Limits on ammunition possession

[Mike.357]

Don't know if this is the right place so if not a mod can move it I guess.

Does anyone know, or know where to look for information concerning how many rounds of ammunition a person may legally keep in their residence?

What about cans of smokeless or black powder, primers etc..?

Is there limitations?

[DaveTN]

I have no idea, but I would guess that it depends on your local City or County code.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/TourGlide/Web%20Stuff/shrug.gif

[Fallguy]

Might check the BATFE (http://www.atf.gov/)'s website.

[Mike.357]

I am with Dave, I bet it is a local or county ordinance. If not local then state.

How many of us have 1000's of rounds? I bet there are people here with tens of thousands.

Gotta be a law somewhere.

[towerclimber37]

does there? really? I'm willing to bet that there isn't...and shouldn't be if there is!! and ummm...lets not give the batfu any ideas...
:cool:

[razorback2003]

I don't know of a federal or TN state law that would limit the amount of ammunition you have. TN weapons laws are not that long and do not note any limit on how much you can i have. I guess it all depends on how much money you can spend on toys and ammo.

[ETS_Inc]

It's regulated by Fire Codes, not BATFE or TCA.



Oh, and I personally know people with 100,000+ rounds of ammo in their home at any given time. (And it's not all .22 lr, although, I'm sure there are a good 10,000 rounds of it on hand.) You wouldn't believe the amount of 5.56, 7.62x51, and 9mm he has. :)

[Fallguy]

I have no idea, but I would guess that it depends on your local City or County code.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/TourGlide/Web%20Stuff/shrug.gif


In TN no counties or cities can pass local laws when it comes to firearms or ammuntion. T.C.A. 39-17-1314 (http://michie.lexisnexis.com/tennessee/lpext.dll/tncode/e501/ed40/eff5/f035?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0#)

[Fallguy]

Wonder what has become of this?

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3145

[DaveTN]

In TN no counties or cities can pass local laws when it comes to firearms or ammuntion. T.C.A. 39-17-1314 (http://michie.lexisnexis.com/tennessee/lpext.dll/tncode/e501/ed40/eff5/f035?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0#)
I saw that also. But the intent of that law appears to be to protect against the civil lawsuits against gun manufacturers, and to prevent city gun bans.
I doubt that law would trump a local fire code that says you can’t store 50,000 pounds of gun powder in a residence….. But I certainly could be wrong. :D
Also, I would guess that most laws on the storage of explosives and gun powder were in place prior to 1986; that law has no impact on them.

[DaveTN]

Wonder what has become of this?

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=3145

http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=3162

[Marswolf]

What about cans of smokeless or black powder, primers etc..?

Is there limitations?

As far as the Feds are concerned, you can buy up to 50 pounds of BP for "sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes in antique firearms or in antique devices." Be sure to keep an antique around.... If you sell the stuff, it has to be in an approved storage container.

Looks like how much you can have in your home is up to state and local authorities. In single family dwellings it's 5# in New York and 2# (without fire department permit) in Massachusetts.

As far as I know, Tennessee has no regulation. So I guess.........you can have up to 50 pounds. Please consult with your attorney for a more definitive answer. :eek:

[Mike.357]

I ain't particularly worried about it. My boss and I were talking and he has a buddy that has a class 3 permit and a couple or more automatic guns. I mentioned about the amount of ammo they could run through and he said something to the effect of this guy has a lot of rounds on hand.

It just made me wonder if there was a law about it. I have been looking but can't find anything.

[DWARREN123]

Depends on city, county, state and federal regs. The most restrictive apply.:(

[KahrMan]

i know a guy who shoots a lot of skeet and trap and reloads. He told me that a lot of insurance policys have limits on how much powder and primers you can keep in your house. If you have over x amount, then they would not cover damages if there was a fire. Never did any research to find out if this was true or not so take it for what its worth...

