Magpul Industries threatened to leave Colorado after the legislature passed a measure banning weapons magazines with more than 15 rounds.

And now that is official.

The Erie-based ammunition magazine manufacturer said Thursday it is relocating its operations to Cheyenne and Texas.

Most of the 200-plus employees will not be moving to Wyoming, where manufacturing and distribution will take place, said spokesman Duane Liptak.

“Moving operations to states that support our culture of individual liberties and personal responsibility is important,” CEO Richard Fitzpatrick said in a news release. “This relocation will also improve business operations and logistics as we utilize the strengths of Texas and Wyoming in our expansion.”

The move is expected to happen within the next 12 to 16 months, the company said, and it hopes to relocate at least 92 percent of its workforce outside of Colorado in that time. It hasn’t been decided whether every single employee will be moved out of the state.

Employees were notified Thursday about the move, and most are not expected to make the move and will be out of a job, Liptak said.

Paula Mehle, economic development coordinator for the town of Erie, said there is some hope that a small number of employees will remain in Colorado. But, she said, new tenants would be sought for the buildings Magpul vacates.

“It’s a political issue at the state level that the town doesn’t have any control over,” Mehle said.

Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or twitter.com/cillescasdp

Updated Jan.3, 2014, at 11:15 a.m.. This article has been revised to reflect the following correction. Originally, due to a reporter’s error, the story said most workers would transfer. That is not the case.