Help?

[JoseG]

Hey Everyone.

First post here, so i am sorry in advance if i am posting in the wrong section.

Well here i go, I am 23, male, who lives in the bay area. I have always liked guns but didn't really get to shoot one until a few months ago when my girlfriend took me to a shooting range, there i got to shoot a .22 a .45 and a 12 gauge shotgun. While i liked the .22 i think think the shotgun was the most fun to shoot. (The .45 kinda scared me).

The only problem i had was the cost, to shoot all 3 guns with amuniton for both of us was about $190!! Even though i really liked it that isn't something i can't come up with often. (i am a struggling college student).

Anyways after having such a great experience i decided that i should probably own my own gun. I am looking at getting something easy to maintain, fun to shoot and of course also something cheap. So far i been eyeing the Stevensons "320" 12-gauge pistol grip pump shotgun, Big 5 sells it for about $199 which is exactly my price range.

So here are my troubles.

1) I am not a U.S citizen (yet) i have to wait another year before i become a citizen. I asked the guy at Big 5 what would i have to do to get the gun he seemed very annoyed and didn't give me much info. the online info is kinda confusing.
Which brings me to my question, what do i have to do to get this gun?


2)And secondly Is there anything similiar better to that shotgun? or what are your recommendations?


Sorry about the long post, and thank you in advance

[ham]

hey jose,

welcome to calguns.

1.)to buy a long gun (shotguns & rifles) for a non citizen, all you need is you current CA drivers license & your current green card. (the 90 day proof of residence is no longer required) do the background check, wait 10 days & your now a proud new gun owner

2.) i recommend the mossberg 500 combo for a great first shotgun. its a little more, however you do get both the 18" H.D. barrel as well as the 28" bird barrel if you hunt or shoot clays. also a recommend getting a .22 rifle. cheap to shoot & a great way to learn the fundaments of shooting without breaking the bank. i recommend either the Ruger 10/22 or a Marlin 795.

[jakejake527]

big 5 sells mossberg maverick 88 for 199 when they are on sale. A calgunner posted a coupon and i was able to take another 10% off....down to $180

Or....buy a used shotgun from a ffl dealer and have it shipped to your local ffl dealer

Try gunsamerica.com or gunbroker.com

[JoseG]

Hey there guys, that was very helpful, i have heard about the 90 day proof of residence but i didn't know it was no longer required! I am going to march down to Big 5 this weekend.

Also, i think i am going to take your advice on that Ham and go with the .22 i think it might be a better starter gun.

Thank you!

[BonnieB]

Please take a shotgun safety class, and then a shotgun shooting class. I know you think your girl can teach you, but please do it anyway. Regardless of what you think of NRA politically, they do a good class and at a local range.

http://www.nrainstructors.org/CourseCatalog.aspx

There is a good Calguns Coordinator in the Bay area, Top Bee, and if you get in touch with him he can give you good ideas.

And BTW, I think it is relationship suicide to learn to drive or shoot or use computers from an SO....

[JoseG]

Please take a shotgun safety class, and then a shotgun shooting class. I know you think your girl can teach you, but please do it anyway. Regardless of what you think of NRA politically, they do a good class and at a local range.

http://www.nrainstructors.org/CourseCatalog.aspx

There is a good Calguns Coordinator in the Bay area, Top Bee, and if you get in touch with him he can give you good ideas.

And BTW, I think it is relationship suicide to learn to drive or shoot or use computers from an SO....

I have taken a Handgun safety class, and a shotgun safety class, my girlfriend took me but she knows less than i do. Also, i think that learning things from your significant other is important in a relationship because it brings people closer.

But hey thanks for your opinion

[JoseG]

hey jose,

welcome to calguns.

1.)to buy a long gun (shotguns & rifles) for a non citizen, all you need is you current CA drivers license & your current green card. (the 90 day proof of residence is no longer required) do the background check, wait 10 days & your now a proud new gun owner

2.) i recommend the mossberg 500 combo for a great first shotgun. its a little more, however you do get both the 18" H.D. barrel as well as the 28" bird barrel if you hunt or shoot clays. also a recommend getting a .22 rifle. cheap to shoot & a great way to learn the fundaments of shooting without breaking the bank. i recommend either the Ruger 10/22 or a Marlin 795.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

It is really hard to go wrong with a 795. And they are just so danged useful. Good luck, and when it comes time to get a shotgun, wait for sales. Big 5 has them every few weeks. If you can get one like the Mossberg 500 or Maverick 88 (almost the same gun, and also made by Mossberg) with the 2 barrrel combo, you will have enough versatility to cover 95% of the shotgun shooting you are ever likely to do. The 18" barrel for home defense, and the longer barrel for hunting, trap and skeet shooting, and just plain messing around with.

-Mb

[bigbearbear]

Congratulations on your decision to be a gun owner. However, because you are not yet a US citizen but plans to be next year, I recommend that you take safety EXTREMELY seriously.

If you accidentally commits a felony because of a firearm (eg. buying a illegal weapon due to complex California rules, transporting the weapon wrongly etc.), chances of you getting a citizenship or even renewing your green card diminishes greatly. In fact, there's a chance you'll be deported.

If I were you, I'll put this hobby on hold until you have gone through the Oath Ceremony and received your citizenship certificate. In the mean time, you can go to indoor ranges and rent guns to shoot with.