Pre-Ban Mags Still being Made?

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Drakejake

New member
Under U.S. law pistol mags with a capacity exceeding 10 rounds could not be made or sold within this country after about 1994. This means that the existing supply of these mags was fixed as of 1994 and can never be increased (unless the prohibition is removed). And yet there seems to be a quantity of non-factory hicap mags still available, eleven years later. The demand for these mags will continue to grow for the indefinite future, as pistols capable of holding more than 10 rounds continue to be manufactured. In particular, there seems to be no shortage of USA mags for Ruger 9 MM pistols, although Mec-Gar mags no longer seem to be available. I just bought three of the stainless USA mags for $15 each. (These mags look pretty good, lock into my pistols, and allow a round to be fed into the chamber. I will check them out at the range in a few days and will give a report.)

Is there any evidence that hi-cap mags are still being produced in this country or imported from other countries despite the ban? I would think that the financial incentive would be very great. I guess that the production cost of mags in quantity is probably only a couple of dollars at most--these are pretty simple products to produce and assemble. Was there any inventory of existing hi-cap mags made in 1994? Are there any signs that the ban is being enforced? It seems clear that the gun manufacturers aren't selling any pre-ban mags.

Drakejake
 
Well I don't know about 11 years later, but from what I heard, the manufacturers went wild stamping out magazine bodies prior to the ban because they saw it coming.
 
No pre-ban high capacity mags can be made in the US (for other than military and LE) or imported if they were made after the ban. But magazines made before the ban can be imported. Many of the after-market makers have long had their mags made in foreign countries, so any made before the ban can be legally imported. (This is the "loophole" that Sen. Feinstein wanted to close, but the bill never passed.)

Once it became clear that the law was going to pass, all the mag makers (US and foreign) cranked production to the maximum to make as many mag bodies as possible before the law passed. (They did not have to have assembled mags, only mag bodies.) These are now being legally sold. How long they will last is anyone's guess, but in the case of military mags, it could be quite a while, assuming there is no change in the law.

If someone is making unmarked hi-cap mags in this country and selling them or importing and selling hi-caps made after the ban, he is violating the law. This may not be BATF's highest priority right now, but I think a law violator who gets caught would be prosecuted, if only as a demonstration.

Jim
 
Ban was imposed about seven years ago.

I never said I was the best at math. 2001 minus 1994 equals seven years, more or less.

Drakejake
 
Do non-US countries restrict mag capacity? If not, i guess a non-US person can sell their used ones for import here, buy brand new ones and make a few bucks (pounds, DMs, Lira, whatever) in the process.
 
If I'm not mistaken, pre-ban mag bodies can be replaced if damaged, but the original has to be destroyed. This could open the possibility of a manufacturer making millions of pre-ban mag bodies that were essentially junk, then replacing them with new production stuff. What do you think?
 
Yes. I was also told by a L.E. that L.E. mags can be sold to the general public after their designated "life-span" was eclipsed. I haven't seen this happen yet, but would be interested in hearing if anyone else has heard this.

Hey, I know is far out still, but does anyone think the events of 9-11 will have an effect on the sunset of the Assault Weapons Ban, the same one limiting new mags to 10 rounds? That Bush would be willing to renew the ban?

Mike
 
Yes. I was also told by a L.E. that L.E. mags can be sold to the general public after their designated "life-span" was eclipsed. I haven't seen this happen yet, but would be interested in hearing if anyone else has heard this.
Click to expand...

That LEO was talking about the pre-ban mags that departments currently have. You do actually see these for sale all the time at sites like aimsurplus. A lot of companies also buy up a Departments old guns and magazines and sell them together or separately.

The new post-ban mags are clearly marked and can never be sold to the public under current law. Though used ones are sold to other LE agencies (used Glock 21 post ban hi-caps for $6.99 last sheet I got).

One thing there is a lot of confusion about is people thinking that LEO's whip out thier badge and order dozens of hi-caps for less than $20 each. You actually need a letter from your Chief LEO (Sheriff or Police Chief) swearing under penalty of perjury that the magazines are for duty use only and not for re-sale or transfer. When an officer leaves the department they are "supposed" to turn in thier mags or give them to another full time officer.

From reading the law on the ATF website it also appears to say that even off duty LEO's should not be in possesion of post ban hi-caps, but I can't imagine that ever being enforced.
 
Has a non LEO ever got into trouble for a post ban mag? While I don't have any, I know someone who does. Bush had better make sure that the AW's ban and regular cap mag ban sunsets, or he just may find himself out of a job come next time.
 
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