(Pls Remove) Having an debate over magwell, need help

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HawkWei

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Hello friends, my friends was having a weekend house hangout debate over legallity of modifying magwell, we wonder if you guys have any opinions. I am not asking for legal advices since these are just talks and we wanted to see if anyone has more knowledge regading to the topic.

So the topic is: Is it legal to modify the magwell of a firearm to accpet different magazine in Canada today? exeample, modifying a firearm's magwell (Non-AR mag spec) slightly so it takes AR pistol magazine or XCR pistol magazine.

Friend A: It is not legal since you make the weapon capble of accpeting "large capicity mag" in the law sense, even tho the AR mags are pinned to 5.
Friend B: It is totally legal, as long as the mags are properlly pinned, no different from swapping the magwell from OEM to an aftermarket magwell
Friend C: It is kinda legal to use such configuration as long as you don't modify the magwell yourself, you let a gunsmith do it.
chatGPT AI: It is legal grey zone, law never forbid it but also nevery said it is legal to do. So if you modify it there will be a lot of legal explanning to do in case a cop saw you at the range and wonder why ### gun use ### magazines and might leads to a long and unnecessuary legal trouble.

So in the end none of us came up with a conclusion, as Canada's firearm law is just this vague. Do you guys have more info on this topic, we are betting on who buys the next group dinner here!
 
It's not a grey zone. The Criminal code of canada is very specific regardless how little the Government of Canada cares to follow it when they make up their own rules. Read CCoC.
 
Bile said:
It's not a grey zone. The Criminal code of canada is very specific regardless how little the Government of Canada cares to follow it when they make up their own rules. Read CCoC.
Click to expand...
"
  • Magwell Modification (General): While the Code does not explicitly mention "magwell" modifications, any modification that enables the use of a "prohibited device" (such as a high-capacity magazine) would be an offence, potentially as part of an attempt to commit a crime or in relation to the possession of prohibited devices or firearms.
"
So this is where we were are confused. Is modifying the magwell to accept legally pinned AR mags consider "enables of the use of a prohibited device" ? Since liberal judge might say "Hey, even tho you all mags are pinned, it still can take a full capicity ar mag in theory", well clearly this is where our debate is stuck since all my friends and I are having trust issues based on the last ten years.
 
OkayShooter said:
Would it be no different than using adapter?

I mean my AR ran uzi mags via an adapter for my 9mm upper.
Click to expand...
"In Canada, swapping a complete, non-prohibited magwell for another is generally considered a parts exchange or accessory upgrade" I mean we look into it, seems using adapter is considered as parts exchange, different legal definition in compare to say, filing/grind the magwell to accept new mags?
 
LeftFootOfDoom said:
i'm with the legal crowd.

no different than using a flash suppressor/muzzle device that accepts suppressors. Are those prohib?
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Oh damn you make good point, "Are those prohib" Oh hell no, we started the topic simply because one friend is thinking about to buy an SKS or maybe backland and use his ar mags again, both will need a bit of DIY magwell modification, hence the discussion!
 
HawkWei said:
Magwell Modification (General): While the Code does not explicitly mention "magwell" modifications, any modification that enables the use of a "prohibited device" (such as a high-capacity magazine) would be an offence, potentially as part of an attempt to commit a crime or in relation to the possession of prohibited devices or firearms.
Click to expand...

HawkWei said:
"In Canada, swapping a complete, non-prohibited magwell for another is generally considered a parts exchange or accessory upgrade"
Click to expand...
Can you source where these quotes are coming from? If it's not the criminal code or the firearms act they are meaningless.

Modifying a magwell is completely legal. Magazine capacity is determined by the type/model of gun the mag was designed for, not the gun it is being used in. The mag is prohib if it doesn't meet the capacity limit for the gun it was designed for.

Altering an SKS to use AR mags is perfectly legal. You're still stuck with the 5 round limit for AR mags or 10 rounds for the LAR/XCR pistol mags, but their use is legal.


Mark
 
HawkWei said:
"In Canada, swapping a complete, non-prohibited magwell for another is generally considered a parts exchange or accessory upgrade" I mean we look into it, seems using adapter is considered as parts exchange, different legal definition in compare to say, filing/grind the magwell to accept new mags?
Click to expand...

Don't always listen to what AI says.
 
It is legal to do so. Currently anyway. These modifications will become the norm as new semi-autos arrive on the Canadian market with proprietary 5rnd magazines. Then the RCMP will catch wind of it. 50/50 on whether they make up another “determination” that it isn’t legal, or they defer it to the liberals who will amend the criminal code to make it illegal to do so.
 
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