Black powder - I know that guns are regulated, but what about purchases of ammunition

[hedgehog]

and/or black powder?

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Where are guns regulated?

[hack89]

4. In every state in the Union?

certainly in Massachusetts - they have some of the toughest restriction in America.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. You mean I can't go to a gun show or the local swap meet and pay

cash for a gun from a private seller?

[hack89]

11. Not in Massachusetts.

Well, technically you can but you need a Fire Arms ID card and the seller has to report the transaction to the state.

Your state and city might be different. You can't go to another state to buy a gun though.


The problem you point out has an easy fix - universal background checks. My state has them.

[pnwmom]

15. How hard is it to drive to another state from Massachusetts?

[hack89]

16. It would involve state and federal crimes if you were to buy a gun in a private sale.

Last edited Mon Apr 22, 2013, 04:58 PM - Edit history (1)

any private gun sale that crosses state lines has to go through a licensed gun dealer for a background check.

[pnwmom]

17. A lot of the gun fans don't seem too worried about those pesky laws.

I was wondering about shipping rules, and this hunter's forum was the first thing that popped up on google.

Some interesting comments . . . .

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f22/how-ship-gunpowder-19261/

[hack89]

2. In Massachusetts you need a Firearm Identification (FID) card to buy ammo or black powder. nt

[hedgehog]

3. thank you for that info.

[rdharma]

5. In my state there is no regulation on ammunition or gunpowder purchases.

No ID required. No records kept.

But that varies from state to state.

BTW - Though I think the Boston bombers probably used purchased black powder, the actual explosive hasn't been identified yet.

It's possible that they made their own black powder or other explosive.

[Jenoch]

6. In what state do you reside?

I am quite certain you are mistaken. I do not believe any state allows the purchase of ammunition by minors.

[rdharma]

9. As regulated as buying beer or cigarettes........

Is that better, Jenoch?

OMG! Jenoch enjoys an EXTREME "gotcha" moment.

[pnwmom]

18. The older brother was 26. n/t

[Jenoch]

19. I assume you are referencing the Boston bombers.

The brother in custody is 19. Why are you telling me this?

[pnwmom]

20. So what if the younger brother is 19? The older brother probably

did the purchasing.

[Jenoch]

21. Why are you speculating on this with me?

My posts on this thread were not about the recent bombing in Boston.

[pnwmom]

22. Why did you bring up the subject of purchasing by minors,

which was not the subject of the OP?

[Jenoch]

23. I was replying to another post.

[pnwmom]

25. I know -- and that post mentions the Boston bombers. n/t

[Jenoch]

26. What is your intent with this exchange?

I replied to a post that said ammunition sales are not regulated. There are some regulations regarding ammunition sales. There is an age requirement in every state. I was simply pointing that out. That part of the post had nothing to do with the Boston incident. Try to read the posts a couple of times before replying.

[oneshooter]

24. All black powder purchases require a end user form.

DL info and signature. Federal Law

[rdharma]

27. Are you sure about that?

Because I recently purchased black powder (FFFFg) priming powder and (FFg) main charge black powder for a Pedersoli 2nd Model Brown Bess that I have. I signed nothing saying I purchased black powder.

I paid the purchase with credit card. I signed the receipt for the credit card purchase (as usual). Does that count?

Never showed DL.

Check the Federal regs. Are you talking about 50 lbs. and over?

[kelliekat44]

7. The Feds tried to pass legiuslation to tag ammunition but GOP/NRA defeated this kind of legislation

At least the source of the ammo might have been identified. But, according to the GOP, the 2nd Amendment also covers ammunition., I guess?

[rdharma]

12. The "taggant" idea.......

Last edited Mon Apr 22, 2013, 09:51 PM - Edit history (2)

While possible, the idea was not really practical and wouldn't have provided very much help tracing the actual purchaser of the propellant/explosive involved.

Such a system would have only told the authorities that explosive 'x' came from 'Dupont lot number xxxxxxx'. But without a tracking system that allows tracking from the many manufacturers to the individual purchaser, this information would be practically worthless.

[Recursion]

8. Check out the 2002 SAFE Explosives Act

I'm pretty sure that's what still governs blackpowder sales Federally, though stricter state laws may (and in MA, probably do) apply. I'm blanking on the actual provisions, though.

[FarCenter]

13. Lead is widely available, easy to melt and mold into musket balls or rifle bullets

Patches and flint are easy to come by as well. Percussion caps have to be store bought.

[Igel]

14. The black-powder shooters I knew would never deign to buy their ammo.

They cast it all themselves.

Inherently unregulatable.

Don't know about black powder. They bought it in cans. One guy made his own from time to time. Not exactly the safest hobby.

Had a roommate once who cast his own bullets for his pistols and rifles. Mixed his own powder, starting with what was commercially available and keeping records. Ammo regulations wouldn't faze him in the least.