22 Usage Required

[Chillock]

Hi all,

This just happened to my wife, I've never heard of it before, although it has been years since I bought 22 rounds.

When my wife was buying 22 rounds, she was asked if they were for a handgun or a rifle.... She asked why and the gal told her it was required in the computer to finish ringing up the sale.

I've never heard of this before. Why?? Can anyone explain?

 

[Bugkiller99]

Working on old brain cells here, but age to purchase handgun ammo and age to purchase long gun ammo maybe different. Vendor might be CYA for calibers that go both ways when purchaser is 18,19 or 20. Perhaps his SOP for all 22 purchases regardless of age.

 

[Mcwsky09]

In Ohio I have been asked but not consistently. Kinda silly since they are equally compatible with either.

 

[Hillbilly77]

Federal law.

To buy "handgun" ammo you must be 21 years old.
To buy "rifle" or "long gun" ammo you must be 18 years old.

Some ammo fits handguns and long guns, and it makes their brains hurt.

 

[mjlabs]

never been asked once and I buy a lot of damn ammo

 

[M3Stuart]

Silly rule...like they'd sell 9mm, .357 or .45 ACP to someone under 21 if they told them it was for a rifle/levergun or carbine...

 

[luangtom]

This thread brings back memories. Back in the early-70s, MN had a similar law. I was home on leave before going over to start my tour in Vietnam. Went to the Coast-to-Coast hardware that my father's friend owned. The lady at the till would not sell me any .22 rounds, as she knew I was not 21 yet. That caliber could be used in handguns and one had to be 21 in order to purchase it. I went home empty-handed and pa went ballistic when he heard why. I got the rounds that I wanted and my father went on to contact our state representatives when I left for The Games in S.E. Asia. These foolish rules have been around for decades.

 

[shouldazagged]

Federal law.

To buy "handgun" ammo you must be 21 years old.
To buy "rifle" or "longgun" ammo you must be 18 years old.

Some ammo fits handguns and longguns, and it makes their brains hurt.

Your statement assumes that somebody involved in making the rules has a brain. I'd call that unsafe.

 

[alwslate]

Walmart was following this policy in this area many years ago. When
I bought 22 ammo there I was always asked if it was for rifle or
handgun. This was over 20 yrs ago. A different big box store where I
often shop keeps their 22 ammo locked up in a glass front case with
the handgun ammo while rifle and shotgun ammo sets in the open. I
asked why once just for the record and was told what I expected.
22 ammo can be used in handguns or rifles.

 

[Mydogmax]

Walmart in Minnesota always asks that question.

 

[DR505]

New Mexico couldn't care less; all the .22 ammo is left out in the open. In fact, ALL ammo is left out in the open (except places like WalMart).

 

[deputydon]

I always answered "it's for my machine gun". Try it - the response varies but
is always interesting.

-don

 

[Skunkhome]

Back when i managed a gun shop, About 1977 or 1978 we had to start asking that question of people who could be under 21 years of age. It was awkward.

 

[Gatofeo]

After the 1968 Gun Control Act, for a few years, Dad had to sign a logbook to buy .22 rimfire ammo in Washington State.
We bought it at the (famous) White Elephant Store in Spokane. I remember Dad commenting, "When we gonna get rid of this stupid requirement?" The salesman shrugged and grumbled in agreement.
I believe that by about 1972, signing a logbook was no longer required. And I recall buying .22 rimfire ammo without question, when I was 17.

The Californians began moving to the Pacific Northwest in the 1960s. Carried their virulent "feel good, do nothing" laws with them. I was born and raised in Washington, but would never live there again. They ruined my native state. Shat all over the nest.
Some of the highest gas, tobacco, alcohol and sales taxes in the nation. It used to be easy to get on Welfare in Washington, so that attracted a lot of rifraff from California and the eastern seaboard that significantly raised crime, drugs and welfare fraud.
From what I hear, not so easy to get on Welfare in Washington now, but still not impossible. Third generation rifraff is causing problems now.
Dang shame; it was once a nice, relatively safe state.

Given the above, I doubt the "are you 21?" question will go away. I expect the old logbook to reappear (in electronic form) for signing.
If the anti-gunners can't register the guns, they'll register who buys ammo and reloading components and equipment. It's a backdoor move to find out who owns what.

