pmags 30 round capacity, what to do after leaving service

[ummmmmm456]

hi, my cousin is active military, he has purchased pmags with 30 round capactiy. he's leaving the military in a couple of months. i wanted to know what he needs to do so he doesn't get in trouble with the 30 rounders that he has. does he need to convert them? can he keep them the way they are? thank you.

[RMP91]

He can't keep them once he's out (if he resides in California that is...)

He CAN, however do one of 4 things to stay out of trouble with them (and in a couple instances, even keep em).

Here's how:

1. Sell the magazines OUT OF STATE (Whatever he does, tell him DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SELL THEM INSIDE CA. Failure to do so WILL result in him becoming a felon and be barred from possessing firearms).

2. PERMANENTLY (That means you can't change them back whenever you feel like it, it's like that forever) modify the magazines to hold exactly 10 ROUNDS OR LESS. NO MORE.

3. Give them to a friend or relative that lives in a "free" state to hold on to, I know several people who do this with hi-cap mags who live in California. They either give them to friends/relatives to hold on to in, say Nevada, or just buy a storage unit there.

4. (Last resort, hope it doesn't come to this). Destroy the magazines... Render them permanently inoperable.


I am NOT a lawyer, these are just things I'd do if I were in his position if I wanted to stay out of trouble with those kinds of magazines.

[Sgt. J Beezy]

I am very interested as I to have full-cap mags (repair kits currently) from the Marine Corps that were purchased after the ban...

Since I purchased them on base in California, am I legally allowed to have them assembled as well as use or just save them for when my pre-ban mags begin to brake down?

I've read enough posts and know the "it's not illegal to possess" comment and although any and all knowledge is welcome, a more in depth explanation is appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Sgt. J Beezy]

Was replying while 2nd post was written but I believe there is a fifth option (mag repair kits) if I am not mistaken...

[ummmmmm456]

sgt. j beezy, thats what happened to my cousin, he's coming out and i don't want him to get into any trouble.

rmp91- thanks, i appreciate the advice. i was thinking all of the above also. i just didn't want him taking a risk of becoming a felon.

[RMP91]

Was replying while 2nd post was written but I believe there is a fifth option (mag repair kits) if I am not mistaken...

That method is too risky in my opinion. It IS legal, but I wouldn't do it just to be on the safe side. You'd be caught by the balls if they (Inquiring LEOs) started asking questions...

[ummmmmm456]

rmp91, can i ask, the whole repair kit thing, in my understanding of it is you needed to have a legally owned 30 round mag prior to the ban that needed to be repaired correct? i mean, if you have a repair kit, someone searches your house with a warrant and you have like 10 un assembled mags, they can easily make a case that you were producing high capacity mags right?

[RMP91]

rmp91, can i ask, the whole repair kit thing, in my understanding of it is you needed to have a legally owned 30 round mag prior to the ban that needed to be repaired correct? i mean, if you have a repair kit, someone searches your house with a warrant and you have like 10 un assembled mags, they can easily make a case that you were producing high capacity mags right?

If they are particularly hungering for a big bust/conviction, then yes.

It's one of the reasons why I personally would not risk it.

[cdtx2001]

HOLD ON A SECOND.....

Possession is NOT illegal.

If he was in the military when he acquired the magazines, he legally possess them. The method of importation into the state was legal at the time.

So now, he is in CA with high capacity magazines. The mags are already here. There is no further worry about importation or acquiring them via shady means.

In other words, I say he's legal to have them in their current configuration.

It would be no different than a peace officer retiring and retaining their service arm along with the high cap magazines. There is no requirement that they disassemble them or dispose of them.

All that being said, your cousin must not use a greater than 10 round magazine in a bullet buttoned rifle.

[holyhandgrenade]

No, parts are parts are parts. There is nothing illegal about owning some springs, little pieces of metal and hollow metal tubes. There is no constructive possession in CA, much less on magazine parts. Short of a very dishonest LEO or someone assembling them and saying they were together when they found them, you are in the clear legally. The OP can disassemble them and sell them as kits. Again, as long as they aren't assembled, they're, for all intents and purposes, no different than any other piece of property.

Of course, I am not a lawyer and this should in no way be taken as legal advice. It is simply my opinion based on my understanding of current law.

[ummmmmm456]

thanks, cause i don't want to be in a cell thinking i saved 6 dollars buying a repair kit instead of a properly made 10/30 pmag with epoxy and a couple of screws in it.

i gotta tell my cousin not to sell or give away his magazines.

[huntercf]

Just tell him to disassemble them and keep them for trips to a free state and to buy some 10 rd mags for use in PRK.

[troysland]

Yes, tell him to keep them all. I still have my 189 30-round magazines I aquired when I left the Marines in '97. Most have been repaired with pmag bodies and anti-tilt followers.

[gazzavc]

Say nothing. Tell no one. Remove thread from a public forum.

Seriously.

[bigmike82]

Ach, all this paranoia.

Take them apart and keep the parts.

Turn some into 10/30 mags. Keep the rest for spares.

Turning one into a 10/30 is as easy as popping in some rivets to prevent the follower from accepting more than 10 rounds.