RCMP LETTER DECLARES .50 BEOWULF MAGAZINES PROHIBITED

Daniel Fritter in Politics on November 17, 2015

UPDATE - November 18, 2015

The CSSA and CSAAA have both issued the following statement:"Despite some recent social media surrounding Beowulf magazines, the CSAAA is confirming that no ban on the sale of these magazine in Canada has been issued by the R.C.M.P. or the Minister of Public Safety at this time. All six 50 Beowulf firearms FRT numbers remain listed as legal with a five round capacity and retailers should continue to sell this product at this time:

#121656 Alexander Arms

#124566 Alexander Arms

#128962 MGI

#122716 Stag Arms

#136602 VLtor Arms

A recent letter from the R.C.M.P. addressed to Aztech Armoury in response to a denial of their International Import Certificate for these magazines was shared via social media and has caused widespread speculation that the magazines themselves have been banned. This was a private letter to one company regarding one shipment, not a Special Bulletin. The CSAAA continues to work with the office of the Minister of Public Safety regarding this issue and will release further updates as needed."

COVERAGE - November 17, 2015

Firearms importer Aztech Armory was recently declined an International Import Certificate by Foreign Affairs Canada for a shipment of Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf magazines. Foreign Affairs Canada referred to the controversy surrounding the use of these magazines, and referred the importer to the RCMP for further clarification. The RCMP response was made public by Aztech Armory on the Gun Owners of Canada forum and is quoted below:

"The 50 Beowulf Magazine

In the case of AR platform rifles chambered for 50 Beowulf calibre, the magazine is adapted from the original 5.56x45 NATO version of the magazine, generally by one or more of the following: widening the space between the magazine lips, changing the angle of the magazine lips and changing the feed angle of the magazine follower. The adaptations more efficiently feed the much larger diameter 50 Beowulf calibre cartridge. However, the original ability to contain and feed 5.56x45 mm NATO cartridges has not been deleted and the magazines remain serviceable for that purpose.

The 50 Beowulf cartridge is centrefire and the AR platform rifles which use that calibre are semiautomatic. Thus, cartridge magazines for 50 Beowulf calibre firearms are prohibited if more than five 50 Beowulf cartridges can be contained in the magazine (subparagraph ii, as above).

Magazines for the AR platform which contain four or five 50 Beowulf calibre cartridges present a more complicated situation. Such magazines will generally contain 11 and 14 cartridges respectively of 5.56x45 mm NATO (or 223 Remington) calibre. Since the 50 Beowulf calibre magazines are adapted from the original 5.56x45 mm NATO design and the ability of the magazine to perform as originally designed has not been compromised by the adaptation, such magazines are prohibited if they contain more than five 5.56x45 mm NATO cartridges. The magazines are in effect dual calibre magazines and will be prohibited if they exceed five shots capacity of either calibre.

Magazines have recently been manufactured in, or imported into Canada bearing markings suggesting they are exclusively designed for 50 Beowulf ammunition, and at four or five shot capacity, are non-prohibited magazines. This is simply not the case. All magazines for 50 Beowulf calibre AR platform firearms presently on the Canadian market are prohibited devices.

AR Platform Upper Receivers

You had also asked about 50 Beowulf calibre AR upper receivers. Your understanding is correct that they are not prohibited."

This prohibition directly contradicts RCMP Bulletin 72 determining magazine capacity, as well as a 2013 report from the Justice Department issued to Global News that specifically states Beowulf magazines to be legal devices regardless of their use:

Image: Global News

Further details are not available, and we are reaching out to the Minister of Public Safety’s office for further comment. Possession of a prohibited device is illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada and punishable by a sentence of up to ten years.