Magazine capacity confussion on the MSN

[rwm1273]

So watching the news I see articles where they are claiming people are buying the .50 Beowulf magazines for their AR-15 rifles because it is a legal "Loophole".

I think this is just fear mongering by the media. From my understanding it is still illegal to own a magazine that holds more than 5 rounds of center-fire unless you have a restricted license and own the specific firearm, ie LAR-15 pistol.

So if you own an AR rifle, but own LAR-15 magazines without owning an LAR-15, then you are in violation of the law. Same with the Beowulf magazine without owning a Beowulf rifle, but owning an AR-15 (or variant)

Am I correct in this?

[sikwhiskey]

Originally Posted by rwm1273

So watching the news I see articles where they are claiming people are buying the .50 Beowulf magazines for their AR-15 rifles because it is a legal "Loophole".

I think this is just fear mongering by the media. From my understanding it is still illegal to own a magazine that holds more than 5 rounds of center-fire unless you have a restricted license and own the specific firearm, ie LAR-15 pistol.

So if you own an AR rifle, but own LAR-15 magazines without owning an LAR-15, then you are in violation of the law. Same with the Beowulf magazine without owning a Beowulf rifle, but owning an AR-15 (or variant)

Am I correct in this?

No. Magazines are designated by what they are designed/made for. The fact that they can be used in differnt firearms is irrelevant according to the wording of the law.
Do you think you need to own a lar-15 pistol or any pistol to buy a magazine for a pistol? The whole FA needs torn down simplified and rewritten.

[trooper]

Originally Posted by rwm1273

So watching the news I see articles where they are claiming people are buying the .50 Beowulf magazines for their AR-15 rifles because it is a legal "Loophole".

I think this is just fear mongering by the media. From my understanding it is still illegal to own a magazine that holds more than 5 rounds of center-fire unless you have a restricted license and own the specific firearm, ie LAR-15 pistol.

So if you own an AR rifle, but own LAR-15 magazines without owning an LAR-15, then you are in violation of the law. Same with the Beowulf magazine without owning a Beowulf rifle, but owning an AR-15 (or variant)

Am I correct in this?

Does that make a .303 magazine illegal? the answer to that is No! If the mag is designed for a semi auto rifle like a Ruger mini 14 or a C-7 rifle then yes but a mag that is made for a bolt gun regardless of the mag capacity isn't illegal. I recently purchased a savage M-10TR .308 with a 10 round removable mag. It is very legal!

[silver]

Originally Posted by trooper

Does that make a .303 magazine illegal? the answer to that is No! If the mag is designed for a semi auto rifle like a Ruger mini 14 or a C-7 rifle then yes but a mag that is made for a bolt gun regardless of the mag capacity isn't illegal. I recently purchased a savage M-10TR .308 with a 10 round removable mag. It is very legal!

The mag used in the SMLE is legal, but it can also be used in a semi-auto. There are other cases where a mag could fit fire arms that are in different classifications. The law, as written, is ambiguous. It needs to be rewritten in language that is clear and can be understood by the average citizen.

[hillbillyreefer]

This convoluted pile of bull excrement should clear it up for you. This is what happens when people that know nothing about firearms get to make the rules.

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/b...323-72-eng.htm

4. Magazines designed for one firearm but used in a different firearm

The maximum permitted capacity of a magazine is determined by the kind of firearm it is designed or manufactured for use in and not the kind of firearm it might actually be used in. As a consequence, the maximum permitted capacity remains the same regardless of which firearm it might be used in.

Example:
The Marlin model 45 (Camp Carbine) rifle chambered for 45 Auto caliber uses magazines designed and manufactured for the Colt 1911 handgun, therefore the seven round and eight round capacities are permitted. A similar example is the 10 round capacity magazine for the Rock River Arms LAR-15 pistol, regardless of the kind of firearm it is actually used in.




5. Magazines for semiautomatic handguns which contain more than ten (10) rounds of a different calibre

Magazines designed to contain centrefire cartridges and designed or manufactured for use in a semiautomatic handgun, are limited to 10 cartridges. The capacity is measured by the kind of cartridge the magazine was designed to contain. In some cases the magazine will be capable of containing more than 10 rounds of a different caliber; however that is not relevant in the determination of the maximum permitted capacity.

