Midway won't ship BP Revolver to CA

[joe4702]

Went to order an Uberti 1858 Army from Midway and the website wouldn't let the order go through. It popped up a message saying
"local, state or federal" law prohibits shipping this item to CA.

I'm thought BP guns in Cali are treated the same as in
federal law (i.e. not considered a firearm).

Is Midway just being overcautious or is there some new
law on the books in this stupid state?

Any recommendations on where else
to get a good price on the Uberti (Midway had it for $175)?
I believe Cabelas only carries the Piatti version

 

[RobW]

Yep, there are some states where BP stuff is not allowed to ship to. They are the regular suspects: CA, MI, NJ, NY, IL, MA.

 

[joe4702]

Cabelas puts the following message on their BP revolver web pages.
Doesn't mention California.

ATTENTION:Residents of HI, IL, MA, MI, NJ, and NY please check your local laws for restrictions before ordering any black-powder firearm.

I bought a Lyman GPR and Plains Pistol mail order from Natchez
a while back. No problem then. Haven't heard that the law changed
since then. I think Midway has gotten some questionable legal
advice and is being over-cautious.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

Have your local FFL get one for you and pay him the cost of the gun plus a small transfer fee.

 

[4v50 Gary]

No, find another vendor who will send it to you. I have BP guns sent to me all the time.

 

[joe4702]

I ordered it thru a website called Thunder Ridge Muzzleloading.
It was a bit more than Midway had it for ($190 vs $175),
but none of the other big boys (Cabelas, Natchez, Midsouth, etc.)
had the Uberti. Never heard of Thunder Ridge, but I used a CC
in case it's some fly-by-night outfit

 

[Marvin Gardens]

This topic came some years ago during a visit with a dealer that I frequented before the shop closed (that happens a lot now in this state). Anyway, he said that black powder revolvers were considered a firearm in California and had to be transferred by DROS. He said he could sell kits without the DROS requirement. This conversation happened ten years ago so things are probably more restrictive now. I've seen other mail order dealers refuse to ship black powder revolvers here.

FWIW

Marvin

 

[JSR]

Thunder Ridge is a reputable dealer,I'v ordered a few things from them.Don't you hate wondering about that 1st order though?
Jeff

 

[joe4702]

Thanks for the info about Thunder Ridge.
Hopefully they will come through and not chicken
out like Midway

I'm pretty sure there are no restrictions (yet) on BP
guns in CA, but some companies are either mis-informed
or being over-cautious, probably at the advice of their
legal staff.

I wrote Midway and told them they had lost a $250.00
order for no real reason. They said they'd look into
the situation - whatever.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Joe, I did the same thing when I was 18. I bought my Ruger Old Army from Gil Hebard in IL and circumvented the CA law. Funny but that law didn't prevent me from getting a black powder revolver and furthermore, I never shot anyone with it. Even though the state wouldn't say so, I've demonstrated: 1) that I'm sane; 2) not a mass murderer; 3) Ruger Old Army was not the choice tool for someone about to commit crime.

 

[Strzelec]

I bought the same exact revolver from Midway in January - no problem sending it here to north San Diego county. Earlier this year (May) Turners was advertising in store that you could buy and take home a BP revolver the very same day.

However, since then Walmart has suspended gun sales in CA due primarily IIRC to paperwork problems. Also, SOG and another vendor settled some issues with the state. Midway may be overreacting to this. AFAIK there is currently no law prohibiting BP weapons from being sent into the state.

Of course, that won't stop the CA Attorney General from imaging one exists.

Nice reproduction, BTW. Consider getting the 45 Colt conversion cylinder, too - before that is outlawed.