Legal Constraints when buying Reloading Components

Defined by FCA, Act 60 of 2000

 

Reloading is governed and authorised by the Firearms Control Act (FCA), Act 60 of 2000 as amended, and also by the Explosives Act, Act 26 of 1956 as amended. For convenience we have copied the relevant sections below.
 
 
Please note:
 
1. Bullets (projectiles) and empty Cartridge Cases (a.k.a. brass or “doppies”) are unrestricted and may be freely ordered in any quantity with or without a firearm license.
2. Should you order Primers and/or nitrocellulose Propellant, we require proof of your firearm license(s) when you collect, or before we can ship these goods.
  a. You can send a copy to us via e-mail or WhatsApp.
  b. We’ll shortly provide the opportunity to upload this information to your secure Shooting Stuff account.
     
3. Restrictions on Primers
  a. In terms of Section 93(2)(a) of the FCA, Shooting Stuff may supply no more than 2400 primers at a time, per firearm license, to “occasional” firearm owners,
    i. Most firearm owners would likely fall into this category
    ii. You are probably “occasional” if you hold a section 13 (self-defence) and/or section 15 (occasional sport shooting / hunting) and/or section 17 (private collector) license, without being dedicated through an accredited association.
  b. In terms of Section 93(2)(b) of the FCA, this limit does not apply if you are “dedicated”, i.e. a dedicated sport shooter, dedicated hunter or professional hunter. You may buy as many primers as you need.
    i. We accept Section 16 or 16A “white” licenses as proof of dedicated status.
    ii. We also accept formal proof of dedicated status from your accredited association, even if you don’t have a section 16 “white” license.
    iii. Old “green” licenses issued under the Arms and Ammunition Act are still valid (ref: SA Hunters Court Case), and have no quantity restrictions associated with them.
  c. If you hold a permit to possess more primers, issued in terms of Section 93(2)(b) of the FCA, please supply us with a copy of that permit when purchasing more than the restricted quantity.
  d. In terms of Section 93(2)(a) of the FCA, Shooting Stuff may only supply primers of a suitable size (large or small) for the calibre of your firearm.
    i. We acknowledge that, depending on your loads, rifle primers can be used in pistol calibres, and vice versa, so we do not differentiate other than size.
       
4. Restrictions on Propellant
  a. We may supply only one tin of (Somchem) nitrocellulose propellant at a time, per firearm license.
  b. If you have more than one license, we may supply one tin per license, but no more than 4 tins (2kg) of (Somchem) nitrocellulose propellant per person, per day.
  c. We acknowledge that reloading involves responsible experimentation, so do not judge what propellant you prefer to use for any particular calibre(s).
     
5. Shipping of Components
  a. Bullets (projectiles) and empty cartridge cases (a.k.a. brass or “doppies”) are unrestricted so may be shipped countrywide with any of our courier options.
  b. Primers can be shipped countrywide by RAM Couriers, and must be received by the firearm licence holder.
     
6. Should we detect that you have ordered items in contravention with our policies or any law, we will contact you to resolve the issue. So, don’t worry if all this sounds complicated – Shooting Stuff will help you to do things right!
 
Reloading is governed and authorised by the Firearms Control Act, Act 60 of 2000 as amended (FCA). We draw your attention to the following relevant extracts from the Regulations:
 
45. Prohibition of unlicensed manufacture of firearms and ammunition
  (1) No person may manufacture any firearm or ammunition without a manufacturer's licence.
  (2) A manufacturer may only sell firearms and ammunition to a dealer or to the State, and may export firearms and ammunition subject to section 73(1).
       
93. Loading or reloading of ammunition
  (1) Section 45(1) does not apply to the loading of ammunition by the holder of a licence to possess a firearm for use in his or her licensed firearm
  (2) (a) A holder of a licence contemplated in subsection (1) may not have more than 2 400 primers in his or her possession for each firearm in respect of which he or she holds a licence.
    (b) The limitation in paragraph (a) does not apply to a dedicated hunter, dedicated sports person or professional hunter who holds a licence issued in terms of this Act or any other holder of a licence issued in terms of this Act authorised by the Registrar to possess more than 2 400 primers for a firearm in respect of which he or she holds a licence on good cause shown.
  (3) No person may load prohibited ammunition contemplated in section 92.
 
The use of nitrocellulose propellant for reloading is governed and authorised by the Explosives Act, Act 26 of 1956 as amended. We draw your attention to the following relevant extracts from the Regulations.
 
TRANSPORT OF EXPLOSIVES
 
6.1.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in regulation 6.1.1 of these regulations, a person who is the holder of a valid firearm licence issued in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969, may on production of such licence obtain 500 grams of nitrocellulose propellants. For this purpose such valid firearm licence shall be deemed to be a permit issued in terms of section 7(5) of the Explosives Act, No. 26 of 1956, and regulation 6.1.1 of these regulations. 
6.1.4  Any person who obtains nitrocellulose propellants under the exception contained in regulation 6.1.3, shall, at the time of such acquisition, furnish the supplier with a certificate declaring the purpose for which the propellant is to be used and giving his own full name and residential address, his identity number, and the number, place of issue and date of issue of the firearm licence. The number of the firearm licence shall be quoted on the way-bill/ invoice.

 

STORAGE OF NITROCELLULOSE PROPELLANTS

8.23.1  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these regulations, persons who are in possession of one or more valid firearm licences issued in terms of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1969 (Act 75 of 1969), may in respect of each such licence keep on their premises 600 grams of nitrocellulose propellants for the private reloading of cartridges of small arms only and not for sale or other trade: Provided that the total amount of nitrocellulose propellants so kept shall not at any time exceed 2 400 grams in mass.
8.23.2  The nitrocellulose propellants shall be kept locked up in a sturdy cupboard.