Ammunition and magazine laws in California

We follow 3 California rules on ammunition and magazines; 2 are bans.

California

BannedDon't ship ammunition to California consumers; it must be shipped to a California licensed ammunition vendor, which runs the DOJ eligibility check and hands it over face to face.

Cal. Penal Code 30312, 30314, 30352, 30370 (via CA DOJ Ammunition Purchase FAQ) · draft

Exact text

Who is authorized to conduct ammunition purchases and transfers?
Do I have to have an eligibility check to purchase ammunition?
As a California resident, can I bring ammunition purchased or obtained from another state into California?

21+Handgun ammunition may only be sold to buyers 21 or older (18 for long-gun ammunition); in practice all CA ammunition sales go through a licensed vendor.

Cal. Penal Code 30300 (via CA DOJ FAQ) · draft

Exact text

Are there age restrictions for the purchase of ammunition?

BannedDon't ship magazines holding more than 10 rounds (or kits to build them) to California.

Cal. Penal Code 32310(a)-(b) (SB 1446, Stats. 2016, ch. 58) · effective Jul 1, 2017 · draft

Exact text

32310 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 32310. (a) Except as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 32400) of this chapter and in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 2 of Title 2, any person in this state who manufactures or causes to be manufactured, imports into the state, keeps for sale, or offers or exposes for sale, or who gives, lends, buys, or receives any large-capacity magazine is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.

Federal

These apply in every state.

18+No seller (licensed or not) may sell or deliver handgun ammunition to anyone under 18.

18 U.S.C. 922(x)(1), (x)(5) · draft

Exact text

(x)(1) It shall be unlawful for a person to sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer to a person who the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a juvenile—
(A) a handgun; or
(B) ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun.
...
(5) For purposes of this subsection, the term "juvenile" means a person who is less than 18 years of age.

BannedDon't mail live ammunition, primers or gunpowder through USPS; use a ground carrier that accepts limited-quantity ammunition.

USPS Publication 52, 341.22 (Small Arms Ammunition) · draft

Exact text

Small Arms Ammunition: Ammunition is classified as a Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, or 1.4 explosive, depending on the degree of hazard. Ammunition that is regulated as a Class 1 explosive and designed to be fired from a pistol, revolver, rifle, or shotgun, as well as associated primers and blank cartridges (including those designed for tools) and propellant powder for use in any firearm, is prohibited from mailing.
...
Shotgun Hulls, Empty Casings, Nonmetallic Shotgun Hulls, or Casings Without Primers: These articles are not classified as explosives or hazardous materials under 49 CFR and, therefore, are mailable, subject to the applicable mailing rules (refer to 224).