Ammunition Question

[Hanse Davion]

The reason that handgun ammo and rifle ammo are separated in that book is because back when those books were conceived not many if any handguns were chambered in rifle rounds, that is a modern phenomenon due to the metallurgy technology that exists today. Rifle caliber handguns are more available today than they were say 35 to 40 years ago when books like the one you mentioned were being written.

Do you have a source on that? That sounds interesting.

[HOGDOG1955]

i know our local gun shop will not sell 22 ammo to anyone under 21. the store owner told me iots just to cover himself.

[CaliforniaLiberal]

...Basically, how does one distinguish between "handgun" ammunition and "rifle" ammunition, from a legal standpoint as well as a practical standpoint...

One is not able to legally distinguish between handgun and rifle ammo.

Ammunition originally designed for rifles is commonly used in handguns and vice versa.

AB962 was declared unconstitutional because it regulated handgun ammo without a clear definition of what handgun ammo is.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=385930

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=848701

The Beast DeLeon's present version of this Evil Bill -SB53- avoids this definition problem by regulating sales of ALL ammo without attempting to define "Handgun Ammo"

[russ69]

OK, let's keep it simple. Forget the laws, the legislators don't know bupkis about guns or ammo. Handgun ammo is ammo that was originally designed for use in hanguns. Think 38 Special, 44 mag, 45 ACP, those kind of rounds. Rifle ammo is the same ammo originally designed to be used in a rifle. 30-30, 30-06, 250 Savage, etc. It's more the original design intent than actual usage. You have to know your firearms history to get the right answer.

[robcoe]

I have come across several questions and wanted to get some input from this forum on the matter.

Basically, how does one distinguish between "handgun" ammunition and "rifle" ammunition, from a legal standpoint as well as a practical standpoint.

What comes to mind are books like Cartridges of the World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartridges_of_the_World) that separate rifle and handgun ammunition, but do not give a definition or reason for doing so.

For example, how is it classified as such when it has the possibility to be used in both rifles and handguns? Common use? Designed for use? Marketed for use?

I welcome thoughts on the subject as well as any links to source material.

There really isn't a precise way to distinguish them, nor is there actually any practical difference and there hasn't been for a very long time.

It has always been common to have both a handgun and long gun that used the same ammunition, even back in the pinfire days, to limit what you had to buy and carry. Today you are probably more likely to see .45 colt used in a lever action rifle than in a revolver, but it would be a "handgun round" in most peoples minds, .22lr is kind of the opposite, it's called .22 Long Rifle, but it is likely used more(or at leas as) often in handguns.

Trying to distinguish between the 2 is probably futile since there is really no difference.

[nrandell]

handgun ammo is short and fat, rifle ammo is longer and pointy.

[Librarian]

Ask CA State Senator Kevin DeLeon. He has experience on this issue.

Exactly.

De Leon's ammunition provisions from AB962 were declared unconstitutional for vagueness (Parker v California) on exactly this point: it isn't possible to make that division.

[golfish]

What about pistol caliber rifles? These are just as popular today as they were 130 years ago.