.50 Beowulf Magazine Classification Update

[The Joe-Man]

This is what "Special Bulletin for Businesses No. 72" says today:

5. Magazines for semiautomatic handguns which contain more than ten (10) rounds of a different calibre

Magazines designed to contain centrefire cartridges and designed or manufactured for use in a semiautomatic handgun, are limited to 10 cartridges. The capacity is measured by the kind of cartridge the magazine was designed to contain. In some cases the magazine will be capable of containing more than 10 rounds of a different caliber; however that is not relevant in the determination of the maximum permitted capacity.

Example:
Heckler and Koch P7 pistol chambered for 9mm Luger caliber:
The magazine designed for the 40 S&W calibre variant of the pistol will hold 13 cartridges of 9mm Luger calibre and function in the 9mm Luger calibre P7 pistol. This is permissible as the maximum permitted capacity of the 40 S&W calibre magazine must be measured by the number of 40 S&W calibre cartridges it is capable of holding, which is 10 such cartridges in the case of the HK P7 pistol magazine.

-- http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/b...323-72-eng.htm

By the definition that the RCMP are using to prohibit the 50 Beowulf mags as "dual calibre", 40 S&W mags are also "dual calibre". They are "adapted from the original" 9mm "design and the ability of the magazine to perform as originally designed has not been compromised by the adaptation".

[blacksmithden]

Can somebody please dig up the special letter to business #75 or #76 where they already said these magazines are legal. Thanks.

[RangeBob]

Can somebody please dig up the special letter to business #75 or #76 where they already said these magazines are legal. Thanks.

75 and 76 were about Zoraki flare guns.

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/bulletins/index-eng.htm#businesses

[kennymo]

Can somebody please dig up the special letter to business #75 or #76 where they already said these magazines are legal. Thanks.

As well, did PCV not get their magazines cleared by the RCMP before production? I seem to recall something on that way back.....

[Mark-II]

no - the 458 socom was designed to feed from a 5.56 mag. the 50beo does NOT feed from a 5.56mag

the fact that 5.56 MAY feed from a 50 mag is irrelevant - the mag is designed for 50cal.

effers... God damned effing nazis

[lone-wolf]

Pinning 5rd beowulf magazine to what? 1 or 2?
Stay classy

[Drache]

Pinning 5rd beowulf magazine to what? 1 or 2?
Stay classy

No from what is sounds is that if you load more than 5 rounds of .223/5.56 into the mag, that would be illegal.

[Marshall]

So you had to open your big mouth to the RCMP demanding clarification and ended up screwing everyone in the process. Good job eh!

That was certainly not my intention... All we are trying to do is import the mags legally. The fact is we could not import them before, so there was obviously already something going on behind the scenes. All We've done is get the RCMP to openly state that their position. The fact is this interpretation is not the way I, and many others, would interpret the law and this letter is in fact contradictory to previous statements they have made. As mentioned I have forwarded this email to the NFA and to CSSA.... We'll see where it goes, but it doesn't end here I can assure you of that.

[RangeBob]

Since the 50 Beowulf calibre magazines are adapted from the original 5.56x45 mm NATO design and the ability of the magazine to perform as originally designed has not been compromised by the adaptation, such magazines are prohibited if they contain more than five 5.56x45 mm NATO cartridges.

(a) that is capable of containing more than five cartridges of the type for which the magazine was originally designed and that is designed or manufactured for use in
(i) a semi-automatic handgun that is not commonly available in Canada,
(ii) a semi-automatic firearm other than a semi-automatic handgun,
...
-- Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-Restricted, SOR/98-462, http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/r.../fulltext.html

[Marshall]

By the definition that the RCMP are using to prohibit the 50 Beowulf mags as "dual calibre", 40 S&W mags are also "dual calibre". They are "adapted from the original" 9mm "design and the ability of the magazine to perform as originally designed has not been compromised by the adaptation".

For what it's worth the .40 S&W is derived from the 10mm, so it's not technically an adaptation of the 9mm... but that's just my interpretation.... who knows.

[tdod101]

That was certainly not my intention... All we are trying to do is import the mags legally. The fact is we could not import them before, so there was obviously already something going on behind the scenes. All We've done is get the RCMP to openly state that their position. The fact is this interpretation is not the way I, and many others, would interpret the law and this letter is in fact contradictory to previous statements they have made. As mentioned I have forwarded this email to the NFA and to CSSA.... We'll see where it goes, but it doesn't end here I can assure you of that.

You could have been like everyone else and manufactured your own. You do realize these things sold for $100 each right? I know guys with 10 - 20 of these things. That's a lot of ban hammer with no compensation.

[lone-wolf]

No from what is sounds is that if you load more than 5 rounds of .223/5.56 into the mag, that would be illegal.

Oh well, in that case, not a big deal. I don't carry a rcmp officer to the range with me.

[Doug_M]

You could have been like everyone else and manufactured your own. You do realize these things sold for $100 each right? I know guys with 10 - 20 of these things. That's a lot of ban hammer with no compensation.

That would be akin to sticking your head in the sand like an ostrich and hoping no one sees you. The RCMP previously stated mag "loopholes" would be their target in the coming months.


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[Waynetheman]

No from what is sounds is that if you load more than 5 rounds of .223/5.56 into the mag, that would be illegal.

Well it says capacity of either calibre. If it were that easy then we could all run unpinned 30 rounders while not loading more than 5. Scouts honor.

[The Joe-Man]

No from what is sounds is that if you load more than 5 rounds of .223/5.56 into the mag, that would be illegal.

I think you misunderstood it. The fact that you CAN load more than 5 rounds of 5.56 into the mags makes them prohib. Lone-wolf was correct. If you wanted to use this with a beowulf upper the mag would have to be pinned to 2-ish rounds.