Gun law in Austria: The crux with the magazines

Since December 14, 2019, in Austria, magazines for long firearms with a capacity of more than 10 rounds and magazines for handguns with a capacity of more than 20 rounds are prohibited weapons of category A. That's a fact. Regardless of whether arguments are made that they are not technically weapons, etc. The legislator doesn't care, they are now simply category A and cannot be possessed.

However, the legislator has thought ahead and existing stocks can be reported until December 13, 2021 and possession is not punishable until then, after that it is! High-capacity magazines cannot be attached to a firearm, unless you register this weapon with the authorities. They will then issue you a category A permit to use this weapon with a large magazine. But this leads to further interesting constellations that would go beyond the scope here.

Now some manufacturers offer magazine limiters to reduce the capacity of a 30-round magazine to 10. Sounds great, but unfortunately it's not, because in Austria, your magazine still remains category A. The legislator doesn't care whether this limiter was installed from the factory or added later. Whether it's screwed, glued, or sealed. They have no legal effect, the magazine is measured at the maximum capacity it has without the limiter. So stay within the legal limits and report your magazines.

We will of course report our various 30 round magazines and then tell you how it all goes. It remains exciting.

Austrian Weapons Law: www.ris.bka.gv.at