Legal questions

[JoshuaS]

Is there any limit on the amount of primers and powder you can own? Are there any laws concerning its storage

Guy told me that you could own 20lbs for private use without any special rules, but anything above required storage in a wooden box. He said this was federal law. He also said you can only own 10k primers under federal law.

Is this true? If not, is it true for California? Or there any limits? I tried searching, but to no avail. Just contradictory assertions on other boards

[joelogic]

Just the firecode.

http://www.saami.org/specifications_and_information/publications/download/SAAMI_ITEM_201-Primers.pdf

[JoshuaS]

So if I wanted to be sure, I should check my local/county ordinances, but other than that I am fine?

[joelogic]

Where are you located? I am sure someone else has already called their fire dept.

In SF according to the fire chief there are no further restrictions.

Plus do you really want to store 50lbs of powder? or 50k primers?

[NiteQwill]

It's easy to store more. Build a magazine box. 1" wood walls, enclosed.

Where are you located? I am sure someone else has already called their fire dept.

In SF according to the fire chief there are no further restrictions.

Plus do you really want to store 50lbs of powder? or 50k primers?

You don't reload much? I know most reloaders (that I know) would cringe when their primer count gets below that number.

[JoshuaS]

Well right now, no. Prices are being jacked up. The one online source I could find for small pistol primers with them in stock is price gauging, cheaper to buy at Turners, even if there were no shipping/Hazmat. And my budget is tight right now.

But I figured bulk is cheaper than non-bulk. Let us see 8lbs of 2400 or 4227 for 357 magnum. Need something for 30-30. And 9mm. Up to 24lbs right there. Yeah some powders can do a decent job in two of these (H110 for 357 and 30-30 e.g.), but it is not hard to see how the 20 lbs in original containers could be exceeded by someone loading more than one caliber. The PDF on powder from the same source was ambigious about having more than 50lbs. It said a wooden box/cabinent for more than 20lbs but less than 50. But said nothing of more than 50.

[GrizzlyGuy]

From CGF FAQ: How much gunpowder can I store in my home?

Per state law, you may possess up to 20 lbs of smokeless powder and up to 1 lb of black powder, however, your local city or county ordinances may impose additional limits. Keep in mind that black powder substitutes like pyrodex are considered smokeless powder and would fall under the 20lb restriction as opposed to the 1lb black powder restriction.

Ref: CA Health and Safety 12102

See also:

13. Over 20 Pounds Of Smokeless Gunpowder Or More Than One Pound Of Black Powder.

Even if intended for use in sporting firearms, California provides felony penalties for possessing more than the stated amounts of gunpowder without special permits.

Or see here.

[JoshuaS]

A felony?!! Good to know. It will be a while before I accumulate any real stock, but figured when the opportunity arises, stock up.

Guess use it up as quickly as possible when the prices are low so I can restock more

[JoshuaS]

One more clarification. It seems illegal to transfer/gift powder to anyone, but say I own 20lbs, could my wife own 20lbs of powder herself making a total of 40lbs on property (barring local ordinances of course), or is it only permissable if the powders are owned by two people in different residences? If multiple people in the same building can own powder, is there a federal limit of 50lbs as seems might be implied by the SAAMI pdf?

[bigdawg86]

Wow 20lbs...

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[joelogic]

20lbs per household unless stored properly. Plus, why store so much powder? Just load the ammo. No restrictions on ammo.

[JoshuaS]

I think it was already explained that buying in bulk saves money and further one may need to get multiple powders. Three 8lbs make 24lbs, over the 20 limit. Right now this is hypothetical, but I say I find a good deal, and/or get some extra spending cash, I don't want to run afoul of the law.

The law doesn't speak of household. It says one needs a permit, and then goes to exempt those possessing less than 20lbs for handloading from the permit requirement

My understand at this point is that I can own 20lbs and store it, leaving them in original containers. Another member of my household can also own 20lbs, making 40 total in the household, without running afoul of CA law. But it appears that safety regulations would require, if stored in the same building, that a wooden cabinet or wooden box be used as a storage magazine. If hypothetical 3 persons owned 20lbs, that might be an issue (again the SAAMI is not clear)

If it bothers you so much stocking up, thinking about the possibility of being in an apartment building with more than one tenant that reloads. If the restriction is per building, that creates potential issues.

[Librarian]

See also the longer wiki article http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/Am...d_Black_Powder

[Librarian]

See also the longer wiki article http://wiki.calgunsfoundation.org/Am...d_Black_Powder

[JoshuaS]

So the law seems to imply per person, but unless we have multiple buildings/properties, there is a chance it would be construed by the authorities as per location?