Mailing ammo to CA?

chris in va · May 22, 2016, 02:02 PM

Good friend of mine is having to pay $58/50 45 ACP in California, and around $75 for 357.

Is it legal to UPS ORM-D a few boxes to him around the Stockton area? I've done it before to a MD address but CA is a bit different.

**Aguila Blanca** · May 22, 2016, 03:35 PM

Legalities aside, by the time you pay the UPS fees I doubt you can buy ammo cheap enough to save him any money. I have shipped ammo by UPS -- it ain't cheap.

kilimanjaro · May 22, 2016, 03:55 PM

Whatever you do, do not put a couple of boxes in the US Postal system, you will not like what happens to you.

I hate to say this, but from Stockton you can drive to the Nevada state line in about three hours. Your friend should put some gas in his car and go visit State Line Liquor and Ammo Sales.

Good scenery, too.

Mike38 · May 22, 2016, 07:08 PM

For the cost of 3 or 4 boxes of ammo at that price, he could by a single stage Lee reloader and roll his own ammo.

chris in va · May 22, 2016, 09:03 PM

Guys, this isn't helping.

Is it legal to mail ammo to CA?

buckhorn_cortez · May 22, 2016, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Guys, this isn't helping.

Is it legal to mail ammo to CA?

Rather than getting testy with people on this forum, why don't you just expend a little of your energy and go to the US Postal Service website if you really want the exact answer to your question?

If you really want to know if you can MAIL ammunition to California, about 30 seconds on the United States Postal Service website looking at:

Shipping Restrictions

...will get you the following information -

Quote:

Prohibited Domestic Items

Air bags
Ammunition
Explosives
Gasoline

So, the answer is >>NO<< you cannot mail ammunition.

That answers your question about mailing ammunition.

You can, however, ship ammunition via a common carrier like UPS or FED EX.

Mike38 · May 22, 2016, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Is it legal to mail ammo to CA?

Your friend that lives there could easily find out. Does Kalifornia have a state police web site? For me, the Illinois state police web site has a very good list of firearms laws.

buckhorn_cortez · May 22, 2016, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Your friend that lives there could easily find out. Does Kalifornia have a state police web site? For me, the Illinois state police web site has a very good list of firearms laws.

Has nothing to do with state firearm laws. Mailing ammunition is prohibited by the US Postal Service.

FrankenMauser · May 22, 2016, 09:58 PM

Doesn't CA require background checks for ammunition purchases?
If so, that would require shipping the ammo to an FFL.

buckhorn_cortez · May 22, 2016, 10:00 PM

If you want to use UPS or FED EX to ship ammunition to California, here are the restrictions where you cannot ship ammunition:

Quote:

CALIFORNIA Statewide
- Tracer Ammunition

Beverly Hills, CA - Ammunition

Carson, CA-Ammunition

Marin County, CA - Ammunition

Oakland, CA - Ammunition

Sacramento, CA - Ammunition

San Francisco, CA - Ammunition

Los Angeles, CA - Ammunition

Further information can be found HERE.

**Aguila Blanca** · May 22, 2016, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike38

For the cost of 3 or 4 boxes of ammo at that price, he could by a single stage Lee reloader and roll his own ammo.

I'll second this suggestion.

Natchez Shooters Supplies sells a Lee 4-station turret press (not fully progressive) kit for under $100. A set of Lee carbide pistol dies will set him back maybe another $40. So for less than the price of three boxes of ammunition, he can be set up to load his own. If he's paying $1.16 per round now, he can reload .45 ACP for less than a quarter of that, even at today's inflated prices for primers.

chris in va · May 22, 2016, 10:36 PM

Quote:

If you want to use UPS or FED EX to ship ammunition to California, here are the restrictions where you cannot ship ammunition:

Quote:
CALIFORNIA Statewide
- Tracer Ammunition

Beverly Hills, CA - Ammunition

Carson, CA-Ammunition

Marin County, CA - Ammunition

Oakland, CA - Ammunition

Sacramento, CA - Ammunition

San Francisco, CA - Ammunition

Los Angeles, CA - Ammunition
Further information can be found HERE.
buckhorn_cortez is online now

Thank you, that is very helpful. He doesn't live in any of those areas.

CowTowner · May 23, 2016, 07:44 AM

If the friend is in SOCAL, have him contact these folks:
https://www.ammobros.com/shop.php?cPath=0_416_418_493
The pricing is less than what the OP stated he's paying according to the site.
This is where I go when I need ammo and I'm visiting friends/family out there.

WW2 · May 23, 2016, 05:22 PM

The California senate just passed very draconian ammo sales bills (8 of them). Amongst the items is the requirement that all ammo must be bought from a Licensed Ammunition Dealer and Video taped. Also required is a background check and a license to purchase ammunition. They also will inspect cars at the California Border to search for illegally transported ammunition in to the state! Let's hope the state house votes these laws down! If not, let's hope that the Governor vetoes this legislation.

I second Ammo brothers. Also Turner Outdoorsman. If you are in the Temecula Area there is also Faith Armory. I avoid Wal-Mart as their prices seem higher than the previously mentioned gun stores.

chris in va · May 23, 2016, 08:36 PM

To clarify, he can't afford anything at all right now. No ammo, reloading components or associated hardware.

