CA Laws

[sfr292]

Hey Guys,
I'm a new member and some suggested that I post my questions in here to see if anyone might be able to supply some information.
First off I'm a disabled vet currently living in Texas, I'm originally from SoCal. Over the past few years the different states I've been stationed in I've added to my collection quite a bit. My wife is active duty and we're looking at being stationed in California for about 2 years. I do own some NFA/Tittle II toys(SBR, Machine Guns, and Suppressors). I know I cannot bring those with me and they will be left with my trustees. I do own several "assault" weapons, threaded barrels, pistol grips, detach mags, etc... Can I bring these with me? I'm am confused on the matter if it's things I already own. I also own some 50 BMG and 338LM and heard there are some issues with them as well.
As an add-on question, many of my "assault" weapons I hunt with, is it out of the question to use them for hunting in the state as well? I have many more questions but hopefully this will get the ball rolling to point me in the right direction. Thanks again.

[Eljay]

Start here http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/Main_Page and that should sort you out on most of it. I'd read that and then follow up with any specific questions.

Quick summary - You can't import a 50BMG rifle. Other large/long range calibers are fine - it was just a feel good law, not anything consistent. You can't import magazines over 10 rounds, although you can bring them in as parts. Assembling them is illegal. Threaded barrels are bad. Things like pistol grips on a centerfire rifle - look up at the top where it says flowcharts and there's a page taking you through the legalities but basically you'll need to use 10 round magazines and something called a bullet button so that the magazine is only detachable with a tool. Luckily the law is broad in what constitutes a tool. The hunting laws are actually pretty loose in terms of kind of weapon - there's no kind of broad problems that would keep you from hunting with an AR or whatever. Again, consult the link, I'm just trying to give you a very broad idea and there's lots of nit picking that could be done.

[sfr292]

Thanks this is what I was looking for. It's just dumb that I can't bring my stuff as it is, as it was bought outside of the state, and as I am not a CA resident anymore. They should at least make a clause for military members stationed in the state, but thats just my opinion.
How do people do 2 and 3 gun matches in CA without being able to perform a mag change? Or CMP/NRA highpower matches?

I have to give you guys credit for doing everything you can to enjoy our hobby but this seems like it's going to be a big headache, along with an expensive one to convert all my stuff.
Something tells me my tracer and incendiary rounds are a no go as well huh?

[Eljay]

I think she might be able to get around some of the rules since she's active duty but I don't *think* you would then be able to use it. Perhaps somebody will chime in who knows the details. (Update go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_California and search for "active duty" - apparently you can do it but there's a registration process *before* you come here.)

Competition... you'll notice it's possible to run a AR type rifle such that it is "featureless". There are alternate pistol grips that aren't legally pistol grips. They usually have some kind of fin on the back so you can't hold them the usual way. For Highpower note that Garands are perfectly legal since there's no detachable magazine.

And yes, no tracers or anything like that. Armor piercing handgun rounds (in California-speak "cop killer bullets") are illegal but armor piercing rifle rounds are legal but many ranges don't allow anything with steel in the bullet because of the fire danger, especially in Southern California.

[sfr292]

So none of my 5.7x28 ap rds, check.
I shoot an M1A and AR15 A2 for highpower, seems like the M1A is fine, but the AR might not be. plus all of my other AR's, HK. Seems like my M98 is truely the devil in CA, it's a 50, pistol grip, Mag fed, threaded barrel, etc... maybe it'll just burst into flames if it crosses the boarder LOL.

[notme92069]

Start here http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/Main_Page and that should sort you out on most of it. I'd read that and then follow up with any specific questions.

Quick summary - You can't import a 50BMG rifle. Other large/long range calibers are fine - it was just a feel good law, not anything consistent. You can't import magazines over 10 rounds, although you can bring them in as parts. Assembling them is illegal. Threaded barrels are bad. Things like pistol grips on a centerfire rifle - look up at the top where it says flowcharts and there's a page taking you through the legalities but basically you'll need to use 10 round magazines and something called a bullet button so that the magazine is only detachable with a tool. Luckily the law is broad in what constitutes a tool. The hunting laws are actually pretty loose in terms of kind of weapon - there's no kind of broad problems that would keep you from hunting with an AR or whatever. Again, consult the link, I'm just trying to give you a very broad idea and there's lots of nit picking that could be done.

I would add a couple of things. First, threaded barrels on an AR pistol are ok if it has a bullet button and doesn't have a "named" lower receiver. Second, a bullet button doesn't remove the weapon from banned status if the lower receiver is "named" Once again, consult the Calguns flow charts. They will walk you through what is legal and what isn't and are an excellent resource

[Librarian]

Wiki article -- http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/Mo..._with_firearms -- should give you more info.

Running a match with a bullet-button-equipped rifle limited to 10 rounds per mag is, I am told, an exercise in frustration.

[sfr292]

"named"?

[Eljay]

"named"?

It's on the flow chart. They originally tried to ban gun types by the actual make and model. This obviously proved unwieldy but if you have something older that's on the list probably your best bet is to sell off that receiver out of state and swap in a new one.

And definitely hit the link Librarian posted - that's a nice summary without reading the entire wiki.

[sfr292]

Holy crap, it's going to cost me close to $5000 to bring my stuff with me, for parts and registration fees. Let alone the things I can't bring at all.

Is there also rules with being a reloader? What I can and can't make for myself as well as what supplies and quantities I can have on hand?

[Eljay]

Reloading... the only issues I'm aware of are basically storage limits in the housing code. 10k primers, 20 pounds smokeless powder, 1 pound black powder?

$5K seems really high... how are you calculating it? As an example with handgun registration I think it's $19 for *all* the handguns, not $19 each.

[sfr292]

The link provided said $19 per handgun. plus all the parts to make my other stuff "legal" I'm not sure if I mentioned it but I have A LOT of toys.
last count I think have about 150 30rd mags for just AR's. Plus some of the 60 and 90rd surefires. I guess I can do the military permit, even if they require the base commander to say I need it for duty...he's a real good friend of mine. Hopefully that will be the case.

[Eljay]

Argh, well go by what the link says. It's a flat rate for other kind of transfers but I can believe it's different for importation. But did you see there's a military exempt clause for handgun registration - it's a paragraph or two down.

[cmichini]

So none of my 5.7x28 ap rds, check.
I shoot an M1A and AR15 A2 for highpower, seems like the M1A is fine, but the AR might not be. plus all of my other AR's, HK. Seems like my M98 is truely the devil in CA, it's a 50, pistol grip, Mag fed, threaded barrel, etc... maybe it'll just burst into flames if it crosses the boarder LOL.

Careful with the M1A. Regular flashider =assault weapon Calif approved muzzle brake =fine.
Remember, if a retard wrote it, it's a Calif law.

[sfr292]

I don't really understand what the big deal about a flash suppressor is, sometimes I would like to ask the people that came up with these rules, why, what do you think it's actually changing?