Help needed on rifle transfer.......

[Zesty]

I recently completed my first transaction on GunBroker, winning 2 Saiga rifles. I paid the seller, and arranged for a transfer through Richard Hednut in Santa Clara. The rifles were delivered 12:30pm Friday, and I get a call about 5:30pm Saturday. Richard Hednut claims these rifles are illegal assault weapons according to California law! These are plain-jane Saiga rifles, one a 16" barrel 7.62, and the other a 20" .223....both brand new in unopened box.
The manufacturer is RRA, which is 100% legal as far as I understood. Heck, I went to Irvington Arms just this Friday and saw a Saiga in .308 for sale, so I KNOW they are legal.

My question is, what should I do now?

[69Mach1]

OMG, not another one. The hardest part about bringing in OLL rifles and receivers is finding the right dealer. Not all FFL's are willing to touch these rifles. Sorry about the rant, but for the newbies, ask first.

[69Mach1]

My question is, what should I do now?

Have them ship it to Irvington Arms. Or try and convince them yourself with your intricate understanding of the AW laws in the State of CA, and print out the Calguns AW flowchart.

[Zesty]

^You are totally right. I literally tried to save $15 with this guy over Roger's Relics, and now I am definitely wishing I didn't. In my defense, I was 100% clear with what I was transferring. The only thing he seemed to have any concern was "if these rifles can accept high-capacity AK mags." I told him not without modification, which is what I was lead to believe in all my research. Low and behold, he claims that his 30-rd AK mags "slips right in" to my Saiga. Either way, I don't see what this has to do with anything. They are the standard sporterized stock and RAA is the manufacturer.

*Edit* Does anyone know if Roger's Relics will have hangups transferring 2 Saigas? Thanks in advance.

[RideIcon]

The only thing he seemed to have any concern was "if these rifles can accept high-capacity AK mags.

seriously?

how do these guys get FFL license anyways?

[Quiet]

seriously?

how do these guys get FFL license anyways?

By following the "party line".

"Party line" being whatever CA DOJ BOF tells them.

[Zesty]

Yes, I am serious. He also seems to think a Mini-14 needs a bullet button in stock configuration. To be fair he is a very nice older gentleman, I just think he is being too cautious and doesn't know the laws as well as he maybe should. He said he has a friend in the DOJ, and that he would get ahold of him on Monday and see if he gives him the OK. All this after he left me a voicemail saying my rifles were in and telling me when I could pick them up.

Does anyone have any input on the rifle accepting an AK mag? I thought you had to mod the Saiga to accept AK mags? Even though he said they slipped right in, I am afraid he may have damaged my magazine catch or something!

[ohsmily]

This is YOUR fault for not checking with your FFL before having the rifles shipped to him. Not every FFL deals with Saigas, OLLs, etc. It is their business, their rules (as long as they don't break the law themselves). He is obviously ignorant about current CA law, but you should have checked with him and/or explained why these are legal before having them shipped to him.

[Zesty]

^He had links to the auctions and I clearly explained to him what the rifles were. I explained that they were AK-based rifles, but with sporterized stocks. He even corrected me on the pronunciation of "Saiga". All he seemed to be concerned about was if they accepted AK47 mags. I told him no, and he is claiming they fit my rifle so he is spooked and thinks I'm a liar I guess.

*Edit* Just for the record, I fully agree that a business has a right to accept or decline business at their disrection. FFL said the rifles were OK, so I was just kind of blindsided that he was so spooked once he received them.

[Zesty]

Good news for anyone that cares, I got a call about 9:30 this morning from Richard Hednut, and he said the rifles were legal "by the skin of their teeth." He is doing the transfer afterall and my pick-up date is the 28th. Said he talked to his friend in the DOJ who gave him the green-light. Also, he said these(my 2 and 1 other) were the first and last Saiga rifles he will transfer, because "it is such a legal grey area."

In the end, I would definitely recommend Richard Hednut as a transfer FFL, but probably best to stick with the more standard stuff. The guy is super nice and respectful.

[ohsmily]

Good news for anyone that cares, I got a call about 9:30 this morning from Richard Hednut, and he said the rifles were legal "by the skin of their teeth." Also, he said these(my 2 and 1 other) were the first and last Saiga rifles he will transfer, because "it is such a legal grey area."

They are either legal or they are not. These are legal. While it is his right not to do transfers for these rifles, he shouldn't spread bull **** about the law or what his idiot friend at the DOJ told him about how these are "gray area."

It sounds like this FFL is a good guy, but he needs to just simply say it is his policy not to transfer them and has nothing to do with the legality of the rifles because they are legal.

[Zesty]

^I totally agree. The only real problem I had with him is that I was very upfront with what I was transferring, he semed to have zero problems, and next thing you know he is treating me like a felon for nothing else than his lack of knowledge in his own profession. He even made some comment about "guns like this getting into the streets".....kinda made me think I was talking to Diane Feinstein for a second or something! lol

But yes, in the end I can definitely say Richard Hednut is an extremely polite,honest,and respectful older gentleman. And I would recommend him for transfers, just better to stick to the standard stuff.

Thanks for the replies.