This was re-posted from the GOC " Gun Owners of Canada" site
Magazine Laws in Canada
Magazine Laws in Canada
Well, this is by no means a cut and dried subject, but its one that keeps coming up... so I've devised a series of questions to work through to help you identify what the limit of a particular magazine is, along with some examples. Keep in mind that these are LEGAL limits. Limits for hunting and competition can vary, so check your local regulations.
1. Is the magazine designed, marketed, or intended for use in a pistol?
If YES, your magazine has a limit of 10 rounds, whether for rimfire or centerfire cartridges. The exception here is putting one kind of ammunition in a magazine intended for another. For example, putting 9mm Luger into a magazine built for .40 S&W will allow you to exceed the 10 round limit, but the magazine must still only physically hold 10 rounds of .40 S&W.
If NO proceed to question 2. Since its not a pistol, it must be a rifle or a shotgun.
2. Is the magazine designed, marketed, or intended for use in a rimfire firearm?
If YES, your magazine does not have a capacity limit, unless that magazine was also designed to be compatible with a similar pistol. This is the case with the M&P 22 rifle/pistol mags. They are marketed as interchangable, and therefore are always subject to the 10 round limit. However, Butler Creek magazines are compatible with both the 10/22 rifle and charger pistol, but because they are sold expressly for the rifle only, they do not have a capacity limit.
If NO proceed to question 3. Since it isn't a rimfire, it must be a centerfire.
3. Is the magazine designed, marketed, or intended for use in a semi-automatic firearm?
If YES, your magazine is limited to 5 rounds. The exception is the M1 Garand, which holds 8 rounds in an en bloc clip. The use of pistol magazines in a rifle or shotgun is not regulated or controlled. For instance, the LAR pistol mags will fit in most ARs, making it legal to have a 10 round magazine. But you cannot have a PMAG pinned at 10 and say its for your pistol. LAR magazines are specifically labelled from the manufacturer as being for use in the pistol only. If you paint over the notice, you better be prepared to fight it in court, because you will likely be charged with possession of a prohibited device.
If NO, your magazine does not have a capacity limit. However, if your firearm is designed or marketed to be compatible with AR mags for example, the magazine must be limited to 5 rounds. Remington makes a pump action rifle like this, and Mossberg makes a bolt action. The factory mags are pinned in these cases. However, your AIA Enfield magazines will fit and function in a Norinco M14, making it legal to have 10 rounds. Again, these mags are clearly identified for their specific purpose.
Update: The capacity of the magazine not only applies to the firearm it was designed for, but also for the caliber that it was designed for. One notable example of this is the .50 Beowulf AR magazine. A 5 round .50BW magazine will actually hold 13 to 16 rounds of .223, depending on the location of the rivet, all without breaking a single law.
So there you have it. Magazine capacities in a nutshell. There are more exceptions and limitations than I've included here. As well, the information in the post above may not be up to date when accessed. Questar, one of the original importers of LAR mags, has some good information on their site:
https://shopquestar.com/shopping65/s...e=Mag%20Ruling
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/b...323-72-eng.htm
This is a FYI only!
Please call your house of rep's. and tell them you are not happy and do not want it!!
Neetan
1. Is the magazine designed, marketed, or intended for use in a pistol?
If YES, your magazine has a limit of 10 rounds, whether for rimfire or centerfire cartridges. The exception here is putting one kind of ammunition in a magazine intended for another. For example, putting 9mm Luger into a magazine built for .40 S&W will allow you to exceed the 10 round limit, but the magazine must still only physically hold 10 rounds of .40 S&W.
If NO proceed to question 2. Since its not a pistol, it must be a rifle or a shotgun.
2. Is the magazine designed, marketed, or intended for use in a rimfire firearm?
If YES, your magazine does not have a capacity limit, unless that magazine was also designed to be compatible with a similar pistol. This is the case with the M&P 22 rifle/pistol mags. They are marketed as interchangable, and therefore are always subject to the 10 round limit. However, Butler Creek magazines are compatible with both the 10/22 rifle and charger pistol, but because they are sold expressly for the rifle only, they do not have a capacity limit.
If NO proceed to question 3. Since it isn't a rimfire, it must be a centerfire.
3. Is the magazine designed, marketed, or intended for use in a semi-automatic firearm?
If YES, your magazine is limited to 5 rounds. The exception is the M1 Garand, which holds 8 rounds in an en bloc clip. The use of pistol magazines in a rifle or shotgun is not regulated or controlled. For instance, the LAR pistol mags will fit in most ARs, making it legal to have a 10 round magazine. But you cannot have a PMAG pinned at 10 and say its for your pistol. LAR magazines are specifically labelled from the manufacturer as being for use in the pistol only. If you paint over the notice, you better be prepared to fight it in court, because you will likely be charged with possession of a prohibited device.
If NO, your magazine does not have a capacity limit. However, if your firearm is designed or marketed to be compatible with AR mags for example, the magazine must be limited to 5 rounds. Remington makes a pump action rifle like this, and Mossberg makes a bolt action. The factory mags are pinned in these cases. However, your AIA Enfield magazines will fit and function in a Norinco M14, making it legal to have 10 rounds. Again, these mags are clearly identified for their specific purpose.
Update: The capacity of the magazine not only applies to the firearm it was designed for, but also for the caliber that it was designed for. One notable example of this is the .50 Beowulf AR magazine. A 5 round .50BW magazine will actually hold 13 to 16 rounds of .223, depending on the location of the rivet, all without breaking a single law.
So there you have it. Magazine capacities in a nutshell. There are more exceptions and limitations than I've included here. As well, the information in the post above may not be up to date when accessed. Questar, one of the original importers of LAR mags, has some good information on their site:
https://shopquestar.com/shopping65/s...e=Mag%20Ruling
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/b...323-72-eng.htm
This is a FYI only!
Please call your house of rep's. and tell them you are not happy and do not want it!!
Neetan
