What Are the Magazine Capacity Limits in Illinois?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
Illinois bans the manufacture, delivery, sale, and purchase of large capacity ammunition feeding devices, generally defined as magazines holding more than 10 rounds for long guns and 15 rounds for handguns.
What This Means for You
Illinois enacted significant magazine capacity restrictions that affect what you can legally acquire and build with in the state. These limits apply to new acquisitions, though lawfully owned magazines from before the restrictions may be grandfathered. Understanding these limits is crucial before starting any build project that involves magazine selection.
The Detail
Illinois law prohibits large capacity ammunition feeding devices, which are defined as magazines, belts, drums, feed strips, or similar devices that can accept more than a specified number of rounds. For long guns including rifles and shotguns, the limit is generally 10 rounds, while handguns have a 15-round threshold. These restrictions apply to the manufacture, delivery, sale, and purchase of such devices within the state.
The law includes certain exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, and retired officers under specific circumstances. Additionally, magazines that were lawfully owned before the effective date of the restrictions may be grandfathered, though you should verify the specific requirements for lawful possession of pre-ban magazines with official state resources.
Enforcement and compliance requirements can be complex, particularly regarding proof of lawful ownership for grandfathered magazines. The state may have specific documentation or registration requirements that affect how you can legally possess and use higher capacity magazines that were acquired before the ban.
These restrictions significantly impact firearm builds and modifications within Illinois. If you're planning a build that requires specific magazine compatibility, you need to ensure your chosen magazines comply with state capacity limits. I recommend verifying current law details and any recent updates with official Illinois state resources, as magazine capacity laws can change and enforcement interpretations may evolve.
Build Impact
Your magazine well dimensions and feed system design must accommodate magazines that comply with Illinois capacity limits. This directly affects your choice of platform and may require sourcing specific compliant magazines rather than using standard capacity options that exceed state limits.