Buying Reloaded Ammo At Gun Shows?

[Grub Master]

Buying reloads

from ATF

Is a person who reloads ammunition required to be licensed as a manufacturer?

Yes, if the person engages in the business of selling or distributing reloads for the purpose of livelihood and profit. No, if the person reloads only for personal use.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a) (i) and 923(a), 27 CFR 478.41]

 

[Warp]

There's a terminology problem here and we need to define some terms.

Remanufactured ammunition comes from a company that is licensed to manufacture ammunition that is using previously fired brass. Legally they're no different than any ammunition manufacturer.

Reloaded ammunition comes from some individual that isn't licensed and regulated.


Remanufactured ammunition should be as good as any ammunition manufacturer.

Reloaded ammunition sellers should be avoided unless you have very deep personal knowledge of the person doing the work.

That ^, exactly that. ^


Well, almost exactly that. Because:

from ATF

Is a person who reloads ammunition required to be licensed as a manufacturer?

Yes, if the person engages in the business of selling or distributing reloads for the purpose of livelihood and profit. No, if the person reloads only for personal use.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a) (i) and 923(a), 27 CFR 478.41]

Still, when it comes to purchasing ammo, there is a very big difference between "gun show reloads" and factory remanufactured ammo like georgia arms or freedom munitions. Which is what hso is getting at.

 

[22-rimfire]

Years ago I purchased no-name reloads at shows that I suspect were loaded by a licensed company. In the last few years, I only will purchase GA Arms"reloads" which they load from once used brass.

 

[buck460XVR]

Still, when it comes to purchasing ammo, there is a very big difference between "gun show reloads" and factory remanufactured ammo like georgia arms or freedom munitions. Which is what hso is getting at.

Yes, but the OP has not defined to us which he meant. The term "gun show reloads" is pretty much all inclusive to any ammo that is made by reusing previously fired brass and available for sale at a gunshow. Most replies here have been the same.... ammo from a company that is licensed and insured and in the business of re-manufacturing ammunition, and has a booth in the gunshow, odds are it is as safe as new factory ammo. From Bubba out in the parking lot selling coffee cans of ammo for cash only, probably not so much........

 

[herrwalther]

Only if I wanted to pull the rounds and use the bullet, brass, and primer. Powder would be suspect if the reloader knows what kind and how many grains. This way you could get a better deal than buying the components separately at a gun show.

 

[C.R.]

I would say No a friend and I were at a gun show some years back and ran across a "deal" on some reloades .223 we both got some and when he was shooting some of it he had a squib lucky he recognised what happened and didnt chamber another round and try to shoot ! so I have a few boxes of suspect ammo on my shelf.I dont know if its any good or not,but Im not taking a chance.

 

[ku4hx]

The only "reloaded" ammunition I trust is my own. I've seen too much poor quality to trust any other. Never seen any blow up a gun, but feeding problems caused by being out-of-spec one way or another seem all too common to me.

I'm sure there are outfits that do a good job. I still just trust my own.

 

[Warp]

Yes, but the OP has not defined to us which he meant. The term "gun show reloads" is pretty much all inclusive to any ammo that is made by reusing previously fired brass and available for sale at a gunshow.

In my personal vocabulary, as well as most shooters I know, Georgia-Arms ammo or Freedom Munitions ammo is NOT "gun show reloads". It is factory remanufactured ammo that might be sold at a gun show, same as any other ammo in existence might be sold at a gun show

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

So is buying reloaded ammo at gun shows which is cheaper a good deal & idea or not?

Let's keep in mind that the OP never used the phrase "gun show reloads" in the first place, as indicated in the quote above.

And the technical/legal differences between "remanufactured" vs "personally reloaded" have been addressed in at least a couple postings in order to clarify what they mean.

Seems to me that the OP's question has been succinctly answered. No need to continue quibbling over the terms.

 

[sarge83]

Made the mistake of buying reloads one time and actually hesitated at the time of purchase, little voice inside said no, I ignored it. Won't do it again. Glock 29 went kaboom after two rounds, cracked the frame and blew the magazine out the bottom. I will shoot my own, but no reloads for me.

 

[george burns]

No not worth the consequences, of blowing up a gun and losing a body part, to save a few bucks, also voids your warrantee in most guns.

