Pistol chassis kit, legal?

[r8rs4lf]

I have a friend that wants to purchase a pistol chassis for his Glock that just sits.

Were talking about it and I was wondering if something like that is legal here in California? It has a folding brace which made me think it's not legal, but don't know for sure.

AI states:
Pistol chassis (conversion kits) are generally
illegal to assemble in California if they create an "assault weapon" configuration, such as adding a shoulder stock or forward grip to a pistol. While owning the unassembled chassis itself may not be illegal, assembling it into a carbine-style firearm violates California's strict prohibitions on short-barreled rifles and assault weapon.

He ended up ordering one from the Glock store. He said it went through, but I told him to wait for that email.

If it's illegal here, would the store ship it? He did get an email asking for his ID and address.

 

[pikachu]

From @Renomay, Recover Tactical 20/20N glock chassis pistol brace appears CA legal:

By extension, I think B&T USW-G17 chassis with a pistol brace fits the same legal criteria. https://bt-parts.com/b-t-usw-g17-conversion-kit/

And here’s a p320 PDW chassis option for CA, again courtesy of Reno May:

Micro-Roni and Flux chassis systems may be illegal to use due to potential interpretation of barrel “shroud” and “second handgrip” criteria of California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 30515. As far as I know there isn’t case law that has set a clear precedence on this yet.

IANAL. This is not legal advice. I get my legal advice from Reno May’s videos lol.

 

[chino1966]

As long as there's not a forward grip (i.e. mag holder like the flux ones) you should be fine. In term of asking for ID that's just the new laws requiring ID verification.


IANAL, this isnt legal advice.

 

[jkcerda]

dont see the point but the more toys out there the better

 

[r8rs4lf]

dont see the point but the more toys out there the better

Very very light and manuverable version of a PCC?

Something to use with a safe queen pistol?

I have a SA Xd Elite that hardly gets used, but would definitely use more with one of these.

 

[h00dlim]

There's also a P320 conversion kit - the Strike Industries SMC... that I've tried listing and selling here on CAguns and got taken down and my account almost got banned.

 

[pikachu]

There's also a P320 conversion kit - the Strike Industries SMC... that I've tried listing and selling here on CAguns and got taken down and my account almost got banned.

What was the reason the mods gave you for taking down your listing? Were you selling just the SMC (alpha/bravo) base conversion kit? Did you bundle grey area accessories (ie: barrel “shroud”, angled mag holder or potential “second handgrip”, which are both integral features on SMC charlie)?

Because it looks like there’s an active SMC Bravo braced chassis listing here: https://caguns.net/classifieds/stri...trike-fsa-single-folder-brace-tlr-1-hl.39870/

 

[cali_jazz]

There's also a P320 conversion kit - the Strike Industries SMC... that I've tried listing and selling here on CAguns and got taken down and my account almost got banned.

You posted it, it was removed as not allowed, then you re-posted it to have it removed again saying your account "almost got banned". Now you've posted a picture of it here in the Forum saying it's still for sale?

 

[r8rs4lf]

So my friend ordered and it shipped. Hmmmm

He had to send it back (on his dime) as the brace was damaged from shipping.

I would have thought the vendor would not ship it to California.

 

[treelogger]

I would have thought the vendor would not ship it to California.

Relying on outside vendors to know the California laws and regulations is a losing proposition. In particular with large mass-market dealers like Glock Store. Relying an AI is even worse.

As was already said above (including in Reno May's analysis, and I have to apologize to him for generally disliking his videos, but this one is good), these chassis are right on the edge of legality. Or perhaps one step over the edge. The problem with finding that edge is that you have to try several times, and then see what a judge or jury decides. Can the stock be shouldered, even if uncomfortably? If yes, you just created a short-barreled rifle. Even worse, a semi-automatic rifle with a pistol grip. Is the barrel or slide covered, even if partially? That's a barrel shroud. Can you hold on to the frame forward of the action, even if just with three fingers? That's a forward grip.

I understand the cool factor of trying to skate as close as possible to the precipice. But doing that with pistol conversions is legally playing with fire high explosives. I do some of that myself, but I know what I'm doing. For example, in my safe is a rifle that looks very much like an M4, and has no compliance grip or mag lock, so it legally is an assault weapon ... but sitting right next to it is the envelope with a copy of the assault weapon registration for it, so it's legal. As a contrast, it stands next to a rifle that looks mostly like a traditional wood-stocked varmint hunting rifle ... and it is also an assault weapon (with yet another envelope next to it).

In my (not at all humble) opinion, the only reason to own a brace pistol chassis is: to become the next Rosa Parks, and undo California's assault weapons ban by being the test case. But remember that Rosa Parks spent a lot of time in jail BEFORE becoming a hero. And the CA AWB has been extensively litigated, and doesn't need another test case right now.