[akanotken]

Anyone know the legality of taking 2 preban magazines and creating a higher capacity mag from them? I heard that some folks take G3/Cetme 20 round mags (very inexpensive starting materials) and hack and weld them into 30 rounders.

Almost seems like the same thing as adding +2 mag bases to some of the preban pistol mags.

TIA

[Marko Kloos]

AFAIK, it's perfectly legal to alter a pre-ban high capacity magazine to hold even more rounds. Like you said, it's legal to put +2 extenders on preban Glock magazines, and this would be much the same deal.

[C.R.Sam]

Worth checkin VERY carefuly.

The wedding of two pre bans to increase capacity over the original of either might establish a new, post ban, manufacture date.

Sam

[Hkmp5sd]

December 11, 1995

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and FIrearms
Technology Branch
Washington DC 20226

To whom it may concern:

I am requesting advice on how 18 U.S.C. section 922(w) affects the modification of a magazine. I am contemplating taking two 30 round magazines for the M3 "Grease gun" machine gun, cutting the bottom off of one, and the top off the other, and attaching them together to create one M3 magazine that holds 50 or more rounds. Both magazines to be used are ones made before September 13, 1994, and are thus not "large capacity ammunition feeding devices" as defined at 18 U.S.C. section 921(a)(31). What I am wondering is if the resulting single magazine would be considered as having been "manufactured" after September 13, 1994, and thus a large capacity ammunition feeding device, with the limitations on its lawful ownership placed by 18 U.S.C. Section 922(w).

Your advice as to the legal status of a magazine holding 10+ rounds, made out of two magazines that held 10+ rounds, and were made before September 13, 1994, is appreciated.

Sincerely,
Jan 19 1996 E:CE:F:TE:RLB 3311

NAME
ADDRESS


DEAR:

This refers to your letter of December 11, 1995, to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). In your letter you inquire as to the legality of constructing a 50-round large capacity ammunition feeding device from two (2) 30-round large capacity ammunition feeding devices. You state in your letter that the two (2) 30-round large capacity ammunition feeding devices were actually manufactured prior to September 13, 1994.

Title 18 U.S.C. (United States Code), Chapter 44, section 922(w) provides that it shall be unlawful for a person to transfer or possess a large capacity ammunition feeding device except those which were lawfully possessed on or before September 13, 1994.

As defined in 18 U.S.C., Chapter 44, section 921(a)(31)(A), the term "large capacity ammunition feeding device" means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip or similar device manufactured after September 13, 1994, which has a capacity of, or can be readily converted to accept, more than ten (10) rounds of ammunition.

The modification of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, as outlined in your letter, which was actually made on or before the effective date of the act, would not be a violation of section 922(w).

Please be aware that this determination is based on the information which you have provided and covers only those large capacity ammunition feeding devices which are constructed as detailed in your letter. If it is subsequently concluded this information is inaccurate or false, than [sic] this determination would be subject to review by this office.

We trust the foregoing has been responsive to your inquiry. If you have further questions concerning this matter, please contact us.

Sincerely yours,

[signed]
Edward M. Owen, Jr.
Chief, Firearms Technology Branch
http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/wbardwel/public/nfalist/atf_letter8.txt

[c_yeager]

There is a gentleman over at ak-47.net that does this quite often with the lower priced high caps (ak fal etc) he makes pretty much anything and his work and prices are spoken highly of over there. You may want to check it out instead of taking the time to do it yourself.

[C.R.Sam]

Hkmp5sd....Cool, thanks for posting that.

Sam

[akanotken]

This site rocks.

Thanks for sharing that, Hkmp5sd.

c_yeager, I'm going there now to look for the guy, I might PM you if I can't find him in a search.