Barrel length / CA Roster

[OddJack]

I am wondering if barrel length on a handgun makes a difference on whether it's legal or not?

For example Kimber terget II is on roster but only listed as 5" barrel while there are 6" barrels for the same model.

[P5Ret]

Yes. The LS version is a different model, it's even listed separately on Kimber's site. The gun must match exactly to what is on the roster, in order for a dealer to transfer it.

[Librarian]

... but, in my opinion, buying an additional 6" barrel for that gun and using it should not be any kind of problem.

CAVEAT - California is a hostile environment for gun owners, and some would argue that doing the after market barrel swap would be 'manufacturing an unsafe handgun'. If that were detected, prosecuted, and the owner convicted, the penalty is in the PC

32000.

(a) A person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state for sale, keeps for sale, offers or exposes for sale, gives, or lends an unsafe handgun shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year.

ETA "On Roster" is different from "legal"; as the law is in 2020, off-Roster guns may be imported by people moving to CA, sold by one CA resident to another in a PPT, and given to/inherited by family members.

"on Roster" is "what CA FFLs can transfer from their own inventory to people who are not exempt from the Roster".