Magazine Capacity Limits for Rifles and Pistols in Texas
There are no state magazine capacity limits in Texas. Federal law is the only layer, and it doesn’t cap capacity either for civilians.
Texas has no state statute limiting magazine capacity for rifles or pistols. You can lawfully own, buy, and use 30-round AR magazines, 33-round Glock stick mags, 100-round drums, and everything in between.
What federal law says
The federal Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004 and was not renewed. Federal law currently sets no civilian magazine capacity limit. Certain states have their own caps, but Texas is not among them.
Traveling with high-capacity magazines
State capacity limits can bite you if you cross state lines. Know the rules where you’re going.
- California: 10-round limit.
- New York: 10-round limit.
- New Jersey: 10-round limit.
- Massachusetts, Connecticut, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Washington, Vermont: various caps.
Federal Firearm Owners Protection Act allows peaceable transit through prohibiting states if the firearm and magazines are unloaded and stored inaccessibly during transit, but state courts have not always honored this protection when out-of-town travelers stopped for other reasons.
Purchase and possession in Texas
- No state registration for magazines.
- No permit required to buy magazines.
- No possession limit.
- Mail order and interstate purchases from lawful suppliers are legal.
Common-sense advice
Owning a 60-round drum is legal, but it’s not particularly useful for home defense or general shooting. Standard 30-round AR mags and 15 to 17-round pistol magazines cover almost every practical use case. Buy quality name-brand magazines. Cheap ones fail at the worst possible time.
Stay safe. Semper Fi.
Gunny
Straight talk: This is education, not legal advice. Gun law changes. Consult a Texas attorney for your specific situation, and always confirm current rules with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the ATF.