[Fallguy]

I saw that also. But the intent of that law appears to be to protect against the civil lawsuits against gun manufacturers, and to prevent city gun bans.
I doubt that law would trump a local fire code that says you can’t store 50,000 pounds of gun powder in a residence….. But I certainly could be wrong. :D
Also, I would guess that most laws on the storage of explosives and gun powder were in place prior to 1986; that law has no impact on them.

I guess you are probably right Dave. I was more just wanting to say a city can't have a law that says you can only have X amount of rounds of ammunition on hand. Of course there are other ways around it.

And thanks for the update on the other thing.

[Marswolf]

Depends on city, county, state and federal regs. The most restrictive apply.:(

In Tennessee, the state preempts cities and counties from making firearms rules more stringent than the state. So you only have to be concerned with the Feds and the State code.

[r1mattrr]

I never really thought of a limit on how much ammo you could have. Guess I should check.

[TN.Frank]

I know BATFE has a limit on how much black powder you can stock before you need to buy a special safe to keep it in and special storage areas but as to ammo, don't know of any in Tennessee. Of course if Hillery gets into office you know they'll be all kinds of junk gun laws pushed thru "for the children",LOL.

[DWARREN123]

I also believe it has to do with how much money you have!:D

[db99wj]

I also believe it has to do with how much money you have!:D

My limit on ammo has a direct correlation with that statement:rolleyes:

[Liberty Seeker]

After having read a couple of articles about people being arrested for this, I started trying to check on the legal issues regarding this in TN. I can't find anything in the TN Code, so the only restriction I can find is the fire code. It says you can store no more than 10,000 centerfire primers in a residence, but doesn't clarify between loose primers or ammunition. Does anyone have any concrete information regarding the amount of ammunition that can be legally kept in a residence? I'm no where close to the 10,000 even if that is the limit, I just thought it might be a good thing to know if there is a limit.

[nraforlife]

Heck guess I need to dig a hole in the backyard, seal my ammo up real good and bury it.

[2HOW]

I know of no limit on ammo or components.

[Fallguy]

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6217

[Abominable_Hillbilly]

It says you can store no more than 10,000 centerfire primers in a residence, but doesn't clarify between loose primers or ammunition.

Where did you get this information?

[Rightwinger]

oh crap

[Abominable_Hillbilly]

I just did some more digging. This is how I understand it, or don't, as the case may be:

Tennessee uses National Fire Protection Association standards. It looks like Tennessee adopts NFPA code exactly as their own. Here's a link to "NFPA 495": http://www.nfpa.org/freecodes/free_access_document.asp

This document provides that no more than 10,000 primers may be stored in a residence. I'll assume that includes the primers of loaded ammunition, not just components.

I'll still have to call the state and the county, but I really believe that this is the case.

Time to build that subsurface poured concrete magazine in the back yard. :)


BTW..........for any authorities who read this, my ammunition stores contain less than 10,000 primers.

EDIT: Also, my insurance agent told me that my fire coverage is compromised "if you break any laws". Food for thought.

[Paletiger13]

Next we will be like China and be told how many children we can have. Anyone else agree?

[Mike.357]

what do you need so many rounds/primers for anyway?

9999 is plenty.

[GLOCKGUY]

what do you need so many rounds/primers for anyway?

9999 is plenty.
ya this is what i was thinking. i wish i had 9999 rounds :(

[bang-flash]

The saying that comes to mind goes something like Better to have and not need than need and not have.

And besides 10k is only like .01% of the potential zombies that could attack if the shtf.

[Mugster]

Yeah, its a 10k hard limit. You've got to count rimfire in your total. That can get some of us if we aren't careful. You pick up a 1k rounds here or 1k primers there, next thing you know you've got 10 ammo cans headed to another family member's house for storage.

