Ammunition remains scarce and what ammunition is available is frequently priced very high.

The good people at gun-deals.com have created an internet ammunition tracker which is generated by the shooting community. Individuals who register for free can submit ammo deals online. Ammo deals are then aggregated into a web-based search listing for others who are looking for ammunition supplies and want to compare prices. Kudos to gun-deals.com.

gun-deals.com User-Submitted Gun & Ammunition Deals

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“the entire USA Shooting Team is serving as honorary chair of National Hunting and Fishing Day 2010, set for Sept. 25. Congress established the annual commemoration to recognize hunters and anglers for their leading role in fish, wildlife and habitat conservation.”

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In California Legal Carbines parts 1 and 2 we examined Legal Standard Rifles and Legal Rifle Modifications. Now we will discuss Alternate Platforms.

Disclaimer: Consult the office of the California attorney general and your own legal counsel in order to verify you are in compliance with the law.

If we re-examine our definition a “carbine is created by taking a full-sized rifle and making it more portable usually by decreasing the size and weight”. This definition includes rifles which are not semi-automatic. Here are few California legal carbines that are not considered ‘assault weapons’ because they use alternate platforms:

Single Shot Carbines

Whether the rifle is bolt-action, break-open or straight-pull, a single shot rifle is not considered a semi-automatic and therefore not considered by the state of California as an ‘assault weapon’. Normally, single-shot rifles have a magazine well that is cut down or completely removed.

DPMS/Panther Single Shot AR

Barrel: 20″ Length w/A2 flash hider (birdcage), 4140 chrome-moly steel heavy barrel
Chamber: 5.56×45mm/223 Remington
Operation: Manual rotating bolt
Weight: Empty – 8.7 lbs.
Length: 38 1/4″
Action: No Mag Well, Single shot reload

Bolt-action Carbines

Bolt-action carbines are highly effective as they are usually quite accurate and normally fire a full-size high power rifle cartridge with ease. As the reload is manual, they too are not considered ‘assault weapons’ by the state of California.

Savage 10 FCM Scout

Caliber: 308 Winchester/7.62 x 51mm
Length: 20.5″ (barrel) 39.75″ (overall)
Weight: 6.65 lbs
Magazine: 4-round box magazine
MSRP: $799.00

Lever Action Carbines

Portable, lever action rifles have served as effective carbines for more than a century. The manual action makes them California legal.

Marlin Guide Gun

Caliber: 45/70 Gov’t.
Capacity: 4-shot tubular magazine
Action: Lever action; side ejection; solid top receiver; deeply blued metal surfaces; hammer block safety.
Stock: American black walnut straight-grip stock; cut checkering; ventilated recoil pad; tough Mar-Shield® finish; swivel studs.
Barrel: 18.5″ with deep-cut Ballard-type rifling (6 grooves).
Overall Length: 37″
Weight: 7 lbs.
MSRP: $600.00

Internal Magazine Well Carbines

Whether by original design or by modification, internal magazine well rifles cannot accept a detachable magazine and are therefore not deemed ‘assault weapons’ whether they are semi-automatic or not. A carbine with an internal magazine well is usually loaded by manually opening the breach and loading the magazine one by one or with the use of a stripper clip. Several internal magazine well rifles have been effectively used by militaries throughout the world.

Bushmaster Carbon 15 “Top Loader” Carbine

Caliber: 5.56mm or .223 Rem.
Magazine Capacity: 10 Rounds (Internal Magazine)
Overall Length: 37” [93.98 cm]
Barrel Length: 16” [40.64 cm]
Weight unloaded: 5.8 lbs. [2.63 kg]
Mode of Operation: Gas Operated/Semi-Automatic

“The unique Carbon 15 “Top Loading” Model has been developed specifically for the California market (and other States with similar restrictions). It offers traditional AR-15 type features, rugged Carbon Fiber composite molded Receivers for light weight and durability, and a 10 Round Internal Magazine – loaded by simply pushing in the Receiver Takedown Pin and then pivoting open the Receivers. This exposes the Internal Magazine components – which are permanently fixed in position within the Lower Receiver. Then cartridges can be inserted into the Magazine Feed Lips in the same manner as any removable AR-15 type Magazine. Internal Magazine capacity is limited to 10 Rounds, and the bottom of the Magazine Well is sealed.”

