What is Ammunition and when does it need to be secured.

[Mike357]

There is a discussion going on elsewhere that caught my interest. It concerns at what stage of assembly does ammunition have to be secured. Out of curiosity I conatcted Tayside Police and their response is as follows which I think is quite clear and may be of interest.

My understanding based on the Home Office Guidance to the Police is that
a primed case is a component part of ammunition and as such does not
require to be secured. The latter description provided by you is very
much the finished product i.e. assembled ammunition which is controlled
under the Firearms Act 1968. I have included the relevant part of the
Guidance below for your information.

However that said I am of the view that a responsible approach should be
adopted by certificate holders and that the best practice would be to
secure away primed cases to prevent them falling into the wrong hands.

Part 2.9 of the Home Office Guidance to the Police 2002

"Ammunition" means ammunition for any firearm and includes grenades,
bombs and other like missiles whether capable of use with a firearm or
not, and also includes prohibited ammunition. It will be noted that the
definition of ammunition does not include ingredients and components of
ammunition; it is only assembled ammunition that is controlled under the
Act, not component parts. Empty cartridge cases, for example, are not
"ammunition". The only exception to this is the missiles for ammunition
prohibited under section 5 of the 1968 Act, for example expanding or
armour piercing bullets. Such missiles are themselves regarded as
"ammunition" and are subject to control accordingly.


Regards

Inspector * **
HQ Licensing
Tayside Police

[ovenpaa]

I have also been following that thread. My view is contact your own FEO as opinions may differ from force to force. Personally I do prime cases on occasion and then not complete the build. In situations like this they are sealed in a zip lock bag and locked away with my primers and powder until ready to be used which leads to another interesting question.

How many people keep both primers and powder within a securely locked container?

[Steve]

How many people keep both primers and powder within a securely locked container?

My powders sits on a shelf above my reloading desk and primers in the draw.Used cases are on other shelves and in another draw.

Far as im aware,until all four components are brought together its not classed as ammunition.

[Mike357]

My primers and powder live in a locked room which is my office/gunroom/man shed but they are not locked away. I will be buying an ammo safe soon though.

[pe4king]

Personally I keep primers and primed cases locked away, as far as im aware by law they do not need to be but my thinking is if you need to show your FAC to obtain them then they should be secure.

[20series]

Personally I keep primers and primed cases locked away, as far as im aware by law they do not need to be but my thinking is if you need to show your FAC to obtain them then they should be secure.

I do exactly the same, for the same reason

If you have to show your FAC to buy primers it makes sense to treat them as you would anyother ammo.

Alan

[Dougan]

I keep my ammunition in my safes with my rifles - some rifles in one safe, with the ammo and bolts for the ones in the other safe, and vice versa. I used to keep powder and primers in there as well but was only loading small amounts of 1 caliber - I am now getting more into loading, and have 3/4 tubs of powder and up to 2000 primers (when just bought)....because of this, I decided it was a bad idea to have all that together in the house (in case of fire). I've now put the powder and primers in the garage (well secure, with a verity of extinguishers), where I reload. I have put them in sealed plastic (but not very strong) containers - I have done this rather than put them in a safe or metal container, as if there is ever a fire in the garage - I feel it would be better to let them 'burn off' (all be it vigorously :shock: ), rather than put them in anything that could cause compression . Please though; if you think this is the wrong approach, let me know....

I became more wary of primers recently, when I read a story about a guy working in an armory in the war - he was carrying a metal bucket full of primers...as he walked he was banging the bucket on the floor...there was a very loud bang, and when the smoke cleared, the only evidence they could find of the guy was a small piece of his foot :!:

Also - I'm currently looking for a reasonably priced fire alarm, where the sensor and transmitter can be in the garage and the receiver and alarm in the house - has anyone seen anything like this?

[Mr_Logic]

Unfortunately I don'thave anything like the storage for keeping all the components locked up.
So I follow the letter of the law only - once fully assembled into live ammo, it is then locked away.

[Sim G]

Ammunition is a fully assembled round. Primed cases are not. You show your certificate when you buy primers because of the VCR Act. I don't lock up my primers as there is no requirement.

[the running man]

I don't lock up my primers either,they are in a tough thick plastick storage box,in a cool dry place! My powder goes in the ply box with the black powder,and the 30 odd boxes of bullets are in the shed! The expending bullets are locked away with the ammo,as a box of 50 expanding bullets,counts as one complete made round,which seems silly to me!