LE AMMO OK FOR PURCHASE?

[DDM4556]

Hey CalGunners,

First of all, I apologize if this thread is a dupe.

I recently was talking with a police officer at a gun store near me. After a while the conversation shifted to ammo. He told me what he uses and explained that it was available to LE only. By the end of that conversation, he offered to sell me some boxes if I was interested.

The question: Is it legal to buy LE ammo privately from an officer? I'd like to have a box or two for HD but only if I'm not breaking any laws acquiring it. It also wouldn't be very fun to have cuffs slapped on right after the transaction is completed...

Anyone know conclusively?

[-hanko]

No laws broken.

Perfectly legal to buy or sell ammo marked "LE ONLY".

The thread is not even close to a "dupe".

As to the "cuffs" thing...

Conclusively.

[Dano3467]

Use what they use, then no problem in court, if you ever need to do that....FYI don't do that.

[Tincon]

May be some local issues, SF in particular.

[pacrat]

I recently was talking with a police officer at a gun store near me.

As articulated, it sounds like the supposed LEO. Fed you a line of bovine excrement in order to price gouge you on some ammo he wanted to unload on you.

To fully debunk "what you were told/offered". What ammo specifically was he pimping?

Fat civil service salary, bennies up the butt, and pension, all to be bartered away for a couple boxes of ammo. No cop is gonna do that, unless he's a total turd brain. In which case he has no business being a cop to start with.

JM2c

[DDM4556]

I believe there is a difference from a box on a shelf with a "LE" on it (I've bought these before) and a variation of ammo that stores won't sell unless you provide proof that you are LE. Looking at the ammo online, none of the sites will sell it without such proof.
That's why I wan't to be sure its legal to buy privately.

[Mitch]

What ammunition is LE only? AP? It's not illegal to possess AP, and in any case you don't want to use that for personal defense.

[pacrat]

I believe there is a difference from a box on a shelf with a "LE" on it (I've bought these before) and a variation of ammo that stores won't sell unless you provide proof that you are LE. Looking at the ammo online, none of the sites will sell it without such proof.
That's why I wan't to be sure its legal to buy privately.

There are some brick and mortar, and online stores that by policy only sell to LE.


What specific ammo are you looking at, that the cop offered to sell you that you can't buy, if you can find it?

[P5Ret]

So is he selling you ammo he is issued for free, or ammo he bought somewhere else? I'll bet if you look around on the internet you'll find the same ammo he is so graciously selling you cheaper.
The biggest difference in ammo marked as LE only and the same rounds without that marking is usually the size of the box. Most LE only ammo is in 50 round boxes, most over the counter defensive ammo is in 20 or 25 round boxes.

[DDM4556]

There are some brick and mortar, and online stores that by policy only sell to LE.


What specific ammo are you looking at, that the cop offered to sell you that you can't buy, if you can find it?

Thanks for the help. Its Winchester Ranger T Series.

Everywhere I've found it online requires proof that I am LE. Maybe that's just their policy? I dunno. Maybe I'm making a big deal out of nothing. But with all the weird laws in this state I figured better be safe than sorry.

[DDM4556]

Hers some more info on it.

http://catalogs.winchester.com/2015/LE/ page 4-5

[CSACANNONEER]

The only ammunition in CA that is only available to LEAs (not individual LEOs for personal use) is handgun AP rounds and incendiary/tracer ammo. While there is a city ord. in SF that prohibits possession of ammunition marked "LE Only" the rest of the state realizes that such marking are nothing more than a marketing gimmick that many morons are willing to pay a premium for. Oh yea, the other thing is if the ammo is sold to a LEA or LEO, it does not require the manufacturer to pay excise tax. So, that's one reason some distributors require proof that the purchaser is a LEO. Also, if they are a direct distributor, they may have an agreement with Winchester to only sell to LEOs because, it is Winchester's policy.

[pacrat]

Hers some more info on it.

http://catalogs.winchester.com/2015/LE/ page 4-5

Everything in that online catalog is available OTC, anywhere that stocks it.

[DDM4556]

Ok. Well I guess that clears it up!

Thank you very much CSACANNONEER and pacrat for your comments. I really appreciate it.

[stix213]

I thought the LE marked ammo issue was only a problem due to taxes paid. There is no problem with buying, using, or owning LE marked ammo specifically. The place selling it may have some tax issues of their own, or they may have taken care of that.