Owning guns in California.

I am moving to California and have some questions of how you guys own your ARs and what not there. I have looked over the gun laws in place and to me it sounds like pretty much everything other than black powder is illegal there. Now I know this isn't really the case but from what I have read, what would the point be to owning an AR with a mag capacity of 5? I have a POF P-415 and a Beretta shotgun (which I'm not to worried about having there, but would still like to know how to make it all legal to have in Cali). I've seen several people that live there with similar rifles. Would I really have to get them registered? Do I just lock them up and drive on into California or what? Also I heard form someone that even some ranges won't let you shoot them, Is that true are there only curtain ranges that will let you shoot an AR?

I am also in the Air Force but don't really want to keep them on base in the armory if that would even be an option. So if anyone could give me an answer on how to go upon owning my guns in Cali would be greatly appreciated.

***EDIT***

I have been living in California for almost 2 years now and wanted to edit the OP here to collect everything I have found on this topic. A friend of mine has also informed me a lot about having such guns as an AR in California and what can and can't be done if you are pulled over, have an accident transporting your guns, or at the shooting range. So it is always a good idea to know the law in your area like when a police officer can and can't search your car.

LAWS
http://www.handgunlaw.us/documents/USRVCarCarry.pdf
http://www.calguns.net/caawid/flowchart.pdf (Rifles)
http://www.calguns.net/caawid/sgflowchart.pdf (Shotguns)
http://www.calguns.net/caawid/hgflowchart.pdf (Handguns)

PARTS
http://www.riflegear.com/p-470-raddlock-ar-series-magazine-lock.aspx#
http://store.magpul.com/product/MAG559/PMAG
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?newcategorydimensionid=17047

 

i think stuff like AR15s are modded like with bullet buttons and such?

 

Semi-auto centerfire rifles must have a barrel over 16" and have no "AW features" unless it does not have a detachable magazine (meaning welded in place or has a mag lock that requires the use of a tool to remove the mag)

You also cannot have a lower receiver that is listed by name as an AW so you need to check that as well. You need to make your AR CA legal before crossing the state line but there is no need to register it.

Mag capacity is limited to 10 rounds unless you owned "hi-caps" IN THE STATE (meaning, you probably owned them before the ban, but you did not own them in CA before the ban...this law is so full of loopholes, though, it is funny) prior to the ban, and you cannot import them. If you want to bring them with you, you must disassemble them, and leave them disassembled while in the state.

The only way you can use 11+ round mags in CA is if they are in a Registered AW, which you cannot do anymore, or if you make your AR featureless. This doesn't matter though because you wont have any legally owned "hi-caps" anyway.

 

I would be happy to answer any of your questions to the best of my knowledge but I also suggest you check out calguns.net. That site is a great resource for CA gun owners.

Here is a nice flowchart to help you determine if your Semi-auto centerfire rifle is legal:
http://www.calguns.net/caawid/flowchart.pdf

 

Wow .. that flowchart indicates everything that is wrong with California. Holy cow.
Good luck with your move. I hope it's worth it for ya!

 

Ok so by the flow chart it comes down to the last bubble asking: Does it have a pistol grip, forward pistol grip, flash suppressor, folding/collapsible stock etc. etc. If it has any of these its illegal, so doesn't that mean any AR is Illegal because the all have pistol grips at the least?

 

Yes. So you must reconfigure it so it is featureless (there are funky looking grips that allow this), or you add a mag lock like the bullet button so that you must top load or use a tool to remove the magazine

 

What about a shotgun? That should be alright to bring though should it not?

 

^^^^ What he said...

Add a bullet button or other "mag locking" device (riflegear.com - look under CA compliance parts)

^^^^What he said...

Shotgun is fine as long as it doesnt have those "Evil Features".

 

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

Also make sure that if you decide to put a mag lock on your AR and bring it, that it isn't listed as an AW by name because if it is, putting a mag lock on wont make a difference

 

Lil'Taco,

Here's the best CA mag lock. You throw it on in a couple of seconds and when you travel out of state just give it a few turns with a screw driver and you can use it like a normal AR:

http://www.riflegear.com/p-470-raddlock-ar-series-magazine-lock.aspx

I frequently go on camping trips out of state so this lock prevents me some having to take anything apart. When you are in CA you will just need a pencil or the tip of a bullet to release the magazine.

