Disabled1
US Veteran
Why should these magazines be avoided? The 2-15 round mags that came with my 5906 read;
RESTRICTED; EXPORT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND GOVERNMENT USE ONLY. S/N 91XXX
Is there anything wrong with these?
3rd Gen Magazines - Pre-Ban vs. Post-Ban
- Thread starter TTSH
- Start date
Why should these magazines be avoided? The 2-15 round mags that came with my 5906 read;
RESTRICTED; EXPORT, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND GOVERNMENT USE ONLY. S/N 91XXX
Is there anything wrong with these?
Nothing whatsoever wrong with them technically or legally... unless you happen to live in a loony moonbat state that extended the now-expired Federal AWB. In the latter case, you become an instant felon.
Comrad
Member
Tell it to the judge.
There's a possibility I may move to MA. It's pointless to ask why; it is what it is.
I have 5 magazines for my 6906 and 6946 (none are LE or export marked):
2 15 round with orange follower
1 14 round with black follower
2 12 round with black follower
If I understand the consensus (using the term loosely) here and elsewhere:
- the 2 15 rnd may or may not be pre-ban
- the 14 rnd is almost certainly pre-ban
- the 2 12 rnd are probably pre-ban
Sound right?
I do see some people selling 12, 14, and 15 round magazines stating they are pre-ban. I don't know how they know since I've yet to find a definitive way of identifying. I've read that if it's not LE/export marked, it's pre-ban. Others have said they have post-ban magazines that are not so marked.
I'm not looking to repeat the discussion above as to what's provable or not (unless there is new information). Just looking to understand if my assessment is correct.
I'm looking for a factory 10 round, but can't find any right now at a reasonable price.
Thanks.
I have 5 magazines for my 6906 and 6946 (none are LE or export marked):
2 15 round with orange follower
1 14 round with black follower
2 12 round with black follower
If I understand the consensus (using the term loosely) here and elsewhere:
- the 2 15 rnd may or may not be pre-ban
- the 14 rnd is almost certainly pre-ban
- the 2 12 rnd are probably pre-ban
Sound right?
I do see some people selling 12, 14, and 15 round magazines stating they are pre-ban. I don't know how they know since I've yet to find a definitive way of identifying. I've read that if it's not LE/export marked, it's pre-ban. Others have said they have post-ban magazines that are not so marked.
I'm not looking to repeat the discussion above as to what's provable or not (unless there is new information). Just looking to understand if my assessment is correct.
I'm looking for a factory 10 round, but can't find any right now at a reasonable price.
Thanks.
what is a reasonable price ?
Well, pretty damn close.
Your 12-rounders... if they are S&W OEM originals and not some of the new post-ban third-party magazines some sites are offering... are pre-ban and you are good to go.
Your 14-round 59/5900-series magazine is pre-ban.
15-round non-LEO/Export 5900-series magazines can be categorized as either pre-ban or post-ban based on the number of magazine release cuts (one = pre-ban, two = post-ban) and the presence or lack of the S&W logo (no logo = pre-ban, logo = post-ban). As a third check, you can look at the lower indents on both flat sides. Wide and shallow always means pre-ban. Deeper and more narrow can be either.
But it's all relative and you'd have to compare old vs. new to get what I'm saying. 
10-round 6900-series magazines are as rare as hen's teeth and quite valuable because Commiefornia et al. But you still don't need them for MA because, as you know, pre-bans are still allowed here.
Well, pretty damn close.
Your 12-rounders... if they are S&W OEM originals and not some of the new post-ban third-party magazines some sites are offering... are pre-ban and you are good to go.
Your 14-round 59/5900-series magazine is pre-ban.
15-round non-LEO/Export 5900-series magazines can be categorized as either pre-ban or post-ban based on the number of magazine release cuts (one = pre-ban, two = post-ban) and the presence or lack of the S&W logo (no logo = pre-ban, logo = post-ban). As a third check, you can look at the lower indents on both flat sides. Wide and shallow always means pre-ban. Deeper and more narrow can be either.
This is the clearest explanation I've seen. Thanks!
My 2 15 round magazines are post-ban. But with 1 14 and 2 twelves, I'll be fine (they are all S&W oem from what I can tell). Though if I could pick up a 10 rounder for $25 or so I'll do that. Not sure I'll find one at that price, but might get lucky in Minnesota.
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We aim to please.
It's how we stay out of jail here in MA... by knowing what is what, pre-ban vs. post-ban. But do take note that some folks who should know better (cough, cough... Robertson trading post... cough, cough) will try to tell you that all orange follower 5900-series magazines are post-ban. Total BS. In the interest of one of their employees possibly making a mistake and them getting sued or charged because of it, they ignore the several years of 15-round production between the end of 14-round production and the start of the 1994 Federal AWB.
Ticks me off bigtime. If it were me, I'd sell the post-bans here and post a WTB for pre-bans. There are some truly great members here who will take care of you.
A few thoughts.
1) The difference between 14 round and 15 round is the follower. Orange followers are 15 round. Replace a black with an orange and you have a 15 round magazine.
2) No one has ever been prosecuted or even charged for solely possessing a post ban magazine.
