Magazine modification

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I've been trying to find some pre-ban 15 round flush fit mags for my P229 9mm and haven't been able to find any yet, so I have a plan. Is it legal for me to:

1) Buy a preban 13 round mag online
2) Then buy a postban 15 round mag in NH and bring the preban 13 round mag with me (drive to NH and buy it and don't bring it back into MA)
3) WHILE STILL IN NH take apart both mags and put the follower and possibly base plate if its needed from the 15 rounder into the 13 rounder.
4) Throw away the left over pieces from the 15 rounder before coming back to MA with my newly modified mag.

I'm not creating a new high cap feeding device since the one I was modifying was already high cap

I'm not bringing postban high cap mags into this state, just one piece from one

Could I just buy replacement parts (follower and base plate only) for a post ban 15 rounder and put them in preban 13 rounder?

Thanks


EDIT: This isn't the same as http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/104987-Pre-ban-mags-can-you-update-the-internals because I'm asking about a preban to postban swap.
 
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It appears that it would be legal. The only clear cut area of law that I can see is that you can't have post-ban mags in MA, which you would cover by having them in NH, so you're safe there. Keep in mind this is all a gray area of Mass. law; most people follow the Federal standard on such matters during the 94 AWB, but there's no binding case law on it in MA.

Here's a letter written by ATF that sort of touches on the subject.

http://www.nfaoa.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=166&sid=3dd111bf89a3a0a4a22a38e8132ebe31

ATF wrote another letter too regarding modifying pre-ban mags, I'll keep looking to find it for you. Basically they said that modifications are OK as long as the mag still works in the gun it was originally designed for.
 
Found a link to a thread with it:

http://www.northeastshooters.com/vb...-pre-ban-mag-to-fit-a-different-gun?p=1193944

Dear Mr. Bardwell:

This refers to your letter of September 15, 2000, in which you
asked about modifying a magazine.

As defined in section 921(a)(31), of Title 18, United States Code
(U.S.C.), the term large capacity ammunition feeding device -

(A) means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar
device manufactured after the date of enactment of the Violent
Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (September 13,
1994) that has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored
or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition; but

(B) does not include an attached tubular device designed to
accept,and capable of operating only with .22 caliber rimfire
ammunition.

It is generally unlawful for a person to transfer or possess a
large capacity ammunition feeding device as provided in 18 U.S.C.
section 922(w).

A magazine manufactured prior to September 13, 1994, would not be
a large capacity ammunition-feeding device as defined. You asked
about altering such a magazine so that it could fit in another type
of firearm.

If the altered magazine could no longer function in the firearm for
which it was originally designed, it is our opinion that a new
magazine has been manufactured. The fact that the materials used
to construct the new magazine were made prior to September 13,
1994, would not mean that the magazine was manufactured prior tot
hat date. The altered magazine would be a large capacity
ammunition feeding device and it would be subject to the
prohibition in section 922(w).

If the magazine has minor modifications performed, such as cutting
an additional slot for a different style of magazine release, and
it still functions in the original firearm for which it was
designed, we do not believe that it would be considered a new
magazine. However, it major changes are made it is possible that
a new magazine has been manufactured. It is not possible for us to
render a final opinion on such magazines without examining a
sample.


We trust that the foregoing has been responsive to your inquiry.
If you have further questions concerning this matter, please
contact us.

But again, remember, there's no way of really knowing what's considered legal with modifying AWB goodies in MA.
 
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