Also do yourself a favor and don't go telling people in CA that you have an AR15. A lot of people here are brainwashed and think that black guns are evil, dangerous, and should not be legal, even though ARs are hardly ever used in violent crime (something like 1% or less of the time). Just Brady campaign:

"POSITION: The Brady Campaign supports banning military-style semi-automatic assault weapons. These dangerous weapons have no sporting or civilian use and their only purpose it to kill many people in a short amount of time. We support legislation to ban all assault weapons.

Q. What is the difference between semi-automatic hunting rifles and semi-automatic, military-style assault weapons?
A. Sporting rifles and assault weapons are two distinct classes of firearms. While semi-automatic hunting rifles are designed to be fired from the shoulder and depend upon the accuracy of a precisely aimed projectile to kill an animal, semi-automatic assault weapons are designed to kill as many people quickly, as would be needed in combat.
Opponents of banning assault weapons argue that these military-style weapons only “look” scary. Assault weapons look scary and are scary because they are equipped with combat hardware. Combat features like high-capacity ammunition magazines, pistol grips, folding stocks, and bayonets, which are not found on sporting guns, are designed specifically to facilitate the killing of human beings in battle.
These combat features include:

• A large-capacity ammunition magazine which enables the shooter to continuously fire dozens of rounds without reloading. Many assault weapons come equipped with large ammunition magazines allowing more than 50 bullets to be fired without reloading. Standard hunting rifles are usually equipped with no more than 3 or 4-shot magazines;
• A folding stock which facilitates maximum concealability and mobility in close combat (which comes at the expense of the accuracy desired in a hunting weapon);
• A pistol grip which facilitates spray-fire from the hip without losing control. A pistol grip also facilitates one-handed shooting;
• A barrel shroud which enables the shooter to shoot many rounds because it cools the barrel, preventing overheating. It also allows the shooter to grasp the barrel area to stabilize the weapon, without incurring serious burns, during rapid fire;
• A threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor which allows the shooter to remain concealed when shooting at night, an advantage in combat but unnecessary for hunting or sporting purposes. In addition, the flash suppressor is useful for providing stability during rapid fire;
• A threaded barrel designed to accommodate a silencer which allows an assassin to shoot without making noise;
• A barrel mount designed to accommodate a bayonet which allows someone to stab a person at close quarters in battle.

The assault weapons ban expired in September 2004 when Congress and President George W. Bush took no action to save it. That means that AK47s and other semi-automatic assault weapons are once again flooding our streets, as the weapons of choice of gang members, drug dealers and other dangerous criminals. "

 

Everything that's wrong with CA? Not by a long shot! There's a lot more stuff that's backwards in this state. But at least we have some good surf and carne asada burriots

 

I wouldn't call it the best. I would call it a preference.

OP - suggest you read up on all the different mag locking devices to decide what would be best for you. As Trib feels the raddlock is the best I personally use the bullet button and red bullet button wrench - I think these two are the primary ones in use that Ive seen. Theres also the vamfire (relative newcomer IIRC) and the prince 50.

 

BAHAHAHA who is this person trying to kid? People like this are dumb *period* where can i sign up to help fight against this BS.

As far as the bullet button thing goes, all you have to do is put one of these on and your good? do you really have to change the grip, have 10 round mags and a fixed stock? if so fuck it i'll just leave it at home.

 

A mag lock OR remove "evil" features. Cannot have a >10rd mag attached to the weapon at ANY time and the lower cannot be on the banned list (you can get a stripped lower fo about $100 total and place all internals from your current lower into it if you must).

 

well I didnt see my lower on the 3 banned lists in the flowchart. Are there other lists that are more in depth?

 

Nope. That is THE flowchart. If you meet everything on that list youre gtg.

 

Great, now just to grab a 10rd mag and one of those bullet button things and I'm golden thanks for the help and clarification of everything.

I also found this to go along with everything else you guys showed me to help out anyone else that is wondering the same thing:
http://blog.riflegear.com/articles/building-a-california-legal-ar-15-rifle.aspx

 

Dr. Suzanna Hupp on guns and magazine size http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEJFAvA-ZUE

 

Seems like the best semi-automatic rifle to have in California would be a Ruger Mini 14 with a 10 round magazine and a wood stock. Doesn't have a pistol grip or much of the other "combat" features limited.