Pump Action Carbines

Although found most frequently as a feature on shotguns, pump action rifles have been around for more than a century and exist on modern rifle platforms.

Remington 7615

Caliber: 223 Remington
Mag. Cap. 10
Barrel Length: 18 1/2″
OA Length: 38 1/2″
Avg. Wt. (lbs.) 7 1/8
MSRP: $955

Part 1
Part 2

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Disclaimer: Consult the office of the California attorney general and your own legal counsel in order to verify you are in compliance with the law.

Since one of the ways the state of California defines an ‘assault rifle’ is by feature and therefore illegal, modifying a carbine to remove the banned feature is a method to comply with the AWCA. Here are a few legal rifle modifications:

Stock Modifications

One way to avoid the banned feature defined as “a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon” is to modify the stock so it does not use a pistol grip.

The Monte Carlo Stock
If you convert your pistol-grip stock into a ’straight’ or ‘Monte Carlo’ stock, you comply with California law.

The U15 Modified Stock
Another legal modification is to turn the stock ’straight’ and to make sure it does not “protrude conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon”

Monster Man Grip
Yet another stock modification is to make the stock handle a protrusion from the ’straight’ stock.

*Update*
Exile Machine ‘Hammerhead’

Another good stock modification is the Exile Machine stock adapter/grip.
This device helps affix a standard buttstock to the rear of the rifle normally used for a pistol grip. A good cheek-weld is maintained by attaching a recoil spring tube and due to the narrow design, a proper firing grip is established with adequate reach to the trigger.

Detachable Magazine Modifications

If your rifle is modified so you cannot eject a magazine then it no longer has the feature of being a “semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine” and is therefore not legally an ‘assault weapon’.

Bullet Button

The bullet button is a device that modifies a carbine so the magazine cannot be ejected without a tool.

“The BULLET-BUTTON is a product that allows the shooter to drop a magazine with the use of a tool. It prevents finger manipulation of the mag release, and creates a condition allowable under CURRENT INDIVIDUAL INTERPRETATIONS of California law.
This does not create a detachable mag situation, but creates an attachable-fixed magazine condition. A bullet tip can be used as the tool, as can any small object such as Allen wrench, or small screwdriver.
This button CAN NOT be used with magazines greater than 10 rounds in capacity. To do so in the state of California on an unregistered assault weapon, would be a felony.
The BULLET-BUTTON installs in less than a minute, requires no gunsmithing, or cutting on any part of the rifle. The installation is not permanent, and can be reversed just as quickly.”

The Bullet Button magazine lock is also available for AK-type rifles

Prince-50


The Prince-50 is a device which ‘locks’ a magazine in the magazine well with an allen wrench.

Non-centerfire Rifles

Since we defined a carbine as a rifle which uses full-sized rifle ammunition in part 1, portable rifles that fire non-centerfire ammunition like the 22 long rifle caliber are not covered by this discussion.

Part 1
Part 3

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“Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight” is good advice.  In a gun versus knife fight you are at an advantage if you are the man with a gun.

“Don’t underestimate a man armed with a knife” is also good advice.   Just because you are an advantage if you are the man with a gun, the advantage is lost if the knife-wielding attacker can close the distance and make contact.

Failure to maintain adequate distance during a knife attack may lead to very negative results.

An excellent method to train in gun versus knife attacks is the Tueller Drill.  The Tueller Drill was developed by officer Dennis Tueller from the Salt Lake City Police Department to demonstrate how quickly an attacker can cover 20 feet.  The average man can cover 20 feet less than 2 seconds!

The Tueller drill teaches rapid decision making during knife attacks.  If you carry a firearm for personal defense, these videos from the Counter Terrorism Institute of America are required viewing.   The videos below were taken during one of the recent  CTIA advanced concealed carry classes.

Notice the emphasis paid to lateral movement and shooting on the move.

Tueller drills were run using airsoft guns and/or real firearms loaded with simunition.  Simunition convert firearms into paint-ball guns.

