pistol vs. rifle ammunition question

I bet this has been brought up somewhere along the line at THR, but the other day I went to the store to buy ammunition in order to go to the range. I first asked for 357 to shoot out of my rifle; however, I was denied because it was considered only for handguns. After that, I was asked if the 22lr I was buying would be shot out of a pistol or a rifle. Of course I said rifle so I could leave the store with something at least, but I am very pissed about this situation. I'm considered an adult to the government, yet I am denied many opportunities because I am not old enough! Nothing new I guess.

What can I do if I own a rifle that shoots handgun ammunition?

buy somewhere other than walmart.

thats the only place that every asked me what type of gun the ammo was for.

sorry i really only clicked the post button once!

wow the boards are crazy tonight sorry

mods can you please delete these? im sorry.

go to a regular gun store, or have a freing, or your dad buy the ammo for you. there is nothing you can do about your age, except wait it out. when i was 18, it was legal for me to buy beer, and anything else for that matter. when my younger brother turned 18, they had raised the legal limit back up to 21. but we all felt sorry for him, so we bought for him, with the condition that he had to stay home when he drank. i am sure you could find a sympathetic freind / cousin / brother who would help you out.

mods can you please delete these? im sorry.

Eh, it hangs up now and then, don't worry about it. I did a 5 tap once :)

As for the OP:

mooose102 is probaby right, you're just going to have to find someone to buy the ammo for you. It is legal for a parent to buy handgun ammo for their child. The Fed in their wisdom decided you are not old enough to buy handgun ammo but didn't even know exactly what that meant. Wouldn't be the first time :)

Consider it an early welcome to the politics of guns.

thats the only place that every asked me what type of gun the ammo was for.

They are all supposed to ask what type of weapon ammunition in handgun calibers is to be used in if the buyer is under 21.

Under federal law you must be 21 to purchase ammunition for a handgun.
If you ARE under 21 but will use the ammunition in a long gun, it can be sold to you.
It is still at the sellers discretion (and you now how scary discretion is to a big place like Walmart).

Last edited by GlowinPontiac : Today at 02:41 AM. Reason: I broke the internet....tell Al Gore im sorry! :)

HAHAHAHAHA! Good one!

zachsm - Walmart is the only place that does that baloney. Just go elsewhere.

Somebody gave me a great idea here on THR, and I apologize to them for not remembering who. For some reason, Walmart still asks me whether the ammo is for a handgun or rifle. I'm well over 21, and don't look even close to being 21. So, I just answer, "Neither. It's for a sub-machine gun." now, and watch their head explode.

i got two words for you

RE LOAD

once you start reloading you will never look back. then you can load endless supplies

Actually KMart does that as well. For those that don't know;
KMart is a store kind of like Walmart but worse.

KMart is a store kind of like Walmart but worse.

Like Walmart, Kmart used to be very nice to shop at. After 9/11 they announced in a VERY public way that they would stop selling guns and ammo to prevent terrorists from buying them (real reason was they wanted to get out of guns as they weren't profitable for them). They backpeddled, and some locations sell guns and ammo still.

A lot of stores (Farm and Fleet here in the midwest comes to mind) have prompts at the register about the handgun/ long gun ammo thing.

I remember being 18 or 19 and getting ticked off about things like this. It's easier to find a work around than to waste your time and energy on clerks (and occasional jerks) at retail big boxes. Sometimes the problem CAN be legal in that some states have qualified in their own laws what calibers constitute 'pistol' ammunition.

Long story short, if it's not illegal for you to have .357 ammo where you are for your rifle, have a 21+ pal buy it for you. If you're not legally barred from having it, it wouldn't be a 'straw purchase' or anything like that.

I buy 9mm,.40 and.45acp at Wal Mart and they always ask if its for a hand gun or rifle. I always tell them its for a machine gun. A couple of times the clerk just stood there looking for the machine gun key on the register and told me there wasn't a machine gun key, I told her to just ring it up for a hand gun.

I guess that I didn't realize that there were separate ages for purchasing handgun than for rifle ammo. Do you have to be 21 to buy pistol ammo?
What some other posters have said seems to be the only real answer - have an older friend or relative purchase it for you.

Wait a minute, now that I think about it, the .223 you just sold me is for a handgun, too. So's that [fill in your favorite Encore/Contender/Savage Striker handgun caliber here]. Whatever will we do?:rolleyes:

I used to have that problem at Wal-mart, except I had a 9mm carbine and the guy didn't even believe they existed! Next time I went I brought in a picture of me with the gun and that pretty much solved it from there on out.

Correct answer to any clerk about whether the ammo is for a rifle or pistol is "machine gun."

Correct answer to any clerk about whether the ammo is for a rifle or pistol is "machine gun."
Yeah...

That's the right answer for sure:

Right up until the time the BATFE goons break down your door, stomp your cats to death, jack your pregnant wife up against a wall, laugh when the unborn fetus drops out while shooting you 38 times as they look for that machine gun you told the clerk in the state that has those bar-coded DL's she scanned that you bought the ammo for and she called them about it because after all - citizens can't own machine guns - can they.