California is sucking the life out of him. I want to send him a 'care package' so he can try to get some semblance of normalcy for a couple hours.

FrankenMauser · May 23, 2016, 09:49 PM

Good for you, Chris.

Sometimes, it's just one little distraction that can improve your frame of mind for days, weeks, even months.

62coltnavy · June 1, 2016, 12:40 AM

WW2's statement as to what has passed in California is wildly inaccurate, but beside the point. Yes, there is one new ammo bill (which hasn't yet been voted on by the Assembly, but will pass, and then on to the Gov, who may veto as he has done before), and one ballot proposition, the latter of which is excruciatingly draconian, and does include an ammo license (with background check), a vendor's license, sales only in face to face transactions (with a NICS check), a ban on shipments into the state except if processed by a licensed vendor (with a NICS check and of course for a fee). The Senate bill, which is intended to undercut the ballot initiative, does require a face to face transaction, vendor (but not purchaser) licensing, and the recording of information as to buyer, buyer ID, and ammo purchased.

MEANWHILE it is perfectly legal for a California resident outside of enumerated cities to purchase ammunition from on-line vendors. I personally have been buying from Freedom Munitions, which has excellent prices and high quality ammo. Lucky Gunner is another popular source. I don't remember what I paid for .357, but it was less than .40 per round. 9 mm was under .30 per round, I'm thinking maybe .26. Many of these places have low or very reasonable shipping costs. For example, Freedom Munitions right now is $7.50 for orders over $99

62coltnavy · June 1, 2016, 01:19 AM

I must be tired or stupid. Or both. Anyway, it occurred to me that YOU can buy on line and have it shipped to your friend. I've done it for my daughter several times. I send it to her office, and when it comes in in a heavy box, the boss says, "Another ammo shipment from Dad."

May 22, 2016, 02:02 PM	#1
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Mailing ammo to CA? Good friend of mine is having to pay $58/50 45 ACP in California, and around $75 for 357. Is it legal to UPS ORM-D a few boxes to him around the Stockton area? I've done it before to a MD address but CA is a bit different.

May 22, 2016, 09:58 PM	#9
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Doesn't CA require background checks for ammunition purchases? If so, that would require shipping the ammo to an FFL. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

May 23, 2016, 07:44 AM	#13
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	If the friend is in SOCAL, have him contact these folks: https://www.ammobros.com/shop.php?cPath=0_416_418_493 The pricing is less than what the OP stated he's paying according to the site. This is where I go when I need ammo and I'm visiting friends/family out there. __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

May 23, 2016, 09:49 PM	#16
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Good for you, Chris. Sometimes, it's just one little distraction that can improve your frame of mind for days, weeks, even months. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

June 1, 2016, 12:40 AM	#17
62coltnavy Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2011 Posts: 356	WW2's statement as to what has passed in California is wildly inaccurate, but beside the point. Yes, there is one new ammo bill (which hasn't yet been voted on by the Assembly, but will pass, and then on to the Gov, who may veto as he has done before), and one ballot proposition, the latter of which is excruciatingly draconian, and does include an ammo license (with background check), a vendor's license, sales only in face to face transactions (with a NICS check), a ban on shipments into the state except if processed by a licensed vendor (with a NICS check and of course for a fee). The Senate bill, which is intended to undercut the ballot initiative, does require a face to face transaction, vendor (but not purchaser) licensing, and the recording of information as to buyer, buyer ID, and ammo purchased. MEANWHILE it is perfectly legal for a California resident outside of enumerated cities to purchase ammunition from on-line vendors. I personally have been buying from Freedom Munitions, which has excellent prices and high quality ammo. Lucky Gunner is another popular source. I don't remember what I paid for .357, but it was less than .40 per round. 9 mm was under .30 per round, I'm thinking maybe .26. Many of these places have low or very reasonable shipping costs. For example, Freedom Munitions right now is $7.50 for orders over $99 Last edited by 62coltnavy; June 1, 2016 at 01:00 AM.

May 22, 2016, 03:35 PM	#2
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,468	Legalities aside, by the time you pay the UPS fees I doubt you can buy ammo cheap enough to save him any money. I have shipped ammo by UPS -- it ain't cheap.

May 22, 2016, 03:55 PM	#3
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	Whatever you do, do not put a couple of boxes in the US Postal system, you will not like what happens to you. I hate to say this, but from Stockton you can drive to the Nevada state line in about three hours. Your friend should put some gas in his car and go visit State Line Liquor and Ammo Sales. Good scenery, too.

May 22, 2016, 07:08 PM	#4
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	For the cost of 3 or 4 boxes of ammo at that price, he could by a single stage Lee reloader and roll his own ammo.

May 22, 2016, 09:03 PM	#5
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Guys, this isn't helping. Is it legal to mail ammo to CA?

May 23, 2016, 08:36 PM	#15
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	To clarify, he can't afford anything at all right now. No ammo, reloading components or associated hardware. California is sucking the life out of him. I want to send him a 'care package' so he can try to get some semblance of normalcy for a couple hours.

June 1, 2016, 01:19 AM	#18
62coltnavy Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2011 Posts: 356	I must be tired or stupid. Or both. Anyway, it occurred to me that YOU can buy on line and have it shipped to your friend. I've done it for my daughter several times. I send it to her office, and when it comes in in a heavy box, the boss says, "Another ammo shipment from Dad."