Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Questions about Victorian gun and ammunition laws. Victorian Firearms Act 1996.

Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by TheFirearmEnthusiast » 07 Nov 2020, 7:55 pm

Hey guys

I hope that everyone is well

I just wanna clarify something real quick

I have this spika safe right there:
https://spika.com.au/products/safes/pre ... tegory-a-b

And in that spika safe
There is a special separated compartment (at the top) designed specifically for ammunition to be stored in there

I'm wondering if it would be legal for me to store some ammunition in there?
(As I was thinking about moving some ammo in there)

I think it would be
Because from the booklet that I was given during my Victorian Firearm Safety Course

(Regarding the storage of ammunition)
It says this in there:
"Ammunition must be stored in a separate locked container (not within the firearm) unless the receptacle is purpose built to store ammunition separately from the firearms."

What do you guys reckon?

Would it be lawful for me to store some ammo in there?
(In that little compartment there inside the rifle safe)

Please note;
- That ammunition compartment inside the rifle safe is always locked by another key system completely separated and different to the main door of the safe
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by Shootermick » 07 Nov 2020, 8:25 pm

Yeah mate. Completely legal, that’s what it’s for.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by LawrenceA » 07 Nov 2020, 8:28 pm

What shootermick said.
Just make sure it is locked as well
One well placed shot is all it takes.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by TheFirearmEnthusiast » 07 Nov 2020, 8:34 pm

Thanks guys

I thought it would be completely legal too

The legislation seemed completely clear to me

I just went to a fun store couple weeks ago and the sales assistant there told me that it would be illegal for me to store ammunition in there

I was very confused as that definitely didn't sound right to me...
(As I knew the wording of the legislation well)

That's why I thought I'd seek clarification on here

It's disappointing when you are given the wrong information lol
:thumbsup:
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by RoginaJack » 07 Nov 2020, 9:17 pm

Thieves have a habit of just rip the safes off the walls.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by TheFirearmEnthusiast » 08 Nov 2020, 7:25 am

RoginaJack wrote:Thieves have a habit of just rip the safes off the walls.

Yeah I know
I just wanted to clarify that it was in fact lawful to store ammunition in that little compartment inside the actual rifle safe
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by Bugman » 08 Nov 2020, 8:42 am

Seems OK here in NSW, but I still store all my ammo in a separate lockup, well away from the safe area. That's just my preference.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by TheFirearmEnthusiast » 08 Nov 2020, 4:17 pm

Bugman wrote:Seems OK here in NSW, but I still store all my ammo in a separate lockup, well away from the safe area. That's just my preference.

Yeah
I'm exactly the same as you actually
I also store my ammo in another safe in another location
Just as an extra precaution
Can't hurt
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by Oldbloke » 08 Nov 2020, 7:48 pm

As Mick said, in Vic its ok. Other states may vary.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by TheFirearmEnthusiast » 08 Nov 2020, 7:56 pm

Oldbloke wrote:As Mick said, in Vic its ok. Other states may vary.

Awesome
I thought it'd be okay too OldBloke
I thought that the legislation was 100% clear about it
Thank you for confirming that for me OldBloke
Thanks
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by linkoln » 09 Nov 2020, 7:45 pm

The police website says
"It is a requirement that cartridge ammunition must be stored in a locked container separate from the storage unit in which the firearm is stored. It is acceptable to have a purpose-built storage unit that has two separate lockable compartments (one for firearms and one for ammunition). This is classified as separate storage areas, and therefore suitable. The key consideration is that firearms cannot be readily accessed by persons not authorised to do so."
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by TheFirearmEnthusiast » 09 Nov 2020, 8:13 pm

linkoln wrote:The police website says
"It is a requirement that cartridge ammunition must be stored in a locked container separate from the storage unit in which the firearm is stored. It is acceptable to have a purpose-built storage unit that has two separate lockable compartments (one for firearms and one for ammunition). This is classified as separate storage areas, and therefore suitable. The key consideration is that firearms cannot be readily accessed by persons not authorised to do so."

