Handguns (and what else?) to buy before moving back to CA?

[Pendragon]

Well, I am posting this from my Dads house in Sacramento. We flew back to CA for the Holiday.

We have decided we are going to move back to CA by mid to late 2004. Too many reasons to list - but that decision has been made. My wife is simply not going to be happy in Texas and as the saying goes "happy wife...happy life".

So I am interested in what guns I ought to buy in TX before I move back to CA. CA has that horrid drop test law and only certain guns are available there - however, if you move to CA from another state, you can bring and register your handguns as long as they are not "assault weapons" and no mags over 10 rounds are allowed.

This is my list so far:

T/C Contender/Encore - these are very hard to get in CA and you cant get them new - used ones go for a lot since the supply is limited.

Keltec .32 and .380 - those tiny little plastic wonders - only a few .32s were sold in CA before they had to be listed (Keltec will not list them) and the .380 version is too new to have ever been sold there.

Of course it is not legal to import them with the intent to sell, but for what they go for it seems prudent to ger 2 or 3 since they are probably not the most durable...

STI-LS9 - these super thin 9mm 1911 pattern guns are just yummy - forget about finding one in CA - I just saw a used one for $650.

Colt Pony or whatever that little .380 was that was like a mini-1911

And if I have the money:

Semi-Custom 1911 commander size - one that is not available in CA

S&W - 638 - not too hard to find in CA, but not easy - I still regret selling mine.


Any other suggestions? I am not into Glocks/Berettas/Sigs or S&W autos or almost any other DA/DAO guns. I like SA autos and revolvers in self defense calibers - revolvers maybe for hunting if I ever get around to it.

Also - I like deep concealment type guns and I am more flexible on the action type - maybe one of those COP .357 4bbl derringers if they are not too much money...

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

A premature welcome back, Pendragon. You must have noticed that the high-tech industry is making a comeback here. I don't really know whether to trust it yet, but hope things work out for you.

My daughter just moved back to Sac after giving up on San Diego. I'm a happy dad.

 

[HBK]

You have to REGISTER your guns in CA? ANd you can't have mags that hold over 10 rounds, not even preban??? Is California even part of the US any more? Craziness, I say!

 

[gunsmith]

welcome back

technically yes you have to register your handguns,but there are no signs at the border or (more importantly) DMV informing you...just don't get caught carrying one concealed.
I would get a keltec sub gun carbine,a North American mini arms black widow and that new guardian with a "necked up".32 caliber...As
far as STANDARD CAPACITY mag's.
I could have sworn you said you left them here when you left the last time so now they're granfathered in, right???those standard cap mags

never left CA you left them in storage

 

[Jim Diver]

Don't forget a copy of How to Own a Gun & Stay Out of Jail the 2004 edition.. Alot has changed in PRK.

 

[Langenator]

if you move to CA from another state, you can bring and register your handguns as long as they are not "assault weapons" and no mags over 10 rounds are allowed.

Reasons why I am never, ever moving back to the PRK again. If the Army sends me there, I'll be shopping for a very, very good lawyer to get the PRK's laws declared unconstitutional.

 

[Cal4D4]

Welcome back to the occupied territories. Hunker down on the berm and watch out for Legislators movin' around after dark.

There are reasons to stay.

 

[gunsmith]

Langenator

Reasons why I am never, ever moving back to the PRK again. If the Army sends me there, I'll be shopping for a very, very good lawyer to get the PRK's laws declared unconstitutional.

Oh,they are unconstitutional enough,after the stunning let down by SCOTUS (Silveira V Lockyer)
We in CA are left with massive civil disobedience as our
only recourse,just do not get caught.

 

[chickenfried]

What about a few 1911 frames/receivers? So you can have some custom guns built in the future.

 

[Langenator]

We in CA are left with massive civil disobedience as our only recourse, just do not get caught.

Gunsmith, you could always do what was suggested by someone in this thread and get 1000 folks to show up on the capitol steps with their (unloaded) evil black rifles, lawyers in tow, and wait to get arrested.

 

[Quartus]

THAT would be civil disobedience. Just breaking the law and trying not to get caught is NOT.

Not that I disapprove of it, just clarifying the proper use of the term.

Oh,they are unconstitutional enough,after the stunning let down by SCOTUS (Silveira V Lockyer)

Be glad they didn't hear the case. We still have a chance now. THIS court would probably have decided 5-4 that the 2A is NOT an individual right.

Then where would we be?



Timing is important in combat. Sometimes you have to wait for reinforcemnts. A frontal charge over open ground may be dramatic, but sometimes it just gets you killed.

 

[El Rojo]

I would get a keltec sub gun carbine.

If it is centerfire rifle and it has a pistol grip, it is an assault weapon and not permissible to import. Which really sucks because I would like to get one of those (name escapes me right now darn it) .45 ACP rifle conversions. Mech Tech, that is it. That would be a nifty little .45 carbine and I wouldn't even have to wait the 10 days! Oh well. I am counting on the rest of free America to win us some battles that stretch the length of the Republic.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Why not move to Arizona and visit Cali from time to time. Lot more gunfriendly laws here.

