Flash hider question

[1SDGunMan]

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=30515

[enorbit3]

both can have full features.

Registered AW can have features. Fixed Mag pistol can have features but no VFG, unless its over a certain length.

[vino68]

I do not see a question. What is your question?

[tonyxcom]

Yes, despite what Optics Planet thinks, flash hiders are legal in more semi automatic configurations than they are illegal.

Fixed Mag Semi - Legal
RAW - Legal
Featureless - illegal.

[1SDGunMan]

Thanks guys! All good to go then.

[Quiet]

I have both a registered bullet button AR15 and a fixed magazine pistol 300BO.

I want to get another AR15 18” upper, but it comes with a flash hider.

Upon reading the law it doesn’t seem like it since one is a registered AR and the other is fixed magazine.

Short answer...

Registered Assault Weapon (RAW) + flash suppressor = CA legal.

Semi-auto pistol with a fixed 10 round magazine + flash suppressor = CA legal.

Semi-auto centerfire rifle with a fixed 10 round magazine + flash suppressor, and an overall length of 30" or greater = CA legal.

Semi-auto centerfire rifle with a fixed 10 round magazine + flash suppressor, and an overall length of less than 30" = CA illegal assault weapon. [PC 30515(a)(3)]

Semi-auto firearm, that is not a pistol or a rifle, with a fixed 10 round magazine + flash suppressor, and an overall length of 30" or greater = CA legal.

Semi-auto firearm, that is not a pistol or a rifle, with a fixed 10 round magazine + flash suppressor, and an overall length of less than 30" = CA illegal assault weapon. [PC 30515(a)(11)]


Longer answer...

A "handgun" is a firearm with a less than 16" barrel length. [PC 16640(a) and 16530(a)]

If you install a 16" or greater length barrel on your semi-auto pistol and do not install a shoulder stock or device that is intented to be utilized as a shoulder stock, then you will be making a semi-auto firearm that is not a pistol or rifle.

A semi-auto firearm, that is not a pistol or rifle, that does not have a fixed magazine and has restricted features is an assault weapon. [PC 30515(a)(9)]

A semi-auto firearm, that is not a pistol or rifle, that has a fixed magazine with a capacity of 11 or more rounds is an assault weapon. [PC 30515(a)(10)]

A semi-auto firearm, that is not a pistol or rifle, that has an overall length of less than 30" is an assault weapon. [PC 30515(a)(11)]

In order to measure overall length, the firearm must be in the shortest possible firing configuration (stock/brace/buffer tube = folded/collapsed) and non-permanently attached muzzle device removed. [11 CCR 5471(x)]

Which means...
If you install that 18" barrel on your semi-auto pistol with a fixed magazine, make sure the overall length is 30" or greater.
^If the overall length is less than 30", then you will be making an illegal assault weapon. [PC 30600(a)]