As the knife-attacker rushes forward, the man with the gun moves laterally to avoid the attacker and maintain distance between himself and the knife-attacker while simultaneously firing on the knife-attacker.

CTIA Gun Fight Training

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I was recently asked by a friend “which is the best California legal carbine?” This question, like many others can best be answered with the phrase “it depends”.

Let us begin by defining terms:

California Legal: For the purposes of this discussion we will presume that the consumer is an adult citizen, NOT a law-enforcement officer and a resident of California who is NOT legally prohibited from owning a firearm and that the firearm has yet to be purchased by the consumer.

Carbine: A carbine is created by taking a full-sized rifle and making it more portable usually by decreasing the size and weight. Since a ‘carbine’ is a portable version of a full-sized rifle, the carbine must use full-sized centerfire ammunition.

Best: We will judge which carbine is ‘best’ based on a combination of factors: reliability, effectiveness and cost.

California Legal
Disclaimer: Consult the office of the California attorney general and your own legal counsel in order to verify you are in compliance with the law.

California maintains the most prohibitive and confusing state laws in the western United States on certain semi-automatic rifles which they refer to as ‘assault weapons’ and therefore deem illegal.

“Assault” is a behavior, not a set of features. An ‘assault weapon’ is any device used while engaging in an assault of a person from a broken beer bottle to a explosive. The legislators of the state of California have a different view.

Instead of bemoaning the lack of logic in the ‘assault weapons’ ban, let us learn to deal with the ban. Knowing California state law regarding firearms is a good way to stay out of trouble.

The legislation which established the California ban is known as the Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989 (AWAC). The AWAC covers rifles, pistols and shotguns as well as magazines (ammunition feeding devices) over 10 rounds. For the purposes of this discussion we will discuss only rifles covered under the ban.

According to the AWAC, a firearm is an ‘assault weapon’ if it falls into one of three categories:

Category 1: Specifically Named Weapons
If the weapon was named specifically by name, then regardless of features it is an ‘assault weapon’. The first legislation banned weapons by make and model such as ‘Colt AR-15′. This led companies to rename their weapons to legally sell them in California which in turn led to California legislators to expand the ban to categories 2 and 3.

Category 2: AR15 and AK “series” of firearms
If the weapon is from the AR15 and AK “series” of firearms, California considers it an ‘assault weapon’. This is perhaps the most confusing and ambiguous piece of legislation in the AWAC and was made worse during a court decision known as Kasler V Lockyer which essentially placed a blanket ban on all weapons that were even remotely similar weapons specifically named. In short, if the rifle is ‘anything like’ an AR or AK type weapon, it is illegal. The obvious follow-up question is ‘define and AR or AK type weapon’ which is why category 3 exists.

Category 3: Ban By Features
California classifies a rifle as an ‘assault weapon’ if the rifle contains any combination of two or more characteristics named below

12276.1 (a) Notwithstanding Section 12276, “assault weapon” shall also mean any of the following:
1. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
1. A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
2. A thumbhole stock.
3. A folding or telescoping stock.
4. A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
5. A flash suppressor.
6. A forward pistol grip.
2. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
3. A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.
4. A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:
1. A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
2. (B) A second handgrip.
3. A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel that allows the bearer to fire the weapon without burning his or her hand, except a slide that encloses the barrel.
4. The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.

As you can see, this means the vast majority of magazine fed, semi-automatic carbines are illegal in California. Instead of debating the merits of California law, we will discuss which carbines are legal.

There is a ‘grandfather’ clause for weapons and magazines. The weapons must have been legally purchased by the owner AND must have been registered with the California department of justice BEFORE the ban took effect. Even when fully registered, the ‘assault weapon’ cannot be sold, transferred (even by inheritance) or transported anywhere except to a shooting range.

As semi-automatic weapons are banned by two or more specific characteristics, the key is to have only one of the specific characteristics to remain legal. A rifle that is a semi-automatic carbine that accepts a detachable magazine you have used (1) of the banned features. Add one more banned feature and the state of California considers it an ‘assault weapon’ and therefore illegal.

