Ever worn out a Hi Cap mag?

Shooter 973 · April 15, 2002, 04:36 PM

Have you ever really worn out a Hi Cap magazine for ether a rifle or Handgun? I don't mean dropped it or broken it just plain wore one out. I never have yet, maybe I just don't shoot enough!

WESHOOT2 · April 16, 2002, 05:25 AM

Don't believe it's possible.

Coronach · April 16, 2002, 08:34 AM

Also, the part you're most likely to wear out is the sring, no? And (IIRC) you are still allowed to buy replacement springs (correct if wrong, please).

Mike

rocko · April 16, 2002, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Also, the part you're most likely to wear out is the sring, no? And (IIRC) you are still allowed to buy replacement springs (correct if wrong, please).

As far as the law is concerned, you can legally replace any damaged part on a mag, including the mag body. The problem is, of course, that no one makes unmarked 10+ round mag bodies for replacement as there is a high potential for abuse. See:

http://www.atf.treas.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#o7

Now, I'd have to dig to find the exact text, but the law against possession of what they define as a high capacity feeding device is that it needs to be marked for LE Use Only - that marking is what makes it restricted for civilian possession, not really the date it was manufactured. All manufacturers are required to mark their 10+ mags with it posted 9/94. In some cases, some manufacturers didn't mark all of their mags as such or only dated them. There is some question as to whether or not these are legal to own. Going by the letter of the law, the civilian owner has not broken any law - it was the manufacturer that did by not marking them correctly. If you follow/agree with this logic, then it would seem that even though ATF's FAQ states that you can replace out any parts (which would obviously include the mag bodies), it would still be illegal for you to possess a magazine stamped for LEO Use Only, even if it is not technically a high-capacity feeding device as they define it. Sort of like you can't possess an LE marked ar-15 lower, even if it is in legal post-ban configuration, despite the fact that you can just as easily put an umarked ar-15 lower in an illegal configuration. You also couldn't legally have enough spare parts to create a new mag. However, as I stated before, despite what the law says, I haven't seen any manufacturers that make unmarked mag bodies for replacement parts post 9/94.

As far as wearing out mags, I have seen some well used ar-15 mags with the feed lips pretty badly worn (andonizing gone, and obviously thinner to the naked eye), but who knows what these have been through. I've never worn down a brand new mag myself (other than replacing springs), but then again, I don't get to shoot as often as I'd like.

Rocko

clown714 · April 16, 2002, 03:38 PM

not yet,but i'm still try'en.
clown

April 15, 2002, 04:36 PM	#1
Shooter 973 Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2001 Location: Home town of John M. Browning, Utah Posts: 499	Ever worn out a Hi Cap mag? Have you ever really worn out a Hi Cap magazine for ether a rifle or Handgun? I don't mean dropped it or broken it just plain wore one out. I never have yet, maybe I just don't shoot enough! __________________ The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

April 16, 2002, 05:25 AM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	NOT YET Don't believe it's possible. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 16, 2002, 08:34 AM	#3
Coronach Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 1999 Posts: 3,147	Also, the part you're most likely to wear out is the sring, no? And (IIRC) you are still allowed to buy replacement springs (correct if wrong, please). Mike __________________ The axe bites into the door, ripping a hole in one panel. The maniac puts his face into the hole, cackling gleefully, "Here's Johnny...erk." "And here's Smith and Wesson," murmurs Coronach, Mozambiquing six rounds of .357 into the critter at a range of three feet. -Lawdog "True pacifism is the finest form of manliness. But if a man comes up to you and cuts your hand off, you don't just offer him the other one. Not if you want to go on playing the piano, you don't." -Sam Peckinpah "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein

April 16, 2002, 03:38 PM	#5
clown714 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2001 Location: ga Posts: 395	not yet,but i'm still try'en. clown