What Are the Magazine Capacity Limits in Oregon?

What This Means for You

The magazine restriction significantly impacts builders who previously could use standard capacity magazines. You'll need to verify compliance for any magazines you plan to acquire or use. The law includes some exceptions for law enforcement and certain pre-existing ownership situations, but these are narrow.

The Detail

Oregon's magazine capacity law restricts magazines to 10 rounds for most firearms. This covers pistol magazines, rifle magazines, and detachable box magazines regardless of the host firearm. The restriction applies to both the transfer and possession of larger capacity magazines.

The law includes specific exceptions for law enforcement officers, military personnel in the course of official duties, and certain other limited categories. There are also provisions related to magazines owned before the law's effective date, though the specifics of these grandfathering provisions have particular requirements you should verify with official state resources.

Enforcement and penalties for violation can be significant, so understanding the exact boundaries of compliance is critical. The law affects not just new purchases but also possession of existing magazines. If you're building firearms in Oregon, you need to plan around this 10-round limitation from the start.

Some magazines are designed to be easily modified for capacity, while others are not. The law's language regarding modification and repair of existing magazines has specific provisions that you should research thoroughly through official Oregon state resources before making any decisions about magazine modifications.

Build Impact

You'll need to source 10-round magazines specifically rather than using standard capacity magazines that come with many firearms or parts kits. This affects both the availability and cost of magazines for your builds, particularly for platforms that typically use higher capacity magazines.