These are some of the carbines that are not considered ‘assault weapons’ because they have only one banned feature (semi-auto carbine that accepts detachable magazines):

Kel-Tec SU-16CA
Calibers: .223 Rem, 5.56mm
Weight unloaded: 4.7lbs. 2.1kg
Length: 35.9″ 912.0mm
Length Folded: 24.9″ 632.7mm
Barrel length: 16.0″ 406.4mm
Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds, M-16 compatible
MSRP: $ 770.00

“The SU-16CA is a hybrid of the SU-16C and SU-16A rifles. It comes with the same 16-inch barrel with Chrome-lined bore and chamber and 1/2-28 threads as the C model. All features from the C model are retained and combined with the stock of the A model. The SU-16CA will come with 2 10 round magazines that store in the stock and all the same Parkerized parts as the C model. Like the A model, the SU-16CA can be folded for storage and it will not fire in the folded position. This allows for it to be purchased in most states that still have an “Assault Weapons Ban”.

The SU-16CA is legal because it has only (1) banned characteristic, it is a magazine fed semi-automatic rifle that uses centerfire ammunition. Notice it does not have the accessories found on other Kel-Tec rifles such as a flash hider, pistol grip or bayonet lug. The Kel-Tec uses the familiar AR-15 type magazine in various capacities but comes standard with a 10-round magazine.

Ruger Ranch Rifle
Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. Ruger.com
Model: Mini-14/30/6.8
Calibers: .223 Remington/ 7.62 x 39 mm/ 6.8 mm
Action Type: gas-operated, center-fire semi-automatic rifle
Barrel: matte finish chrome-moly steel; 16 1⁄8″
Magazine: 10-round steel detachable box
Overall Length: 35 3⁄8″
Weight: 6 lbs., 12 ozs.
MSRP: $650.00

The Ruger Ranch rifles come in three different calibers and use a proprietary Ruger magazine in various capacities but comes standard with a 10-round magazine.

“The Mini-14, Mini Thirty, and Mini-6.8 are small, lightweight semi-automatic carbines manufactured by the U.S. firearms company Sturm, Ruger. The Mini-14 non-target versions can fire both the popular .223 Remington cartridge and the similar military 5.56×45mm cartridge. The target model Mini-14 rifles are chambered only for the .223 Remington cartridge. The Mini Thirty uses the 7.62×39mm and the Mini-6.8 fires 6.8 mm Remington SPC. Since 2005, all models are marketed under the name Ranch Rifle.

M1A Scout Squad/SOCOM
Manufacturer: Springfield Armory
Model: M1A Scout Squad/ SOCOM
Operation: Gas-operated autoloader
Caliber: .308 Winchester/ 7.62 x 51 mm
Capacity: 10 rounds
Barrel Length: 16.25 inches
Overall Length: 37.25 inches
Weight Empty: 8.9 pounds

What appears to be a flash suppressor is actually a ‘muzzle break’ which is not on the California list of banned characteristics. The M1A uses a proprietary M1A magazine available in various capacities but comes standard with a 10-round magazine.

Saiga Rifle
Manufacturer: Saiga (Imported by European American Armory)
Model: Auto-loading rifle
Operation: Gas piston-operated autoloader
Caliber: 5.45 x 39mm, .223 Remington, 7.62 x 39mm, .308 Winchester/ 7.62 x 51 mm, various shotgun cartridges
Capacity: 10 rounds
Barrel Length: 16.25 inches
MSRP: $325.00

The Saiga is a Russian-made carbine that uses the AK-47 action, accepts AK-type magazines (10-round standard) and has all banned characteristics removed.

Part 2
Part 3

Purchasing a rifle that has only one of the banned features directly from a fully licensed firearms dealer is my first recommendation to folks looking for a California legal carbine.

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Ideally, every CCW permit holder would volunteer to regularly train on shooting and tactics. Firearms training is a moral responsibility for those who have chosen to carry gun. Reality is almost all concealed firearm permit holders are regular people who do not have the time in invest in rigorous training.

“95% of the people who carry have no training beyond their permit. We have a responsibility to be well trained.”
Dennis Kennedy, CounterTerrorism Institute of America

We at Spirit of the Sportsman recommend a compromise. We recommend shooting the guns you carry at least once per quarter (every three months) and at least one major training class (3-5 days in length) once per year.

