Santa Clara CCW - SSE Qual Issues?

[prexlead]

I’m qualifying tomorrow for my Santa Clara CCW.

I have an SSE 2011 that was DROS’d as .22LR, but is currently 9mm. I listed 9mm on my application with SCCSO, and the Sheriff's office brought it up the discrepancy during my initial in-person interview. He had looked up that serial and just noticed the caliber difference, but didn’t say much more than that.

Since the approval email warns that firearm info must be accurate or it won't be listed, what should the instructor write on the Qualification form? The DROS caliber (.22LR) or the actual caliber I'm shooting (9mm)?

Has anyone dealt with this specific SSE discrepancy recently? I don’t even know that I’d keep this 2011 on my CCW but still need to qualify with it and have it added prior to making any changes.

 

[cobian1984]

The weapon needs to match the description that CA DOJ has on file for it. So if it’s DROSed as a .22 single shot then that’s how it would need to be listed on the CCW (need to check with your IA whether they would allow it, too, which is unlikely). And the CCW weapon also needs to match the description on the permit when carrying. So if you’re carrying it as a 9mm semi-auto when it’s actually listed as .22 single shot, that could lead to big problems.

 

[Jon F]

SCCOE is very strict regarding the gun on your card. Since yours is DROSed as a single-shot 22lr, you cannot qual with it. Read their CCW policies, it specifically bars single shots and any caliber less than .380ACP. I have heard you could try to change the DROSed caliber by pawning the gun but, I have no clue of it actually works. What they supposedly do is DROS it back to you as a semi-auto 9mm.

Another issue you are going to have is SCCOE requires you to qual only with the guns on your application. I had a problem with my qual because I sold 2 out of the 3 guns I put on the application (It was nearly 2 years from the day I applied and when I was approved to take the class). Fortunately, they do allow you add/drop guns after you get your card. In my case, the instructor gave me 2 qual forms; one for the gun on my application and another undated form for the 2 I was going to add later.

Personally, I would not put an expensive off-roster gun on my CCW. If I am involved in a defensive shooting, that gun is good as gone.

 

[prexlead]

Thank you for your responses, to be clear I do not plan on keeping this SSE 2011 on my CCW, I had reached out to SCCSO earlier about this and they told me I couldn’t amend until after the qual.

In addition they said I could and should bring other guns I plan to swap out for my amended CCW to the same initial live fire course such that I don’t need to have a separate event to do so.

Again, the issue is that I mistakenly listed it as a 9mm and that’s what they’ve been working off of and allowing me to move forward despite seeing this initial discrepancy. Just curious if anyone has had experience navigating this issue.

 

[DJD100]

I tried this in San Mateo county with a Sig P365 converted to 380, and I could find no FFL within 150 miles who would do the DROS trick to change it's caliber (being it would be changing an on-roster gun into a off-roster gun), and my IA would only accept it for CCW in it's originally DROS'd caliber, so I gave up.

Your's being originally off-roster might change things with regards to re-DROS'ing, don't know, but it being DROS'd as a SSE is another thing against you etc?

Good luck!

 

[prexlead]

Just an update: managed to get a hold of the very nice people in SCCSO CCW unit - the lady who helped me over the phone was able to just remove the problematic 2011 I mentioned to avoid any potential hiccups with the process.

On a side note: it was news to me but it seems like they refer to the CADOJ list of approved handguns as a primary source for what can be added to CCW, but somehow other firearms like the G43x (off roster) could also pass? No idea where their overall list comes from.

 

[Makoman]

I had a similar issue with LASD last year. I have a PPK/s in .32 ACP as one of my CCW pieces. It was submitted to them as a .32 ACP. They contacted me to confirm the caliber. I told them it was a .32 ACP. They told me it was listed with DOJ as a 7.65mm. I explained to them that they are one and the same caliber, just metric vs. standard designation. They said they were aware but the caliber listed on the DROS and on the pistol had to match.

As an aside, I've heard some people state being able to get one gun as two calibers listed on their CCW and that it was allowed, (like having a Glock 19 and being able to swap the slide for that of a Glock 23, for example) but it counted as two of however many guns they were allowed to have listed on their CCW. I guess it all depends on the issuing agency.

 

[2muchsoysauce4allthisrice]

Thank you for your responses, to be clear I do not plan on keeping this SSE 2011 on my CCW, I had reached out to SCCSO earlier about this and they told me I couldn’t amend until after the qual.

In addition they said I could and should bring other guns I plan to swap out for my amended CCW to the same initial live fire course such that I don’t need to have a separate event to do so.

Again, the issue is that I mistakenly listed it as a 9mm and that’s what they’ve been working off of and allowing me to move forward despite seeing this initial discrepancy. Just curious if anyone has had experience navigating this issue.

Have you thought of going back to same ffl you purchased from, tell them about the situation, ask if you could do a consignment reject (like the old pawn return for the Franklin armory p320 and CA7), change caliber to 9mm and action to semi auto on the dros. They might do it for free as a courtesy since you bought “our guns” or a small fee for their time. Depends on the ffl’s policy if they are willing or not. If they are willing; downside for you is the turnaround time of at least a month of the pistol sitting at the shop.

