I imported several preowned rifles and handguns when I moved to HI ~8 years ago.

I have a revolver, a Ruger Redhawk, SS, 7.5", 44 mag..
I carried it as bear protection while in AK, much bigger and heavier than needed in HI.
I used it often for proficiency practice.

I'm considering replacing it by purchasing a Beretta 92 type, in SS, plus all the accessories to support it's proficiency and  use.
I'm seriously considering a trip to the mainland to acquire it.

Thoughts and advice?

have you tried looking online for the Beretta 92?  like gun broker or online stores on the mainland.  seems pricey to pay for a plane ticket just to get a firearm

I imported several preowned rifles and handguns when I moved to HI ~8 years ago.

I have a revolver, a Ruger Redhawk, SS, 7.5", 44 mag..
I carried it as bear protection while in AK, much bigger and heavier than needed in HI.
I used it often for proficiency practice.

I'm considering replacing it by purchasing a Beretta 92 type, in SS, plus all the accessories to support it's proficiency and  use.
I'm seriously considering a trip to the mainland to acquire it.

Thoughts and advice?

An FFL will not let you take the handgun with you if you have a Hawaii ID.  They must mail it to a Hawaii FFL.

If you buy from a private seller, it's up to that seller to check your ID for residency.  It's illegal (federal law) to sell a handgun to a buyer from another state.  Again, if he transfers it to you via a Hawaii FFL, that's legal.

The system is set up so that out-of-state acquisitions flow through an FFL.  The buyer's FFL ensures all state laws and procedures are followed before delivery to you.

Flying to another state to purchase a handgun is not worth the effort or expense (IMHO).  If you happen to be traveling and see a deal, buy it, but understand it'll need to be sent to an FFL in your state & county of residence.

There are some who may advise shoppers to find a mainland seller who doesn't care about the intrastate laws, then tell HPD it's simply an "out-of-state registration," just like when you brought your other guns into Hawaii.

Nobody on this forum does anything illegal.   

Thanks folks,
I had to mail or ship, then hand carry through Canada and several states to get mine here.
It sounds like going out of state then picking one up, may be too troublesome.
I may be stuck with buying/ordering thru a local dealer.

Watching my firearms through the years and their stored conditions, I find that  nothing holds up as well as SS for firearms in our humid atmosphere.
I will only get any new firearm in SS here in HI.
Too much corrosion on carbon steel firearms.
Condition and reliability degrade with time.
SS is almost impervious.
I do want a legal purchase so that I will have legal ownership.

I'm on B.I., purchasing in Hio vs Honolulu and transporting?

[snip]

I'm on B.I., purchasing in Hio vs Honolulu and transporting?

You need to apply for the permit and register your firearm in the county where you live.  If it's a new acquisition/transfer, as in you don't already own it, then the Honolulu FFL will ship to the Hilo FFL for you to pick it up.

So, if you find something on Oahu you want, see what options you have and at what cost.  You might be able to buy it online or have the local seller order it from the mainland for less than it costs to buy it on Oahu, have it shipped to your FFL, and pay shipping and FFL costs.  There are lots of good deals on the Internet that include shipping and no taxes.  The biggest issue is getting compliant magazines with a pistol, especially with individual sellers vs. businesses.

Nothing is impossible.  It just takes a little effort to work out which options are available and choose the one that makes the most sense.

One thing to consider first is placing a WTB (Want to Buy) ad in the classified section.  Make sure to include "ON THE BIG ISLAND".  You might find someone with what you're looking for but hasn't put it up for sell.

Thanks again,
It's looking as if my only reasonable alternative is to make my purchase through a local  B.I. dealer.
Because of what I'll be getting, little doubt it will have to be ordered, not likely it will be in stock anywhere.

I am a hard core shopper.
Between the regulations and what I want, shopping doesn't appear to be much of a possibility to get this done.
I assume pricing will be pretty much the same through any dealer, except maybe through WalMart or similar [?].
I'll begin looking around for sources in the next few days.

Now to digress a bit.
I've used the Ruger for so many years and am so used to its qualities, especially its strength.
The .44mag case isn't big enough to hold enough powder to be able to do any damage to the Redhawk's frame.
Because of its intended use - close range Brown and Grizzly protection, I always used hot heavy reloads in it, approaching the limit of my ability to control it.
That's why I shot it often and regularly throughout the years, to build and maintain proficiency.

While that attitude is ingrained in me, it will need to be modified downward because of the interned worst case use now.
My assumption is that the Beretta, in a SS material, should also be much stronger than needed for a 9mm.
Plus, hot heavy loads will no longer be used.
It should be strong enough to hold up under high usage of factory and equivalent reloads.
A 15 round mag would also make hot heavy loads unnecessary.

I am naturally LH, but learned to shoot with a semi auto  rifle.
I always closed my left eye and shot RH until teaching myself to shoot LH with the Ruger because of being left eyed.
Vastly improved my speed and accuracy.
I will need to practice regularly to build and keep LH skills honed.


 
 

[snip]
A 15 round mag would also make hot heavy loads unnecessary.
[snip]

[snip]
I do want a legal purchase so that I will have legal ownership.
[snip]

Are you law enforcement?  If not, a mag with >10 rd capacity is illegal.  Misdemeanor to own, and felony to have inserted.

That's one of the reasons buying from mainland sellers can be a pain.  Getting factory 10rd mags is usually a problem unless they just happen to have them, or the seller is a business who offers that from stock or can swap them out for you.

If the gun does arrive with 15rd mags, the FFL will either keep them or you need to pay to have them blocked to 10rd -- which can cost as much as a new mag.  Always better financially to order handguns with 10rd mags.

