Mossberg 930spx + AFG??

[MrExel17]

Just wondering this is CA legal right. One of my future projects is to replace the stock forend a place a picatinny rail style and attach Magpul AFG or vertical grip and was wondering if this was legal?

[janus408]

You do not need to replace the stock forend in order to put an AFG on the 870. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS82aL9sBho guide. As far as the legality, I don't see why it wouldn't be legal, but wait to hear from someone more versed in the laws than myself.

[PEBKAC]

First off, I am not a lawyer, this post should not be construed as legal advice.

That said...

The short answer is yes, it should be fine.

The long answer is somewhat more involved.

The 930 is a semi auto shotgun so the law says that you can have:

-Any number of vertical grips.

or a

-Folding stock/collapsing stock.

But not both at the same time.

So in almost all cases on a 930 this is not an issue regardless of whether the AFG is a vertical grip or not.

Thus if you don't plan to put a collapsible stock on the 930, you can stop reading now.

However, it does become an issue should you put a collapsible stock on it but leave the AFG on it, as the issue of whether it is a vertical grip or not becomes immensely important.

(Now I've never heard of a collapsible stock for the 930, though I see no reason one could not fashion one given enough time and money to throw at the issue. I'm assuming it is possible for the purpose of legal ramblings.)

There are two camps of thought on the AFG, one that says it is a vertical grip based on a strict interpretation of the law, and one that says that interpretation is ridiculous, it clearly isn't a vertical grip. Neither side has case law or written AG opinions specifically regarding the AFG to back up their claims. You may want to search calguns for discussion regarding the AFG for more details.

At which point the question becomes do you want to wade into untested waters where wading into the wrong spot can result in a felony assault weapon conviction.

If you are planning to wade into collapsible stock territory with an AFG it is advisable to thoroughly read the flowchart and the underlying law and definitions, and understand them inside and out before you make a decision.

But again, that obnoxiously ambiguous discussion only applies with regards to featureless centerfire semiauto rifles and semiauto shotguns with a collapsing stock. So if you plan to put it on something that meets neither definition you're fine.

Since a pump shotgun (rem 870) was mentioned I will point out that pump shotguns can have whatever the heck they want attached to them as long as the thing attached to it isn't in and of itself illegal.