Choosing Your First CA Legal Semi-Automatic Hand Gun - A Comprehensive Guide

[dezicartel]

thanks for posting this! it was a great read for a beginner like me

[iareConfusE]

question, when you go pick up your gun, can you bring any type of gun safe or does it have to be california approved safe? how about a trigger safety? i heard some shops requires you to have both and have read before you also need a dummy bullet to demo your competency in gun handling?

Yes, many shops will require you to show a safe firearms handling demonstration, and if you are purchasing a gun that does not come with a CA approved lock from the factory, you will need to purchase one. It can be a cable lock, trigger lock, etc. I believe the receipt for the purchase of the gun lock needs to be within 30 days of the DROS date, and you DON'T have to buy the lock from the store, although it may be convenient at the time. You can purchase a cheap CA approved cable lock off of ebay for $3 and show the shop the receipt just to fulfill this requirement.

I have also signed a gun safe affidavit that can allow you to skip the purchase of a lock, provided you have an actual gun safe and know the model number.

[dennis9288]

Very cool. Thanks for the info. This is a big help.

[sig45guy]

Hi folks - this is all really helpful info. I was wondering if anyone could recommend the best online sites to buy handguns. I'm trying to find the best price on a Sig 220 carry and it seems the best price for one with nite sights is around $850 and my local shop - Martin Retting - has it for $960 (the sales guy had an attitude however). Is that about right? Once you add shipping and FFL fees I'm guessing the $850 turns into $950 pretty quick.

[Eliminite]

Quick question for anyway willing to have some input,

Glock 17 9mm, or Sig Sauer 2022 9mm?

Glock 17 gun only, sig comes with laser holster, and two mags.

Both, brand new.

[brekkke]

Good Info, Please update No more SSE, Family gift off roster

I found this thread very helpful. I do think it now needs to be updated for getting the Off Roster guns, though. Since January this year the SSE option went away.

Also please add that Intrafamilial gift is also exempt from Roster. But it needs to be Grandparent, Parent, Child relationship. In-laws, Steps, siblings, aunts/uncles don't count. I am getting an off roster Sig P290RS from my Dad in Arkansas because he's willing to gift it to me. I had to do some searching for an FFL in the area who knew how to do it though. The first place said "that can't be done". It should arrive at my FFL any day and then I can start the 10-day Jail.

[iareConfusE]

I found this thread very helpful. I do think it now needs to be updated for getting the Off Roster guns, though. Since January this year the SSE option went away.

Also please add that Intrafamilial gift is also exempt from Roster. But it needs to be Grandparent, Parent, Child relationship. In-laws, Steps, siblings, aunts/uncles don't count. I am getting an off roster Sig P290RS from my Dad in Arkansas because he's willing to gift it to me. I had to do some searching for an FFL in the area who knew how to do it though. The first place said "that can't be done". It should arrive at my FFL any day and then I can start the 10-day Jail.

Thanks for the reminder! Edited SSE portion out.

[Hap UK]

Very informative ! Thanks for taking time to write this guide .

[Librarian]

Cleaned up and deleted about 40 posts from the thread.

Please don't post off-topic things or questions - there's a forum for CA legal questions, link below in my signature.

See also the wiki article on buying and selling guns - http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/Bu..._in_California

[kraycat]

Start with a Glock, everyone should have at least 1. My reasoning is because it would be your last firearm.[emoji1]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

[Lone_Wolf_Survivor]

this will be my 6th handgun purchase.. and im just as confused lol

[hipoint4life]

Just get a hi-point...No seriously

Glocks shoot extremely LOW LEFT!! Piece of crap!! 1911's, to heavy and the technology is antiquated... Sig.... ooooh operator...played out!!

I love me a hi-point!!

[califgoldminer]

Howdy all, this is my first post.
Great source of information here. I currently own several handguns and bought another recently.
I did a lot of looking, talking and checking reviews and going to gun shops to get opinions.
I went with a Springfield XD .40 cal S&W with a 4" bbl. I wanted the XDM but it cannot be sold in Calif. I like the internal hammer or striker, and the two safeties, loaded, (round chambered) indicator and cocked indicator. Sweet weapon and shoots straight and the weight, 32 oz gives a modest recoil plus the fact that is holds twelve rounds in the clips. Came with a Calif approved case. gun lock/case lock, cleaning kit and two clips and can be equipped with a light or laser pointer.

[Cautious]

iareconfuse:

Thank you very much for authoring and updating your comprehensive guide for beginners. I joined this forum specifically to be able to reach out to you and let you know how much your efforts are appreciated. I imagine there are hundreds of others who have benefited from your thread without even joining the forum to express their thanks... but I'll bet they appreciate it all the same.

The more experienced here probably can't remember the time when they lacked an understanding of what they now take for granted as common knowledge known at birth. Sometimes, the voice of a sophomore is more accessible to the ears of a freshman, because the sophomore still remembers what they didn't know not long before.

Thanks again!

[matkandu]

Not sure why I haven't come across this thread first upon signing up, but this is a very informative post. As a veteran wanting to go back to shooting again, I felt this was a great refresher for someone like myself who have experience shooting, but want to get up to speed with complying with CA law when it comes to firearm ownership.

A glossary of terms may be helpful for the newbies, as there will be quite a few acronyms out there to be familiar with (as if I wasn't inundated enough with acronyms in the military as it is). Thanks!