I read on the Outdoor Wire this morning about Mossberg's new 4x4 bolt action rifle that accepts AR-15 magazines. NJ laws being what they are, this brings up an interesting new twist.

 

The 15 round limit for magazines only applies to semi-auto rifles/pistols. Bolt actions are OK to go beyond that. So if you own the new rifle, and no AR's, should you be OK to possess the magazines?

 

I thought that the law made possession of magazines in excess of 15 rounds illegal, but that stems from only semi-autos having detachable magazines that large. With a bolt gun and a 30 round mag, that should be legal under NJ law, but since the AR 30 rounder can go in an AR, I'm guessing that possession would still be illegal. Though I suspect if a bolt gun were made with a proprietary detachable 30 round mag (doesn't fit in any semi-auto) that would be OK.

 

Thoughts?

I read on the Outdoor Wire this morning about Mossberg's new 4x4 bolt action rifle that accepts AR-15 magazines. NJ laws being what they are, this brings up an interesting new twist.

 

The 15 round limit for magazines only applies to semi-auto rifles/pistols. Bolt actions are OK to go beyond that. So if you own the new rifle, and no AR's, should you be OK to possess the magazines?

 

I thought that the law made possession of magazines in excess of 15 rounds illegal, but that stems from only semi-autos having detachable magazines that large. With a bolt gun and a 30 round mag, that should be legal under NJ law, but since the AR 30 rounder can go in an AR, I'm guessing that possession would still be illegal. Though I suspect if a bolt gun were made with a proprietary detachable 30 round mag (doesn't fit in any semi-auto) that would be OK.

 

Thoughts?

 

The more knowledgeable folks will be around shortly and give you a definitive answer, but if it's not a semi auto and the MAG DOES NOT have the ability to fit in a gun that is Semi Auto you should be good, but like I said, I am just going by what my tired brain has though it may remember.

 

Harry

If you read the law it bans any magazine over 15 rds no matter what you use it in. You can be charged with "possession of high capacity magazines" only with no other charge.

Nope - Bolt/lever actions don't have capacity limits in NJ.

I read on the Outdoor Wire this morning about Mossberg's new 4x4 bolt action rifle that accepts AR-15 magazines. NJ laws being what they are, this brings up an interesting new twist.

 

The 15 round limit for magazines only applies to semi-auto rifles/pistols. Bolt actions are OK to go beyond that. So if you own the new rifle, and no AR's, should you be OK to possess the magazines?

 

I thought that the law made possession of magazines in excess of 15 rounds illegal, but that stems from only semi-autos having detachable magazines that large. With a bolt gun and a 30 round mag, that should be legal under NJ law, but since the AR 30 rounder can go in an AR, I'm guessing that possession would still be illegal. Though I suspect if a bolt gun were made with a proprietary detachable 30 round mag (doesn't fit in any semi-auto) that would be OK.

 

Thoughts?

BB's are very dangerous, you might take someone's 'eye' out with one

I believe if it can feed ammunition into a semi automatic firearm, it is illegal. That magazine would be illegal. Perhaps you can tig weld a tab onto it and cut a corresponding notch into the gun so it is specific to the bolt action and wont fit an AR15?

Nope - Bolt/lever actions don't have capacity limits in NJ.

 

Perhaps you can tig weld a tab onto it and cut a corresponding notch into the gun so it is specific to the bolt action and wont fit an AR15?

 

All of this is true but if you want to be the test case with the tab welded to your 30 rd AR magazine go ahead.

If you read the law it bans any ARmagazine over 15 rds no matter what you use it in.

 

Okay I fixed my original statement. If you put some weld on the mag and use it in your bolt action and get caught with it, it will not be you and the cop arguing it on the side of the road on the way back from the range. It will be a judge or jury that decides if your "permanent alteration" prevents it from being used in an AR. It would seem to me that it could be "altered back" to AR use with a file or a Dremel.

 

I wouldn't try it.

and you can alter any (2) 10 round magazines into a 20 round magazine with a welding machine. Are all magazines made out of a weldable material banned now?

 

 

I never said you SHOULD go the tab route, it was more of an example. I agree with the above.

NJSA 2C:39-1

 

y."Large capacity ammunition magazine" means a box, drum, tube or other container which is capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition to be fed continuously and directly therefrom into a semi-automatic firearm.

 

On reading the statute, I would think that you wouldn't just have to not have any semi-autos in your possession into which the magazine would fit. Rather, your magazine would have to not fit ANY semi-autos. But, it does appear that the bar on "large capacity magazine" applies only to semi-auto magazines.

A magazine with capacity greater than 15 rounds is illegal all by itself in NJ. I don't know if attaching it to a bolt action rifle makes it an additional charge.

A magazine with capacity greater than 15 rounds is illegal all by itself in NJ. I don't know if attaching it to a bolt action rifle makes it an additional charge.

 

Please cite the statute/administrative code that you're relying on for your statement.

A magazine with capacity greater than 15 rounds is illegal all by itself in NJ.

 

 

Not if it is unique to non-semi-auto firearms

If the magazine fits only in bolt action rifles, you could have as many rounds in it as you'd like.

 

If it takes standard AR magazines, which would slap right into a semi-auto, then the magazine is illegal and you can't have it with your bolt action.

 

Now, here's the kicker for ya. Say there was a bolt action magazine fed firearm that was brand new. You buy it and some 20-30rd magazines for it.

 

A year later, some other company, or the same company, makes a semi-auto firearm that takes the same magazines as your bolt action.

 

Guess what, your magazines are now illegal and you've got half a dozen felonies sitting in your gun safe the instant the first rifle rolls off the assembly line.

 

Don't you just love ex post facto laws?

