Hawaii Shooters!

[xjchief]

Looking for information regarding ammo in Hawaii. My transfer may finally be here and I'm wondering what the ammo situation is there. I'm not going to be bringing all my guns just because I don't feel like spending an afternoon registering all of them. Some are already registered there and I'd like know if I'm better off bringing some of my ammo with me.

It's already paid for and so many companies are unwilling to ship ammo to Hawaii that it still might be a better deal than having to buy there.

Excited about moving but dreading living behind enemy lines!

 

[LB7_Driver]

I wish you good fortune, and I'm VERY glad I don't have to put up with that level of government repression.

 

[MMCSRET]

I used to deal with Security Equipment in Honolulu and Honsport in Pearl Ridge shopping center. Ask when you get there I never had trouble getting ammo. Black powder was another story. We kept our guns in the armory at PHNS and that way we didn't have the hassle of firearms in Gov't quarters, Just had to call ahead the day before to pick them up. By the way , Mouflon sheep hunting on the Big Island was a lot of fun. Koko Head range was a great place then and looking at their website it looks even nicer now. Definitely join the Hawaii Rifle assoc. and check their website with you questions.

 

[brlau]

There are six commonly known gunshops on Oahu: Young Guns, Security Equipment, Magnum Firearms, Windward Gun Shop, Kaneohe Gun Shop, and Gun Source. We don't have any large chain stores like Sportsmans Warehouse, or Cabelas here, just small brick and mortar shops. Availability depends on what caliber you're looking for of course. I was looking for 8x57mm JS for my K98k, and found out that of the first five I listed, each carried only *one* brand of ammunition and it was either PMC or Federal. I wanted European-spec stuff, so it looks like I'm going to have to pick some up the next time I'm on the mainland. Also, no one seems to have Remington JSP .30 Carbine - which was the best performing during ballistic testing. As far as pricing is concerned, the calibers I bought here were either a few dollars more than what I saw online at MidwayUSA or just about equal. I did get lucky a couple months ago when Young Guns had a sale on Federal American Eagle .30 Carbine FMJ, which was priced a couple dollars less than MidwayUSA.

 

[KireTul]

Me and the wife have been on Oahu for 2 months now. I finally got to the range yesterday at Kokohead and I was fairly impressed by the place. I figured it wouldn't be as nice or organized being a public range. I was pleasantly surprised. You'll see everything there from an old timer shooting an M1 garand to some 20 year old shooting some abortion of an AK he finally bought. There's a shooting range on Schofield Barracks you can use if you're active duty.

When I went to HPD to register my guns (lets just say I went there with more than 6) the cops must have thought I was some militia leader or something. When I was getting my prints taken, the cop (about the same age as me) said, "Dude, seriously what is up with all the f*&^ing guns?" I could tell he was half joking/half serious. I just explained my father was in the shooting industry and I always had them. I guess he was fine with that. Remember Hawaii doesn't allow pistol magazines with a capacity over 10rds. I left my high cap guns on the mainland and just brought over the 1911s.

Finally about ammo, I've found that .308 and .223 are higher priced here compared to the other calibers. I brought as much .308 as I could when we moved to the island and I'm glad I did. God forbid Hawaii ever passes that terrible legislation they tried to mandating all ammo sold in Hawaii has a serial number on the individual casing and ALL non-serialed ammo is prohibited. I hope I PCS before they bring that around again. YIKES. If you have a rifle in 30-06, you can get CMP (if you qualify) ammo shipped to Hawaii. Thats a small plus.

Welcome back to Paradise!

 

[coloradokevin]

Glad I don't deal with all the BS to own my guns around here.

I'm not surprised to learn that ammo is more expensive in HI, everything else is too!

I went there for my honeymoon, staying both on Kauai and the Big Island... Didn't seem like there was much of a gun culture in that state! Glad to hear there's at least some gun culture!


Edited to add:

WOW... I just read through some of HI's firearms laws. This state is ridiculous. Glad I don't live there, and I don't think I'll add it to my list of possible retirement destinations! (Guess I'll have to remain over here in the "free World")

 

[brlau]

WOW... I just read through some of HI's firearms laws. This state is ridiculous. Glad I don't live there, and I don't think I'll add it to my list of possible retirement destinations! (Guess I'll have to remain over here in the "free World")

I think if we don't move to the mainland (i.e. the free world) within the next two years, I'll at least make it a goal to leave after retiring. Heck, lots of people from here move to Las Vegas after they retire - only in their case it's to gamble.

