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ovenpaa wrote:
No magazines in the house or business are ever stored loaded.

I take this approach too -- I was taught, as a target shooter, that a firearm was not clear unless all magazines with that firearm were empty too. I've followed that approach ever since.

However, I have noticed that other clubs work to different rules, and loaded magazines seem to be acceptable when entering (and quite possibly leaving) the range. AFAIK, having a loaded magazine in a public place, with a firearm in tow, as long as the loaded magazine is NOT in the firearm, is not in itself a criminal offence (please correct me if I am wrong), though it may not do our image much good if a fuss were made, by the media or by the police.

When answering the OP, I perhaps should have taken the time to expand on my own position, rather than inadvertantly imply that I thought it a good idea to store or transport loaded magazines; as a target shooter, I personally prefer to have magazines loaded only when on the firing point, after the order to load the firearm has been given. Once shooting stops, all my magazines are empty, for clearing by another competent party.

Note that by explaining all this, I'm not impyling that shooters who take a different approach are wrong -- we should all decide what we consider appropriate, within the law.

David.

IMHO carrying loaded mags is a nono.
Back in pistol days I read of some one getting into trouble by doing so.
As for storing them at home,mine are all empty and lying around on shelves etc.
I cant see any reason to lock them away!
Tony

Does the law state anything about carrying loaded magazines to/from the range?

If not, why make restrictions on ourselves which aren't necessary.

Not having a pop, just asking..

Bullets in a box, bullets in a magazine - what's the difference. A magazine is just a metal or plastic container at the end of the day.

The police official line is they are not in the gun so it's perfectly safe - well that's what they said when they lost a full mag in Glasgow (I think it was) a while back.

As above.

If you're shooting guns with 3-5rd magazines or just putting a few rounds down range to check zero then its no hassle to load/unload mags on the range, although the springs in the mags won't thank you for it Its a different story when you've got 5-6 30rd+ magazines, particularly if people are waiting to use your lane!