 

[2muchsoysauce4allthisrice]

I tried this in San Mateo county with a Sig P365 converted to 380, and I could find no FFL within 150 miles who would do the DROS trick to change it's caliber (being it would be changing an on-roster gun into a off-roster gun), and my IA would only accept it for CCW in it's originally DROS'd caliber, so I gave up.

Your's being originally off-roster might change things with regards to re-DROS'ing, don't know, but it being DROS'd as a SSE is another thing against you etc?

Good luck!

But if you did find an ffl that has a policy that has an understanding of the system, and changed it for you; the IA would be able to see the new dros as that was your most recent acquisition which would be the new original dros.

If you didn’t buy the gun from them, it’s harder to have them do it for you if it’s not you selling to someone else as a ppt. Ppt is already only $10, using your employees time as a business owner, and they have to store “not our guns” in our vault for at least 10 days.
Usually if you just want the re-dros, you didn’t buy the gun from them; it’s a waste of their time because they don’t make anything from it if it’s for free. They have to hold your handgun for at least 30 days, and then at least another ten; constipated ohhh this rando didn’t even buy this from us in the past. There has to be some kind of incentive for the ffl, balancing on the worth it or not scale. What if you were the business? Bought the same gun from them in the past (as a courtesy, why not, take care of our customers who buy our guns supporting mom and pop), or if none of that….. total out the door fee for their time (paperwork and storage), buy a store inventory firearm, or you have bought other guns from store inventory in the past.

The whole changing opinion from on roster to off roster is all based on individual ffl’s policy. So, if you were to sell that same pistol to someone else via direct ppt or in-direct ppt via consignment…..what? they are going to tell you no you can not ppt that pistol to them in the new caliber because you have made a off roster handgun? FFL’s are to dros it in its current configuration; ppt’s are exempt from the roster.

It’s similar to the same drama from the old sse boat handguns from prior to 2017; some folks didn’t want the guns anymore and wanted to sell via ppt whether it be in the forums or consignment, and whether it be used or brand new. Some FFL’s facilitating the ppt were not willing to change caliber and action; while others understood that the dros is to be in its current configuration which would be semi auto (not single shot exempt) and current caliber (not .22lr) such as 7.62x39, 9mm, 5.56, or whatever. Ppt is exempt from the roster.

 

[DJD100]

But if you did find an ffl that has a policy that has an understanding of the system, and changed it for you; the IA would be able to see the new dros as that was your most recent acquisition which would be the new original dros.

If you didn’t buy the gun from them, it’s harder to have them do it for you if it’s not you selling to someone else as a ppt. Ppt is already only $10, using your employees time as a business owner, and they have to store “not our guns” in our vault for at least 10 days.
Usually if you just want the re-dros, you didn’t buy the gun from them; it’s a waste of their time because they don’t make anything from it if it’s for free. They have to hold your handgun for at least 30 days, and then at least another ten; constipated ohhh this rando didn’t even buy this from us in the past. There has to be some kind of incentive for the ffl, balancing on the worth it or not scale. What if you were the business? Bought the same gun from them in the past (as a courtesy, why not, take care of our customers who buy our guns supporting mom and pop), or if none of that….. total out the door fee for their time (paperwork and storage), buy a store inventory firearm, or you have bought other guns from store inventory in the past.

The whole changing opinion from on roster to off roster is all based on individual ffl’s policy. So, if you were to sell that same pistol to someone else via direct ppt or in-direct ppt via consignment…..what? they are going to tell you no you can not ppt that pistol to them in the new caliber because you have made a off roster handgun? FFL’s are to dros it in its current configuration; ppt’s are exempt from the roster.

It’s similar to the same drama from the old sse boat handguns from prior to 2017; some folks didn’t want the guns anymore and wanted to sell via ppt whether it be in the forums or consignment, and whether it be used or brand new. Some FFL’s facilitating the ppt were not willing to change caliber and action; while others understood that the dros is to be in its current configuration which would be semi auto (not single shot exempt) and current caliber (not .22lr) such as 7.62x39, 9mm, 5.56, or whatever. Ppt is exempt from the roster.

My experience was that no FFL of any type within 150 miles of San Mateo county would do it, including the LGS I originally bought it in 9mm from. As far as my IA is concerned they only wanted the serial number and caliber DROS'd to match. This was earlier in 2025.

Ultimately I gave up and traded the P365/380 kit for a Spectre Comp slide and RSA, and I'm happy with that as it's got a lighter RSA due to the heavier slide, so it's easier to rack with 71 year old hands.

I did like the P365/380 being 8oz lighter than the 9mm though, and hopefully some day I can find one here in CA to legally PPT.

 

[NeilDown]

SCC requires serial number and caliber to match.
SSE will not work for carry.
Don't bother, not worth it.

 

[drinktothat421]

This is why i havent sse anything. As a range or competition gun sure for ccw home defense possible liability.