Magazine Capacity

[S O K A R]

To cut a long story short I have both a pump action 223 and a bolt 223 of which both take ar compatible magazines.

(3) A person must not possess a detachable firearms magazine that is –
(a) capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition and being used in a pump-action centre-fire rifle; or
(b) capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition and being used in a lever-action centre-fire rifle; or
(c) capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition and being used in a bolt-action centre-fire rifle.

According to the act you can use 10 round mags in a pump action and 15 round mags in a bolt gun, there is nothing I can find that covers if you own both firearms.
Would it be a safe assumption that I would be within the parameters of the law to have both 10 and 15 round mags as long as the 15 round mags weren't used in the pump action?

[No1Mk3]

No, it would not be a good move. The operable word there is "capable", whether you use it in the pump-action or not you have it in your possession and it it is "capable" of being inserted in pump-action, stick to 10 round mags and don't risk getting pulled by a cop who will take your guns.

[womble]

Great question though

[Billo]

As long as you have the Bolt action with you when in possession of the 15 shot mag I dont see an issue.

The answer seems obvious

[stihl88]

To cut a long story short I have both a pump action 223 and a bolt 223 of which both take ar compatible magazines.

(3) A person must not possess a detachable firearms magazine that is –
(a) capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition and being used in a pump-action centre-fire rifle; or
(b) capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition and being used in a lever-action centre-fire rifle; or
(c) capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition and being used in a bolt-action centre-fire rifle.

According to the act you can use 10 round mags in a pump action and 15 round mags in a bolt gun, there is nothing I can find that covers if you own both firearms.
Would it be a safe assumption that I would be within the parameters of the law to have both 10 and 15 round mags as long as the 15 round mags weren't used in the pump action?

[Victoria] Although the mag's capable of holding more than 15 rounds, unless it is "being used in" the PA I interpret you would not be in breach.

As far as I'm aware magazines are not restricted [Victoria], you do not need to show you firearms license to purchase/possess them so in this scenario it's less about it's possession and capability and more about it's use.

To play it safe, you might want to look into this option, works well for me.

IMG_3654.JPG (380.68 KiB) Viewed 4807 times

[womble]

Yeah the mag coupler is another can of worms.

[stihl88]

Yeah the mag coupler is another can of worms.

What about duct tape?

[bladeracer]

As far as I'm aware magazines are not restricted [Victoria], you do not need to show you firearms license to purchase/possess them so in this scenario it's less about it's possession and capability and more about it's use.

CatA/B mags are unregulated, don't know about CatH, but I don't think the average person can possess pistol mags over 10rds or CatD/E mags - like a 32rd MP40, 30rd AR15, or a 20rd L1A1 mag except on a Collector's or Theatrical Armourer's licence - anybody know for sure?

[Oldbloke]

To cut a long story short I have both a pump action 223 and a bolt 223 of which both take ar compatible magazines.

(3) A person must not possess a detachable firearms magazine that is –
(a) capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition and being used in a pump-action centre-fire rifle; or
(b) capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition and being used in a lever-action centre-fire rifle; or
(c) capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition and being used in a bolt-action centre-fire rifle.

According to the act you can use 10 round mags in a pump action and 15 round mags in a bolt gun, there is nothing I can find that covers if you own both firearms.
Would it be a safe assumption that I would be within the parameters of the law to have both 10 and 15 round mags as long as the 15 round mags weren't used in the pump action?

Don't know much about this. However my advise is be vary careful. Look for other options.

No1M3 is knowledgeable in this area.

[womble]

Yeah the mag coupler is another can of worms.

What about duct tape?

I honestly don’t know but still don’t want scrutiny from plod .

[Shootermick]

I would strongly suggest that it would be a no. With my cat c 10/22, I can only own a 10 round mag. I’ve also got a Ruger 22 bolt action. Without my cat c I could have 15 round etc magazines for use in it, but because they cross over I can’t own one.
The old, I only use this mag for this gun, even though it also fits that other one doesn’t cut it.
I would imagine cat b would be viewed the same.
Pretty sure the mag coupler is above board though.
Happy to be proven wrong, but this is my take on it.

[bladeracer]

I would strongly suggest that it would be a no. With my cat c 10/22, I can only own a 10 round mag. I’ve also got a Ruger 22 bolt action. Without my cat c I could have 15 round etc magazines for use in it, but because they cross over I can’t own one.
The old, I only use this mag for this gun, even though it also fits that other one doesn’t cut it.
I would imagine cat b would be viewed the same.
Pretty sure the mag coupler is above board though.
Happy to be proven wrong, but this is my take on it.