Not if it is unique to non-semi-auto firearms

 

The only magazines I know of fitting this would be the 20 rd trench magazines made for the Mauser and I think they made them for Enfields too.

If the magazine fits only in bolt action rifles, you could have as many rounds in it as you'd like.

 

If it takes standard AR magazines, which would slap right into a semi-auto, then the magazine is illegal and you can't have it with your bolt action.

 

Now, here's the kicker for ya. Say there was a bolt action magazine fed firearm that was brand new. You buy it and some 20-30rd magazines for it.

 

A year later, some other company, or the same company, makes a semi-auto firearm that takes the same magazines as your bolt action.

 

Guess what, your magazines are now illegal and you've got half a dozen felonies sitting in your gun safe the instant the first rifle rolls off the assembly line.

 

Don't you just love ex post facto laws?

True

 

And the problem is there would be no legal way for you to dispose of it under the law, even though it was 100% legal until the second someone created a semi auto for it to fit into. What do you legally do then?

 

The same can be said for machine gun mags, if it only fits a full auto it's legal until a semiauto version is created, which is happening more and more nowadays.

True

 

And the problem is there would be no legal way for you to dispose of it under the law, even though it was 100% legal until the second someone created a semi auto for it to fit into. What do you legally do then?

 

Oh yeah! I forgot all about that. It's illegal to dispose of standard capacity magazines in NJ as well. So if the owner of said magazines decided to be a good citizen upon hearing of the new rifle coming out, head into the garage and hacksaw those now-illegal-but-were-perfectly-legal-yesterday into a pile of scrap metal, they'd still be committing a felony.

 

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I just purchased a 10 shot magazine for an old bolt action 22. It was NOS and the packaging even said "10 Shot". Well when it arrived today I was able to load 17 rounds. I thought great and crap at the same time. Don't know why an unopened retail package would have 10 printed on the packaging when it clearly loads 17 to the lowest sight hole. Hell, I probably can force a few more in. The spring and follower still had some room. It appears after reading the State's definition, that a high capacity magazine only exists when combined with use in a semi-auto. If it's not for use in a semi-auto then it's magically not a high capacity magazine. As stupid as that sounds, semi-auto magazines with capacities greater than 15 are not the numerical equivalent to non auto loader firearms such as a bolt or lever action firearm.

I just purchased a 10 shot magazine for an old bolt action 22. It was NOS and the packaging even said "10 Shot". Well when it arrived today I was able to load 17 rounds. I thought great and crap at the same time. Don't know why an unopened retail package would have 10 printed on the packaging when it clearly loads 17 to the lowest sight hole. Hell, I probably can force a few more in. The spring and follower still had some room. It appears after reading the State's definition, that a high capacity magazine only exists when combined with use in a semi-auto. If it's not for use in a semi-auto then it's magically not a high capacity magazine. As stupid as that sounds, semi-auto magazines with capacities greater than 15 are not the numerical equivalent to non auto loader firearms such as a bolt or lever action firearm.

Just make sure it doesn't fit ANY semiauto.

If it does, get rid of it ASAP

Just make sure it doesn't fit ANY semiauto.

If it does, get rid of it ASAP

 

And if he does that, it's a crime of the 4th degree, under 2C:39-9 (h). Ain't NJ great???

I just purchased a 10 shot magazine for an old bolt action 22. It was NOS and the packaging even said "10 Shot". Well when it arrived today I was able to load 17 rounds. I thought great and crap at the same time. Don't know why an unopened retail package would have 10 printed on the packaging when it clearly loads 17 to the lowest sight hole. Hell, I probably can force a few more in. The spring and follower still had some room. It appears after reading the State's definition, that a high capacity magazine only exists when combined with use in a semi-auto. If it's not for use in a semi-auto then it's magically not a high capacity magazine. As stupid as that sounds, semi-auto magazines with capacities greater than 15 are not the numerical equivalent to non auto loader firearms such as a bolt or lever action firearm.

 

The posts after yours answer the legal side of it, but I have to ask, is there a stamp on the mag showing the capacity, and maybe even a p/n: that cross references to there catalog or web site listing it as a 10 round mag?? If so and there have been no modifications, we may be in an even more gray area, that is if it fit's in a semi auto of some sort.

 

Harry

I know this is an old thread, but a new gun makes this question relevant again. The Ruger Precision Rifle (bolt-action) will accept multiple types of magazines, including those that fit the AR platform. So my question was, much like the OP's question, can you legally use a large capacity magazine in a bolt-action rifle?

 

Many people look to section 2C:39-1 for guidance, but that just defines all the terms in the statutes from "large capacity magazine" to "retail dealer" without setting up any prohibitions. 

 

The relevant section that makes a "large capacity magazine" evil all by itself (regardless of how used) is 2C:39-3 "Prohibited Weapons and Devices":

 

 j.     Any person who knowingly has in his possession a large capacity ammunition magazine is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree unless the person has registered an assault firearm pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1990, c.32 (C.2C:58-12) and the magazine is maintained and used in connection with participation in competitive shooting matches sanctioned by the Director of Civilian Marksmanship of the United States Department of the Army.

 

Notice that there's only one exception (for a registered assault firearm registered for competitive shooting under the supervision of the US Army). So any magazine capable of holding more that 15 rounds and capable of feeding a semi-automatic (the basic definition of large capacity magazine) is illegal to possess, whether used in a semi-automatic rifle or bolt action, or just kept in a drawer. 

 

The NJ Administrative Code (NJAC) also sets up a few exemptions for dealers (wholesale or retail), but those wouldn't help out the average Joe.

 

So, if a bolt-action rifle had a proprietary magazine incapable of feeding a semi-auto, it would seem to be OK. 

Yes

No to your question. Yes to your rhetorical question.