SAIGAs in California?

[keeleon]

So in live in CA, and I REALLY want an AK. It seems the SAIGA is the closest I can get because it "looks" less dangerous apperently. Now my question is, does anyone no the specific legality of them in CA. The "list" that I looked at said the Kalashnikov SAIGA was a no-go, but this one isn't on the list:

http://www.raacfirearms.com/

So, how exactly does that fit into the legal area. MY loval shop won't get me one. In fact I had been bugging them for months, and they finally told me that when the DOJ guy was in yesterday, he told them absolutely no way on SAIGAs. I have tried to explain to them that it is the ame as an "off list AR", which they actually DO carry, but it just seems like they don't understand. The DOJ guy said, that if he saw a SAIGA in their store, he would "send in a SWAT team".

I have talked to an online dealer that assured me they were legal in CA, and that he has shipped to several FFLs. If I don't mind driving a bit, then I can get him to sell me one, but my question is, where is the legality? Are they legal similar to the ARs, or is it such a grey area that I should jsut drop it?

 

[quientus]

Perfectly legal. Buy one online, have it shipped to a friendly FFL. Check out calguns.net for more info.

 

[keeleon]

Ya, I've been to calguns before, that's where I got my OLL info originally. My question though is that if the DOJ guy that visited my store said it was highly illegal, then isn't he really the one making that decision? Is their an "ultimate power" I can contact to ask if that particular firearm is currently legal? It drives me completely crazy, because it doesn't even look like or have the features of an "assault weapon". All it is, is a semi auto rifle, like every other one. Of course this is CA, so it doesn't have to make sense. It's "for the children!"

 

[Pilgrim]

Are you talking of the Roberti-Roos list of banned rifles, or the rifles banned by SB-99 by features?

Pilgrim

 

[keeleon]

I'm talking about the list that specifically states manufacturers and models of specific ones. Is that a California list, or is it federal? I am positive the SAIGA is perfectly fine under the AW definition as long as I don't try and put any evil features on it, like a barrel shroud. But I do know that there is a "SAIGA sporting rifle" on the list, but I am pretty sure it is not specifically addressing that manufacturers version which it has to...

yet.

 

[2E8B]

All the answers you need are at Calguns.net. DOJ jack-booted-thugs can say whatever they want to, but all it is fear-mongering. The "list" is a state law at this point, not federal. Hahahahah..."barrel shroud"...thats a good one... dont worry about that crackpot McCarthy...HR1022 is going nowhere. The difference between the listed Saiga and the Saiga available to us Californian's is the manufacturer. The law in CA is that to be "listed", the gun must be of EXACT same MAKE and MODEL, not a "series" or "type" of weapon.

Come spend more time on calguns. You will get the info you need.

 

[nalioth]

There is no "federal list" that has Saigas on it.

From what I understand about the CA list, is that earlier Saigas on it were specifically named by importer.

Saiga can't seem to keep an importer around and the currently imported ones are not on any list in California.

 

[Librarian]

Ya, I've been to calguns before, that's where I got my OLL info originally. My question though is that if the DOJ guy that visited my store said it was highly illegal, then isn't he really the one making that decision? Is their an "ultimate power" I can contact to ask if that particular firearm is currently legal?

Back to CALGUNS with you, sir.

DOJ is trying very hard to avoid the plain meaning of the Herrot decision. They're not the 'ultimate authority' here - California Supreme Court is.

 

[billwiese]

Calguns.net is really the place to be for detailed CA gun law/gun politics matters - discussions about stuff without 'antburners' jumping in and bitching, or making wild assumptions without reading the laws.

The only banned Saigas in CA are from Kalashnkov USA. An RAAC Saiga is not a banned make/model combination.

Furthermore, it appears many Saiga rifles are actually "Saiga 308", "Saiga 223", "Saiga 100" - where some indication of the caliber is actually part of the model name, further distancing itself from the one prohibited Saiga.

DOJ staff auditors are not the brightest folks, work from a supply of misinformation, and don't always understand that exact make/model pairing is the criteria to be considered banned or unbanned. If they try to say the RAAC Saiga is banned because the other Kalashnikov USA Saiga is banned, they've just created a Saiga "series" - which can't happen, as (1) series members would have to then be formally identified as individual item members of that series, and (2) 2006's AB2728 stopped the DOJ from identifying & listing any new firearms as AWs - either by a court process, or adding to the Kasler list of "series" guns.

There are FFLs that will sell legal Saigas, go to the vendor forums on Calguns.


Bill Wiese
San Jose CA

 

[lanternlad1]

Good luck on getting your Saiga. I LOVE mine. Reliable as any AK and a hoot to shoot. I think I like them better without the pistol grip myself. The only drawback is the mags. You have to buy special Saiga mags and they are expensive. I paid 100.00 for two 30 rounders at a gun show not two weeks ago.