Buying a handgun in California..

First and foremost..i love this state. the weather, the diversity, the people. i love it and my job here kicksass..

BUT...buying a handgun. hahahha..what a lesson in patience. i bought my BIL a .22 handgun for Christmas. it got me thinking.."HEY! i dont have a .22 handgun!!!" that needed mitigation ASAP. (dont get me started on how to buy a handgun GIFT for someone..sheesh)

1. i want a Ruger Mark-4. no, not gonna happen. it isnt on CA's "buy list".
2. i now have to buy the same Browning Buckmark i got for my BIL. i am gonna up it to the Buckmark Contour which seems pretty cool. i just want something different from him.
3. i went in cold this morning and got a 100% on the firearm safety test. the test is 100% common sense. really a formality.it isnt difficult at all.
4. figuring out, how to buy a handgun ONLINE is a brain-eff. it doesnt seem easy.
5. that 10 day wait period..i am cool with it. it's 10 days.

i think a .22 is a cool caliber. cheap, fun. and i am planning a backpack trip into the Sierras to hunt Grouse. it is legal with a hand gun!! it should be a blast.

i cant wait to teach my BIL how to shoot properly..he is horrible with a handgun. ha.

 

Yes California sucks ball sack when it comes to guns. Unless your someone who does not concern yourself with following pesky laws. I love how they expect you to keep your 'Home defense" weapon secured unloaded in a seprate location from its ammo! (not happening)
I can't argue with you on its beauty. Hard to beat California. If it weren't for the people I would have loved it.

 

What the hell is their problem with the Mark-4?

 

What I gather is Cali is requiring guns to produce micro stamping on bullets. This would require design changes the manufacturers where un able or unwilling to make for that particular gun

 

I'm really sure the micro stamps on bullets fired by gangs and other criminals will always lead back to the perpetrator.( tounge in cheek)

 

Nothing. The manufacturer just won't pay the fee to sell here. It's a racket.

 

We often wonder the same with a Gen 4 Glock vs a Gen 3. Gen 3 is compliant but a Gen 4 isn't???

 

Arizona Compliant ...

 

Got a parent out of state?

 

I think this is legal in California.... Gen 5 cali compliant

 

If I were willing to credit the state legislature with any kind of knowledge about guns, I'd say the microstamping requirement is as much a way to phase in a stealth ban as it is a serious regulation. By requiring tech that doesn't exist for any new guns to be added to the handgun "roster", they will have no more approved handguns for sale in the state in a few more years since any model can only stay on the list for 5 years before phasing out.

It'll be interesting to see what happens then if manufacturers refuse to bid on contracts to supply law enforcement and any other state organizations which buy firearms (national guard maybe?) in a state where they aren't legally allowed to sell to civilians. Even the pols who support an all-out ban can't be dumb enough to think that one will do much to keep weapons away from violent criminals and operatives of the mexican cartels in the state, so losing the ability to arm law enforcement (including their state-funded bodyguards) might make them reconsider some things. The only problem then is that very few, if any, of them are likely smart enough to know what an actual sensible policy might look like, much less how to enact such a system.

 

For the OP who wants to shoot small game w/ .22 pistol--
I think you have to use lead free ammo, which means those zinc bullets, which don't expand. And have a short range. And are inaccurate past 50m.
So, we got that going for us in California. Which is nice

 

When it comes to firearms, California has NOTHING going for it. I lived in CA for a short time, I had to get rid of several guns while I lived there due to the moronic laws. Luckily I was able to get out and start collecting again once I was back in the USA

 

If i got paid and got a house for free on the beach in cali i still would not live in that horrible “state”

 

I believe it's for any new model to have this feature in order to sold in CA, which in effect is a ban on that particular gun. I seriously doubt there is a manufacture out there that will put this prohibitively costly requirement in production. imo.

 

Oh man, it's been awhile since I've had to discuss this topic in depth. Unfortunately, you live in one of the worst states to begin this adventure.

Im slightly confused though. Are you asking a question of the process or just starting a shit storm thread for the people that live in Merica to throw shade?

The Ruger MK series has been a great lineup of pistols for a very long time. Personally IMO the MK II or III were top notch. The Browning lineup is nice too though. I am not really a huge .22LR fan but its a great plinking round. It's VERY unreliable though. Some of these newer pistols won't even cycle without specific CCI rounds.

To buy a handgun, you obviously need to choose the specific firearm you want (seems like you've got a good idea.) You'll then need to find a dealer that A) has that firearm in stock or B) is able/willing to order it or C) is able to transfer it from an online retailer. The problem with C) is that there are transfer fees for you using their licensing to do so and it has to be the SPECIFIC SKU # that is on the roster. Not the same make, not the same model, the SAME SKU! This can become difficult and confusing when trying to purchase a firearm online that has 50 different versions of the same model, I.E the MK and Buckmark series. You will also not be able to avoid CA sales tax so there's always that.

Once you find the pistol you're looking for, you will fill out the 4473 (Federal Form for background check) and begin your 10 day waiting period. There is always the used market too. This would allow you to purchase a handgun that is not on the roaster, however, you'll have to be comfortable purchasing used equipment. There is always the "California Mark Up" that sellers get too for handguns that are not available in the retail market.

 

My shirt today says exactly how I feel about it...




Seriously though finding exactly what you want firearm wise is going to be nearly impossible if not completely impossible in CA. I still have family that lives there and they just come visit to shoot my guns because they can't get them there.

 

The roaster and micro stamping are two separate issues that relate to each other.

The roaster is supposed to be the "safe pistol" list that manufacturers who want to sell their pistol within the state have submitted that specific model of handgun to a facility for a series of tests. These tests are supposed to make sure the pistol is safe and will not fire unintentionally. Over the past few years, CA has updated the list requirements. They started requiring the "magazine safe disconnect" for idiots who clean there guns while looking down the barrel and pulling the trigger and then there is the "load chamber indicator." Another GREAT feature for individuals who don't know how to chamber check their pistols yet still want to enjoy shooting.

The micro stamping was passed as a law and put in a desk for years until a high ranking politician wanting to make a name for themselves pulled it out and decided to implement a technology that doesn't exist and would be too costly to create while serving very little benefit. It is now a requirement for a manufacturer to add a pistol onto the list.

 

Damn California liberal roaster.

 

Retirement can't come soon enough, - then I'm going to get the hell out of here.