[DaveTN]

After having read a couple of articles about people being arrested for this,
I have never heard of anyone arrested for stockpiling ammo; can you give us some details.
<O:p</O:p
I read the media spin on the nutcase in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State>Indiana</st1:State> that implied he was arrested for stockpiling ammo. He was actually arrested for violating a court order, making threats, and being accused of shooting someone’s car windows out. I have not seen anything that says the 80,000 rounds of ammo seized was a crime by itself.
<O:p</O:p

[Sheepdog]

Nothing personal to anyone, but until I see a link to the TN code, I'm calling BS on the limit for loaded ammo. Especially rimfire. 10,000 rounds of .22 really isn't all that much.

[Abominable_Hillbilly]

Nothing personal to anyone, but until I see a link to the TN code, I'm calling BS on the limit for loaded ammo. Especially rimfire. 10,000 rounds of .22 really isn't all that much.

I'd like to see some definitive information myself. It will have to wait until Monday.

I know that the City of Knoxville and State of Tennessee have adopted the NFPA codes. It's stated plainly on both their websites. What's not clear is if the "primer limit" refers to loaded ammunition or just component primers. Also, it remains to be seen whether this is an enforceable "law," or simply a code suggestion with which one must ultimately comply.

[strickj]

I would assume primers are primers.I would also assume,like already said,if one does have +10,000 primers when a fire occurs your insurance would be up in smoke as well,that is if that found out.

[Liberty Seeker]

DaveTN,

You're right, neither case I was thinking about actually resulted in an arrest for the amount of ammo, I guess the media spin just got me thinking it might be a good thing to find out if there is a limit and what it might be. The other case I was recalling was:

http://www.pe.com/breakingnews/local/stories/PE_News_Local_D_web_ammo2.10407c5.html

[Mugster]

I have never heard of anyone arrested for stockpiling ammo; can you give us some details.
<o>:p</o>:p
I read the media spin on the nutcase in <st1:state>Indiana</st1:state> that implied he was arrested for stockpiling ammo. He was actually arrested for violating a court order, making threats, and being accused of shooting someone’s car windows out. I have not seen anything that says the 80,000 rounds of ammo seized was a crime by itself.
<o>:p</o>:p

I have a long time friend who's reloading equipment was seized and he was fined some amount, in the 1000's, for storage of too much smokeless and black powder by the fire marshal's office. He's lucky he didn't wind up in jail. I think he was in davidson county at the time.

I don't think the state gets involved in stuff like this. Here's the franklin/williamson county rules on explosives and what not...7-217 is what you want...and that doc lists 1 pound black sporting powder, 2000 primers, and 10 pounds of smokeless powder.

http://www.franklin-gov.com/municode/franklin.t-7.pdf

The rule of thumb (after talking to several marshals) is 10k primers and 20 pounds of powder. Anything more than that, and you're pushing what they will let you store...IE if a neighbor calls the fire department and complains or possibly your landlord. As far as I know, a primer is a primer, even if its stored in a loaded round. And you'd best have it stored properly if someone takes a look.

[CrazyLincoln]

Would a shed be a residence? One may be able to get away with ammo piled up in a shed separate from a house.

[Mike.357]

I just did a quick "round" inventory.

I came up with 6100 rounds of assorted ammunition including 2500 rimfire along with,
550 magnum pistol primers
100 lg pistol primers
500 percussion caps
1.5 lbs smokeless
.5 lb of black powder
.5 lb Pyrodex
.5 lb Pinnacle
300 .38 bullets
100 .45 bullets
150 .454 balls

I think i need to get some more and keep up the inventory. Especially .454 balls

[shadow12]

Mike,

You just need to come out to the range any chance you get and lower your amount, I would hate for you to get busted.

[Mike.357]

You just need to come out to the range any chance you get and lower your amount, I would hate for you to get busted.


I'd come out most every weekend if I knew I could.

I am trying to get to 9999 rounds or supplies that can make that many, LOL

i been running through some rimfire lately. But I try to pick up a box or two of something every week whether I need it or not.

