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Scary!

3279 Views 22 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  Brother Buck
I was buying a box of cheap .22lr ammo at walmart this weekend and the clerk asked me if I was buying it for a rifle or pistol?? I didnt want to tell him, cause its none of anyone's business but I got the impression he wouldnt sell it to me if I didnt tell him... I asked him why he needed to know and he said he figured big brother wants that info for some reason? This is the first time this has ever happened to me, anyone have any insight??

Kinda scary... I think I am gonna start paying cash for ammo in the future! :eek:
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They have been doing this for a while now.
I was asked that once in Phoenix several years back.
I told them it was none of theirs or big brothers damn business, payed and walked away.
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Because you have to be 21 to buy pistol ammo by law in all 50 states its just some places dont care and sell it to ya anyway. Wal-Mart Policy is to ask you but not all employees do it. You only have to be 18 to buy Rifle ammo so thats why.
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tell them its for a slingshot
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Because you have to be 21 to buy pistol ammo by law in all 50 states its just some places dont care and sell it to ya anyway. Wal-Mart Policy is to ask you but not all employees do it. You only have to be 18 to buy Rifle ammo so thats why.
That is the answer right there. Plain and simple. :thumb:
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Because you have to be 21 to buy pistol ammo by law in all 50 states its just some places dont care and sell it to ya anyway. Wal-Mart Policy is to ask you but not all employees do it. You only have to be 18 to buy Rifle ammo so thats why.
Thanks Andrew, that makes sense and I feel better about it now! I am 33 years old and still get carded to buy beer so he must have wondered if I was under 21??

Ok, I guess I can take off my tinfoil hat :eek::
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My husband was buying ammunition for both his pistol and rifle at Walmart. The clerk kept asking him that question for every box of ammunition that he rang up so my husband told the clerk it was for his rifle just to shut him up. :)
yes sir, I have a deer rifle in 25ACP
I can remember back when I was about 14 I could walk into any store in the little town we grew up in and buy any caliber I wanted and nobody asked me a thing. Times have sure changed.
Try making the purchase with a twelve pack, bag of lime, and a bottle of Prozac. When they ask if it is for handgun or rifle, ask them which one works the fastest. Then ask if they will sell you just ONE round.

That seems to stop all the questions for me atleast :D:
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Try making the purchase with a twelve pack, bag of lime, and a bottle of Prozac. When they ask if it is for handgun or rifle, ask them which one works the fastest. Then ask if they will sell you just ONE round.

That seems to stop all the questions for me atleast :D:

:D::thumb:I have to remember that one!
rifle or pistol??
Neither. My neighborhood is so tough, we insert the bullets manually.

<rimshot>
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Reminds me when I would buy ammo for my Glock at Wal-Mart and I was only 18. And they kept asking me was it for a rifle or a pistol and I told em it was a Rifle.

But yes it is the reason 21 to buy Pistol Ammo and 18 to Buy Rifle and Shotgun ammo.
You could always buy a pair of pliers and a hammer at the same time.

That way when they ask you, you can say well hold my beer and watch this......
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I was out buying some 12g bird shot and the clurke asked if it was for a pistol...i couldent help but laugh and told him it was for one of the 12g flare pistols...he looked stunned and got all flustered...lol still sold it to me though.
Most people at these stores have no clue either way. I will continue to buy my ammo there and tell them whatever they need to hear to make the sale until they start needing to copy ID for the sale.
If you're over 21, the only acceptable answer to the clerk's invasive question would be, "Cash."

"Is this for a rifle or pistol, sir?"

"Cash."

"Um, sir?"

"I'm paying with cash. You're not legally allowed to ask me that question, and furthermore, I find it offensive that you would ask me so blatantly about something that's not any of your buisness. The answer to your question is, Cash."

If the foolish clerk is idiotic enough to continue the conversation, well... I know where *I'M* not buying anything ever again.
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Back in the mid 1970's, I was a sporting goods manager at one of the early discount stores and we were required to ask the same question. It was also store policy to record sales of any handgun ammunition, including .22 rimfire. Two employees were dismissed for NOT asking the questions required. It is not the clerk being an idiot. It is simply someone following the rules of the store to keep his job. Why does everyone think the poor people working in stores making barely above minimum wage write the corporate rules?
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