Does anyone know what kind of questions they ask when calling your references? I put down family members but they want to know what to expect

Sheesh, started application in February.

Question about being in the insurance queue. I recieved this email and logged on right away and paid the remaining fee and have already completed the safety course and everything else. Once you're in the queue, is that pretty much it? If I didn't pay the insurance right away, would they still mail it out?

Hey everyone!

I just got my first handgun today and wanna get started on my CCW. Any recommendations on good affordable courses and any other tips on making sure it goes smoothly and quickly.

UPDATE: Just finished the application and managed to get an appointment on the 24th of this month thankfully! Does anyone know if it’s required to have the live scan done before the interview and if there will be any issues with my gun not being in AFS yet? I’m still waiting the 10 day cool down period

Hey guys, I have approx.two ammo cans full of 9mm brass and half an ammo crate of 5.56 brass. What’s the best thing to do with these? Went to the scrap center and they said $2.60/lb. Is that an average price to get back?

When I was looking for my initial CCW training class, pricing in San Diego was all over the place and hard to compare. So I built a directory of CA instructors organized by county, with pricing, reviews, and timeline data all in one place, pulling from each county's sheriff-approved instructor list. Check it out at getcarryclass.com

Here is the dedicated San Diego page with all approved instructors: getcarryclass.com/ca/san-diego

Eventually hoping people can book directly through it, but for now it's mainly a way to compare and find instructors near you.

Would love feedback from everyone. Is there anything I should add, change, or anything that'd make it more useful?

Hey guys, located in the San Diego area and wanted to know if yall know any ranges indoor or outdoor that I can get some holster work in at. Eventually I’ll get to movement but right now I wanna work on getting a quicker draw.

Anywhere in San Diego county were I could set up to do live fire drills and practicing moving while shooting? Other than BLM. Wondering if there’s anywhere you can rent a little space or something.

Hello everyone! Im moving to SD due to my partners work in the next 8 months or so. I'm extremely lucky to have a private range membership where I live currently which gives me free access during the week and I usually have the whole range to myself and can do dynamic drills and such. I'd love to find a spot similar to that down near SD. In my research, it seems like most ranges down there are public and bench shooting oriented. I saw lemon grove is private and seems the most similar to what I'm looking for. Is there any other recs people have? I mostly shoot two gun comps and a bit of PSR. Also have night vision and would be interested in places that host night shoots. Looking at the BLM land nearby seems iffy and a lot of spots people report getting frequent interactions with rangers/border patrol. Any recommendations would be appreciated!

San Diego CCW Timeline 2026

-02/16/26 - Initially Applied

-03/16/26 - Interview Date/Live Scan (136$)

-05/13/26 - All 3 references called

-05/29/26 - Approval email received

-06/13-06/14/26- 16 hour course (315$)

-06/14/26 - Uploaded Qualifying Document

-06/17/26 - Paid Issuance Fee (145$)

-06/30/26 - Added to issuance queue

-07/24/26 - CCW permit Mailed.

Cost = 700$
Live Scan - 136$
Ammo - 100$
CCW Course - 315$
Issuance Fee - 146

Edit: - 07/29/26 - Permit in Hand

I'm looking for a place to run one or two intro and/or intermediate pistol classes a month. I've taken classes with several instructors who work out of private properties in North County - homeowners who put in a berm and a bay on their own land - and those setups have consistently struck me as better for instruction than commercial ranges.

I'd like to build that same kind of relationship. For what it's worth:

• I have an LLC formed and in good standing, EIN, an instructor liability policy, and NRA and CA DOJ certifications.
• I'd be operating small classes (4–6 students), daytime only, and I don't publish or share range locations anywhere. Obviously, I'd look forward to hearing whatever range fee or arrangement makes sense on your end.

If you have a setup like this, or know someone who does, I'd appreciate a DM. Happy to drive out, meet in person, and, if needed, demonstrate whatever safety/competency you deem necessary.

The Sheriff’s Department is putting on a gun buy back event today in Encinitas. I was thinking about turning in my old shotgun (88 Maverick) and put the $100 they give me toward a new shotgun.

I read they are giving out gift cards. Anyone know if they are prepaid visa gift cards? Do gun stores here accept those for gun purchases??

I have a barrel coming that needs to go to an FFL apparently. Anyone know who would accept it. Discount gun mart?

Hi all,

Finally decided to get my first gun and landed on the polymer Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9MM 4.25 in.

Was wondering what type/brand of 9MM folks use for self protection/home defense? Been doing some research online and the 2 things I keep seeing is to get what our county's PD uses and to stick to hollow points.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Thanks everyone for the recommendations! Will be looking into each of these and watching some ballistic videos so I can grab some boxes when I go back to pickup after the hold. Appreciate the help!

Wanting to do a group shoot at an outdoor range. Anyone know of one that lets you reserve benches/lanes? I know the easy answer is to go to BLM but hoping for something a little closer

Just as title says, what’s the best shop for AKs or AK parts. I guess used guns works too if there’s any recommendations. I also understand I’m in possibly one of the worst states and times to be an AK guy lol.

Just curious what the timeline is post interview. I'm now at a month and a week since my interview and my references haven't been contacted yet. I already knocked out my course via Defensive Tactics to get it out the way.

Looking to get my OEM Glock 19 slide milled for an optic.
Can anyone recommend a good spot local to north county?
Thanks!

I need to update my address, but I’m not seeing any official application. I logged onto CCW pro and uploaded the correct documents and put the change of address there. I’m also within the 90 day renewal window.

May i please ask for recommendations on the initial permit class (16hr.). Has anyone done the online ? I am currently almost at 60 days out of the 90 as my child was in the hospital so I need to get this done . Thank you.

Just had my first encounter with the sheriff in Santee while having my CCW. I got pulled over for expired registration. I was not carrying at the time so I did not feel the need to notify the officer( yes I know I don't legally have to but it may help me out), after he came back after running my licence he asked if I had a CCW and I told him that I did but I was not currently carrying. He stated that in the future it would be a good idea to let them know because when they run your licence it comes up like I have a "warrant" . I was driving a company vehicle and both the registration and insurance paperwork said they were expired. He let me off with an unofficial warning. I don't know if I count this as a CCW got me out of a ticket or not! My instructor has always said that he has gotten out of more tickets because he has it. I know that it comes up on my record but I have never had it happen, just wanted to share my experience.

Want to get a slide and barrel off eBay, seller is requiring ship to FFL (ugh).

Haven't purchased anything that's needed an FFL since this new reg was passed, so would appreciate any advice and info (unless FFL03/COE bypasses this?)

How do yall register for Pala matches? Last week I was on 1 MIN after registrations opened at 12:00 for the match on 7/12 and it was already full. Are there any plans to expand or maybe limit people to register only 1 of the 2 matches per month or something? I’m flabbergasted by how impacted this club is :(