If there is no mag in the gun I'm fine right? Has to be a LoCap mag?

It does have to be a firearm that can be imported to California.  So not an "assault weapon," or other that might be not Ca legal. Also you should consider the times you might want to move it from the trunk or the trunk open, etc., a container could be necessary or just good to have.

1.  Cannot bring an "assault weapon" as defined on the list or as defined by its features.

2.  Cannot bring any magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

An "assault weapon" has one or more of these features:

pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
thumbhole stock.
folding or telescoping stock.
grenade launcher or flare launcher.
flash suppressor.
forward pistol grip.

CA DOJ Official Site for list of banned models.


THE LIST

AK Series Weapons
AK-Y 39
AK-F 39
AK-C 47
AK-F 47
American Arms
Arsenal
SLR (all)
SLG (all)
B-West
AK-47 (all)
Hesse Arms
Model 47 (all)
Wieger STG 940 Rifle
Inter Ordnance - Monroe, NC
RPK
M-97
AK-47 (all)
Kalashnikov USA
Hunter Rifle / Saiga
MAADI CO
* AK 47
* ARM
MISR (all)
MISTR (all)
Made in China
* 84S
* AKM
* 86S
* AKS
* 56
* AK
* 56S
* AK47
MARS
Pistol
Mitchell Arms, Inc.
M-90
AK-47 (all)
AK-47 Cal .308 (all)
M-76
RPK
Norinco
* 86 S
86 (all)
* 84 S
81 S (all)
* 56
RPK Rifle
NHM 90, 90-2, 91 Sport
AK-47 (all)
MAK 90
* 56 S
Hunter Rifle
Ohio Ordnance Works (o.o.w.)
ROMAK 991
AK-74
Poly technologies
* AKS
* AK47
Valmet
Hunter Rifle
76 S
WUM
WUM (all)

AR-15 Series Weapons

American Spirit
USA Model
Armalite
AR 10 (all)
M15 (all)
Golden Eagle
Bushmaster
XM15 (all)
Colt
Law Enforcement (6920)
Match Target (all)
* AR-15 (all)
Sporter (all)
Dalphon
B.F.D.
DPMS
Panther (all)
Eagle Arms
M15 (all)
EA-15 A2 H-BAR
EA-15 E1
Frankford Arsenal
AR-15 (all)
Hesse Arms
HAR 15A2 (all)
Knights
SR-15 (all)
SR-25 (all)
RAS (all)
Les Baer
Ultimate AR (all)
Olympic Arms
AR-15
Car-97
PCR (all)
Ordnance, Inc.
AR-15
Palmetto
SGA (all)
Professional Ordnance, Inc.
Carbon 15 Rifle
Carbon 15 Pistol
PWA
All Models
Rock River Arms, Inc.
Standard A-2
Car A2
Standard A-4 Flattop
Car A4 Flattop
NM A2 - DCM Legal
LE Tactical Carbine
Wilson Combat
AR-15

Actual text from CA DOJ web site


A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:

   A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
   A thumbhole stock.
   A folding or telescoping stock.
   A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
   A flash suppressor.
   A forward pistol grip.

A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has a fixed magazine with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
A semiautomatic, centerfire rifle that has an overall length of less than 30 inches.
A semiautomatic pistol that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and any one of the following:

   A threaded barrel, capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward handgrip, or silencer.
   (B) A second handgrip.
   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.
   The capacity to accept a detachable magazine at some location outside of the pistol grip.

A semiautomatic pistol with a fixed magazine that has the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds.
A semiautomatic shotgun that has both of the following:

   A folding or telescoping stock.
   A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon, thumbhole stock, or vertical handgrip.

A semiautomatic shotgun that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine.

ok, so down sizing to glock 43 so be GTG?

ok, so down sizing to glock 43 so be GTG?

Nothing wrong with a rifle if you want to bring one.  Get a cheap compliant muzzle device, a compliant grip (there are much better options than finned grips, like the Sparrow Dynamics grip), and a stock stop from Strike Industries (cheap), unless you already have a fixed stock, and you're GTG.

I have one of those Israeli devices that allow you attach a mag to the mag well without actually inserting the mag into the mag well.  Legal in CA, with case law to back that up.

Container doesn't need to be lockable or locked if it is designed to contain a firearm.  

If you're bringing a pistol, I'd keep it in a locked container, unloaded, in the passenger compartment.  Might as well make it as accessible as possible.

And yeah, you can't legally bring in mags with greater than 10-round capacity.

What about a pistol that isn’t on the roster? Like a Sig 365xl?

The roster only limits what Californians can buy.

Possession within the State is limited by the "assault weapon" and "high capacity" magazine laws.

Is the exemption for rostered assault weapons for those coming into California for a shooting competition gone?

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There is no AW roster.

The exemption has nothing to do with registered AWs.

AFAIK, it still exists.  I don't believe it applies to the mags, though.