Can you buy .357 mag ammo under 21 years old?

**Fnix** · December 10th, 2008, 01:57 PM

I am 20 years old and own a .357 mag. I would like to buy some cheaper ammo for target practice but I dont know if you have to be 21 years of age to buy it.

I heard people tell me I can say I am buying it for a rifle and not a handgun.

**andrewjs18** · December 10th, 2008, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Fnix

I am 20 years old and own a .357 mag. I would like to buy some cheaper ammo for target practice but I dont know if you have to be 21 years of age to buy it.

I heard people tell me I can say I am buying it for a rifle and not a handgun.

All the places I go require you to be 21...but don't quote me...that might just be their store policy.

**jsb889** · December 10th, 2008, 02:03 PM

Just bring someone over 21 with you. Thats what I do when I pick up my ammo. I did manage to get some myself when the girl didn't card me. Try the line, "its for a 357 caliber carbine rifle"

**Xringshooter** · December 10th, 2008, 03:35 PM

Law is 21 for ammo for a handgun. Even Wal-Mart will ask if it is for a rifle or handgun when you buy 22LR. Hit them with it's for a rifle when buying 357, 44, 45LC, or some of the other handgun/rifle rounds and they may not know what to do as they don't think about the others (unless they know guns, then you should be ok). Easiest is to have someone over 21 buy it for you (preferably someone, who, when asked a question, doesn't reply "Uh, I don't know, let me ask the guy who asked me to buy it for him". That could get to be a sticky situation.)

**HiredGoon** · December 10th, 2008, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Xringshooter

<snip> Easiest is to have someone over 21 buy it for you (preferably someone, who, when asked a question, doesn't reply "Uh, I don't know, let me ask the guy who asked me to buy it for him". That could get to be a sticky situation.)

Wondering...could this be considered a "straw purchase" of ammo?

Is someone under 21 not allowed to possess handgun ammo...or only not allowed to purchase it?

**knight0334** · December 10th, 2008, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by HiredGoon

Wondering...could this be considered a "straw purchase" of ammo?

Is someone under 21 not allowed to possess handgun ammo...or only not allowed to purchase it?

Not allowed to purchase ammo for a handgun. Its not the type of ammo, but rather what the ammo is being used in. If you are 18yo have a 30-30, 45-70, or 450 Marlin BFR revolver, you may not buy ammo for it. ...that's how the law is worded. But you can buy that same ammo for your favorite Marlin/Winny levergun.

There is no legal definition between rifle ammo or pistol ammo, just a prohibition on sales to <21yo of ammo for pistols.

**Lazylaser** · December 10th, 2008, 04:08 PM

When buying any ammo be it 9mm or 30.06 at walmart I'm always asked if it is for a hand gun. 18 or 21 all depends on how the question is answered, not that it makes a difference to me.

**idpasharpshooter** · December 10th, 2008, 04:16 PM

back when i was at the "all the responsibility of an adult but only half the privileges" age, buying 9mm and 38 spl ammo before i started reloading. at walmart when they asked me the question i always said rifle. the thing that made me mad was they did not have that option for 38 spl ammo and sense the computer didn't ask they wouldn't sell it to me. just look around there are places that don't ask as many questions

**imperialism2024** · December 10th, 2008, 05:07 PM

Or if you get asked "handgun or rifle", you could reply with "I don't know yet".

Sure, you might use the .357 mag ammo in that handgun... or you might hold onto it until you get a rifle that fires it. There's no way to know for sure until you go to the range, load up the handgun, and fire it.