Is It Legal to Buy Ammo Online Where I Live?

There are multiple benefits to buying ammunition online. Not only is it incredibly quick and easy to find exact name brands and types, but you have a much larger scale. Deals and sales are literally at your fingertips. It is also much more efficient to shop digital because there is no need to go store-to-store. Going to a site's checkout will tell you exactly what you will be paying, and if there is a better deal available, a quick search will reveal it. It is extremely easy to buy discount ammo.

However, it is crucial to know state laws and regulations to buy bulk ammo online. If orders are unable to be fulfilled due to state laws, stores cannot be held responsible. For example, Ammunition Store charges a 4% cancellation fee, to cover credit card transactions. Companies are charged a processing fee for every transaction, and if the order cancels due to state regulations, this cannot be at the cost of the seller.

Knowing Your State Laws

Most importantly, in Hawaii and Alaska, it is illegal to ship any amount or type of bulk ammunition, including primers due to transportation laws that do not allow ammo to be shipped by air cargo. Keeping in mind every state is different; it is important to know the laws of your region as well. In New Jersey, it is legal to purchase ammo, but you must have an FPID (firearm purchaser identification) on file with us, or fax / email it before placing your order. Also, you cannot purchase any feeding device such as magazines or even machine gun links over fifteen rounds. This is also true of Colorado laws.

In California, it is legal to purchase and ship cartridges, but feeding devices cannot exceed ten rounds. Also, no tracer or incendiary rounds are allowed due to state wildfire protection regulations. Regulations intensify in some parts of the state. In Los Angeles, any order whatsoever is illegal, Oakland only prohibits rifle ammunition. In Marin County, the buyer must have a CCW card registered with the vendor. San Francisco regulations say that specific brands such as Winchester Black Talon or similar types are prohibited.

Some Variances from the Norm

In the states of Maryland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut the same stipulations apply that say no feeding device that exceeds ten rounds. Connecticut has one more stipulation added to this. Their laws state that the buyer is required to have one of the following:

●A permit to carry a revolver or pistol is needed.

●A valid eligibility certificate is required of the pistol/revolver.

●A permit to sell a revolver or pistol at retail.

●A valid ammunition certificate and photo ID.

●A long gun eligibility certificate, if necessary.

No .50 caliber incendiary ammo or armor piercing ammo is permitted, whatsoever.

Cases, powders, and primers are all considered "ammunition" in Washington DC, and all require a license. In addition, no armor piercing ammo or incendiary ammo is allowed either.

In Ohio, there are three main regulations. In Cleveland, any feeding device over 30 rounds for .22 caliber is prohibited and also over 20 rounds for center fire ammo. In Cincinnati, 15 rounds for a handgun is the limit and 10 rounds for a rifle. In Dayton, no more than 20 rounds for a handgun is allowed and 10 rounds for a rifle. While these laws have long been contested as contradictory to state law, they are still on the books and thus potentially enforceable.

In New York, all ammo shipments are required to go through a registered seller of ammunition, or they must go through an FFL dealer. A copy of the FFL / SoA must be on file or sent to the seller. Some believe that this law was repealed, however the NY SAFE act still states that sales must take place in person, and only the requirement for a database of sales records was put on hold. No feeding devices over 10 rounds are allowed. However, in Buffalo and Rochester, no feeding devices over 5 rounds for a rifle are allowed. In New York City, feeding devices and magazines are not authorized at all.

In the State of Illinois, any gun owner must provide the seller with their Firearm Owner's Identification Card (FOID) or a valid concealed carry license and include their driver’s license or state ID. The shipment of ammo is also then only permitted to go to an address on one of those documents. In the city of Aurora, feeding devices over 15 rounds are prohibited for long guns only. Chicago does not allow feeding devices over 15 rounds for shotguns only. Franklin Park prohibits feeding devices over 16 rounds for long guns only, and in the city of Oak Park feeding devices over 10 rounds for long guns are not allowed. Riverdale does not allow feeding devices over 35 rounds for long guns only.

Always Stay Informed

In any of the states mentioned above with magazine restrictions, machine gun links are considered "feeding devices", so links of any amount can’t be shipped. The metal links can easily be assembled into a capacity that exceeds the limit. Because the industry is always changing, it is important to keep up with the regulations. Purchasing online does make things easier, but it is important to denote the laws of your area. It is all about being a responsible owner and merchant. Please remember that these restrictions are not put forth by the merchant to keep people from purchasing these items, but rather by your state and local politicians who have decided what is best for their residents.