How to Reduce Magazine Capacity to be Legal

[Dom01]

I own a S&W 6906 9mm auto pistol. Unfortunately, my Totalitarianism State of NY is now requesting a magazine capacity of no more than 10 rounds. My 6906 magazine takes 12 rounds so I had to reduce it to 10 rounds to be legal. First you have disassemble the magazine. My magazine has a circular detent at the bottom that needs to be pushed in (see the following you tube video for MP magazine disassembly: Smith & Wesson M&P Magazine Disassembly and Cleaning - YouTube

I explored several options for inserting a two round plug at the bottom of the magazine and finally settled on the best option: close cell foam (do NOT get open cell foam as it absorbs moisture). From Lowe’s I purchased Frost King’s Poly Foam Caulk – Moisture Repellent. It is closed cell foam in color light gray tubing of size ½ inch diameter by 20 feet long (I also use it for dampening the grips on my golf clubs before re-gripping with tubing size of 8 inches).

You simply cut a number of lengths of foam tubing, a little larger that the magazine spring, because you want the foam to be positioned firmly at the bottom of the magazine with no upward movement. I wanted to reduce the size by 2 rounds in my 9mm magazine. Through experimentation, I settled on 1 and ½ lengths of foam tubing (To arrive at the ½ length, use a bench grinder or cut the foam tubing with a ½ circle cut with a utility knife).

The close cell foam will not absorb moisture and is flexible enough to not upset the magazine spring – upsetting the spring will cause jams.

 

[federali]

Not So Sure

In order to reduce magazine capacity (I too live in the People's Republic of NYS), the conversion may not be readily convertible back to its original capacity. With longer magazines such as on the AR-15, you may pop-rivet a stop inside the magazine (see youtube on this) and the state will accept it as "not readily convertible."

I have several Browning HP mags that I need to convert. I'm planning on buying PVC molding at Home Depot, then making my own followers that would be long enough to limit capacity to ten rounds. In theory, it could be converted back by re-installing the original follower but if you don't have it with you, it's not readily convertible. The term, "readily" is not really defined and is subject to interpretation. Once again, our beloved great white fathers in Albany have created a legal minefield for us to tread upon.

 

[Comrad]

I often wonder who will be the magazine inspector? I have never had anyone ask to look at any of my magazines to make sure I am legal in NJ and we have lived with little magazines for a long time.

 

[watsonrg]

"If ye love wealth better than liberty,
the tranquility of servitude
better than the animating contest of freedom,
go home from us in peace.
We ask not your counsels or your arms.
Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.
May your chains set lightly upon you,
and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."

Samuel Adams

 

[Doug M.]

I would test the living heck out of converted magazines like that before using them for serious. The general rule and experience has been that there are serious feeding problems, often intermittent, that result from low capacity mags. I know that this is such a serious problem with Glocks that they teach in their armorer program not to use reduced capacity mags including factory for duty.

 

[Tom_R]

I have lived my entire life either in NY or CT.

I live in CT now and I am so flipping done with this place it isn't even funny.

This is a joke what you guys and I am going through over here.

The liberal mentality that is becoming more and more pervasive in this country is beyond sickening.

In CT we can keep our existing high capacity mags, we just cannot carry more than 10 rounds in them. We can have more than 10 at a range, or in our home, but not for carry.

I'll tell you what I want to do. I am against open carry, but supposedly, you can do it here in CT. To make my point about how dumb the laws are, I want to open carry cowboy style with a pair of .500 Magnums. Just to prove that I am "legal".

I'll never do it, but it swear some days I want to.

 

[NYlakesider]

I have a 6906 and have a few of the reduced by S&W mags to make the gun legal. What they did was put a permanent crimp in the mag right below where the 10 round goes. I got these years ago during the Clinton AW ban.

This crimp was done right and you cannot get a 11 round in there and as its below the follower it functions normal I have tried out all of my new mags a few times and all is well.

I’m not sure if the OPs fix is permanent enough for our masters. I know a couple CCWP holders that have been stopped and the trooper did look at their mags.. Repeat I said troopers I have not heard any feedback from anyone stopped by a local or county cop YET!

 

[adwjc]

Dom & Federali,

there are other methods to convert magazines that use "blocks" attached to the bottom of a follower. These are epoxied in place, the end of the block only allows a certain amount of travel. They cannot be converted back.

While called blocks, they are three dimensional "tees", so only a thin blade shaped end extends down through your magazine spring.

They seem to work OK, but regardless, they are "range use only" for me from now on.

here's the place:

http://www.magazineblocks.com/magento/products/magblock-kits/pistols-2/smith-wesson.html

 

[whodat]

Has anyone tried using two followers in a magazine? Just a thought. I know it would depend on how the follower sits on the spring, but that's K.I.S.S. in action if it works .

 

[HCH]

In CT we can keep our existing high capacity mags.

You can keep your Doctor and insurance plan too. See where I'm going?

