Hello - new member here with a question

[Shoveldog81]

Hello all - new member here
Really appreciate this site - lots of great info.

I came here looking for an answer to a specific question. I dug thru your threads but didn't see this particular topic addressed. I'm hoping someone here can provide some info.

I live in WA state, where there are no state restrictions on types of guns that can be owned - so i have several AR types and pistols that clearly don't meet the Calif laws (most of my rifles have "assault weapon" characteristics, high capacity mags, etc.). i'd like to visit my brother in southern Cal, and do some shooting in the desert - I'm concerned about bringing my "non-Calif compliant) guns and accessories down there. From everything I read, it seems the laws refer to Calif citizens and gun transfers, and sales - but nothing about non-residents bringing these guns in - then back out again. Can anyone here provide any info on this?
Again, I appreciate anything you can offer up.
Thanx
Ray

[Chaos47]

Even non-residents have to comply with CA's AWB laws and magazine laws when inside the state.

(Except exemptions under CA PC 12280(m) but you do not meet the criteria so that does not apply here)

Please take a look at the Flow Charts:
Rifle: http://www.calguns.net/caawid/flowchart.pdf
Pistol: http://www.calguns.net/caawid/hgflowchart.pdf

First of all you need to make sure that your firearms are not banned by name. If they are there is nothing you can do to legally bring them into CA. The lists can be found on page 2 of the Flow Charts.

You will either have put magazine locks (such as the common brand name "Bullet Button") on your semi automatic centerfire rifles (and pistols if there magazine well is outside the pistol grip, as it sounds like you have AR pistols)
Or you could make your rifles "featureless"

Magazine locked rifles can have features such as pistol grips, collapsible stocks and flash hiders. So adding a magazine lock to a non banned by name rifle is a lot easier then featureless if your rifles have these features.

You may also not bring in magazines that have the ability to hold more then 10 rounds. (assembled, but you can not reassemble them without limiting them to 10 rounds while in CA) This applies to rifles and pistols, centerfire and rimfire. (22 cal tubular magazines exempt) If you owned any "large capacity" magazine in CA prior to Jan 1st 2000 you can bring it back into the state. But do not use any magazine that holds over 10 rounds in a magazine locked pistol or rifle.

12276.1. (a) Notwithstanding Section 12276, "assault weapon" shall also mean any of the following:

(1) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
(A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
(B) A thumbhole stock.
(C) A folding or telescoping stock.
(D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
(E) A flash suppressor.
(F) A forward pistol grip.

(2) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

(3) A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.

(4) A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
(A) A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
(B) A second handgrip.
(C) A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning his or her hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.
(D) The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.

(5) A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.

(6) A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:
(A) A folding or telescoping stock.
(B) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.

(7) A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine.

(8) Any shotgun with a revolving cylinder.

[Shoveldog81]

Wow - that was fast...

Thanx a bunch - not what I was hoping for but at least now I'm informed. I really should have asked that question last year when I traveled to Front Sight in Pahrump, NV - had to travel thru Calif with my pistols, with 18 round mags. Tho now I guess when I go to Front Sight again for the AR15 course, I'll need to steer clear of Calif roads.
Thanx again!!!
Ray

[uhlan1]

Can dis-assemble the mags before you enter as rebuild kits and reassemble again once out of state. Welcome to California, where freedom died and insanity reigns.

[Veggie]

Thanx a bunch - not what I was hoping for but at least now I'm informed. I really should have asked that question last year when I traveled to Front Sight in Pahrump, NV - had to travel thru Calif with my pistols, with 18 round mags. Tho now I guess when I go to Front Sight again for the AR15 course, I'll need to steer clear of Calif roads.
Thanx again!!!
Ray

Someone will correct me if I am wrong but isn't there federal law protecting people simply passing through a state on to another state?

Also yea Disassemble the mags and detach the lowers from the uppers and you are ok. As long as they aren't named. Wouldn't hurt to store the uppers and lowers separately.

[Chaos47]

Thanx a bunch - not what I was hoping for but at least now I'm informed. I really should have asked that question last year when I traveled to Front Sight in Pahrump, NV - had to travel thru Calif with my pistols, with 18 round mags. Tho now I guess when I go to Front Sight again for the AR15 course, I'll need to steer clear of Calif roads.
Thanx again!!!
Ray

No problem!

Sorry it isn't good or simple news.

But as long as your firearms are not banned by name it should be pretty easy to get them configured to be CA legal.

Welcome to CALGUNS! Hope you have a safe and fun trip!