 

[oneounceload]

also voids your warrantee in most guns.

As does shooting your own.....that's the legal beagles talking, and with good reason. The same reason why folks are saying stay away from the guy in the parking lot, so if you use any reloads you will be voiding your warranty - not that someone would be able to tell anyway

 

[Averageman]

I was at the range and a guy had a SBR I was interested in so I went down the line and stood back away to allow those around me to fire.
At about that time he laid down the AK he was shooting and picked up his Glock and began talking about what a great deal he got on a .50 cal can full of 40 ammo. About the third round he fired the slide locked back and the magazine ejected out of the bottom and hit the ground destroyed.
The slide would not go in to battery again and I don't know that I would shoot it if it did after that.
I stay away from other peoples reloads.

 

[berettaprofessor]

HSO had the proper distinction. As for the reloads, it hasn't been said here yet so I'll say it again; Never use someone elses reloads unless you are so close that you're also sleeping with his wife....and if you ARE sleeping with his wife, you should most definitely never use his reloads.

 

[mboylan]

Buying from an unlicensed reloader is a stupid stupid idea. Bad handgun rounds can cost you eyes and fingers. Bad rifle rounds can cost you your life.

 

[Warp]

Buying from an unlicensed reloader is a stupid stupid idea. Bad handgun rounds can cost you eyes and fingers. Bad rifle rounds can cost you your life.

Well, by law, if you are buying from a reloader, they have to be licensed.

 

[Thermactor]

At the moment.. just this current moment... it doesn't seem to be worth the time to reload when you can get new cartridges decently cheap. But that's subject to change, so my thinking at the moment is to shoot the new ones, and hang on to the brass. Never know when things'll get scarce again.

 

[Warp]

At the moment.. just this current moment... it doesn't seem to be worth the time to reload when you can get new cartridges decently cheap. But that's subject to change, so my thinking at the moment is to shoot the new ones, and hang on to the brass. Never know when things'll get scarce again.

I disagree with this assessment, though I will admit that which cartridges you shoot, what kind of shooting you do, and how much time you are willing/able to put towards reloading are factors in each person's decision to, or not to, reload

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

Years ago I bought reloaded 45 acp ammo from a gun show. The bags were printed with the mfg name, bullet weight ,powder:weight and approx fps. I shot these in a Colt and mac 10 ,I had no problems with these. If I found ammo bagged this way today I would probably buy some. Buying reloaded ammo without knowledge of at least who mfg it is sketchy.

 

[HOWARD J]

Years ago I purchased REMFR'd ammo--200 38 spl
they must have been loaded to ++P
A GP-100 would jump over the top of your head.
I took them apart & reloaded them
I never purchased any again.

 

[mboylan]

Well, by law, if you are buying from a reloader, they have to be licensed.

Most selling at gun shows are absolutely not licensed. The law is vague. You can sell reloads without a license as long as it is not done solely as an operating business.

 

[Sniper66]

Went to an auction awhile back and lots of ammo was being sold, including reloads. My motto has always been "never shoot another man's reloads", but these reloads were selling for good prices; not to me, but most bidders seemed unconcerned. I do, however, buy from licensed reloaders at gun shows who readily display their credentials.

 

[PowerPistol]

I asked a gunsmith I know " how many reloaders actually ended up blowing up a gun ?" He said it was rare, however, after every gun show, he gets one or two in that have been destroyed by the reloads bought there.....

 

[brickeyee]

The law is vague. You can sell reloads without a license as long as it is not done solely as an operating business.

This one is actually very clear.

To sell reloaded ammunition you need an FFL06

 

[Warp]

Most selling at gun shows are absolutely not licensed. The law is vague. You can sell reloads without a license as long as it is not done solely as an operating business.

This post is incorrect.

Reading this thread would have informed you of the fact that:

from ATF

Is a person who reloads ammunition required to be licensed as a manufacturer?

Yes, if the person engages in the business of selling or distributing reloads for the purpose of livelihood and profit. No, if the person reloads only for personal use.

[18 U.S.C. 922(a) (i) and 923(a), 27 CFR 478.41]

"No, if the person reloads only for personal use". If you are selling your reloads, you are not reloading only for personal use.