California legal??????

crims40

April 09, 2003 16:05

A friend wants to go to California to compete in an Action Cowboy shoot and has heard that his Winchester rifle in .357 is illegal because it can hold more then 10 rds. I told him that I thought that only applied to detachable magazines. Did I tell him wrong? Thanks for any replies....[:D][:D]

0

• 

  SilverBox

  April 09, 2003 16:19

  Sounds like its lever action. If so its legal in California
  
  Large Capacity Magazine Restrictions and Exemptions (Penal Code Section 12020)
  A large capacity magazine is defined as "any ammunition feeding device with a capacity to accept more than 10
  rounds but shall not be construed to include a feeding device that is permanently altered so that it cannot accommodate
  more than 10 rounds nor shall it include any .22 caliber tube ammunition feeding device (or, effective
  January 1, 2002, a tubular magazine contained in a lever-action firearm)." It is important to understand that
  a large capacity feeding device may be detachable or fixed, and includes any tube ammunition feeding device
  (other than .22 caliber or, effective January 1, 2002, a tubular magazine contained in a lever-action firearm) that
  can accommodate more than 10 rounds. A large capacity magazine also includes linked ammunition with more
  than 10 rounds linked together or an ammunition belt with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
  
  
  Basically since January 1, 2002, tubular magazines on centerfire lever action rifles should be legal, you might want to call the California DOJ just to be sure thu.

  0
• 

  crims40

  April 09, 2003 16:36

  Who here knew that? [:D][:D] Just kidding Silverbox. Thanks a lot for the information. I was pretty sure that this was the case. Winchester would be losing a lot of money on the Cowboy market if they couldn't sell in California. I guess at the very least, they would come with plugs installed. I will pass it on.

  0
• 

  rchawk

  April 09, 2003 20:32

  Hey Silverbox, That all makes sense (?) but what about extended tubes on pump shotguns? I was told that the old pistol grip/8 round tube set for an 870 was OK as long as it was already here in the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia.
  Is this true, or does my bud have to get rid of his?
  
  Hawk
  
  
  I would rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

  0
• 

  SilverBox

  April 10, 2003 07:13

  Different set of rules applies to that case. I'll dig up the code in a bit. Basically shotguns have special "Assault Weapon rules" that are above and beyond the 10 round limits.
  
  EDIT:
  
  Wait, an 870. Its not Semi-auto.. Hmm let me dig around some more. "Assault Weapon" rules by generic charateristic only apply to semi-auto shotguns. Its probably legal as is but don't take my word for it I'll see if I can dig up anything else.
  
  EDIT 2:
  
  I can't find anything that would make it illegal. Looks to me like any Pump shotgun (that is not on one of the specific "Assault Weapon" lists) that holds less then 10 rounds is perfectly legal. Just be sure it has the proper barrel and overall length. Barrel length being 18" and overall 26" or else it counts as a short barreled shotgun, which is a big NO NO. All of the Assault weapon rules about pistol grips and bayonet lugs etc. only apply by generic characteristic to semi-auto shotguns.
  
  EDIT 3:
  
  I didn't dig up federal rules, but I find it highly unlikely federal rules are more restrictive then California rules. You might want to repost this question and get Mark Christians opinion on it, he has the best grasp of the Kommiefornia rules of anyone who posts on this board.

  0
• 

  smith629

  April 11, 2003 04:08

  I am so glad i live in TEXAS!!!!!! Randy W.

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.