Kel-Tec KSG Shotgun - Legal in CA?

[DougB]

I know that a good case can be made for these being legal here (they have two 7-shot magazines and you have to manually switch between them), and also that quite a few people have them in CA, but I haven't seen anything from the Department of Justice about them. Has there been any official determination that they are legal here? Are any big stores/chains selling them here in CA? Do any stores/dealers refuse to sell them? If so, why? I know that for 95% of guns, we don't need a DOJ ruling to know if they are legal, and I'm not trying to stir up FUD, but this is an unusual design, and it does hold 15 rounds, so my FFL wants something more solid than "It seems okay to me, and a few other dealers sell them" before transferring one. Thanks

[ASD1]

DOJ dose not tell you things are "LEGAL"

Laws do not tell you what is "LEGAL"

Laws only tell you what is not legal

[yzErnie]

KSG's are tube fed, not magazine fed. That is what makes them ok in Ca.

[Hanse Davion]

Technically, any shotgun that can hold 10 standard length shells can also hold 15 or so minishells. There is caselaw on this, but I do not have time to look for it. Also, with the KSG, you have to manually switch the tubes when one tube runs out of shells, unlike other designs that keep feeding regardless (UTAS-15). Think magazine coupler.

[meritman]

Yes, they are legal. This comes right from the DOJ when I spoke to them about 2 months ago. It's considered legal because although the gun holds up to 15 shells combined, each tube only holds 7 AND has to be manually switched over to the second tube. That is the reasoning the DOJ gave me.

[Oceanbob]

Drop kick that loser FFL Dealer you picked.

[NIKSD]

Tube magazines are exempt from not more than 10 round rule. KSG ie perfectly legal in CA.

[Librarian]

Tube magazines are exempt from not more than 10 round rule. KSG ie perfectly legal in CA.

Not so - it's much narrower than that:

22 caliber tube ammunition feeding device.

(c) A tubular magazine that is contained in a lever-action firearm.

[Librarian]

Yes, they are legal. This comes right from the DOJ when I spoke to them about 2 months ago. It's considered legal because although the gun holds up to 15 shells combined, each tube only holds 7 AND has to be manually switched over to the second tube. That is the reasoning the DOJ gave me.

That's what the Calguns speculation was when these came out.

Did you get it in writing?

If not ...

[NIKSD]

Thank you Librarian for the correction! And why do you say "If not..."? Do you think KSGs would be banned in California in the future?

[Librarian]

Thank you Librarian for the correction! And why do you say "If not..."? Do you think KSGs would be banned in California in the future?

It's California. I wouldn't bet much against that.

If an opinion comes from DOJ and it isn't in writing, signed by at least a deputy AG or other lawyer on behalf of the AG, then it is worth nothing should that come up in a legal proceeding.

This is why they so seldom will even email an answer to a question - they always want to call you. At least, that has been my experience.

[yzErnie]

Did you get it in writing?

If not ...

Getting something in writing from CaDoJ is virtually impossible...but we already know that. lol That said, the CaDoJ has never, at least to my knowledge, come out and said they are not allowed in this state. Pretty sure they don't like them but until they actually come out and say "No"...

[jdben92883]

Not sure why they would be ever made illegal. There are plenty of more effective options for dumping scores of shells down range.

[Librarian]

Bought a KSG from a DEALER last month and the DROS from DOJ came back approved. I think that's enough "proof" that KSGs are legal in CA.

Until some Politician needs a press conference to support her Senate campaign ... Otherwise, if DROS is going through, it seems they are legal.