So I am in Walmart today purchasing a box of .22 ammo and the clerk asks me if I am buying it for a pistol or rifle? What is the purpose of this question...can one kill you any better than the other? I answered rifle of course...but I was thinking...I have both and what difference does it make. Please enlighten me. Thanks

All I know is that there are more rifles that one thinks with this dumb question.

The idiot was selling paint yesterday.

you get asked if it's for shotgun or pistol on 410 shells as well.

Depends on your age and I've also been some place (don't recall where said place was) that they had to log sales of pistol ammo but not rifle.

Because by law you have to be 21 to buy handgun ammo, 18 for rifle/shotgun ammo.

Not knowing how old you are...you have to be 21 to buy handgun ammo..stupid question I know when in comes to dual purpose ammo.

^^ What they said....but also because the little computer popped it up and they had to answer to keep scanning stuff and probably wouldn't know if you told them "rocket launcher" as long as the computer would keep going.

They are required by company policy to ask the question. They're required by ATF regulation to ask if there's any possibility you might be under 21.

They freaking ask for ID here if you appear bordlering on spray paint as well. Dumber than asking about ammo if you ask me.

If I grew up today I don't think my parents would have let me get a license till 18 if I couldn't have been the person they told to go get this and that for home and the business at age 15.

The correct answer is....................Yes!

Well there are times when I'm the idiot and this is one of them. I didn't know they had to ask that question. I've never been asked but of course, I'm almost 63.

You might be huffing the stuff. Same thing when I was young and you were buying Testors Model Glue.

You know walmart here no longer sells plastic models/paint/glue...noticed that the other day when I wanted a little bottle of paint to touch something up.

I don't know if that's a company wide deal or not.

I still get asked that question, and I'm 66 (but I don't look a day over 65!). And recently I did answer the question with a yes...it is to be used in a rifle or a handgun. The sales clerk insisted, very rudely asking if I didn't know what kind of firearm I had. I replied that I have about three .22 rifles and a couple of handguns, and have no idea which of them I will eventually use this particular box of ammunition in. The clerk said she just had to have an answer before she could sell the ammo, so I shrugged and walked off. Sportsman's Warehouse has the same stuff at $1 per 525 higher price, and no hassle.

She didn't want to sell you .22 Long Rifle ammo if you might use it in a pistol or a short rifle. Smart gal, probably saved your life.

the question is just part of the screen prompts that are required for the employee to complete the sale; as previously stated 18 for rifle, 21 for handgun, and the Walmart system requires them to ask it. Here in Illinausea, they are prompted for the FOID card for the sale to proceed as well.

Whatsa FOID card?

21 was a long time ago in my past...so it could not be the age thing. Heck I haven't been carded for buying beer in I don't know how long. If it is company policy to know if it is to be used in rifle or pistol...you have that info in the computer now what...what purpose does it serve. Stupid policy. Why don't they ask me what kind of car I am going to drive when I drink my beer...makes about as much sense. Really pisses me off!

What amazes me is people actually get pissed about Walmart. If you ain't figured it out by know, you ain't ever.

Chalk it up to corporate geniuses and bureaucrats that feel they have to protect us from ourselves.

And as to being carded for ordering a beer, I was last week in a Pizza Hut in Casper Wyoming. The kid that carded me wasn't old enough to carry our beers out. He said it was corporate policy to card EVERYBODY. He had his manager bring tour beers out. I told the kid that I was legally drinking beer before his dad was born. He just gave me a dumb look like he didn't have a clue as to what I said. I legally started drinking beer in 1964.

I like Wal-smart. Tomorrow I'm going to go there and buy some 357 magnum ammo for my Marlin lever action carbine.

I found one box of 100 Rem 357 Mag 125jhp at Wal-mart recently. Felt like I won the lottery! It's been scarce around here. Should work well on coyotes out of my Marlin 1894C.

The Wal-Mart store I work in is pretty much being able to keep everything on the shelves except .45 Auto. It's just non-existent, apparently.

I just tell them its for a rifle.Last time I told them the 9mm was for a handgun,they needed to carry it up to the check out for me.

The proper reply is, " none of your freakin' business"..

These days, it's hard to beat Blazer 9x19 for $9.95.

It's not to protect the customer, it's to limit the company's legal liability. These policies are not developed arbitrarily by some bureaucrat, they're on the advice of corporate legal counsel. The one policy issue that lawyers drive home to their corporate clients is consistency. They are scared to death that a witness will get on the stand and admit to deviating from the policy.

Thus, the rigidity of such policies.

Paul

I found a box of 9mm in my truck yesterday, that I probably bought at WM about three years ago. It was a box of W/W USA whitebox 115 grain FMJ. $5. I remember I bought it on closeout. I believe I paid $7 or $8 for several boxes of premium JHP's at the same time.

Our stores are well-stocked as well (including .45 auto), and the prices don't seem to have risen all that much.
I've even seen stacks of .380 at our local Dick's and MC Sports as of late.

Exactly, its Wal-Marts way of making sure everyone of their low level cashiers is following the law. There is a difference between law and store policy as well, so many don't understand that. The law is 21 for pistol, the policy is to ask every gray bearded, cane using old guy what their intended use is.

My answer to the rifle/pistol question: "It depends." That usually gets a confused look, then they enter rifle just to get me out of their line.

As has been already said 21 for pistol, 18 for rifle. Heck, they have been asking this the last 5+ years.

I can't believe this bothers people so much. You know they are going to ask, it's store policy. It's not the fault of the kid behind the counter, he is told to ask. Why let something so small bother you so much. If it really does, shop some place else.

Bad part is it wasn't that long ago 9mm was 3.99 a box of USA ball all day long.... Man if I"d have only known...

OK, I agree with that. So does that make the root of all evil to be lawyers. Hey, isn't BHO a lawyer?

it is for your ID. for a rifle you need to be 18, handgun, 21. Atleast that's how it is in WI.

Firearms Owner IDentification (FOID). From the lovely socialistic state of Illinois. It's so when they start confiscating guns they can find you easier.

"I promise to only shoot the ammo in a short barreled (6") rifle."

Walmart is for low prices and not customer service or knowledge. They do not pay enough for the last two. You cannot beat their prices for Winchester white box in the TC area.

Yep. Just tell 'em it's for rifles, and move on through the line.

I'm just happy there's ammo on the shelves now........

Sadly there's too much truth in that statement, which I doubt is going to get better anytime soon!

Our little Wallymart (not a superstore) has had huge gaps on its shelves since Nov'08 and still does. Back then a 550count Fedral carton of .22's sold for about $12-$13. Last week they were selling for $19.49 or thereabouts.

Saw that too on Sunday. Was 15.47 and now it's $18.57
20% increase

What is the big deal? Folks are spending a ton of time posting about a simple yes/no rifle/pistol question... They have to ask & you have to reply. If you don't want to answer, Pay more elsewhere, buy on line or something... Sheesh