September 4, 1997

Mr. Edward M. Owen, Jr.
Chief, Firearms Technology Branch
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Washington, D.C. 20226

Dear Mr. Owen:

The purpose of this letter is to request determination regarding
the legality of using high capacity magazines in imported
semiautomatic rifles.

1.    Is it allowable to use high capacity magazines (i.e. 20 round,
      30 round, 75 round) in semiautomatic rifles currently being
      imported into this country (i.e. Bulgarian SLR-95, Egyptian
      Maadi ARM, Romanian WUM-1, Century Arms FAL Sporters)?

2.    If a semiautomatic rifle was imported after 1989, does the
      date of import of a semiautomatic rifle have any bearing on
      the legality using high capacity magazines in the imported
      semiautomatic rifle?  If so, please provide the criteria for
      determining which configuration would be allowable or examples
      of allowable configurations.

Your assistance in resolving these questions is greatly
appreciated.

Sincerely,

[signed]



                      DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
                BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS
                         WASHINGTON, DC 20226

                              OCT 28 1997

                                                           E:CE:FT:RAT
                                                           3311


Dear :

This refers to your letter of September 4, 1997, in which ask about
using a large capacity magazine in a semiautomatic rifle.

A large capacity magazine having a capacity of more than 10 rounds
can be used in any semiautomatic rifle, provided that the magazine
was lawfully possessed prior to September 14, 1994.  It is unlawful
for an individual to possess or transfer a large capacity magazine
which was manufactured after September 13, 1994.  We have included
for your perusal additional information on semiautomatic assault
weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

We trust that the foregoing has been responsive to your inquiry. 
If we may be of further assistance, please contact us.



                           Sincerely yours,

                               [signed]
                          Edward M. Owen, Jr.
                   Chief, Firearms Technology Branch

Enclosure