 

[HIcarry]

Ammo

Actually we have a Sport's Authority (a couple of them...) that have pretty decent prices on ammo...and sometimes it's even on sale. Just picked up 5 cases of 9mm because the price was right.
Hawaii's laws are pretty draconian, but we actually have a pretty active shooting community, even if that activity doesn't usually include political activism to help change the restrictive laws. .
Just remember to register all of your firearms with HPD within 3 days (72 hours) of arriving, and no hi-cap mags. I suggest you take all of the magazines out of the firearm before going to HPD. THe law doesn't require that they accompany the firearm and it's best just to avoid any potential problems. The only police sataion on Oahu that you can register your firearms at is in downtown Honolulu, off of Beretania Street. Parking is available on the street fronting the station after the morning rush (I think about 0900) and before the afternoon rush (about 1530). Parking is also available in the garage around back; the entrance is off of King Street, sort of at the dead-end street adjacent to Straub Hospital's Emergency Room. Meters take quarters...fingerprinting costs $30.25 and they only take cash and don't like to make change.
A link to HPD's website about firearms registration: http://www.hawaiipolice.com/topPages/gunRegistration.html
And one for the Hawaii Rifle Association: http://www.hawaiirifleassociation.org/

If you join HRA, we have a "Fun Shoot" once a month at the Kokohead range. We get to use one of the club bays where the somewhat restrictive range rules are not applicable...might be a good way to meet some of the shooting community. Good luck. Let me know if I you need anything else.
Aloha and welcome,

 

[HIcarry]

Another Hawaii Gun shop

Ready on the Right in Kailua...mostly older, collectable and "cowboy" guns, but a good guy to know.

 

[smithwr3]

I left Hawaii back in September, so my information may be a little dated. Ready on the Right had the best FFL transfer prices by far at $26.25 Windward Gun Shop seemed like they had the most expansive supply of ammo out of all of the shops. Now I'm in SC so I am reunited with my class III collection.

 

[brlau]

I forgot about Sports Authority. I just went there this past weekend for a Father's Day gift and walked by the shooting/optics/knives/diving counter. They do have common calibers there, unfortunately for me I don't have anything in common calibers. I've heard many good things about Mr. Mongeon of Ready on the Right, including his low transfer fees and had it not been for the arrival of my C&R I would have approached him for a milsurp.

 

[coloradokevin]

Looking more at HI laws, it even appears that they are trying to undermine the protections provided to LEO's in 18 USC 44-926b... This law was written specifically because of states like HI with their weird laws.

Admitedly, I figure that every law-abiding citizen should be free to CCW in every state... But, still, a federal law was passed to specifically address the issues that those of us in LE face, and HI still tries to work around it!

http://hawaii.gov/ag/LEO/

I like the part where it says:

"It is important to note that 18 USC §926B does not supercede Hawaii State Firearm laws."

Last I heard, Federal law still preempts state laws to the contrary. I just figure that if it is still this complicated for LEO's to carry (even with a federal law designed to prevent this confusion), then it must be impossible for the average citizen to deal with!

Thus, I feel that their laws are greatly infringing on everyone's rights!



Then Honolulu PD says on their web site:

"Note: There is no compact agreement between Hawaii and other states that would permit police officers on official assignment in Hawaii to be armed and exempt from the provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes relating to firearms."


Ummm... No compact, just 18 USC 926b.


I sure hope we start to get some of this stuff resolved for EVERYONE, not just those of us in LE. I bring this issue up specifically because I've noticed the problems that even those of us in LE face with these laws (and we are often required to carry at all times as a condition of our employment!).

 

[HIcarry]

"Ummm... No compact, just 18 USC 926b."

Yeah, Hawaii just recently got this together for compliance with 18 USC 926b, and if you look at the fees required, $495.00, for the training, they have made it as difficult as possible for retired LEOs to carry.

However, if you are active Federal LEO HRS Ch. 134-11 provides an exemption to concealed carry permit...although I think Federal preemption would make such an exemption unnecessary....

 

[MMCSRET]

I left HI. in 1981 so my info was very outdated. A.L.Ho was president of HRA and had been for a lot of years. My wife was secretary in '79 and also the HRA's registered lobbyist to the state legislature that year. Lots of changes, some good. Fasi was Mayor of Honolulu and the Carol Kai bed races were relatively new, old info!!!