Effective January 1, 2000, Senate Bill 23, Statutes of 1999, establishes new criteria for defining assault weapons based on generic characteristics. This bill allows and requires persons who own/possess firearms that fall under the new "assault weapon" definition to register those firearms with the Department of Justice during the one-year period between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2000. Effective January 1, 2000, this bill adds Penal Code Section 12276.1 to the Penal Code as follows.
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:
(A) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon.
(B) A thumbhole stock.
(C) A folding or telescoping stock.
(D) A grenade launcher or flare launcher.
(E) A flash suppressor.
(F) A forward pistol grip.
Actually to bring in the M1A to Kali, only the flash suppressor needs to be removed...The M1A can legally be transfered into CA without ANYTHING attached to the threads....But adding anything other than Springfields Muzzle break or any other approved break(as if there are any according to ATF!)once the M1A is in Kali is no-no.
Under SB23...if you remove the factory flash supp...you are not required to register... Therefore you can shoot the rifle legally with NOTHING on the threads....You are not legally required to add a Springfield muzzle break or anything else to the M1A to make it legal... Springfield is doing it because the muzzle break helps in recoil and it hides the threads!...I don't think that a break is required by law...
Boy am I glad I got my loaded M1A with 3 20rd mags and loaded coupon that had a limit on 10 20rd mags for $29ea back in '96!!! You better believe I bought the max amount of 10!!! Paid $999 at Turners!! With ca tax and dros it came out to under $1100....
Now Turners has M1A's for over $1400!