 

[Pendragon]

The whole point in moving back is so my wife can be close to her family.

We found out we were expecting RIGHT after we got here - if we had known ahead of moving, we may have waited - or maybe not - who knows?

Frankly - my wife does not like Texas - she thinks the people are all fine and actually nicer than home, but she is just sick to death for home - its where she lived her whole life - its green, there are mountains, flowers, trees, etc - yeah, other places have some or all of those, but they aint home.

I have to say - after going back to Sacramento for 9 days after 3 months in San Antonio, I was struck by how green it is there - somehow it never seemed so green when I lived there.

I have lived in CA, OR and AK and now TX - they all suit me in different ways and deep down, I dont really consider myself as having a "home" or hometown - but my wife does.

I could be happy to stay - although I miss my brother and my cousin and my dad and my brother in law - we all get along so great - but my wife is withering on the vine here and I love her too much to try and make her stay.

good suggestions on the 1911 frames and the .32 bottleneck - I will consider those although finding ammo for that NAA.32 would be hard - but thats why God made Mister Lee.

My ETA is 6-10 months on moving back - by then, my contract should be winding up and we gotta get our second son born and crawling around a bit.

 

[Russ]

Pendragon,

I'm a California native and lived there for a long time. I moved about 2 years ago and I miss it. For the same reasons, the wife, I am here in KY. Left to me I would never have left California. I hate the political situation and have been in the minority in that regard for most of my life. California as a place is beautiful. Some people like the seasons where it snows and all that but I prefer no seasons thank you. I gave up a really good job and situation there that I will never get back to here.

I was thinking of your very question last week. I would go for the small pistols not on the "approved list". Particularly, the Kel Tecs. I would load up as many of the P-3AT's (they are not easy to get) and P 32's as I could afford. After awhile sell them. You can't go back with the intent to sell but after time, intent becomes less relevent. I think the same applies to high cap mags. Unless I am terribly mistaken, you can have them if your intent was not to offer them for sale. Check out the CA DOJ website and applicable statutes to make sure.

Good luck.

 

[Drjones]

Hello my friend.

I am so terribly sorry that things did not work out for you and your family in your new home.

I am glad that you will be back!

Best of luck!
Drjones



PS: BRING ME SOME GUNS!!!

 

[thefitzvh]

Don't do it! Run from this godforsaken Republik of California as fast as you can carry yourself!


James

 

[Pendragon]

I think the problem is less that God has forsaken California and more that California has forsaken God.

Regardless, I have promised my wife that we will go back. At this point, my only way out is to abandon my family, something that is actually worse than being an infidel - California residency notwithstanding.

Many interesting suggestions. I was trying to picture going into the Sutter County Sheriffs office and registering about a dozen little pocket guns not otherwise legal to buy in CA - lol!

Well, they got a good Sheriff there, he would probably try to buy one off me!

No EBRs for me alas But thats ok - I am more of a handgun lover than anything else.

As for a custom 1911 frame - I already have a Valtro, so that is probably unlikely - unless I get a commander or officer frame - that would be nifty - anyone know if I can just buy a Caspian frame?

Seems to me I could probably bring half a dozen P3ATs - if my wife an I got tired of them some day, they might make good trading guns - could probably trade one for a $500-$800 gun to someone who knew what they were looking at.

But - as much as I can think of all kinds of naughty things to do, I mainly just want to get the guns I know I am going to want for my own use.

My other consolation is that CCW is readily obtainable in Sutter county - so thats a relief.

 

[El Rojo]

California's green??? I think the green line starts at about say Highway 46 and heads north. Every thing say south of Wasco is not green at all. I just came back from the bay and boy is green up in them parts.

 

[BerettaNut92]

It's perfectly legal, AFAIK, to buy an auto knife or butterfly knife and transport it baack as long as it's not in the passenger compartment or glove box of your car.

I'd get one since you can't get them in-state. All the gun stuff you get out of state but not in state you can't bring back legally anyway.

 

[Pendragon]

I would not be so sure most Honorable Skunkabilly.

CA has MANY laws which felonize the posession of virtually any interesting or exotic weapon. I am not aware of the laws only applying to the in state sale.

Most interesting here in Texas - the gun shows are full of all manner of silly ninja weapons - 3 way pocket knives that fold out into some kind of shuriken - I can see someone just trying to open all the blades when the flag goes up...

I am mostly looking for suggestions on what guns to buy - guns that are interesting or unique and that can be had for a reasonable sum, but are otherwise unavailable in CA - I had forgot about the NAA guardians for instance.

I would love to get a nearly full collection of the S&W bodyguard snubbies - they have made quite a few and they are hard to find, even in Texas - lots of people think they are fugly, but I love 'em.