Good afternoon, You may be aware that California now prohibits the importation and sale of unsafe handguns, any handgun not on a DOJ list. This includes all S&W 44 mags and Freedom Arms revolvers. Ruger is now the only firm supplying us with hunting revolvers. I suggest that CA residents consider using this forum to market these fine handguns. Private party transfers through FFL dealers is allowed. My local dealers are emptying their safes on the likes of GunsAmerica and other internet sites, and these handguns will likely never be returned to the state. I'm in the market for both a S&W 29 & 629. good shooting
What are you allowed to have in California? Water pistols? Gee, a Smith & Wesson N frame is unsafe? I guess pretty soon you won't be allowed to have any handguns. And since California usually leads the nation in laws and regulations, I guess we can all see where this is heading.
Patrick, you may want to consider leaving California. I love the concept of handgun safety legislation. Exactly WHOSE safety are they concerned about? The poor person who happens to be on the receiving end of the bullet? I can't think of a safe way to introduce a bullet into someone's anatomy. Or are they concerned about the safety of the shooter? Has there been a rash of exploding guns that I am not aware of? Or are these guns just going of by themselves? I am not hacking on your state, but I just don't see the political situation ever improving there.
Daniel, this has to do with drop tests. If the gun doesn't meet the test, then it can't be sold in CA. While I have nothing against gun safety, I think this is an excuse to limit handgun sales. Accidental deaths from dropped handguns in CA is probably about the same as those from choking on bean sprouts.
Posts: 323 | Location: Anchorage, AK, USA | Registered: 15 June 2000
The California tests are amateurish at best, and clearly meant to obstruct handgun commerce in the state. The tests are simply fire failure rate and hammer drop tests. Any decent gun passes easily, but California collects the fees. For California Handgunners, I learned today that S&W has qualified the 629 models and they will be on dealer shelves soon.
Patrick is right--the tests are a farce. They are so statistically weak as to be meaningless. The drop test involves dropping a firearm from 1 meter, six times. If it does not accidentally discharge, it passes. Now suppose that you have such a crummy design, that, on average, it discharges one time in four. The probability of non-discharge in one drop is .75. The probability of non-discharge in six drops in .75^6, or about 18%. In other words, a really unsafe gun has an 18% chance of passing the test. Now don't you feel better about the whole thing?
Posts: 2281 | Location: Layton, UT USA | Registered: 09 February 2001
Patrick: Talked to Rugers attorneys before buying a SBH 44 Mag. All single action revolvers are exempt from the new law, as long as they have a barrel length of atleast 3", an overall length of atleast 7-1/2", and a capacity of atleast 5 rounds. These single action revolvers will not show up on the D.O.J. list because of their exemption status. As with some double action revolvers. A lot of this new law has to do with practical concealment and not safty at all.
Phil
Posts: 1466 | Location: Southern California | Registered: 04 February 2001