Example:
Heckler and Koch P7 pistol chambered for 9mm Luger caliber:
The magazine designed for the 40 S&W calibre variant of the pistol will hold 13 cartridges of 9mm Luger calibre and function in the 9mm Luger calibre P7 pistol. This is permissible as the maximum permitted capacity of the 40 S&W calibre magazine must be measured by the number of 40 S&W calibre cartridges it is capable of holding, which is 10 such cartridges in the case of the HK P7 pistol magazine.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by rwm1273

So watching the news I see articles where they are claiming people are buying the .50 Beowulf magazines for their AR-15 rifles because it is a legal "Loophole".

I think this is just fear mongering by the media. From my understanding it is still illegal to own a magazine that holds more than 5 rounds of center-fire unless you have a restricted license and own the specific firearm, ie LAR-15 pistol.

So if you own an AR rifle, but own LAR-15 magazines without owning an LAR-15, then you are in violation of the law. Same with the Beowulf magazine without owning a Beowulf rifle, but owning an AR-15 (or variant)

Am I correct in this?

Your interpretation is not correct.

[JamesB]

As pointed out, not a loop hole and actually pretty clear. Magazine capacity is determined by both what cartridge the magazine is designed to hold and what firearm it was designed to fit. If you think about it, it really could not be otherwise. Most people like to short hand the law to a limit of semi auto centerfire rifles being limited to 5 rounds or handguns limited to 10 rounds. That is not what the law states.

[Fredo]

Originally Posted by rwm1273

So watching the news I see articles where they are claiming people are buying the .50 Beowulf magazines for their AR-15 rifles because it is a legal "Loophole".

I think this is just fear mongering by the media. From my understanding it is still illegal to own a magazine that holds more than 5 rounds of center-fire unless you have a restricted license and own the specific firearm, ie LAR-15 pistol.

So if you own an AR rifle, but own LAR-15 magazines without owning an LAR-15, then you are in violation of the law. Same with the Beowulf magazine without owning a Beowulf rifle, but owning an AR-15 (or variant)

Am I correct in this?

Remove the stock, let the buffer tube out and voilà! you got a pistol AR-15 and can use LAR-15 mags!

I think you are not correct on this one, all I heard about those LAR mags was from the grapevine.

[Scotty454]

Definitely incorrect.

The law states that a magazine's maximum permitted capacity is determined by the caliber and firearm it is manufactured for. So, as long as you're not ever able to put more than the maximum number of permitted rounds that the mag is made for, the rest is irrelevant.

Bulletin 72 actually gives examples of putting more than the typical maximum (9mm in a .40 S&W mag) and it being legal.

If the mag is made for a handgun, and a handgun ONLY, it's 10 rounds legal. Doesn't matter if you can put it in a rifle.

If the mag is manufactured for .50 beowulf, and can only hold 5 .50 beowulf rounds, you can stuff anything else you want in it. If it will reliably feed it, bonus (I.e. .223 Rem/5.56 NATO).

[Hat in the Cat]

RCMP had a bulletin stating it was legal to use a Beowulf mag or LAR-15 mag in an AR but I can not find it right now.

I did find this lovely contradiction within one of their bulletins which just adds to confusing laws...

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/b...323-72-eng.htm

2. Magazines designed or manufactured for both centrefire calibre rifles and handguns

Magazines designed to contain centrefire cartridges and designed or manufactured for use in a semiautomatic rifle are limited to five cartridges. However, magazines designed to contain centrefire cartridges and designed or manufactured for use in a semiautomatic handgun are limited to 10 cartridges. Magazines designed or manufactured for use in both semiautomatic rifles and semiautomatic handguns are subject to the limit of five cartridges.
Example:
Hi-Point rifle and handgun chambered for 9mm Luger caliber:
•magazine capacities over five rounds are prohibited.

So by that logic, a LAR-15 mag should in fact be pinned to 5, but wait this is the RCMP making these crystal clear rules...

4. Magazines designed for one firearm but used in a different firearm

The maximum permitted capacity of a magazine is determined by the kind of firearm it is designed or manufactured for use in and not the kind of firearm it might actually be used in. As a consequence, the maximum permitted capacity remains the same regardless of which firearm it might be used in.

Example:
The Marlin model 45 (Camp Carbine) rifle chambered for 45 Auto caliber uses magazines designed and manufactured for the Colt 1911 handgun, therefore the seven round and eight round capacities are permitted. A similar example is the 10 round capacity magazine for the Rock River Arms LAR-15 pistol, regardless of the kind of firearm it is actually used in.


So not more than two points down in the bulletin the RCMP write a completely contradicting rule... so which is the legitimate rule to follow?

[Fredo]

Here's a link on an article about that.