[ZenDog]

They need to change it to 10,000 per resident-- I mean, if the zombies come, that may be barely enough!

[Law of Thirds]

On the flip side: I have yet to purchase my first handgun because I'm waiting on the water bill to show up with my name on it so I can become a TN resident (everything was in my wife's name) and since I know what I'm going to get, I've been buying a box of WWB or other FMJ practice ammo every 3 weeks or so when we go to walmart to get groceries. It keeps me happy and it keeps her from wondering why I'm buying so much ammo at the same time as the gun.

[DWARREN123]

I do not stockpile, I collect!:D

[mikedwood]

I did a quick check of my ammo and all I found was this spoon, sir.

[averagejoe]

i'm buying ammo for my sons and their kids. as much as ammo prices have gone up in the last year, i'm trying buy it before i can't afford it...

if "they" ever decide to enforce this, well then i'm glad its still in sealed packs since it'll be headed into a cache.

[molonlabetn]

I don't stockpile... I just rotate large amounts by shooting and resupplying :D.

[Mike.357]

I just bought all the Federal .22 LR the local Wallyworld had, LOL It is only 1800 rounds but the price was decent.

[grimel]

And you'd best have it stored properly if someone takes a look.

What constitutes stored properly?

[Mark@Sea]

Follow manufacturers recommendations? Dark, below 70 degrees, no ignition sources, etc.
Just a guess, but I have watched this thread with interest.

[Mugster]

Yeah, +1.

Neat and tidy for sure, use common sense. I try to put mine in metal storage cabinets on a concrete floor just to reduce fire risk but thats probably not necessary.

The thing to avoid here is a 5 pound jug of powder on its side spilling out next to your weed eater fuel.

[I_Like_Pie]

I just bought all the Federal .22 LR the local Wallyworld had, LOL It is only 1800 rounds but the price was decent.


Yup...when the price was $9.97 the guy at the sporting goods counter acctually called me up to tell me that he was going to raise the price to $12 sometime during his shift and will wait for me to show up.

I am glad that the insurance/legal thing only applies to centerfire ammo.

30 minutes later I cleaned them out...35,200 rounds.
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee169/matthew_craigge/00002-1.jpg

[Mike.357]

can't find them bulk packs around here. I tried 6 different walmarts all around town one day and none of them had any. I also noticed not a one of them had WWB 9mm in 100 round packs either.

[Magiccarpetrides]

35,200 rounds? Holy sh*t and people call me crazy....thats a lifetime of plinking.

How long is that ammo good for?

[I_Like_Pie]

35,200 rounds? Holy sh*t and people call me crazy....thats a lifetime of plinking.

How long is that ammo good for?


Will last about 2 years at me and my family's current rate. It really isn't that much if you shoot a lot...many folks shoot that much in .45 to practice for bullseye and such.

We actually plink a lot at the CRC...bring a lot of friends, introduce a lot of people to shooting, etc... Pretty easy to consume 12,000 a year if you are there 4 or 5 times a month. That is the closet...you should see the reloading room.

[Mike.357]

you should see the reloading room.

so show us<!-- / message -->

[OlufsenAudio]

+1 on seeing the reloading room.

[nightrunner]

+2 on the reloading room

[I_Like_Pie]

+1 on seeing the reloading room.

Yup...on a rainy day like today...this is the best place to be. Trying to figure out the best Alliant 2400 load for some 350gr. 45/70s.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee169/matthew_craigge/reloadroom-1.jpg

Down to about 15,000 lead bullets these days...kinda low on lead due to the stupid prices (Thus explaining why I buy so many .22lr). We cast a lot at my pop's place across town. Get about 3 or 4 friends over for reloading party every now and then...despite no progressive press...you can crank out quality ammo FAST with 2 good presses and people who know what they are doing.

[dotsun]

Nice setup, but you're waaaaaayyy to organized for my tastes. :D

[moreland281]

Check with your fire marshal they can tell you the limit on powder