Maximum Permitted Magazine Capacity

DO you I have the semi automatic rifle with 10 round magazine?

  • yes, I have the semi automatic rifle with 10 round magazine

    Votes: 182 90.1%

  • no. I am afraid of getting harassed by the uninformed police or the neighbor

    Votes: 12 5.9%

  • no. I don't know the regulations about Maximum Permitted Magazine Capacity

    Votes: 8 4.0%
  • Total voters
    202
  • Poll closed .
There are regulations about Maximum Permitted Magazine Capacity? Can someone fill me in here?
 
If I didn't have to pin it I would own one.

http://www.betaco.com/cmag_product_details.asp?product=21

M7FAL21.jpg
 
Here's a legitimate question for those of you who know the regulations for hunting AND general magazine capacity. I'll use the 10-round STANAG "pistol magazines" as an example. Since they were designed for a "pistol" the 10-round capacity is A-OK and you can use them in whatever firearm you want that can accept them.

Alberta hunting regulations state:
It is unlawful to:
  1. set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting big game:
    • an auto-loading firearm that has the capacity to hold more than 5 cartridges in the magazine,
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Does that supersede the RCMP Maximum Permitted Magazine Capacity when you're out hunting? I realize that the magazines I'm talking about are for .223 / 5.56 caliber ammo, which is unlawful to hunt with according to the same regulations. I'm just using those magazines as an example. I'm curious about magazines for the likes of the XCR-M in .308, if there were ever 10-round pistol mags made for a 7.62 NATO "pistol", could I use them when hunting?

Answers that would be helpful to me:
1. Hunting regulations > RCMP ones. You cannot use 10-round mags when hunting.
2. RCMP regulations > hunting ones. You can use 10-round mags when hunting.
 
Yes.
My pump shotgun can hold 8 rounds, but when I'm duck hunting it had better be blocked to 3, and blocked properly.

That being said, in Alberta you can't hunt big game with .223 anyway, so no ones going to be unloading ten 55gr JHPs into bambi
 
Yeah, sorry. I realized I should have specified more. I updated the original post with more specific questions.

It's more of a theoretical question, since I don't think there are any SR-25 style "pistol magazines" that I could use with an XCR-M.

EDIT: You also bring up another question, what happens if I'm out with my semi-auto shotgun and have it loaded with slugs for bear hunting. It can be capped at 5-shells right? What if I see a bird and want to switch to bird shot and take it as well?
 
I believe the 3 round restriction is for migratory game birds, not the grouse or prarie chickens you might flush randomly in bear country. But you'd have to double check the regs.

The obvious solution in my mind, which probably wouldn't hold up under intense scrutiny by Fish and Game is this: carry your dozen or so slugs for bear defense, but only carry 3 game load shot shells. If you cant hit whatever you flush with 3 shells you probably shouldn't be shooting at it, and if you flush more than 3 grouse over the course of your hike or whatever then you just have to count yourself as lucky and let some fly away.

But the most direct answer is: Hunting regs supercede RCMP regs as long as you're out hunting.
 
TV-PressPass said:
I believe the 3 round restriction is for migratory game birds, not the grouse or prarie chickens you might flush randomly in bear country. But you'd have to double check the regs.
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The 3 round limit applies for all game birds in Alberta, not just migratory waterfowl. If Xero has a shotgun that holds 5 and a CO thinks he is hunting upland birds he will get busted.


Mark
 
So if I were hunting bears and/or left my semi-shotgun uncapped at 5, yet only had 3 bird shot on me, would that be a legitimate explanation to the CO? Is it completely up to their discretion?

Seems sensible to me, but only if you prove you only have three bird shot on you.
 
Xero said:
What if I see a bird and want to switch to bird shot and take it as well?
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personally, If you are out bear hunting and come across a bird I would leave it alone, because once you fire that shotgun, you would scare away every wildlife with in the area. ;)
 
hbean said:
personally, If you are out bear hunting and come across a bird I would leave it alone, because once you fire that shotgun, you would scare away every wildlife with in the area. ;)
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We usually drive to and from our areas during hunting-time instead of before and after (we're slackers haha). We often see birds on the side of the road, get out and track them into the bush and get them there. This is all on unmaintained roads so we don't need to go far to get them.

Generally far enough away from our "areas" that it shouldn't matter much. We walk a ways once we get out there as well.

Would just be nice to keep the shotty uncapped at 5 while we're going to and fro.
 
Yeah… If you are hunting birds and the shotgun you use holds more than 3 rounds it is illegal in AB, as per what mmattockx said.

So… when you get out of the truck and track the birds into the bush, you better have the shotgun mag blocked, because you are then hunting the bird... So… I gather you want to travel with an unblocked shotgun for bear hunting, but when you see a game bird you are going to pull the shotgun apart and reinsert the rod to block it… I gather this is while you are jumping out of the truck and chasing the bird into the woods... that or you are going to illegally use the unblocked shotgun under the guise it is for bears… :confused:

You are either (A) hunting bear, (B) hunting birds, or (C) hunting booth… you are not hunting bear with the odd bird on the side…

If you are not hunting, that is you are target shooting or for wilderness defence, hunting regulations do not apply, thus the hunting mag caps do not apply…

Oh crap… I deny everything…
 
Does a person even need 5 rounds for a bear ? I think if you haven't got him down in 3, you're a pretty crumby shot.
It's almost like the only reason to unplug the gun to 5 for bears, is simply just for the sake of unplugging it to 5 rounds.
 
Xero said:
So if I were hunting bears and/or left my semi-shotgun uncapped at 5, yet only had 3 bird shot on me, would that be a legitimate explanation to the CO? Is it completely up to their discretion?

Seems sensible to me, but only if you prove you only have three bird shot on you.
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I would assume, since you're carrying bird shot, that they(Fish&Game guys) would consider you hunting bear & birds, and subjected to the magazine limit.
 
Xero said:
So if I were hunting bears and/or left my semi-shotgun uncapped at 5, yet only had 3 bird shot on me, would that be a legitimate explanation to the CO? Is it completely up to their discretion?

Seems sensible to me, but only if you prove you only have three bird shot on you.
Click to expand...

lone-wolf said:
I would assume, since you're carrying bird shot, that they(Fish&Game guys) would consider you hunting bear & birds, and subjected to the magazine limit.
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Yeah… at least in BC it is fairly clear… an unplugged shotgun maybe used for hunting large game only if it is used with single projectile rounds (slugs)… if you use bird shoot or buck shoot and you are hunting large game, small game, or birds you must have the mag blocked to 2 rounds (3 in total)… and it is clear it is the magazine of the shotgun that must be blocked, not that it is based on the number of rounds currently in your pocket…
 
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