Delaware Ammunition Laws
Learn Delaware rules for buying, possessing, storing and transporting firearm ammunition, including prohibited persons, age restrictions, online purchases, retail-display requirements, shotgun ammunition and the difference between ammunition and magazine laws.
Quick Answer
Prohibited persons: May not possess firearm ammunition
Retail display: Customer access restricted
Magazines: Governed separately
Ammunition is regulated separately from firearms and magazines
A lawful firearm, lawful magazine and lawful ammunition are three separate questions. The person’s eligibility to possess ammunition must also be considered.
Generally Lawful
Ordinary handgun, rifle, rimfire and shotgun ammunition is not subject to a general Delaware permit-to-purchase system.
Eligibility Matters
Delaware’s prohibited-person statute expressly applies to ammunition for a firearm as well as firearms themselves.
Special Rules Apply
Delaware and federal law contain age restrictions and exceptions that depend on the ammunition and circumstances.
Separate Law
A box of ammunition and an ammunition-feeding device are not governed by the same Delaware restrictions.
Jump to a section
Do I need a Delaware permit to buy ammunition?
There is no separate general Delaware ammunition-purchaser permit.
Delaware’s current Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit governs the purchase or receipt of handguns. It should not be confused with a license to buy ordinary ammunition.
That does not mean ammunition is unrestricted. Age, prohibited-person, federal ammunition and other laws can still limit who may purchase or possess it.
Prohibited persons and ammunition
Delaware’s prohibited-person statute does not apply only to guns. Section 1448 expressly prohibits covered persons from purchasing, owning, possessing or controlling ammunition for a firearm.
A person can violate Delaware law by possessing ammunition even if no firearm is present
If a person falls within an applicable prohibited-person category, simply separating the ammunition from the firearm does not necessarily eliminate the prohibition.
What does Delaware mean by “ammunition”?
For purposes of § 1448, Delaware defines ammunition as one or more rounds of fixed ammunition designed for use in and capable of being fired from a pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle.
Inert and spent components
The statutory definition excludes inert rounds and expended shells, hulls and casings.
Ammunition and persons under 21
The current text of § 1448 lists a person under age 21 within its prohibited-person provision, including ammunition for a firearm, but the statute contains important exceptions.
Shotgun Ammunition
The statutory under-21 provision specifically excludes ammunition for a qualifying shotgun.
Circumstances Matter
Section 1448 contains additional exceptions involving specified persons and lawful hunting, instruction, sporting and recreational activities.
Ages 18–20: check the current court status
Delaware’s broader under-21 firearm restrictions have been affected by the ongoing Birney litigation. Do not rely on an old age chart without checking the current status of that case and the exact statutory exception involved.
Giving or selling ammunition to a person under 21
Section 1445 separately makes it unlawful to sell, give or otherwise transfer firearm ammunition to a person under 21 unless the transaction is permitted by § 1448.
The rule is broader than a commercial sale
The statutory language addresses selling, giving and otherwise transferring ammunition, so the applicable age exceptions should be checked even when no money changes hands.
Federal minimum ages for ammunition sold by an FFL
Federal law creates additional age restrictions for ammunition sold or delivered by federally licensed dealers.
18+
An FFL generally may not sell ammunition intended for use in a rifle or shotgun to a person under 18.
21+
An FFL generally may not sell ammunition intended for use in a handgun to a person under 21.
What about ammunition used in both rifles and handguns?
ATF states that interchangeable ammunition may be sold by an FFL to a buyer age 18 or older when the dealer is satisfied that the ammunition is for use in a rifle. If it is intended for handgun use, the federal minimum is 21.
Can ammunition be purchased online in Delaware?
Delaware does not use the same FFL-transfer system for ordinary ammunition that applies when a consumer purchases a firearm online.
An online seller must still comply with federal law, applicable Delaware law, carrier requirements and its own age-verification and shipping policies.
Do not confuse ammunition with magazines
A retailer may be able to ship ordinary ammunition while refusing to ship a magazine or another item that falls within Delaware’s separate restrictions.
Delaware ammunition display requirements
Delaware law requires licensed firearm dealers to display or offer ammunition in a way that prevents purchasers from accessing it without assistance from the dealer or an employee.
Permitted method of restricting customer access.
Permitted method of restricting customer access.
Another customer-access prevention device may satisfy the statute.
This rule governs how licensed sellers display ammunition. It is not a general rule requiring consumers to keep personally owned ammunition behind a retail counter or in a display case.
