Preban mag sources?

[Iram]

Anyone know of a decent source of preban (pre-1994) full capacity magazines that will fit in a S&W 910?

State law prevents me from buying new full capacity magazines, but magazines that predate the 1994 federal AWB are legal.

I shoot IDPA (limited to 10 rounds/mag), and I've had a few failures to seat a magazine with a tactical reload. I'm hoping that switching from full 10rd magazines to underloaded 14rd or15rd magazines will make tac reloads easier.

 

[Grinder]

I have a bunch of new ones if you might be interested
Thanks

 

[murphydog]

Iram;

You may want to double-check your state allows you to bring pre-ban magazines from out of state. Laws of this type usually didn't allow importation of hi-caps after they went into effect.

 

[handgunner356]

Just the fact that pre-94 and new 5900 mags are not marked in any way would make it impossible to tell when they were made. The only mags made in the "Dark Ages" were dated or marked L/E. I think your still skirting your state law by buying from outside, but I'm not going there. One thing you might try with your 10rd mags is that they usually use a spring that is tight wound on each in so that it binds when full, you could replace that with a standard spring for a 15rd mag. It won't increase capacity but might not have as much pressure on the top round allowing it to seat easier.

 

[tom 45]

Preban mags.

I live in a preban state too and I believe there is a way to tell preban from postban...
I'm not sure yet and I don't want to give bad info...in the open.

Can you get 10 rounds in your 10 round mags?
I have a 6906 and I can only get 9 rounds in the 10 round mags.

 

[jsbethel]

KY Imports has the early 14 round magazines with the black follower.

 

[Grinder]

If they are on the cards, they ARE preban
This type packaging with an unmarked mag was only available preban

 

[REVCHARLIE]

I have Legal Pre-Ban Mags for both 59 and 49/69 pistols. I even have some preban Law Enforcement 59 Series Mags with the sleeve for use in 69 Series Guns.

Mass. Residents are required to have a MA ClassA Carry License to purchase/own.

New York requires MFG prior to Federal Ban taking effect.

Not 100% sure on CT Laws, but I have had CT Residents offer to purchase.

ME, NH, VT, PA, and I understand RI there's no problem with post ban mags?

Anyone with additional info Please Chime In!!!!

 

[Iram]

murphydog, handgunner356,

I'll double check, but the last time I bought used magazines it was legal to get prebans from out of state. The person in MA receiving the magazines needs a MA-issues LTC (class A) and the magazine needs to really be pre-1994.

 

[vista461]

Just out of curiosity, how can you tell other than the ones made during the ban? No mags I have from after the 94-04 ban have any date markings at all that I can see.

 

[Iram]

Just out of curiosity, how can you tell other than the ones made during the ban? No mags I have from after the 94-04 ban have any date markings at all that I can see.

That's always the problem.

For AR15 mags, sometimes you can tell by the baseplates (specific manufacturers only build mags during specific years).

For some guns, it's obvious (S&W M&P semi's didn't exist in 1994).

For everything else, well, I buy from a reputable seller and am ready to argue "but the seller told me they were preban" if I have to. I have one 14rd preban S&W 59-series magazine that came with my S&W 910 I bought used from a VERY reliable gunstore, and that mag has absolutely no markings that indicate date of manufacture.

I doubt anyone has ever been arrested due to having mags that were banned due to the date they were manufactured. If anyone knows better please speak up.

 

[philmontscout]

If in NY state, the law does not differentiate between pre and post ban mags. All technically illegal. That being said, if you only do legal things, they should leave you alone.

 

[JSR III]

Kind of makes you wonder when "they" became more powerful than "we"???

 

[Practical]

If in NY state, the law does not differentiate between pre and post ban mags. All technically illegal. That being said, if you only do legal things, they should leave you alone.

Magazines made BEFORE 1994 are legal. I have not seen/heard any ruling that they had to EXIST inside NY before that date.

Glock magazines and some other underwent design changes molding marks etc that differentiate PRE-Ban and Post-Ban.

 

[REVCHARLIE]

It's very easy to tell the MFG Year of Glock Mags due to chages in mag bodys at the top.

I've been told all 15 round 59 Series, the one's with 15 count round holes, are Post Ban?

 

[handgunner356]

No, as soon as they went to the orange follower ('89?) they had the 15rd markings.

 

[mrmike7189]

what i do is keep the body of my pre-ban mags and swap out the insides with new mag springs, followers, and base plates....makes a new mag in secoonds for about 10 bucks