r/canadaguns • u/[deleted] • Feb 06 '26
Legal status of M27 5.56 belt links in Canada
[deleted]
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u/Tough-Air-4765 Feb 06 '26
From what I understand when it comes to belts it is complicated since they kinda glossed over it in the law thinking they got them all with a full auto ban (they did not). One of the common points is the belts made pre 1945 are okay to own why idk thats why you can find in canada MG42/34 belts in 50 links and 1919, 250 cloth belts or Vickers belts and are just considered militaria. And when it to modern stuff it is just kinda a shrug I have seen the modern links sold with dummy rounds so probably sold a deactivated militaria.
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u/Next-Swimming-4270 Feb 06 '26
Its not like I can own a M249 SAW... just want to link 100 rounds and hang it in the man cave. Dont wanna go to jail for it tho
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Feb 06 '26
Switzers had a belt of 50 BMG tracers for sale a while ago. 223 on a belt is fine, youre good to do that
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u/Tough-Air-4765 Feb 07 '26
I meen i think it is fine I do remember seen 5.56 links for sale in canada no issue, but I do believe the rounds should be dumby for display purposes if anyone has a fit. A local bar were I live in ontario has a FNFAL and 7.62 belts on the walls for display and they never got charged for it, but i am not a lawyer.
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u/Next-Swimming-4270 Feb 07 '26
Which bar? Sounds pretty cool
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u/Tough-Air-4765 Feb 07 '26
Place called Shooters it is a pool hall and bar was owned by a a veteran until his passing.
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u/OCTS-Toronto Feb 06 '26
So sad you have to ask if formed metal pieces (links) will cause you jail time.
I think you should not ask this on reddit. Just by posting this you will likely find this item in the next Poly St Souvient ban list.
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u/DJ_Necrophilia Feb 06 '26
I remember this was brought up on cgn around 2012.
Pre 1945 belt is gtg, but post 1945 belt/links are fine to own, but you cannot have longer than a 5 round belt at any given time because they consider it a magazine
Theres an argument to be made that each link is a 1 round magazine, just attached together, but thats not how the rcmp was interpreting it 14 years ago
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u/unlmtdammo on Feb 06 '26
Call the RCMP Firearms technical unit 1-800-731-4000
Ext 1090
They exist to answer these questions
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u/Expert_Caregiver6220 Feb 06 '26
If you email them at [firearmident@rcmp-grc.gc.ca](mailto:firearmident@rcmp-grc.gc.ca) the legally have to reply back. My company has ask them several time before in the past I work at.
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u/RelativeFox1 Feb 06 '26 edited Feb 06 '26
What would make ammo belts illegal? I don’t recall seeing them mentioned in the criminal code anywhere. Maybe I missed it. You calling it a magazine under section 84(1)? I would call it 100 magazines.
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Feb 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/RelativeFox1 Feb 06 '26
And if we shy away from owning things that are legal because they might be maybe illegal then we are making our own bans. If no one said it’s illegal, then it’s legal.
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u/AlbertaFree16 Feb 06 '26
Ex military, I have a couple hundred spent plank 5.56 linked together in an old C9 box hanging out the opening, looks cool by my computer, stop worrying about stupid shit nobody knows you have.
Just link some spent blanks and you’ll be fine
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u/Water-Foul Feb 07 '26
I hope it’s not illegal. I played in a metal band for like 10 years and wore a whole belt of 7.62x51 rounds around my waist every time. Tips but no powder. You can buy them at a lot of surplus stores that way.
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u/NavyShooter_NS Feb 09 '26
Hi, I asked this question several years ago to the RCMP Firearms Lab as it related to the M1 and M1A1 links for the 1919 Browning. Note- the M1 link is original WW2 .30-06 caliber disintegrating metal links, and the M1A2 link is the 1960's era 7.62 NATO version that was used in (mostly Israeli) 7.62 converted 1919A4s.
The answer was that basically for a pre-1945 link, as specified in the regulations, they are legally a 1 shot magazine, and for pre-45 links, it is legal to assemble them to a full length belt of however many rounds you desire.
If it is not a pre-1945 link, then legally the 1-shot magazine links can be connected up to a string of 5 legally. More than 5 is illegal.
Extending this to the M-27 links.
Since the M27 links are all post-45, the legal length for them would be 5 rounds.
This also extends to cloth belts - if they're clearly stamped/dated as pre-1945, they're good to go. If it's a cloth belt stamped or dated after 1945, then it's illegal to put more than 5 rounds into it.
I asked the question, and got the clear answer in writing. Posted it on CGN many years ago.
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u/black_covfefe_please Feb 09 '26
I think most people are wondering if it can be assembled with spent casings or dummies to more than 5 links. If it isn't live ammo, is it even really a belt?
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u/starw24-ps4 Feb 06 '26
Like everyone else is saying, the horse cops would be your best bet to be guaranteed in the law. That or those old ww2 style ones that have been confirmed legal.
If this is for a mancave, make sure you are following the rules on storing ammunition (away from firearms) or it may be best to use dummy rounds.
Would love to see a pic once you get that going!
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u/Moist-Wolverine-8531 Feb 06 '26
It’s not a regulated item AFAIK, and is considered garbage by the military once it’s used.