Different Types Of California-legal Firearm Magazines: Fixed, Detachable, And More

The Golden State of America has the most stringent and unabashed gun laws as compared to any other state. As this state is home to millions of people who can’t be kept deprived from exercising their Second Amendment Act, many companies have modified their gun product to make their weapons California compliant.

The gun laws have altered the manufacturing of firearms and have been a source of inspiration for the other states to follow suit. The main thing that the state of California wants to curb or put a cap on is the amount of rounds allowed in any firearm and any given point.

The mass shootings happening all around the USA in the past several years have shown us all one thing: that the shooters fired continuously. They had large capacity magazines which would allow them to shoot vigorously causing severe damage to life and property.

So now it's settled that large-capacity magazines are illegal in California only AR lower California are allowed, keeping in mind the Second Amendment Act. When talking about firearms and how dangerous they can be, magazines can play a pivotal role for sure.

It's the place where the ammunition is stored and is ready to be fired. For a gun to be legal in California it has to either have a fixed magazine that has no more than 10 rounds and can have other add-ons like pistol grip, flash suppressor, grenade launcher and forward pistol grip.

But if you want a larger capacity magazine that is detachable then not only will you have to forgo all the above aftermarket add ons, you also can’t have more than 20 rounds.

The main logic behind this law is to prolong the reloading time of any weapon to diminish any chances of a shooting spree or mass killings.

Any assault weapon must disassemble first to remove the magazine when it has scary features like mentioned above. The San Diego gun stores offer a great variety of AR lower California magazines which are fixed as well detachable, so let’s have a look!

California Legal Mags- Types

As mentioned earlier, magazines are the feeding devices and a storage compartment for the ammo. These are designed with a spring follower that pushes the cartridges to move into action.

In order to check a magazine for the remaining ammo, you can either feel it or nowadays you can find magazines made with polymer that is see through which makes it very simple and easy.

There are basically two types of magazines-

Detachable magazine- this magazine allows you to have extra ammo on hand whenever the first round is fully used. These types of magazines feed the gun countless times as you just have to remove the old one and insert the filled one and you are equipped to fire again in a far less time.

Fixed Magazine- on the other hand, a fixed magazine means that you have to manually remove the used ammo to be removed from the gun and new ammo be inserted in the firearm. This process takes time and requires efficiency. The tubular, hinged floor plate and revolving are all kinds of fixed magazines.

Operation in Different Firearms

Detachable magazines can be found in rifles, handguns and even shotguns. Most of these magazines use a clip to speed up the reloading process dramatically. Initially this clip idea was for military use as it allows you to preset the ammo in the clip and all you have to do is to insert the set in the magazine rather than loading each bullet individually.

Just like magazines you can also find clips in mainly two types, a stripper clip and an En bloc clip. The latter type of clip the entire clip and cartridges are loaded into the firearm. The clip automatically ejects the firearm after the last cartridge is fired. But the catch is that with this system if the clip isn’t loaded properly the firearm will not function properly.

The former type of clip is a tool that holds the cartridges and allows you to swiftly insert it in the magazine, be it detachable or fixed. It is basically stripped of all ammo when inserted but once it's there you can easily load the cartridges.

When it comes to handguns like revolvers, the wheel in the firearm is considered as its magazine as that is the part that holds the cartridges and where they are loaded.

Maglock

At first the California rules regarding the release of fixed magazine was quite simple, a simple tool like a buttle can be used to release the magazine but unfortunately this has been made a bit more complicated and we now have to dislocate the firearm action (upper and lower) to release the magazine.

The AR maglock fully takes over the bullet button concept by adding a little wonder arm which you can't press until the upper is in place. You first have to release the rear takedown pin to open the action, then you can press the arm to release the magazine. But releasing the magazine from the firearm is just half the work, the other half is to relocate it in minimum time for efficient shooting. The AR maglock allows the shooter to reinsert the magazine while the upper or lower receivers are open or close. 

Best CA Legal Mags for Rifles, Handguns and Shotguns by WBT guns

WBT guns offer a wide range of magazines that are fully compliant with California laws and can be used for any AR legal California. Offering a wide range of mags to choose from reputable companies like Magpul, Ruger, Sig Sauer, HexMag, Zastava, Springfield, Smith & Wesson, Thompson, Beretta and many more. You will find magazines that range from 10-20 rounds which is legal capacity in California for any kind of rifle like AK-47, AR 10/15, shotguns or pistols.

Takeaway Points

Magazines are an essential part of any firearm but in California they make all the difference in the world. Learn about the different types of magazines and their limitations to figure out the best one for your requirement.