Ammunition and magazines are not the same thing
The cartridges
Loaded rounds designed to be fired from a firearm.
The feeding device
Delaware separately regulates ammunition-feeding devices capable of accepting more than 17 rounds.
What about armor-piercing ammunition?
Federal law contains specific definitions and restrictions involving armor-piercing ammunition. Whether a projectile legally qualifies as armor-piercing ammunition depends on the federal statutory definition—not simply on marketing terminology or whether a bullet can penetrate a particular material.
Do not classify ammunition by nickname alone
Federal armor-piercing ammunition law is technical and addresses projectile composition, handgun capability and other statutory characteristics. Manufacturers, importers and dealers have additional federal restrictions.
Does Delaware require ammunition to be locked at home?
Delaware’s general unsafe-storage statute focuses primarily on loaded firearms or projectile weapons becoming accessible to an unauthorized person. It is not written as a universal requirement that every box of ammunition in every residence be kept in a separate locked ammunition safe.
Safe storage is still strongly advisable
Keeping ammunition secured from children and prohibited persons reduces unauthorized access and helps prevent the ammunition from becoming accessible to someone who may not lawfully possess it.
Traveling with ammunition
A person lawfully possessing ordinary ammunition in Delaware does not generally need a special Delaware ammunition transportation permit merely to move it in a vehicle.
The legal analysis changes if the person is prohibited from possessing ammunition, the ammunition is associated with an unlawfully possessed firearm, or the traveler enters another jurisdiction with different rules.
Buying ammunition in Delaware
Coastal Firearms
DelawareGunLaws.com is supported by Coastal Firearms, a Delaware federally licensed firearms dealer offering firearm ammunition, firearms and related products.
Ammunition availability can depend on caliber, intended firearm use, customer age and legal eligibility. Customers should purchase ammunition appropriate for their firearm and follow the manufacturer’s ammunition specifications.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to buy ammunition in Delaware?
Delaware does not have a separate general ammunition-purchaser permit analogous to its Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit. Age, prohibited-person and other applicable laws still govern the transaction.
Does the Delaware handgun purchaser permit apply to ammunition?
The Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit is a permit governing handgun purchase or receipt. Delaware ammunition restrictions arise from other provisions of state and federal law.
Can a prohibited person possess ammunition in Delaware?
Generally no. Section 1448 expressly prohibits covered prohibited persons from purchasing, owning, possessing or controlling ammunition for a firearm.
How old do I have to be to buy handgun ammunition from a gun dealer?
Federal law generally prevents an FFL from selling handgun ammunition to a person under age 21. Delaware’s own under-21 statute and exceptions must also be considered.
How old do I have to be to buy rifle or shotgun ammunition from a dealer?
Under federal dealer rules, the general minimum age for ammunition intended for a rifle or shotgun is 18. Delaware law can impose additional restrictions or provide specific exceptions depending on the circumstances.
Can someone under 21 possess shotgun ammunition in Delaware?
The current text of § 1448 specifically excludes ammunition for a qualifying shotgun from its general under-21 prohibition. Federal dealer-age requirements and other legal restrictions can still apply.
Can I order ammunition online in Delaware?
Ordinary ammunition is not subject to the same FFL-transfer procedure used for firearms. Online sellers must nevertheless comply with applicable federal and Delaware law, carrier rules and their own shipping and age-verification requirements.
Does Delaware have a 17-round limit on ammunition?
No. The more-than-17-round rule concerns ammunition-feeding devices such as magazines, not the number of loose or boxed cartridges a lawful person may possess.
Why is ammunition behind the counter in Delaware gun stores?
Delaware law requires licensed sellers to prevent customers from accessing ammunition without assistance. An enclosed display case, behind-counter placement or another customer-access prevention device can satisfy the requirement.
Do I have to lock ammunition in a safe at home?
Delaware does not impose a universal rule requiring every box of ammunition to be kept in a separate locked ammunition safe. Safe storage away from children and prohibited persons remains a prudent practice.
Related Delaware firearm laws
Official sources
24 Del. C. § 905
Ammunition display and customer-access requirements for licensed Delaware dealers.
Legal information, not legal advice.
DelawareGunLaws.com is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the State of Delaware, Delaware State Police, ATF or any government agency. Ammunition laws can depend on the purchaser’s age, legal eligibility, type and intended use of the ammunition, and federal as well as state law. Verify current primary sources before relying on a general summary.
Delaware Magazine Laws
Ammunition and ammunition-feeding devices are regulated differently. Learn Delaware’s rules for magazine capacity, possession and statutory exceptions.