MAGAZINE QUANDARY

[Dutch Henry]

I had several Colt AR15 rifles that I sold prior to 2000, but I kept a number of extra 20 and 30 round magazines. Sometime later the bag containing the magazines was run over in the garage and the they were destroyed. Since I no longer owned the guns, I didn't give it much thought. However, I now wonder if I would legally be able to "repair" these smashed magazines (literally assembling rebuild kits) and use them when I go out of state. Lastly, would I be okay with keeping them assembled or should i remove the floorplates?

[hypnoman]

In Cali, your pre-ban hi-cap mag are okay to keep and use, even if you were to purchase a new AR, you can use your pre-ban hi-caps. When out of state, in one of the free states you can actually purchase, own and use any hi-cap mag to your hearts content!

[858casper858]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=387409

[bohoki]

when were they destroyed?

[Dutch Henry]

Destroyed sometime after 2000; maybe 2001-2002.

As for http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s....php?t=387409: I read it but it doesn't really identify with my problem. About all that was left of my old magazines were the floor plates and even they were kind of tweaked.

I'm trying to be legit here and if I can rebuild these now defunct magazines, I'd like to do it, if not then I'll just have to bite the bullet, I guess.

[858casper858]

That thread doesn't say anything about having to retain a part of the broken mag in the rebuilt one. Just don't end up with more mags than what you had.

[858casper858]

Please read the wiki article linked in that thread as well.

Quote from the wiki

In a letter dated November 10, 2005, Deputy Attorney General Alison Merrilees answered a list of questions about the legality of repairing and replacing parts of legally possessed large-capacity magazines.
The letter clarifies that it is legal to replace parts of a legally possessed large-capacity magazine with parts of any vintage. It also states that the possession, sale, or import of all the parts of an otherwise prohibited large-capacity magazine is not illegal though assembling them into a new large-capacity magazine would be a crime.
The general rules regarding magazine repair appear to be that as long as one ends up with the same number of legally possessed large-capacity magazines, has a plausible path of replacement parts from the original possessed large-capacity magazine to the repaired magazine, and the magazine continues to work in the firearm it was originally designed to operate in, one would not be violating the law.
There are no restrictions on modifying a legally possessed large-capacity magazine to work in another firearm as long as the magazine continues to operate in the firearm it was originally designed for. This concept, however, has not been tested - 'appear to be' is all we have.

[Dutch Henry]

Thanks for the information. Since I can possess them legally but can't put them into my BB equipped rifle in CA, I'm going to store them unassembled and only assemble them when I'm shooting in Nevada, Arizona, or another of the Free States.

[858casper858]

Or run featureless!