Best action for 50 DTC? (Updated)

[joefrank64k]

Best action for 50 DTC? (Updated)

I was quoted 1 year on my BAT EX too...ended up "only" taking about 5 months, though I'm going on over a year waiting for the 408 CT bolt, haha!!

The EX is the third one down...

[Apollo]

I was planning on registering an AR-15 lower as an AW on the off hand chance it ends up that we can add a 50 BMG upper with the new laws. But I don't know how well an upper compares to a dedicated action. The packability is certainly nice. Either way, lowers are cheap.

Who knows how these new laws will be implemented and how thorough they will be? There was a story about a guy who registered a nail gun last time around, just to be sure.

So depending on how in depth the form is, theoretically one could register an action as an AW even if it isn't something that would normally be restricted as an AW. Depending on the info they want and whether they actually look at it instead of rubber stamping them.

I mean, if you somehow intended to make your bolt action into a semi-auto (not financially feasible or practical, but possible) you could register that receiver as an AW then after the ban goes into effect slap a 50bmg barrel onto it.

But that's only if we can convert registered AWs into 50bmg. Which we could under the previous ban.

[deckhandmike]

I'm saving a lower for the .50bmg longshot.

[Hairball]

50 BMG is banned by caliber specifics and not platform so I don't see how a new AW reg would change that. I was also quoted 12-16 months when I called to inquire about a BAT EX so I went another route as I did not want to turn it into a 2+ year process.

[RickD427]

50 BMG is banned by caliber specifics and not platform so I don't see how a new AW reg would change that. I was also quoted 12-16 months when I called to inquire about a BAT EX so I went another route as I did not want to turn it into a 2+ year process.

Sir,

You are mistaken here.

The .50 BMG is not banned by caliber. It is banned by platform only (specifically non-RAW Rifle platforms). Please refer to Penal Code section 30600 for the specifics of California's ban on .50 BMG Rifles. Please note that firearms chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge that are not rifles, are not included in the ban.

Additionally please note that rifles chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge that were previously registered as "Assault Weapons" are not ".50 BMG Rifles" even if they are rifles that fire the .50 BMG cartridge. Please refer to Penal Code section 30530.

[LynnJr]

Just so people understand how big that BAT action is in joefrank64 post and Skkeeter post they start at 7.5 pounds.

[Hairball]

[RickD427]

There are two specific weapons that come to mind:

1) The Semi-Auto version of the M2 - It uses a spade grip and fires from a tripod. Therefore, it is not a rifle (please refer to the definition of a rifle in PC 17090) and is lawful in California, even though chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge. There recently was such a weapon offered for sale here on Calguns.

2) .50 BMG Conversion Uppers on AR Platform Rifles - If the existing AR lower is already registered as an "Assault Weapon", the installation of an upper chambered for the .50 BMG cartridge does not create a ".50 BMG Rifle" since weapons that were previously "Assault Weapons" are excluded from the definition of ".50 BMG Rifle" (please refer to PC 30530), even though the result is a "Rifle" that fires the ".50 BMG" cartridge.

[Hairball]

Again, bringing up examples about nothing that applies to the current situation for those wanting to register their AR in 2017. As I said, we could "what if" this all night but the simple fact is that none of these examples concern those that are registering their AR for the first time in 2017.

[ar15barrels]

Again, bringing up examples about nothing that applies to the current situation for those wanting to register their AR in 2017.
As I said, we could "what if" this all night but the simple fact is that none of these examples concern those that are registering their AR for the first time in 2017.

PC 30530 will still apply in 2017 and beyond.

Once a rifle is a registered AW, it is exempt from needing to be registered separately as a 50BMG rifle and can legally be made a 50BMG firing rifle.

[RickD427]

Again, bringing up examples about nothing that applies to the current situation for those wanting to register their AR in 2017. As I said, we could "what if" this all night but the simple fact is that none of these examples concern those that are registering their AR for the first time in 2017.

PC 30530 will still apply in 2017 and beyond.

Once a rifle is a registered AW, it is exempt from needing to be registered separately as a 50BMG rifle and can legally be made a 50BMG firing rifle.

Hairball,

Actually it does apply. Please check out ar15barrels' post above.