Based on discussions, it's (probably) not illegal to possess a "mag kit" of disassembled parts.  Then you can take them on trips for reassembly in free states that allow standard capacity mags.  Just remember to disassemble when you return home again.

JI'm mentioning this since I wasn't sure who your employer is -- nor how familiar you are with Hawaii gun laws.  I'm getting the impression you're a rifle and revolver man.  Semi-autos are kinda new?  That's how I was when I got back into shooting here.  Never owned a semi-auto pistol before 2005-ish.

 

Ah Ha,
That was good to know.
I thought it was specifically for rifles.
A 10 round mag is still much more than I feel I'll ever want or need for a handgun anymore.
That's 4 more than in a revolver used on something that often can't figure out it's been killed already.
.

https://mxguns.com/product/beretta-92x-performance-15-rd-9mm-stainless-pistol-j92xr21/

I've never ordered from this website, so idk how legit it is. Mag is 15 rounds. I'm not saying to order from here, just saying that it is possible to find it online somewhere

It really should not cost as much as a new magazine to take it apart and change out the limiter.

https://www.magazineblocks.com/magento/

It really should not cost as much as a new magazine to take it apart and change out the limiter.

https://www.magazineblocks.com/magento/

What do u pay for a new magazine? Majority b4 i stopped scrolling deeply was about $7. So if this price carries on to the bottom of the page, then u must be paying $7 for a new mag.

HK brand new mags unblocked at a LGS (Nevada) go for about $55 and the same for blocked mags. I didnt see HK vp9 blockers because i stopped scrolling after a while. So $7 to $55 is a fair price.


Let me know where we can all buy $7 new mags. Thank you.


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It really should not cost as much as a new magazine to take it apart and change out the limiter.

https://www.magazineblocks.com/magento/

You aren't allowed to block your own mags.  If they arrive with the gun, the FFL will take them.  The only way you get them is if the FFL does the blocking.  Possession by non-FFL and non-LE is a crime (*if they are assembled).

Why don't you call a few gun stores that block mags and ask how much they would charge for blocking 2 x 15rd Beretta 92 mags.

I think one store's owner once posted they charge $20-25 each.  So, depending on the make and model, that might be a little less than buying a new factory 10rd mag.

Gun stores don't do work for free -- with occasional exceptions, of course.

I've had it done for $12 so pays to know your FFL and shop around. Transfers even range from $20 to $150. Beretta 92 mags can be inexpensive but some magazines cost $40-70 or more plus shipping so it's cheaper to have them blocked.

So if the site u posted has blockers for $7 and u paid $12, why did u post that the $7 cost as much as a new mag?

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So if the site u posted has blockers for $7 and u paid $12, why did u post that the $7 cost as much as a new mag?

That, and it's curious that he's not offering to provide the name of said FFL who blocks mags for $12.  Not even via PM.   

The bottom line is, each person needs to assess their needs and options (not all sellers will or won't offer 10rd mags), then choose which option best suits their situation and budget.

Sometimes it's easier and cheaper to ask if anyone on the forum has 10rd mags they want to part with.

Just sayin' ...

I agree. Magazines can be expensive. It would be worth blocking a $55 magazine for $20. Of course the seller has to be willing to send them here.

https://www.magazineblocks.com/magento/products/magblock-kits/pistols/hk.html

If the firearm is being shipped to an FFL, mags should not concern the seller.  The receiving FFL will be responsible to make sure the buyer follows local gun laws.  The only thing the seller MIGHT be part of is if you and he can find a way to ship compliant mags, or maybe just let the seller keep the mags in exchange for some other consideration like free shipping.

There are people who refuse to ship >10rd mags here to avoid the possibility that they could run afoul of the law.  Others might refuse out of sheer principle in protest of Hawaii's laws.

I've only scanned the added posts since my last one and am only addressing one concern.

Any possible online firearm purchases will have to go through a local FFL to obtain possession of it.
My understanding for years has been that you cannot purchase any firearm online.
It must be done in person.
I use all online advertisements as simply views, descriptions, and information for possible selections.
I assume the best method of obtaining a new handgun would be to order through a local dealer.

Magazine details would be sorted out in that process.

I've only scanned the added posts since my last one and am only addressing one concern.

Any possible online firearm purchases will have to go through a local FFL to obtain possession of it.
My understanding for years has been that you cannot purchase any firearm online.
It must be done in person.
I use all online advertisements as simply views, descriptions, and information for possible selections.
I assume the best method of obtaining a new handgun would be to order through a local dealer.

Magazine details would be sorted out in that process.

Gun broker is done online and they ship to a FFL only.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

I've only scanned the added posts since my last one and am only addressing one concern.

Any possible online firearm purchases will have to go through a local FFL to obtain possession of it.
My understanding for years has been that you cannot purchase any firearm online.
It must be done in person.
I use all online advertisements as simply views, descriptions, and information for possible selections.
I assume the best method of obtaining a new handgun would be to order through a local dealer.

Magazine details would be sorted out in that process.

You can buy from anyone in any state whether the transaction is done online by doing a "shopping cart" check out, by using a go-between advertiser like Gun Broker, or you can answer an ad on a forum, just like you do in this forum.  You'll simply supply a copy of your FFL's license to the seller so they can verify the information and ship your purchase to them.  Some retailers have a list of often-used FFLs you can choose from.  If yours is in that list, no need to send them a copy of that license.

it's kind of a major lie in the anti-gun narrative that anyone can buy a gun online.  They can, but not directly.  You are required to do the transfer through a local FFL.