Have Police actually told you that you can't possess CatA/B 15rd mags at all just because you own a CatC rifle? I would have thought it was only an offence to actually use such a magazine in the rifle, not to merely possess it. The 15rd mags also fit the Ruger Charger pistols, which is the reason Border Force gave me for not allowing us to import them into Australia, even if we don't own Charger pistols. Border Force agreed that the magazines are not illegal, I just won't be given a B709 to import them, even though I already own some. I'm not aware of it being an offence to own the 15rd mags if you do own the pistol though, assuming you do own a rifle as well. Possessing a 15rd mag when you only own the pistol would be a strong circumstantial case I would think. All current BX15 and BX25 mag imports have to be restricted by the importer to 10rd capacity before Border Force will release them, and that appears to be despite some states having no limit on mag capacity for CatA rifles.

[Oldbloke]

No, it would not be a good move. The operable word there is "capable", whether you use it in the pump-action or not you have it in your possession and it it is "capable" of being inserted in pump-action, stick to 10 round mags and don't risk getting pulled by a cop who will take your guns.

BL, this is what no1 is on about. It's about what could be used for. Not is used for.

P.S. What's wrong with just having a second 10 round mag?

[deye243]

No, it would not be a good move. The operable word there is "capable", whether you use it in the pump-action or not you have it in your possession and it it is "capable" of being inserted in pump-action, stick to 10 round mags and don't risk getting pulled by a cop who will take your guns.

BL, this is what no1 is on about. It's about what could be used for. Not is used for.

P.S. What's wrong with just having a second 10 round mag?

Well just because ...... I actually hate mags that protrude below the stock but I have no problem with anyone that wants to run a banana.

[dagedsta]

Great question though

"I dream of a world where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned"

I had a good chuckle at that

[Larry]

The whole thing is a bit of a joke. For instance Lever actions with tube mags. There are so many that have mags over 10 or even 15 that the LRD just ignore and list as a 10 shot on the certificate. I found this is the case even if you try to dispute it doing the right thing and state exactly what the capacity is. The answer is dont push it or you may not like the answer shut up and go away.

[alexjones]

See the word AND? It has to fit two parameters. Holding more than an X amount of rounds AND being used in a X type of action. So yes you can own both and be lawful.


(3) A person must not possess a detachable firearms magazine that is –
(a) capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition and being used in a pump-action centre-fire rifle; or
(b) capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition and being used in a lever-action centre-fire rifle; or
(c) capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition and being used in a bolt-action centre-fire rifle.

[alexjones]

I have a Cat A Ruger American 22LR which in QLD can hold an unlimited amount of rounds.

I have a Cat C Ruger 10/22 22LR which in QLD can hold 10 rounds.

I have a Cat H Ruger Charger 22LR for sports use which in QLD can hold 10 rounds.

All Ruger 22LR mags fit in each other. I have a 25 round mag and a 50 round drum that I can use in the cat A but I cant' legally put them in the cat C or H.

[bladeracer]

The whole thing is a bit of a joke. For instance Lever actions with tube mags. There are so many that have mags over 10 or even 15 that the LRD just ignore and list as a 10 shot on the certificate. I found this is the case even if you try to dispute it doing the right thing and state exactly what the capacity is. The answer is don't push it or you may not like the answer shut up and go away.

My Henry lever-action holds 22 Shorts in the mag, plus one in the chamber - I've been doing 23rd mag dumps as practice to push the muscle memory hard.
In Vic there is no capacity restriction for CatA/B rifles except in detachable magazines, if you can't remove the magazine then stuff as many in as will fit. For CatA/B guns with tube mags though there are capacity limits for lever-actions, and I believe we'll see limits very soon on straight-pulls and lever-release guns.

[bladeracer]

I have a Cat A Ruger American 22LR which in QLD can hold an unlimited amount of rounds.

I have a Cat C Ruger 10/22 22LR which in QLD can hold 10 rounds.

I have a Cat H Ruger Charger 22LR for sports use which in QLD can hold 10 rounds.

All Ruger 22LR mags fit in each other. I have a 25 round mag and a 50 round drum that I can use in the cat A but I can't legally put them in the cat C or H.

That's the same here in Vic except for CatA we have a 15rd max for detachable maqs.

