FAQ: CA CONCEALED CARRY QUESTION

[anddefense]

Hello, I joined this website to learn more about ccw. I would like to purchase either a xr920 or g45 in the near future and apply for my ccw. I am located in the San Mateo county and my question is, does anyone have a ccw with off roster guns selected or do you know if the application process would allow me to select off roster handguns for my ccw?

[Librarian]

Hello, I joined this website to learn more about ccw. I would like to purchase either a xr920 or g45 in the near future and apply for my ccw. I am located in the San Mateo county and my question is, does anyone have a ccw with off roster guns selected or do you know if the application process would allow me to select off roster handguns for my ccw?

Whether an Issuing Agency (IA) allows off-Roster handguns on the license is entirely up to them.

Fastest, accurate answer will be achieved by calling San Mateo Sheriff.

[Munny$hot]

SMCS requirements are caliber specific and do not allow for SSE pistol. Off roster pistols registered in your name in their system are allowed

[SkyHawk]

Another good resource for information specific to your county will be this San Mateo CCW subforum

https://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=352748

[anddefense]

I see, then I will contact them to see if either handgun is on their system and make a decision based off of that. Seems like I wouldn?t be able to have a rmr or upgraded trigger as well.

[P5Ret]

What system do you think they can check?

We already know neither of those are on the roster. If you don't have the gun/s I'm not sure what they can check to determine if you can carry them. I've never seen anything from SMSO that states a firearm must be on the roster. The only thing I have seen is that it must be registered to you.

[anddefense]

I have not been able to get a clear answer, based off what I have been able to gather from asking multiple gun dealers is that it just depends. That having it registered to you is obviously the most important part other than that, it just might be up to the county sheriff. I would just hate to have a gun I would rather carry in the safe just because its not "on the roster".

[P5Ret]

Well your first problem is you're asking gun dealers about the policy of the sheriff's office, I doubt many of them have any more insight than what you could find on the sheriff's web site by yourself.

Do you have a way of getting off roster handguns? That may be your biggest hurdle with either of those two. Don't see them pop up for sale too often, and in Ca they will come with a steep off roster markup.

[Brother_Hesekiel]

Many of us carry off-roster handguns, the Sig Sauer P365 in multiple variants being a popular choice. I know there are plenty of G43s in other Californians' holsters as well.

Most of us have multiple handguns on their CCW. In my county we can have up to 5, so I have also my competition guns on my license so that I don't have to lock 'em up in the trunk (car), tool box (pickup) or luggage (motorcycle) when I travel to a match.

I've never heard of the XR920, so I had to look it up. Seems to be an interesting gun. The G45 is off roster as well, so unless you have a way of getting an off-roster gun without having to pay the California premium, those are expensive choices.

Many of us feel that a carry gun is one that you can kiss good buy without a second thought. It is a tool, which is why I don't carry my cherished vintage Colt Detective Special anymore for that purpose. I don't know about your specific county, but I have not heard of a restriction of a regular gun just because it's not on the roster. Some counties will not allow a gun that has been imported to California using the single shot exemption, then later converted back to stock configuration, but that's about it.

[mk2dave]

Hasn't Munny$hot already answered your question? You asked if an off roster can be listed on your CCW, correct? M$ said yes. This is consistent with my experience with my IA, although each can have its' own rules.

Usually policy is listed on the IA website. It should take about 5 minutes to confirm Munny$hot's statement.

[anddefense]

There was nothing on there that gave me any answers, I?m going to have to call or just walk in. I tried calling and left a voicemail a few days back and no luck.

[anddefense]

Thanks for your helpful response. Yeah I was thinking of paying the premium. Just didn’t want to pay the premium and not be able to cc it. With your response I might approach this differently and use a g19 for edc. Back to the drawing boards to see what other hand guns I can *** to this list.

[sanjoseskater]

Good luck getting a CCW in San mateo county most of the Bay Area counties it’s extremely difficult/impossible to get a CCW

[ACfixer]

Thanks for your helpful response. Yeah I was thinking of paying the premium. Just didn?t want to pay the premium and not be able to cc it. With your response I might approach this differently and use a g19 for edc. Back to the drawing boards to see what other hand guns I can *** to this list.

Start with a gen3 Glock 19 and then apply, you want a CCW regardless right? When you get into the process you'll get your answers and IME there's enough time to add a gun or two before the process is complete. Also, my understanding is that many/some/maybe your IA have restrictions on working on triggers and adding red dots etc... again, start with a stock Glock 19 or something similar.

The same bone stock (except night sights) gen 3 G19 I qualified many years ago in San Bernardino county, well I carried it today (and most days) here in Jonesborough, TN. Thinking you want different EDC's and such is fun in theory, unlikely in practice at least in my life. I'm good with that Glock, if I need to fight, that's what I want to fight with, not something else "cool" I wanted to carry that day. There are exceptions that make up about 10% of my carry, and that's generally a G43 unless I am hunting then it's a Glock 20. Same platform always, just my 2 cents.

So if you have that G19 now, apply and get the ball rolling. Good luck and please keep us posted.

[SkyHawk]

Guns go off roster regularly. You could buy a roster gun tomorrow and it could fall of the roster next month. You think a IA is going to make you remove it from your permit? You think an IA is going to make you remove a gun you have been carrying 20 years because it finally fell off the roster last month?

Most IAs apply common sense. Most allow any legal handgun to be carried if it meets certain requirements (usually minimum caliber and capacity).

My advice is, don't go fishing, don't take detours on the way to your CCW. Unless you can find out independently and for sure, that off roster guns are forbidden to be listed on the permit, I would just assume they are OK. The thread that I linked you to earlier would be a great place to start.

Don't go stirring the pot at the IA and asking questions. You might come off as a gun nut

A better source to get information without looking like a commando or a pest at the sheriffs office, might be the trainers authorized by your IA. They are usually very familiar with the particulars of the various issuing agencies that they certify applicants for.