The best specific application would be for the person who currently owns a conventional "Bullet Buttoned" AR-15 style weapon. Beginning next year, that person will have the ability to register that weapon as an "Assault Weapon." Barring any unforeseen "Backdoor Regulations" in the new registration process, that person will be able to lawfully place a .50 BMG upper on that weapon, something that the cannot lawfully do today.

[Hairball]

30530. (a) As used in this part, ".50 BMG rifle" means a center
fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an
assault weapon or a machinegun.

This section simply states that you must register the 50 BMG as such unless that platform was already previously registered as an AW or MG. Registration will come with specific dates like:

Category 1 AW: must have been owned by 12/31/1991 and registered by 03/31/1992
Category 2 AW: must have been owned by 08/16/2000 and registered by 01/23/2001
Category 3 AW: must have been owned by 12/31/1999 and registered by 12/31/2000
.50 BMG: must have been owned by 12/31/2004 and registered by April 30, 2006

As we are now going into Category 4 AW probably owned by 12/31/2016 and registered by 12/31/2017, I don't see them going back to retroactively allow 50 BMG rifles as part of a new AW registration as they had been banned under a specific 50 BMG ban in 2006. As with much of these issues, the final wording will tell but I don't see CA.gov allowing a influx on 50 BMG uppers on newly registered assault weapons. At this point I will agree to disagree with your position and wait and see how this all plays out.

[ar15barrels]

30530. (a) As used in this part, ".50 BMG rifle" means a center
fire rifle that can fire a .50 BMG cartridge and is not already an
assault weapon or a machinegun.

30530 does NOT state "previously".
It simply states that the rest of the section controlling (banning and requiring registration in 2006) 50BMG rifles does not apply to registered assault weapons.
30530 is just as valid in 2017 and beyond as it was in 2005.
The sections controlling 50bmg rifles do not apply to ANY registered assault weapons (regardless of when they were registered) because of 30530.

I don't see them going back to retroactively allow 50 BMG rifles as part of a new AW registration as they had been banned under a specific 50 BMG ban in 2006.

There is no retroactive requirement for anything.
30530 is plainly written without any expiration date.
They WOULD have to go back and make NEW LAWS for the old laws to not apply to the newly registered AW's.
They have not done that with any of the new laws.

[LynnJr]

You can email the state a letter and they will reply pretty quickly for a government entity.
My two 50's are both single shot target rifles and are registered as AW and they are listed as 50BMG on the paperwork.

[ELR Researcher]

UPDATE 1

Thanks for all the help guys!!! I called BAT today and they have a year backlog.

I do like the McMillan, I called but they will not ship an action to CA, any one have a line on the McMillan action?

1. The fact that McMillan's policy is not to ship a .50 BMG-CAPABLE action into CA is simply that, a policy. MANY other cartridges use a .50 BMG-capable action. DROS of an action is NOT based on what cartridge it can be used with. Simply enter "Various" in the DROS. Or enter .50 DTC, .510 DTC, .416 Barrett, etc. Just not .50 BMG. I've DROS'd a Barnard GP, a BAT EX, and 2 RPA actions - all .50 BMG CAPABLE - in CA in the last 5 years. Zero magic involved. None of the 2016 restrictions apply to bolt-action, .50 BMG CAPABLE actions.

2. Lynn - OK Weber was doing Rangemaster Precision Arms (RPA) actions, not Barnard. And I bought their last two .50 BMG bolt face action a couple of years ago. RPA actions are now available from their current sole US Importer, Accurate Mag - http://accurate-mag.com/rpa-imports/ The Barnard is now imported through Whidden (exclusively) - http://www.whiddengunworks.com/barnard-precision/ Both the Barnard (http://www.barnard.co.nz/model-gp-action.htm) and RPA (http://rpadefence.com/secure-2/) are excellent, high quality actions - and both include a proprietary trigger, which are both excellent.

OP - If you are staying with NEW, upper tier actions, you have these options (alpha order) - Barnard (thru Whidden), BAT (thru BAT or one of their resellers), McMillan (through a McMillan reseller that will transfer to a CA FFL), and RPA (thru Accurate Mag). That's it. Anyone knowing otherwise, please pipe up as I'm always looking for other brands to list on my site. See this page before offering another brand that I already list - thanks - http://www.elr-resources.com/page3.html