The annual training class should go beyond basic shooting skills and include real-life shooting tactics.

For those interested in real-life gun fight training an excellent option is the CounterTerrorism Institute of America.

CTIA director Dennis Kennedy is the right guy to go to for defensive training.  With 35 years of experience in the Special Forces and Law Enforcement, Kennedy has forgotten more about weapons and tactics than most people ever learn. 

Seeing a need for specialized training, Kennedy and his partners opened up the CounterTerrorism Institute of America to provide force-on-force gun fighting experience for military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel.  

Courses are affordable and hands on, taking place at the Urban Warfare Center, Swanson Tactical Center, and local ranges.

Students at CTIA listen to instructor setting the stage to "inoculate the brain."

Even as an observer, I learned new terms that will stick with me.  “Get off X!”  “Inoculating the brain.”  Real life threat situations just never work out like they did on paper.  You have to train as real as you can.  That’s why Dennis Kennedy and the CounterTerrorism Institute base their lectures around doing things for real. 

Simunition, air-soft hand guns, rubber knives and a simulated urban setting let you fire at your real life class mates as you role play and train. 

Air soft, gas blow back semi-auto ready for action

Highly trained instructors provide immediate feedback.

One-on-one instruction and feedback with Dennis Kennedy, founder of CTIA

You’ll never learn if your carry holster actually works with your wardrobe until you try it under stress.  What happens if you fall down?  How quickly can a bad guy actually cover 20 feet? You will NEVER know unless you do real life training.

Students at CTIA watch and learn in the Urban Warfare Center

CTIA: The Tueller Drill

“Paper targets aren’t real life”
Dennis Kennedy, CTIA

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The U.S. Army has need for shoulder-fired, precision guided explosive weapons. American soldiers in theater in South Asia regularly engage enemy in fortified positions such as caves and bunkers which are designed to resist bombing from air, ground artillery and long range missiles.

American soldiers also regularly engage enemies in urban settings where full-scale air strikes would result in massive civilian casualties.

Weapons designers have come up with a solution. The XM25 ‘Smart’ High Explosive Weapon.

“When the HEAB round explodes, the target is peppered with fragmentation,” Murray said. “Our studies indicate that the XM-25 with HEAB is 300 percent more effective at incapacitating the enemy than current weapons at the squad level.”

Because of the XM-25’s unique TAFC and HEAB round, Soldiers will be able to engage enemy forces located in the open and “in defilade” -behind cover, such as walls, rocks, trenches, or inside buildings. The semi-automatic weapon’s magazine holds four 25mm rounds and can be employed at night or during inclement weather thanks to the XM25’s built-in thermal sight.”

The XM25 is so effective, it has TV reports trembling with fear.

Lead on target

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The annual Computer Electronics Show (CES) is a world-wide showcase for new technology. Geeks, computer nerds and tech enthusiasts converge on Las Vegas every year to experience and/or demonstrate the latest in high-tech gadgetry. So what seems to be the favorite forbidden pleasure of the technorati?…adult beverages?…gaming?…carnal amusement?…well yes but when they grow weary of these diversions they go to the range to fire weapons forbidden in the homelands.

“a weak dollar and tourists who jaded by strip joints. “With the weakened dollar, we get a lot of Canadians and Europeans, lots and lots of them,” Conn says. “We book bachelor parties and bachelorette parties, people who get tired of going to the topless bars.” Even sex, apparently, can get old.

Guns, by contrast, can be appreciated at any age, thanks to video games. “Kids coming in here with their parents can name every gun, because they use them in the video games they can tell you the rate of fire, what era it is from,” Conn says. “You can find a 12-year-old boy who will all about the guns and sub-machine guns that were used in the second world war — it’s amazing.”

Ballistic diversion at the Las Vegas Gun Range and Firearm Center

bang

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"All Glocks are created equal. Robar makes them unique."

Grip and trigger guard modifications

Look what they can do to an XD

Springfield XD after being "Robar-ized"

Brownings, Kahrs, custom camouflage; Robar Guns can make your off the shelf pistol a personalized, one-of-a-kind.  Visit them at the SHOT SHOW next week in Vegas at the Patriot Ordinance Factory booth. Booth #12369.

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