Laws Prohibiting Certain Persons from Purchasing/Possessing Ammunition

Michigan prohibits handgun sellers from selling ammunition to any person the seller knows is under indictment for a felony or is prohibited by state law from possessing a firearm.¹ See the Michigan Firearm Prohibitions section for a list of these individuals.

 Federal ammunition purchaser prohibitions also apply.

Regulation of Unreasonably Dangerous Ammunition

Michigan generally prohibits any person from manufacturing, distributing, selling or using armor-piercing ammunition.² “Armor piercing ammunition” means a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and is constructed entirely, excluding the presence of traces of other substances, of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, or beryllium copper, and does not include:

• Shotgun shot that is required by federal law or by a law of this state to be used for hunting purposes;

• A frangible projectile designed for target shooting;

• A projectile that the director of the Michigan Department of State Police finds is primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes; or

• A projectile or projectile core that the director of the Michigan Department of State Police finds is intended to be used for industrial purposes.³

The federal prohibition on certain kinds of armor-piercing ammunition also applies.

Michigan doesnot:

• Require a license for the sale of ammunition;

• Ensure that sellers of ammunition maintain records of the purchasers; or

• Require a license to purchase or possess ammunition.

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1. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 750.223(3). A “seller” is a person who sells, furnishes, loans, or gives a handgun to another person. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 750.222(g).[↩]
2. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 750.224c(1).[↩]
3. Mich. Comp. Laws Serv. § 750.224c(3)(a).[↩]