AusTac wrote:I would think having a loaded mag would classify as a loaded firearm? A loaded mag seperate from the firearm is still considered a loaded firearm from what i'm told?
It may vary in different states but in NSW, the answer is effectively yes. Act is a technically a little ambiguous (depends how far you want to push the "firearm" vs "firearm part" in the relevant section of the act) but realistically, it won't go well to have a loaded magazine. I do not know, but I strongly suspect, that you'd lose that argument. If anyone is aware of any cases it'd be interesting to know.
I have even been told by a LGS (which doesn't mean it's right, but I'd trust this bloke to be right more often than not) than I should not put a (just purchased, still in the plastic packaging) empty magazine in my ammo storage container, and this was when the ammo I'd just purchased was in a different calibre to the magazine. Now, he may well have just been being overcautious. But to be honest, its not worth risking my licence for.