Magazine Capacity Limits:
10 Rounds Rifle, 15 Rounds Handgun

The Protect Illinois Communities Act established magazine capacity limits as a core component of Illinois's assault weapons ban. These restrictions apply to ammunition feeding devices for both rifles and handguns, with separate thresholds for each firearm type. The law bans the manufacture, delivery, sale, and purchase of large-capacity magazines while allowing grandfathered possession of pre-owned devices under specific conditions.^[1]

Capacity Thresholds

PICA defines "large-capacity ammunition feeding device" based on the type of firearm the magazine is designed for:^[1]

• Rifles: Any ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 10 rounds is prohibited
• Handguns: Any ammunition feeding device with the capacity to accept more than 15 rounds is prohibited
• Semiautomatic shotguns: A fixed magazine capacity exceeding 5 rounds triggers classification as an assault weapon under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(a)(1)(F)(v). This threshold is enforced through the assault-weapons regime, not through the large-capacity-magazine provisions, and converts the entire firearm into a banned assault weapon rather than only restricting the magazine.^[5]

The definition applies to detachable magazines, fixed magazines, drums, feed strips, and any similar device regardless of the specific design. This includes aftermarket and third-party magazines as well as factory-original equipment.

Pre-Owned Magazine Grandfathering

Individuals who possessed large-capacity magazines before January 10, 2023, may retain them. Like assault weapons, grandfathered magazines must be registered through the endorsement affidavit process administered by the Illinois State Police. Grandfathered magazine owners are subject to the same possession and transport restrictions that apply to grandfathered assault weapons.^[2]

Possession and Transport Restrictions

Grandfathered large-capacity magazines may only be possessed and used in the same locations permitted for grandfathered assault weapons:

• On the owner's private property
• On another person's private property not open to the public, with that person's permission
• At a licensed firing range
• During transport to and from these locations, with the magazine unloaded and enclosed in a case

Use of a grandfathered large-capacity magazine at any other location -- including public lands, state forests, or areas not meeting the above criteria -- is a violation of the Act.^[3]

Penalties

A violation of 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10 -- manufacturing, delivering, selling, purchasing, or possessing a large-capacity ammunition feeding device in violation of the Section -- is a petty offense punishable by a fine of $1,000 for each violation under 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10(g). The statute does not classify a large-capacity-magazine violation as a misdemeanor or felony and imposes no term of incarceration. Each prohibited device is treated as a separate $1,000 violation.^[4]

Exemptions

Active and retired law enforcement officers covered by LEOSA are exempt from the magazine capacity limits. Licensed firearms dealers may possess large-capacity magazines for the purpose of selling them to exempt persons or for transfer out of state. Tubular magazines on lever-action rifles are not subject to the capacity restrictions.^[1]