3) When you move to MA, you do not have to register any guns you bring in with you. The state words the registration page carefully to suggest it, but you do not have to.
4) You can bring any guns that you currently own with you, even if they are not on the MA approved roster. You can sell them directly to another licensed gun owner in MA via face to face sale. That sale DOES have to be registered. You can NOT have a dealer transfer non roster guns from you to another party. At least not without the dealer running the risk of getting in significant difficulty with the state.
1) The difference between 14 round and 15 round is the follower. Orange followers are 15 round. Replace a black with an orange and you have a 15 round magazine.
2) No one has ever been prosecuted or even charged for solely possessing a post ban magazine.
3) When you move to MA, you do not have to register any guns you bring in with you. The state words the registration page carefully to suggest it, but you do not have to.
4) You can bring any guns that you currently own with you, even if they are not on the MA approved roster. You can sell them directly to another licensed gun owner in MA via face to face sale. That sale DOES have to be registered. You can NOT have a dealer transfer non roster guns from you to another party. At least not without the dealer running the risk of getting in significant difficulty with the state.
tom 45
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tom 45
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I just put an orange follower in.
If you count the witness holes you will see that it is a 14 round body.
If you count the witness holes you will see that it is a 14 round body.
Not a problem or uncommon at all. It's still a pre-ban.
My statement about the number of magazine release cuts only applies to 5900-series 15-round magazines... nothing else.
Correct. Folks should not get confused or hung up on that. Just because you put an orange follower in an old 14-round 2nd Gen/very early-3rd Gen pre-ban tube (thus making it able to hold 15 rounds) does not suddenly make it into a later 3rd Gen pre-ban or post-ban 5900-series 15-rounder.
It might be considered bad practice or maybe a little risky by some in Massachusetts, but replacement of followers alone is probably not going to put anybody behind bars.
The ban is based on the date of manufacture and the capacity. I've rebuilt a bunch of 20 and 30 round pre ban AR magazines. That consists of cleaning the bodies and then putting in new springs for the 20 round mags, and putting in new springs and anti tilt followers for the 30 round mags.
There people in MA who also repaint the bodies as part of the rebuild.
None of that changes the fact that they are pre ban magazines.
Same thing with replacing the springs, followers, base plates, and base plate catches on any pre ban magazine.
Interestingly, on the M&P 9mm guns the MA compliant magazines are totally different than the regular ones. The base plates are not interchangeable and it is not possible to convert a 10 round MA magazine into a high capacity magazine.
There people in MA who also repaint the bodies as part of the rebuild.
None of that changes the fact that they are pre ban magazines.
Same thing with replacing the springs, followers, base plates, and base plate catches on any pre ban magazine.
Interestingly, on the M&P 9mm guns the MA compliant magazines are totally different than the regular ones. The base plates are not interchangeable and it is not possible to convert a 10 round MA magazine into a high capacity magazine.
Correct. Folks should not get confused or hung up on that. Just because you put an orange follower in an old 14-round 2nd Gen/very early-3rd Gen pre-ban tube (thus making it able to hold 15 rounds) does not suddenly make it into a later 3rd Gen pre-ban or post-ban 5900-series 15-rounder.
It might be considered bad practice or maybe a little risky by some in Massachusetts, but replacement of followers alone is probably not going to put anybody behind bars.
Well, again, the Federal AWB ran from 1994 to 2004. The Model 6900-series guns were all discontinued during the ban. 12-round magazines made after 1994 and up until 2004 had to have the LEO/Export restriction on them. They are all "post-ban" magazines, by definition. For us common peon folks, we were only able to get 10-round magazines.... obviously without the LEO/Export markings.
2nd and 3rd Gen 69/6900-series 12-round magazines made before 1994 are the "pre-bans" and that is what you've got other than the LEO/Export marked 6, 7 & 8.
To the best of anybody's knowledge, S&W did not manufacture any brand new 6900-series 12-round magazines after the ban ended although there is speculation in some quarters that maybe they did because some would occasionally pop up for sale here and there. But even if they did, there is no known way to date them or to tell them apart from known pre-bans (as there is for other S&W pre-ban vs. post-ban magazines)... so it becomes kind of a moot point in a legal sense.
As for your .356TSW magazine, if it is not LEO/Export marked, it was very likely made in 1993... just before the ban.
Well, this is where we find ourselves in slight disagreement.
Very slight, in fact... probably not even worth the trouble of pointing out our differences. My position is that we don't really know for absolute certain, legally speaking (not talking common practice or what you can get away with... but just MA law itself), what is allowed to be done to a pre-ban magazine in order to keep it a legal pre-ban magazine (and, thus, exempt from the magazine limit law). There has been lots of guesses and speculation but never once concrete legal answer we could count on back from the state.
Does that mean I think you are wrong? NO! Why? Because there is no way for anyone to know for certain and the anti-2A AG Lady 100% likes it that way. Uncertainty about those poorly conceived and poorly written laws is the tool she uses to keep us peons in line.
I should have also added that I am assuming that these are all S&W OEM magazines. There are some brand new third-party 6900-series 12-round magazines out there now that are supposedly very, very close matches to the originals... a potential danger for us beaten down subjects of certain loony moonbat states.
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