ordered 1000 links and they said that the CADOJ required them to send me 100 bags of 10 links. They where great and gave me the bulk discount even though they had to deal with the extra packing. With links, I can go for longer belts when I'm out of CA and keep them at 10 rounds here.