 

[NYShooter]

I live in NYC and the insanity is beyond belief. It is nearly impossible to get a CC permit and even a "premises" permit takes about 8-9 months. You are only permitted to take it to the range and back, with the gun and ammo locked in separate boxes.

The original SAFE act mandated 7-round magazines!!! This was struck down in a court challenge as a violation of the Second Amendment because there are no 7-round magazines and, thus, the law would have effectively banned all semi-automatic pistols. The law now allows 10-round magazines, but they can't be loaded with more than 7-rounds.

I also have several shotguns and those regulations are equally infuriating. For example, a semi-automatic shotgun cannot have a pistol grip or a telescoping or folding stock. No shotgun (or pistol, for that matter) can have a muzzle brake or suppressor. And, worst of all, no shotgun can have a magazine capacity in excess of five rounds! There are others, but I am going to stop now because my blood pressure is going through the roof.

 

[GypsmJim]

I live in NYC and the insanity is beyond belief. It is nearly impossible to get a CC permit and even a "premises" permit takes about 8-9 months. You are only permitted to take it to the range and back, with the gun and ammo locked in separate boxes.

The original SAFE act mandated 7-round magazines!!! This was struck down in a court challenge as a violation of the Second Amendment because there are no 7-round magazines and, thus, the law would have effectively banned all semi-automatic pistols. The law now allows 10-round magazines, but they can't be loaded with more than 7-rounds.

I also have several shotguns and those regulations are equally infuriating. For example, a semi-automatic shotgun cannot have a pistol grip or a telescoping or folding stock. No shotgun (or pistol, for that matter) can have a muzzle brake or suppressor. And, worst of all, no shotgun can have a magazine capacity in excess of five rounds! There are others, but I am going to stop now because my blood pressure is going through the roof.

The most recent change now allows 10 rounds in a 10 round mag. The 7 was struck down.

 

[thebeamanater107]

Liberals can't tell the difference between gun owners and murderers.

the original point and click interface, by Smith & Wesson

 

[NYShooter]

The most recent change now allows 10 rounds in a 10 round mag. The 7 was struck down.

I missed that. I also forgot to mention that we can no longer directly purchase ammo on the internet! Ammo would have to be shipped to a legal dealer and then picked-up at that dealer.

 

[Adk Mike]

I live upstate myself. I have a gut feeling it will get better. New York is a big state. I travel anti safe act signs every where. I'm just ignoring most of it. I say vote the bums out. If we lose long term here. Then we are done. My friends in CT registering rifles. Crazy stuff for sure.

 

[Smoke]

Is there a reason you can't just buy a 10 round 6906 magazine?

 

[carbuncle]

Is there a reason you can't just buy a 10 round 6906 magazine?

Seriously, I have two 10-round 6906 mags I'll straight trade if anyone wants to send me two 12-round mags that haven't been jacked up yet.

***4/22/14 Edit: I have successfilly traded these mags with another member in need of them!***

Posted from my car phone.

 

[NYlakesider]

I live in NYC and the insanity is beyond belief. It is nearly impossible to get a CC permit and even a "premises" permit takes about 8-9 months. You are only permitted to take it to the range and back, with the gun and ammo locked in separate boxes.

The original SAFE act mandated 7-round magazines!!! This was struck down in a court challenge as a violation of the Second Amendment because there are no 7-round magazines and, thus, the law would have effectively banned all semi-automatic pistols. The law now allows 10-round magazines, but they can't be loaded with more than 7-rounds.

I also have several shotguns and those regulations are equally infuriating. For example, a semi-automatic shotgun cannot have a pistol grip or a telescoping or folding stock. No shotgun (or pistol, for that matter) can have a muzzle brake or suppressor. And, worst of all,NO shotgun can have a magazine capacity in excess of five rounds! There are others, but I am going to stop now because my blood pressure is going through the roof.

I would like to know where you found that, a NYC special thing possibly. The only mag restrictions I know of are for detachable ones, pistol mags in front of trigger guards or Encon hunting regulations.

 

[ladder13]

SAFE Act charge dismissed against Lockport man » Courts » Niagara Gazette

Directly from a lawyer associated with the Tresmond law firm, the attorneys of record in this case.

"James Tresmond filed a motion to dismiss supported by a memorandum of law, and at a suppression hearing today following oral argument the court dismissed the case finding that the only reason the officer may remove the magazine is to safe the gun during the encounter with the citizen. Once the magazine has been removed, the gun is rendered safe and there is no basis or authority to search the magazine. The search was illegal and the evidence was therefore suppressed, case dismissed"

 

[RDFabsRep]

I would like to know where you found that, a NYC special thing possibly. The only mag restrictions I know of are for detachable ones, pistol mags in front of trigger guards or Encon hunting regulations.

One of the biggest problems with the (Un) Safe Act is that most New Yorkers can't even understand it. But no...this is for the entire state of New York, not just NYC