The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Just starting out on reloading, should I be showing my certificate to when I buy powder and primers?

They normally ask for a certificate when purchasing primers you should be able to purchase powder with out a certificate.

Always best to have it with you.

Primers come under the control of the VCRA now so yes a ticket is needed. Powder - all they usually ask for is your address (unless its black powder for which you need yet another ticket).

My main supplier always requires sight of the FAC when I purchase powder, despite knowing me well. I am not sure if they make any judgement as to the type of powder and the calibres listed as they do for primers. I remember them querying 'Small Pistol Primers' once and checking to see what were used in .357 magnum for a Marlin underlever. It doesn't worry me and I know always to take my FAC. It is a far cry from the pistol days when anyone could set up to manufacture ammunition with or without an FAC. I suppose there will come a time when presses and dies are regulated and sold only against a calibre listed on the FAC, but then why would you need dies for a calibre not listed?

For what it's worth I have never been asked to show my cert for components, not even from people I don't know ! I don't know if it's their bad or not, but as has already been mentioned I always carry it just in case. It's harder to buy a BB Gun (RIFs) than firearm stuff !

"5.14 The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 introduced controls on the purchase and sale of cap-type primers designed for use in metallic ammunition for a firearm, including empty cartridge cases incorporating such a primer. Section 35 of the 2006 Act makes it an offence to sell these items unless the purchaser:
a) is a registered dealer;
b) sells by way of any trade or business either primers or empty cartridge cases incorporating primers;
c) produces a certificate (i.e. the original, not a photocopy) authorising them to possess a firearm of a relevant kind (i.e. a firearm other than a shotgun, an air weapon or a firearm chambered for rim-fire ammunition) or ammunition for such a firearm;
d) is a duly authorised Crown servant;
e) shows that they are entitled in law to possess a firearm or ammunition of a relevant kind without a certificate;
f) produces a certificate (the original, not a photocopy) authorising another person to possess such a firearm, or such ammunition, together with that other person’s authority to purchase primers on their behalf; or
g) shows that they are authorised by regulations to purchase primers. To date no such regulations have been made.
Section 35 also makes it an offence to buy, or attempt to buy, primers unless the purchaser meets the same criteria.
The definitions used in section 35 mean that the offences do not apply to the purchase or sale of blank ammunition, shotgun primers or to percussion caps for muzzle-loading firearms."

ColinR wrote:I suppose there will come a time when presses and dies are regulated and sold only against a calibre listed on the FAC

This has already been proposed I believe it was the BASC mainly that sorted it out by demonstrating it was futile.

ColinR wrote:but then why would you need dies for a calibre not listed?

Lots of reasons including individual items in die sets can be handy & cheap way of forming or neck sizing etc, for instance dies & shellholder from 3 different sets will load 7.5 Swiss.

David

ColinR wrote: It is a far cry from the pistol days when anyone could set up to manufacture ammunition with or without an FAC. I suppose there will come a time when presses and dies are regulated and sold only against a calibre listed on the FAC, but then why would you need dies for a calibre not listed?

On Boxing Day 2003, David Bieber, an American illegally in the UK, shot and killed PC Ian Broadhurst, shot and wounded PC Neil Roper and attempted to murder PC James Banks.

Bieber had a Dillon reloading machine and components in his lock up, where he had been manufacting ammunition for the criminal underworld. When he was arrested, he had one 9mm pistol and 298 rounds of ammunition.

Broadhursts widow campaigned for reloading to be outlawed. Illegal guns are useless without ammunition. A trite, but perfectly understandable argument. The VCR Act limited the sale of primers to those with certificates. Shotgun primers are exempt.