Yeah - that's the ticket. :neener:

have a freing, or your dad buy the ammo for you.

I don’t have any freings.

are freings similar to ferengi? If so, they'd surely strike a great bargain on your behalf. :)

Gone are the good ole days when you could get some at the hardware store or barber shop, since that was where everybody went Sat. morning.

#1 it is the law, your main beef should lie with the law and those who passed it, not those who follow it.

Second, wal mart is staffed by minimum wage employees. I am not suprised they are gun ignorant. Bring your manual next time so you can show it is for a rifle, demand a manager if you must.

citizens can't own machine guns - can they.

um.... yes they can actually. Plenty of automatic C&R guns, plenty of legal NFA autos too.

#1 it is the law, your main beef should lie with the law and those who passed it, not those who follow it.

I thought the law was only that those under 21 couldn't purchase new handguns, and that the law allowed anybody over 18 to purchase any kind of ammo? Maybe I'm wrong.

He was probably being facetious ;)

General Geoff--last time I checked, the Ferengi will get the best deal for themselves on both sides (buy in the 10th subbasement and sell at the elevation of stratocirrus clouds.

He was probably being facetious

DOH! :o

Don't say machine gun.

MGs use medium or full power battlerifle ammo.

Say subgun. Then when they struggle as to whether it's a rifle or a pistol, it is neither. A SMG is not a pistol, and it is not a rifle either. "But it has a shoulder stock!" It is still not a rifle.

Bring your manual next time so you can show it is for a rifle, demand a manager if you must.

Akodo, that advice *MIGHT* get results--but I would plan on a more detailed explanation delivered at the 'level' of the audience--maybe a sock puppet or bag puppet show.

The institutional culture of the big box rewards those who follow rigid policy and don't engage in decision making that could result in potential liability no matter how logical or rational. And this is part of the 'why' many stores are dropping firearms and ammo altogether; it requires a gatekeeper with enough authority to understand how 'law' and 'policy' are inter-related and still independant.

Wow, I feel silly. I thought 18 was the legal age for ammo sales. Oh well, if Walmart didn't have such great prices - I wouldn't bother with them at all just because of their goofy policies.....

I'm glad Im not the only one that tells them the ammo I buy is for a sub-gun.

Federal law states you have to be over 21 to purchase a pistol or it's ammo.(pretty sure of that) States differ on their pistol possesion laws. SC just made it legal for 18 yr olds to possess a pistol without a person over 21 present. They still can't buy a pistol @ a gun store(fed controled) so all you have to do is buy one 2nd hand if ou are under 21.

I know that has nothing to do with the topic @ hand but it is the law as I know it and thought it might shed some light on the question being raised.

I thought the law was only that those under 21 couldn't purchase new handguns, and that the law allowed anybody over 18 to purchase any kind of ammo? Maybe I'm wrong.
Yes, you are wrong. The law is that 18-year olds may purchase ammunition for rifles and shotguns, but you have to be over 21 to purchase ammo for a handgun.

But ... the law is written around the gun. If you own a Ruger Single Six revolver in .22 caliber, you can't buy ammo for it unless you are 21. If you own a Ruger 10/22, you can legally buy the same ammo that fits the Single Six when you're 18.

If the clerk at Wal-Mart doesn't understand the law, ask for a manager. As long as you explain to them that you are buying the ammo to shoot out of a .357 caliber carbine, they have no reason not to sell it to you.

Aguila Blanca - is that federal law? This whole time I just thought it was Walmart policy only.

If you happen to have a link to the law, that would be appreciated as obviously I was not in the know on this one. :o

From the BATFE FAQ at http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/faq2.htm#f6

(F6) Does a customer have to be a certain age to buy firearms or ammunition from a licensee?

Yes. Under the GCA, long guns and long gun ammunition may be sold only to persons 18 years of age or older. Sales of handguns and ammunition for handguns are limited to persons 21 years of age and older. Although some State and local ordinances have lower age requirements, dealers are bound by the minimum age requirements established by the GCA. If State law or local ordinances establish a higher minimum age, the dealer must observe the higher age requirement.

[18 U.S.C. 922(b)(1), 27 CFR 478.99(b)]



[b](F7) May a licensee sell interchangeable ammunition such as .22 cal. rimfire to a person less than 21 years old? [Back]

Yes, provided the buyer is 18 years of age or older, and the dealer is satisfied that it is for use in a rifle. If the ammunition is intended for use in a handgun, the 21-year-old minimum age requirement is applicable.

[18 U.S.C. 922(b)(1), 27 CFR 478.99(b)]

Legal cites are included in the FAQ. Note that item (F7) directly addresses the question, and that the law does not support Wal-Mart's (or that Wal-Mart clerk's) position. If the ammo is to be used in a rifle, an 18-year old can buy it (absent a state law providing otherwise). So an 18-year old can buy 9mm for a Ruger PC9 carbine, but cannot buy the same ammo to shoot out of a Ruger 9mm handgun.

The sticky wicket lies in the "dealer must be satisfied" part. Wal-Mart may simple choose to avoid any possible controversy by not entering into the determination of how they can be "satisfied" 18-year old Johnny really has a carbine and not a Glock.