Registration always, always leads to confiscation. Just ask England, Australia and other nations.
In Australia, you can't even own a pump shotgun, let alone a semi-auto anything! Not even a semi-auto .22 rimfire. Restricted, you know.

Hammer away at your representative, Congress, the Senate and the President about your dissatisfaction. Be civil, but be firm: gun control laws have never worked and never will.
New York's Sullivan Law, banning ownership of handguns without a police approved license, dates to the early 1900s.
Boy, that worked huh?

 

[nuguy]

I have been ask the same question, but it always seamed to confused the clerks when I told them I wasn't sure. I shoot handguns and long guns.

 

[Alpo]

After the 1968 Gun Control Act, for a few years, Dad had to sign a logbook to buy .22 rimfire ammo in Washington State.
We bought it at the (famous) White Elephant Store in Spokane. I remember Dad commenting, "When we gonna get rid of this stupid requirement?" The salesman shrugged and grumbled in agreement.
I believe that by about 1972, signing a logbook was no longer required. And I recall buying .22 rimfire ammo without question, when I was 17.

The Californians began moving to the Pacific Northwest in the 1960s. Carried their virulent "feel good, do nothing" laws with them. I was born and raised in Washington, but would never live there again. They ruined my native state. Shat all over the nest.
Some of the highest gas, tobacco, alcohol and sales taxes in the nation. It used to be easy to get on Welfare in Washington, so that attracted a lot of rifraff from California and the eastern seaboard that significantly raised crime, drugs and welfare fraud.
From what I hear, not so easy to get on Welfare in Washington now, but still not impossible. Third generation rifraff is causing problems now.
Dang shame; it was once a nice, relatively safe state.

Given the above, I doubt the "are you 21?" question will go away. I expect the old logbook to reappear (in electronic form) for signing.
If the anti-gunners can't register the guns, they'll register who buys ammo and reloading components and equipment. It's a backdoor move to find out who owns what.

Registration always, always leads to confiscation. Just ask England, Australia and other nations.
In Australia, you can't even own a pump shotgun, let alone a semi-auto anything! Not even a semi-auto .22 rimfire. Restricted, you know.

Hammer away at your representative, Congress, the Senate and the President about your dissatisfaction. Be civil, but be firm: gun control laws have never worked and never will.
New York's Sullivan Law, banning ownership of handguns without a police approved license, dates to the early 1900s.
Boy, that worked huh?

Actually, 1986. The Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986.

It made signing the book for ammo go away.

It made it legal to buy ammo mail order and have it delivered to your house (GCA 68 required it be bought from an FFL).

It allowed Military Surplus firearms to be imported (GCA 68 outlawed that).

It came up with the intelligent thought that, "if PISTOL ammo was being bought for use in a RIFLE, that made it RIFLE ammo, and could therefore be bought by anyone 18 or older". GCA 68 said that PISTOL ammo required you to be 21. Period. Don't matter what it's being shot in, it's PISTOL ammo, so you had to be 21. My mother had to buy my 22s for three years. That is why they ask "pistol or rifle". If you say "Pistol", they type that in and the register asks, "Is customer over 21". If you say "rifle", the register asks, "Is customer over 18?"

FOPA 86 also outlawed the registration of new machine guns, which is why a 700 dollar MP5 now costs 15 thousand dollars, but hey, you can't have everything.

 

[Fishslayer]

Some ammo fits handguns and longguns, and it makes their brains hurt.

Maybe, maybe not. But the register is asking them and they need to answer. Buying ammo at Walmart sometimes I'm asked, sometimes not. Haven't bought pistol ammo there in years tho. I've been known to tell 'em it's for a SMG.

 

[GregoryJ]

I was asked that question once or twice. I told the clerk, "doesn't matter, I'm over 21."

 

[Smith357]

Here in ohio at my local wally world I get asked the question once in a while, my response is, ".22 long rifle is obviously for a rifle, Doh!"

 

[Chillock]

Working on old brain cells here, but age to purchase handgun ammo and age to purchase long gun ammo maybe different. Vendor might be CYA for calibers that go both ways when purchaser is 18,19 or 20. Perhaps his SOP for all 22 purchases regardless of age.

Vendor was Walmart. And my wife is twice the oldest age you listed.... But you didn't hear that from me!!!