Allowed to replace the spring and guide rod?

[gp77]

New to Calguns. Thanks for being here.

Just purchased a new Walther P22 ca. Disappointed to discover that it has the old spring and rod design that seems to contribute to problems cycling ammo.

Is it legal for me to buy one of those aftermarket captured spring guide rods and use it?

Thanks for helping a noob. I've only been a gun owner for about 10 months and still find it hard to navigate what is and isn't allowed in CA.

[1911RONIN]

Yes


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[gp77]

Many thanks.

[redhemi]

Well that was easy.

[IVC]

More broadly, you can replace ANY part on the gun that you feel like EXCEPT the frame, which is serialized and considered *the firearm*. Everything else is up to you.

With handguns, you normally have no concerns when changing parts. With rifles, you also have to make sure that extra parts don't get you into the "assault weapon" category - some modifications are not allowed because your rifle ends up in illegal configuration, not because you're not allowed to replace the part itself.

EDIT: See JTROKS' post below, there are a few concerns with the handguns too, most importantly threaded barrels which are readily available for most handguns.

[IVC]

Make sure you understand what you're replacing and why, though. You want to make sure you have a functional and safe firearm at all times.

[JTROKS]

As long as you don’t go changing the barrel with a threaded one, and in case you find a magazine that holds more than 10 rounds, it’s a big No. Can’t make it full auto. Can’t add a stock. Can’t add a thingy that goes down. Can’t add a second grip.

[IVC]

Ooops, good call on handguns - didn't think about those possibilities. They all run afoul of the CA assault weapons ban. No federal issue, plenty of CA issues...

[RickD427]

Ooops, good call on handguns - didn't think about those possibilities. They all run afoul of the CA assault weapons ban. No federal issue, plenty of CA issues...

Good points above.

It's also real important to note that while rimfire rifles are generally exempt from California's Assault Weapon statute, rimfire handguns are not.

[JTROKS]

Ooops, good call on handguns - didn't think about those possibilities. They all run afoul of the CA assault weapons ban. No federal issue, plenty of CA issues...

Technically if someone purchased an 11+ round mag for a Walter P22 during freedom week it should be legal, but I haven’t heard of one existing.

[Tarmy]

[M1NM]

Aw come on this isn't the Cal Guns I know and love. You should be telling the noob that the spring and guide rod are used in an off roster gun and if he installs them his gun will be off roster and illegal or off roster and worth twice what he paid for it.

[Librarian]

Aw come on this isn't the Cal Guns I know and love. You should be telling the noob that the spring and guide rod are used in an off roster gun and if he installs them his gun will be off roster and illegal or off roster and worth twice what he paid for it.

Well, partly true, but likely irrelevant. (And we're not all always that bad, but I take your point.)

The suggested parts changes most likely would make that copy off-Roster (different from the model as-tested), but the Roster does not apply to possession/ownership, and the owner could subsequently sell that gun to another CA resident via PPT, since PPT is, in 2021*, exempt from the Roster.

* Date included, so when someone reads the post after a law change, one hopes the realization will be 'well, used to be that way'.

[mikeyr]

good luck with the jam-o-matic...sorry the P22. We sent my daughters back to Walther to be fixed, didn't help. We changed the spring/guide rod, the extractor and now it works "most" of the times but still jams more than it should. I do think the extractor did more to fix the issues than the spring/rod.

Cute gun and yes you can change parts as its been said a dozen times here already.

[Pofoo]

Changing the recoil spring to the captured spring is one of the best things you can do. Mine works very well and makes cleaning so much easier.
Reliability?
Mine is ammo sensitive. Works very well with Remington Thunderbolts, but jams constantly with Aguilar. Find what ammo it likes and it will be a fun little gun, though not particularly accurate.