Buying ammo at Walmart
- Thread starter Chevelle SS
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firesky101
Member
It is not law, just wal-mart policy. When you buy ammo there just look at the little readout. It prompts the cashier for a certain date. That date is different if it is common handgun ammo vs. common rifle ammo. The cashier used the wrong term. It is unfortunate that large businesses must have rigid policies to avoid our over litigious society, but that is the way it is. We don't have to give them our money and are free to tell them why, just like they are free not to sell products to certain people.
cambeul41
Member
One of the pleasures of growing old (I turned 71 today!) is the memory of buying ammunition (broad-head arrows, knives, etc.) and having the only questions asked being intended to verify whether the caliber or shot size was correct.
As others have stated, I believe the sale depends on both age and whether it's for a handgun or rifle.
Ain't nobody going to think I'm 21, but I once carried a couple of bricks of .22 to the front counter (the guy at the ammo counter has seen enough of me that he lets me carry ammo to the front if I have other items).
I figured the poor old gal at the register was just going by rote, but she asked me if the ammo was for a pistol or rifle.
I couldn't resist - I told her lady, this ammo is for the biggest, baddest, meanest pistol you've ever seen!
Now wadda we gonna to do?
The lady in line behind me broke out in laughter...
Ain't nobody going to think I'm 21, but I once carried a couple of bricks of .22 to the front counter (the guy at the ammo counter has seen enough of me that he lets me carry ammo to the front if I have other items).
I figured the poor old gal at the register was just going by rote, but she asked me if the ammo was for a pistol or rifle.
I couldn't resist - I told her lady, this ammo is for the biggest, baddest, meanest pistol you've ever seen!Now wadda we gonna to do?
The lady in line behind me broke out in laughter...
Deltaboy1984
Member
Oh for the problems of youth!!! I have never had an issue at Wal-mart!
bigfatdave
Member
You have to be more knowledgeable and informed than a WalMart clerk, and willing to argue with same, when they don't care and don't make policy.
If you've never heard of this ridiculous handgun ammo law before, you haven't been around THR for long (or haven't been paying attention), it is a perennial subject, making up a significant fraction of the WM threads.
If you've never heard of this ridiculous handgun ammo law before, you haven't been around THR for long (or haven't been paying attention), it is a perennial subject, making up a significant fraction of the WM threads.
1911Jeeper
Member
Warp said:
18 USC § 922(b)(1) - Federal law requires an individual to be at least 21 years of age to purchase handgun ammunition, and at least 18 years old to purchase rifle or shotgun ammunition.
mgkdrgn
Member
If you buy them for use in a handgun ... yes.
Face da facts jack ... can't legally purchase handgun ammo until you are 21. You can karp about it all you want but it's not going to change ... you'll just be out of breath.
The exact wording used by laws matters. A lot. Here it is:
(x)(1) It shall be unlawful for a person to sell, deliver, or
otherwise transfer to a person who the transferor knows or has
reasonable cause to believe is a juvenile -
(A) a handgun; or
(B) ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person who is a juvenile to
knowingly possess -
(A) a handgun; or
(B) ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun.
Do you believe the ammunition in question is "suitable for use only in a handgun"??
Nowhere is it written you have to argue - assuming you're legal, you could just present it to the clerk as I did and watch her stutter and stammer, having no idea what to do next, and probably feeling a bit sheepish for asking (she just rang it up).
Now if she had refused to sell me the ammo, I'd have escalated it up the line in the store just to watch 'em squirm. I'm sure if she had refused to sell me the ammo (although she had no reason), I'm sure the next person up the line would have straightened out the situation.
If they had not, then I have no problem leaving the ammo sitting there, although I would probably have tried the same thing every time I went through the line just to poke 'em a bit.
NavyLCDR
member
Wrong statute, Warp. Keep reading the statute you posted, 18 USC 922(x). First (x) applies to "a person", not just one with an FFL. Second, (x) applies to juveniles and the definition of juveniles is contained further down in section (x):
(5) For purposes of this subsection, the term “juvenile” means a person who is less than 18 years of age.
NavyLCDR
member
The more limiting statute when purchasing ammunition from a licensed dealer is 18 USC 922 (b)(1):
The firearm that the ammunition is INTENDED TO BE USED IN determines the age limit, NOT the caliber of the ammunition, or whether it is center fire or rimfire.
.22 LR intended to be used in a handgun - age limit 21 for licensed dealers.
.22 LR intended to be used in a rifle - age limit 18 for licensed dealers.
30-30 intended to be used in a rifle - age limit 18 for licensed dealers.
30-30 intended to be used in a Thompson Encore pistol - age limit 21 for licensed dealers.
.45 ACP intended to be used in a carbine rifle - 18.
etc, etc, etc.
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/licensees-conduct-of-business.html#interchangeable-ammo-sales
The firearm that the ammunition is INTENDED TO BE USED IN determines the age limit, NOT the caliber of the ammunition, or whether it is center fire or rimfire.