I believe NSW does not allow blocking of pistol mags to 10rd as other states do? This makes owning a Browning HiPower for CatH impossible?

[alexjones]

I have a Cat A Ruger American 22LR which in QLD can hold an unlimited amount of rounds.

I have a Cat C Ruger 10/22 22LR which in QLD can hold 10 rounds.

I have a Cat H Ruger Charger 22LR for sports use which in QLD can hold 10 rounds.

All Ruger 22LR mags fit in each other. I have a 25 round mag and a 50 round drum that I can use in the cat A but I can't legally put them in the cat C or H.

That's the same here in Vic except for CatA we have a 15rd max for detachable maqs.

I believe NSW does not allow blocking of pistol mags to 10rd as other states do? This makes owning a Browning HiPower for CatH impossible?

Yeah the NSW police interpretation of the law is that mags can't be pinned/crimped/restricted and mags are always treated as they were in their original configuration. The sig sauer p320 pistol is a good cheap pistol. Better than a glock I reckon and it is banned in NSW. Nobody has sued them yet to fight it. The law is below.

"anything that would be a prohibited weapon if it did not have something missing from it, or a defect or obstruction in it, is taken to be a prohibited weapon,"

[No1Mk3]

I have a Cat A Ruger American 22LR which in QLD can hold an unlimited amount of rounds.

I have a Cat C Ruger 10/22 22LR which in QLD can hold 10 rounds.

I have a Cat H Ruger Charger 22LR for sports use which in QLD can hold 10 rounds.

All Ruger 22LR mags fit in each other. I have a 25 round mag and a 50 round drum that I can use in the cat A but I can't legally put them in the cat C or H.

That's the same here in Vic except for CatA we have a 15rd max for detachable maqs.

I believe NSW does not allow blocking of pistol mags to 10rd as other states do? This makes owning a Browning HiPower for CatH impossible?

10rnd mags for the Browning are available,

[bladeracer]

10rnd mags for the Browning are available,

But do 10rd mags make the Browning legal in NSW since it originally uses 13rd?

[No1Mk3]

10rnd mags for the Browning are available,

But do 10rd mags make the Browning legal in NSW since it originally uses 13rd?

Yes, they only restrict the mag from being modified so the handgun itself is fine. Most other common handguns also originally used high capacity mags, CZ, Glock, H&K etc, but to conform to some countries (luckily not just us, or with our tiny market we'd be screwed!!) needs 10 rnd mags have become available as replacements.

[bladeracer]

10rnd mags for the Browning are available,

But do 10rd mags make the Browning legal in NSW since it originally uses 13rd?

Yes, they only restrict the mag from being modified so the handgun itself is fine. Most other common handguns also originally used high capacity mags, CZ, Glock, H&K etc, but to conform to some countries (luckily not just us, or with our tiny market we'd be screwed!!) needs 10 rnd mags have become available as replacements.

Cool, it would be nice to free to travel interstate with it if I wanted to.

[Wapiti]

My Sig P229 Legion has 15, 17, and 20 round mags in 9mm supplied with it. They actually make it nicer to use because they are longer and lengthen the grip to that of P226, which is a bigger handgun. They were available over the counter where we shop, so these things certainly are brought in, in numbers. Just restricted.
Same goes for the wife's Beretta 92, it has 3 x 15 round mags with it. Yes, they do get imported.

Why don't you guys check with your state firearms branch to make sure you're within the law? I'm sure these people are going to be very helpful.

[bladeracer]

My Sig P229 Legion has 15, 17, and 20 round mags in 9mm supplied with it. They actually make it nicer to use because they are longer and lengthen the grip to that of P226, which is a bigger handgun. They were available over the counter where we shop, so these things certainly are brought in, in numbers. Just restricted.
Same goes for the wife's Beretta 92, it has 3 x 15 round mags with it. Yes, they do get imported.

Why don't you guys check with your state firearms branch to make sure you're within the law? I'm sure these people are going to be very helpful.

Handguns owned for sport purposes are restricted to 10rd mags in all states.

[Wapiti]

Yep, I know that.
I'm just correcting some info that's not quite right, that bigger than 10 mags aren't available here over the counter if you have ticked the boxes.

[alexjones]

Yep, I know that.
I'm just correcting some info that's not quite right, that bigger than 10 mags aren't available here over the counter if you have ticked the boxes.

They are referring to NSW which does not allow crimped, pinned or blocked mags.