Coming to CA as a recruiter

[DetailRecruiter13M]

Greetings from sunny FT Jackson, SC. I am a SGT(p) with the United States Army. I have recently had the privilege of being selected by HRC as a recruiter. I am currently at the recruiting and retention schoolhouse, and have just received my assignment orders. The powers that be have sent me to Riverside, CA. After having been stationed in OK for 6 years now, I am glad to finally get away. I own several firearms, and am apprehensive as to what their legal status would be. I have been unable to find a comprehensive and clear legal guide to firearms ownership in CA under PCS orders. I would appreciate if someone could boil it down to the very basics. Specifically, I own several pistols and an M4gery. What are the rules for the importation/licensing of pistols? What about magazines? I understand the M4gery is so illegal a CA DA would have an aneurism just looking at it, so what are my options for semi-auto magazine fed rifles? I was considering an M1A, or possibly an HK 93 or FAL. Whats the deal with M1As? From what I can tell , they are legal, with a 10 round magazine? What if I slap one into an EBR kit?
What is it like finding places to shoot out there?
What are the odds of getting a CCW approved and how do I increase those odds?

Thanks for all feedback, friends!
I look forward to joining the CA shooting community.

[roll2li]

Killer, you're in the right place - the people here in Calguns will steer you straight.

I suggest checking out the following links:

http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/FAQ

-The Wiki list, comprehensive review of what you can and can't bring

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=387409

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=475423

-Librarian's magazine articles

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=186405

http://www.calguns.net/caawid/flowchart.pdf

-Off List Lower (OLL) information including the famous assault weapon flowchart

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=565585

-A VERY IMPORTANT thread for ALL military members stationed in CA regarding their residency when they purchase a firearm

So I know it's a lot and drinking from a firehouse, I'd honestly say it took me several months before I really grasped the intricacies of what Calguns has done with the offlist lower movement and the innovation of people from this state in general. To your specific questions:

M4ergy - Use the flow chart, but BLUF: if your weapon's lower receiver is NOT the "list" (Roberti-Roos Assault Weapon Control Act), you can bring it to California. If you want to keep your evil features (flash hider, pistol grip, collapsible stock, etc) you will need to make you magazine fixed either via BulletButton or Radlock (I'm assuming you don't actually want to fix it). Otherwise you can remove the "evil" features as defined by SB 23 and run detachable magazines.

Pistols: Read the military forum about buying handguns at your home of record. There are handgun registration requirements by virtue of you becoming a California resident (in the ATF's eyes, not the Federal gov't, see referred article).

Magazine: Not illegal to posses hi cap (more than 10), but illegal to import or manufacture them. Note on Librarian's mag article, if you bring in your OLL you may not use 30 round mags in it even with a bullet button.

M1A: There are specific CA legal M1A's (see SB-23 regarding flash hiders). We run muzzle brakes here. Definition is hazy. You can run 20 round mags, if you possess them legally (see magazine article and rebuild kit article). EBR kit is legal, but you will need to install a fixed magazine (because the rifle now has evil features, e.g. pistol grip). See flowchart.

Ranges: We have lots of review of ranges in that subforum. Lots of complaints too.

CCW approval: Varies by county, for example OC and Sacramento are decent, San Diego impossible. Do not know about Riverside, but check the 2A forum.

I am by no means an expert and apologize if I spread some FUD, but these are the articles I've found that have helped me the most around here. Happy shooting.

[Tyson]

I am no expert but I would refer you to the link toward the top of the page under "Flowcarts & OLL Assembly Guide". Work through that chart with all of your firearms that should get you through most of what you mentioned. If you have an FAL as in FN FAL I believe that is a named assualt weopon in CA there is no correct configuration for that specific rifle to be legally in CA.

Thanks for your service.

[Novator]

Pistols: Read the military forum about buying handguns at your home of record. There are handgun registration requirements by virtue of you becoming a California resident (in the ATF's eyes, not the Federal gov't, see referred article).

Just to clarify, if you you are moving to CA on PCS orders you are under no obligation to register handguns that you bring with you into the state unless you choose to remain in CA following discharge (those purchased here still must be registered). The personal handgun/firearm importer paperwork conveiently gives military a way to register without indicating that you have the choice not to.

[roll2li]

Just to clarify, if you you are moving to CA on PCS orders you are under no obligation to register handguns that you bring with you into the state unless you choose to remain in CA following discharge (those purchased here still must be registered). The personal handgun/firearm importer paperwork conveiently gives military a way to register without indicating that you have the choice not to.

That's definetely a good point thanks for adding that.

Also county specific CCW info:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=352777