CA AW laws

[Mad Scotsman]

I just read on tactical22.net that .22 rifles are EXEMPT from CA Assault weapons law, so high cap mags are legal?
If true what else can go on it?

[afro]

Rimfire restrictions: 10 round magazine (unless it's a tube fed), 16" barrel, 26" OAL in shortest configuration.

[Josh3239]

Magazines and assault weapons are two separate laws.

12020. (a) (2) Commencing January 1, 2000, manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, or lends, any large-capacity magazine.

12276.1 (a) Notwithstanding Section 12276, "assault weapon" shall also mean any of the following:
1.A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
A.A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
B.A thumbhole stock.
C.A folding or telescoping stock.
D.A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
E.A flash suppressor.
F.A forward pistol grip.
2.A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
3.A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.

[Quiet]

Magazines and assault weapons are two separate laws.

What he said.

[Mad Scotsman]

Yeah but aren't we talking about RIMFIRE, not centerfire? Does it make a difference?

[Cokebottle]

Yeah but aren't we talking about RIMFIRE, not centerfire? Does it make a difference?

Doesn't matter.

The AW regulation specifies a high-capacity magazine in a fixed-magazine gun.

The 10rd magazine limit is a separate law that applies to all guns.

[Quiet]

The large capacity magazine ban affects all ammunition feeding devices.

What are exempt from the large capacity magazine ban are .22 tube magazines attached to semi-auto/bolt-action/lever-action/slide-action firearms and rimfire/centerfire/shotgun tube magazines attached to lever-action firearms.


Penal Code 12020
(a) Any person in this state who does any of the following is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison:
(2) Commencing January 1, 2000, manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, or lends, any large-capacity magazine.
(c)(25) As used in this section, "large-capacity magazine" means any ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds, but shall not be construed to include any of the following:
(A) A feeding device that has been permanently altered so that it cannot accommodate more than 10 rounds.
(B) A .22 caliber tube ammunition feeding device.
(C) A tubular magazine that is contained in a lever-action firearm.

[5150bronco]

good to know. i guess no more of my old 25 rd banana clips.

[lorax3]

Yeah but aren't we talking about RIMFIRE, not centerfire? Does it make a difference?

Doesn't matter.

The AW regulation specifies a high-capacity magazine in a fixed-magazine gun.

The 10rd magazine limit is a separate law that applies to all guns.

good to know. i guess no more of my old 25 rd banana clips.

I think there is still some confusion here. Let me reiterate once again what some above posters said. There are TWO SEPARATE laws here.

It is impossible for a rimfire rifle to be an assault weapon banned by feature.

If you own large-capacity magazines you may use them in your rimfire rifle. There is no configuration in which using large-capacity magazines in a rimfire rifle makes it an assault weapon.

There are other Assault Weapon restrictions that limit fixed magazine semiautomatic centerfire rifles and fixed magazine semiautomatic pistols to ten rounds.

There is also the importation and other prohibited acts of large-capacity magazines.

If you did not import them before the ban, you cannot import them now. This applies to magazines of any caliber over ten rounds. (Some exemptions such as tubular fed magazines noted above)

Again, if you already have large-capacity rimfire magazines you can use them in your rimfire rifle.

I hate to ask this, but if anyone has not thoughtfully familiarized themselves with 12276.1 I ask you take a few minutes to read though it a couple times.

[5150bronco]

i have read numerous times. thanks lorax for explaining. sometime things make sense differently.

[Mad Scotsman]

Thanks.