ID#(68515)-Doc#(6L5S9R) Special Bulletin for Businesses No. 55/Beretta CX4 Storm Magazine
Special Bulletin for Businesses No. 55
Beretta CX4 Storm Magazine
Snapshot
á Some Beretta CX4 Storm rifles are being manufactured with
prohibited magazines.
á The classification of a firearm magazine depends on the type of
firearm the magazine was designed to be used in, not the type of
firearm it is actually used in.
á The new 10-cartridge magazine designed for the Beretta CX4 Storm
rifle is prohibited unless it has been permanently altered so that
it cannot hold more than five cartridges.
á The 10-cartridge pistol magazine used on many Beretta CX4 Storm
rifles is still legal, regardless of the type of firearm it is
attached to.
We have recently learned that some Beretta CX4 Storm rifles are
being manufactured with magazines that are prohibited in Canada.
As set out in Criminal Code Regulations, the classification of a
magazine depends on the type of firearm a magazine was designed to
be used in, not the type of firearm it is actually used in.
When the Beretta CX4 Storm rifle was first produced, it used a
10-cartridge magazine that was designed for a handgun. Most
magazines designed for a handgun may legally hold up to 10
cartridges, even when used in a rifle.
Beretta is now producing a 10-cartridge magazine designed
specifically for the CX4 Storm rifle. The law sets a maximum
capacity of five cartridges for magazines designed for a
semi-automatic, centre-fire long gun such as the Beretta CX4 Storm
rifle. A 10-cartridge magazine with a CX4 Storm stamp on it is
prohibited unless it has been permanently altered so that it
cannot hold more than five cartridges.
If your business has any CX4 Storm rifles in its inventory, please
check the magazine to see which version you have. A CX4 Storm
stamp on the magazine indicates it is a prohibited device. Please
note that the presence of a prohibited magazine does not affect
the classification of the firearm itself. The Beretta CX4 Storm
rifle remains classified as a restricted firearm.
However, the business cannot sell a Beretta CX4 Storm rifle at
retail with a prohibited magazine in it, unless the magazine has
been permanently altered to hold a maximum of five cartridges.
Your business may possess a prohibited magazine only if it is
licensed to possess prohibited devices for an approved purpose
indicated on the licence.
If your business does not have the required licence privileges,
you must either dispose of any prohibited magazines in the
business inventory or permanently alter the magazines to hold a
maximum of five cartridges. If you choose to dispose of a
prohibited magazine, you may be able to replace it with one that
is not prohibited for example, a handgun magazine used on earlier
versions of the rifle.
Criminal Code Regulations set out the following options for
altering a prohibited magazine to make it legal:
(a) The casing can be indented by forging, casting, swaging or
impressing; or
(b) If the cartridge has a steel or aluminum casing, a plug,
sleeve, rod, pin, flange or similar device, made of the same (or
similar) material as the casing, can be inserted and permanently
attached to the inner surface of the casing by welding, brazing or
any other similar method; or
(c) If the cartridge is made of a material other than steel or
aluminum, in addition to the options mentioned above, a permanent
adhesive substance such as cement or epoxy glue can also be used
to attach an insert. In this case, the insert would have to be
made of steel or a material similar to that of the magazine
casing.
Options for disposing of a prohibited magazine include
transferring it to a properly licensed business (perhaps in
exchange for one that is legal), exporting it to a country that
allows it, or turning it in to a police or firearms officer.
An export permit may be required from International Trade Canada
if the magazine is being exported to a country other than the
United States. More information and application forms for an
export permit are available from the Export Controls Division of
International Trade Canada at 1 800 267-8376 or (613) 996-2387 or
from their Website at
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/eicb/military/faq-en.asp
If your business has ordered but not yet received an affected
rifle, please note that we have notified Canada Border Services
Agency that these rifles cannot lawfully be imported if they have
a magazine with the CX4 Storm stamp on it, unless the magazine has
been altered so that it cannot hold more than five cartridges.
We have also notified the manufacturer and distributors that the
10-cartridge rifle magazine is prohibited but that the
10-cartridge handgun magazine is not prohibited.
More Information
For general information, contact us at:
1 800 731-4000 (Toll Free)
E-mail:
cfc-cafc@cfc-cafc.gc.ca
This bulletin is intended to provide general information only. For
legal references, please refer to the regulations pertaining to
prohibited magazines.
Le prŽsent bulletin est Žgalement disponible en franais
Dear Recipient:
The Canada Firearms Centre is responsible for delivering information
relating to the Firearms Act to the Canadian public.
If you experience problems with the transmission of this fax or want to be
removed from our list, please contact the Canada Firearms Centre by phone
at 1-800-731-4000 and talk to an operator or by fax at 1-613-957-7325. The
Canada Firearms Centre can also be contacted by e-mail at
cfc-cafc@cfc-cafc.gc.ca .
