Gun Magazine Capacity Restriction Guide: What You Can Actually Own in 2026

Ten rounds in California. Zero magazine restrictions in Arizona. Magazine laws change faster than politicians change positions, and one wrong purchase can turn you into a felon overnight. This no-BS guide tells you exactly what’s legal where you live—or where you’re traveling—in December 2025.

Current U.S. Magazine Capacity Laws (Updated December 2025)

Here is a convenient chart for your viewing of the current U.S. magazine capacity laws. Of course, this information is accurate at time of writing and can be subject to change at any time. Naturally, the information presented in this section can change along with the laws in an effort to stay up to date with current regulations. Of course, nothing published here on True Shot Academy is to be taken as end-all-be-all legal advice. While we strive for accuracy and current information, we also encourage our readers and customers to do their own research regarding the laws they are specifically subject to.

State	Permanent Magazines Allowed	Notes & Exceptions	Fixed-Mag / Featureless Workarounds
California	10 rounds max	No new >10-round mags since 2017. “Freedom Week” mags still legal if you kept them.	Fixed-mag ARs can use 30-rd bodies (pinned/riveted to 10)
Colorado	15 rounds max	Some counties (Boulder, Denver, Vail) tried local bans—state preemption killed them in 2023.	N/A
Connecticut	10 rounds max	Pre-2013 >10-round mags grandfathered with registration	Fixed-mag rifles allowed full capacity in some configs
Delaware	17 rounds max (new 2022 law)	Handgun mags only—rifle mags unrestricted	N/A
Hawaii	Handguns 10 rounds max	Rifles unrestricted except pistol-grip shotguns	N/A
Illinois	Statewide: No limit yet, but…	Chicago & several counties enforce 10–15 round local limits	Fixed-mag builds common
Maryland	10 rounds max	Grandfathered pre-2013 mags legal	HBAR ARs exempt from ban entirely
Massachusetts	10 rounds max	Pre-1994 mags grandfathered	Fixed-mag or “pre-ban” lowers
New Jersey	10 rounds max (was 15)	2024 court ruling dropped it to 10. Pinned 10/30s are your friend.	Fixed-mag rifles can use full bodies pinned to 10
New York	10 rounds max	“NY SAFE Act” – loading more than 7 in a 10-round mag is still a misdemeanor in some counties (yes, really)	Fixed-mag featureless builds
Vermont	Rifles 10, handguns 15	First state to restrict rifle mags	N/A
Washington	10 rounds max (2019 law)	Standard-capacity mags now “illegal to import or sell” – possession still legal	Fixed-mag rifles common
Washington D.C.	10 rounds max	Strictest enforcement in the country	N/A
Free America	No limit	AK, AL, AZ, AR, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR (court stay), PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY	Buy whatever you want

Grandfather Clauses

Put plainly, the term “grandfather clause” refers to a legal provision which exempts existing situations from new regulations. This is to say that some items, if owned prior to prohibition, can be legally owned despite their recent prohibition. Why are we talking about clauses of this type? Well, that is because there are several restrictive states which have effectively “grandfathered in” magazines which have become illegal due to recent rulings and laws. For example, if you lived in California prior to the implementation of magazine restrictions or got magazines during Freedom Week, your higher capacity magazines would be legal under a grandfather clause, despite magazines over 10 rounds being banned. These clauses are important as preexisting owners and their property are protected from running afoul of new laws and regulations.

To Keep An Eye On

Like the chart above, this section is subject to change as regulations are batted back or delayed from going into effect. Expect this section to update periodically to reflect more current information.

• Oregon Measure 114 – 10-round limit passed in 2022, permanently enjoined by state courts as of Dec 2025. Standard-capacity mags remain legal.
  

What About the “Safe Passage Law”?

The “Safe Passage Law” is a provision from the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA) which deals with interstate transportation of firearms. Specifically, this provision protects gun owners who are traveling through restrictive states with firearms which may be illegal in the state they are traveling through. Those traveling are expected to limit their stops in the state to only what is necessary (gas, etc) in order to ensure they get through the restrictive state as soon as possible. In short, one cannot loiter in a restrictive state with prohibited firearms and continuously claim “Safe Passage” protection. The provision only applies to those in continuous transit to their destination beyond the borders of the restrictive state.

While protections exist for firearms at the federal level, such protections do not exist at the federal level for magazines. Magazines, like other items, are regulated at the state level, meaning that one needs to be compliant with these laws - regardless of the safe passage law. Additionally, one should also familiarize themselves with the requirements of the state they are traveling to or through regarding storage of firearms, magazines, and ammunition. One may be protected under the “Safe Passage Law” for their firearm itself, but run afoul of magazine restrictions or storage requirements. Best solution? Prepare your transported items in a way that is as compliant as possible for each area you may find yourself in or going through.

The Smart Way to Stay Legal When Traveling

1. Default to the strictest state on your route. Driving through CA with 30-rounders? You’re rolling the dice.
2. Keep standard-capacity mags unloaded and locked in a separate case when crossing borders.
3. Use 10/30 style or true 10 round mags—they’re legal everywhere except D.C. and a couple NY counties.

Best “Restricted-State Legal” Magazines in 2026

The limited capacity magazines True Shot Ammo sells are factory restricted and are 100 % compliant with a variety of magazine restrictions throughout the country.

Final Word

Laws change. Courts flip. One election can make your safe full of 30-rounders illegal overnight—or legal again. The only way to win is to stay informed and buy from a retailer that actually tracks this stuff daily.

True Shot Ammo keeps 10/30 style mags and true 10 round magazines alike in stock 365 days a year. We ship the same day to every state in the lower 48 that we’re allowed to, and we’ll tell you upfront if we can’t. No surprises, no felony letters.

Check your state’s current rules, then grab what you need before the next panic or ban wave hits.