.22 LR intended to be used in a handgun - age limit 21 for licensed dealers.
.22 LR intended to be used in a rifle - age limit 18 for licensed dealers.
30-30 intended to be used in a rifle - age limit 18 for licensed dealers.
30-30 intended to be used in a Thompson Encore pistol - age limit 21 for licensed dealers.
.45 ACP intended to be used in a carbine rifle - 18.
etc, etc, etc.
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/licensees-conduct-of-business.html#interchangeable-ammo-sales
(b) It shall be unlawful for any licensed importer, licensed
manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to sell or
deliver -
(1) any firearm or ammunition to any individual who the
licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than
eighteen years of age, and, if the firearm, or ammunition is
other than a shotgun or rifle, or ammunition for a shotgun or
rifle, to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable
cause to believe is less than twenty-one years of age;
If the ammunition is for a rifle it does not matter what caliber it is.
Edit: I see we both got the same thing, it just took me a few more minutes to hit submit on mine. Exactly. What it is for is what matters. There is no master list established by the federal government that says what calibers may or may not be sold to those age 18-20.
If it's for a rifle, you can buy it at age 18
manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector to sell or
deliver -
(1) any firearm or ammunition to any individual who the
licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than
eighteen years of age, and, if the firearm, or ammunition is
other than a shotgun or rifle, or ammunition for a shotgun or
rifle, to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable
cause to believe is less than twenty-one years of age;
If the ammunition is for a rifle it does not matter what caliber it is.
Edit: I see we both got the same thing, it just took me a few more minutes to hit submit on mine. Exactly. What it is for is what matters. There is no master list established by the federal government that says what calibers may or may not be sold to those age 18-20.
If it's for a rifle, you can buy it at age 18
justice06rr
Member
Coming into this thread I thought its about cheap ammo at Walmart or something else...
OP, 45ACP is more specifically known and intended as handgun ammo even if it can be fired in a rifle. As mentioned many times already, you need to be 21 -- just the same as you can't buy liquor (doesn't matter if its beer, hard liquor, wine cooler). that may not be an ideal analogy but you get the point.
OP, 45ACP is more specifically known and intended as handgun ammo even if it can be fired in a rifle. As mentioned many times already, you need to be 21 -- just the same as you can't buy liquor (doesn't matter if its beer, hard liquor, wine cooler). that may not be an ideal analogy but you get the point.
MachIVshooter
Member
Every WM I've bought ammo at, the computer prompts the cashier to ask "for handgun or rifle?" with ammunition that is generally considered handgun ammo, or for rimfire ammo.
Sounds like this clerk may have taken it upon himself to determine that the ammunition was for a handgun, in which case he was wrong to make an assumption. However, if the OP does not own a .45 Carbine, then he'd have been lying to buy the ammo, and that's between him, God and the ATF.
Sounds like this clerk may have taken it upon himself to determine that the ammunition was for a handgun, in which case he was wrong to make an assumption. However, if the OP does not own a .45 Carbine, then he'd have been lying to buy the ammo, and that's between him, God and the ATF.
NavyLCDR
member
As mentioned many times above, both with actual citations to the law and the ATF interpretation of the law, you are wrong. The caliber of the ammunition has NOTHING to do with the legal age limit to buy it from an FFL!
Esoxchaser
Member
How old is that law? I remember running into K-Mart to buy .22LR or shotshells on my way home from high school back in the mid 70's. (When K-Mart was still selling such things. They decided they didn't want my money a while ago when they took on Penny Marshall and went Anti.)
Sav .250
Member
I posed your question to .....google. Found some good information. Ref ammo buying in Michigan. Age wise.
FROGO207
Member
The bottom line is if you do not like the present ATF law, work to change it for the good of everybody. By the time it is changed I am willing to bet you will be old enough to not need the change.
Non of the restrictive firearms laws on the books are necessary IMHO, but are there due to there being a lack of common sense about such things these days.:banghead: Same reason we common citizens have laws in place requiring us to wear seat belts and life preservers when they are supposed to be used. The .gov has deemed we aren't smart enough to decide if we need to or not. The way to change things is to change the education of children so that when they become adults the learned things are the correct ones. Is that not the way we have arrived at the present laws anyway.:banghead: Just my humble ramblings.
Non of the restrictive firearms laws on the books are necessary IMHO, but are there due to there being a lack of common sense about such things these days.:banghead: Same reason we common citizens have laws in place requiring us to wear seat belts and life preservers when they are supposed to be used. The .gov has deemed we aren't smart enough to decide if we need to or not. The way to change things is to change the education of children so that when they become adults the learned things are the correct ones. Is that not the way we have arrived at the present laws anyway.:banghead: Just my humble ramblings.Gunnerboy
Member
I am of the same age and have run into the same issues..... But thats where gun shows come in handy, that and being a gunsmiths apprentice
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