Thanks for mentioning that Linkoln
What you said sounds exactly like what I read, except in different wording
"Ammunition must be stored in a separate locked container (not within the firearm) unless the receptacle is purpose built to store ammunition separately from the firearms."
Everything seems to indicate that I should be right storing some ammo in that compartment then
:thumbsup:
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by TassieTiger » 10 Nov 2020, 12:51 am

So in other words - load up your magazines (as they are purposefully built to store ammo), then put a lock in them :sarcasm:
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by TheFirearmEnthusiast » 10 Nov 2020, 6:11 am

TassieTiger wrote:So in other words - load up your magazines (as they are purposefully built to store ammo), then put a lock in them :sarcasm:

TassieTiger! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by animalpest » 10 Nov 2020, 7:19 am

That's perfectly legal.

In WA any magazines (and firearms) must not have ammunition in them. So don't store them full in the smaller ammo safe.

Not sure about other States requirements
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by marksman » 10 Nov 2020, 10:17 am

what has not been mentioned is that the compartment must have a seperate key different to the receptacle the firearms are stored in
and that only licenced people who have permission to use the safe can have a set of keys for the safe or ammunition compartment
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by TassieTiger » 10 Nov 2020, 12:46 pm

marksman wrote:what has not been mentioned is that the compartment must have a seperate key different to the receptacle the firearms are stored in
and that only licenced people who have permission to use the safe can have a set of keys for the safe or ammunition compartment


Raises an interesting point come inspection time...
“So Sir, your safes are compliant, paper work is in order, just need to make sure your key hiding place is acceptable and we’ll be on our way”
“But officer, if I show you where I hide my keys, then I’ll not feel it’s a safe place any longer”
“We are the police, you can trust us that we will keep your identity and key locations private”
“I’m not sure about this sir, my key hiding place is only known by me...”
“Well sir, it sounds like you have something to hide, it sounds like you might have illegal weapons In your key hiding place, it sounds like...squark - mike tango 311, requesting urgent back up, all available officers - illegal cache of firearms...”
“Officer, I don’t think this is necessary, if you really want...”
SHOTS FIRED, Shots FIRED, key hiding place not secure, AIRPOL please respond...retreating now awaiting sogs.”











The above is meant as sarcasm based on recent undertakings in the media...a joke, nothing more.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by bladeracer » 10 Nov 2020, 12:59 pm

Keys do not need to be hidden, just secure. Mine live with me 24/7.
To make life a lot a lot easier I bought forty padlocks all keyed alike for my ammo storage crates, so I only need one key for those.



TassieTiger wrote:
marksman wrote:what has not been mentioned is that the compartment must have a seperate key different to the receptacle the firearms are stored in
and that only licenced people who have permission to use the safe can have a set of keys for the safe or ammunition compartment


Raises an interesting point come inspection time...
“So Sir, your safes are compliant, paper work is in order, just need to make sure your key hiding place is acceptable and we’ll be on our way”
“But officer, if I show you where I hide my keys, then I’ll not feel it’s a safe place any longer”
“We are the police, you can trust us that we will keep your identity and key locations private”
“I’m not sure about this sir, my key hiding place is only known by me...”
“Well sir, it sounds like you have something to hide, it sounds like you might have illegal weapons In your key hiding place, it sounds like...squark - mike tango 311, requesting urgent back up, all available officers - illegal cache of firearms...”
“Officer, I don’t think this is necessary, if you really want...”
SHOTS FIRED, Shots FIRED, key hiding place not secure, AIRPOL please respond...retreating now awaiting sogs.”











The above is meant as sarcasm based on recent undertakings in the media...a joke, nothing more.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by ThePlinkster » 13 Feb 2021, 4:13 pm

I know this is an old thread
But I just stumbled accross legislation that confirms what you guys have said
So I thought I'd post it on here now for absolute confirmation
This way, there is not a shadow of a doubt regarding this topic
:thumbsup:

"It is a requirement that cartridge ammunition must be stored in a locked container separate from the storage unit in which the firearm is stored. It is acceptable to have a purpose-built storage unit that has two separate lockable compartments (one for firearms and one for ammunition). This is classified as separate storage areas, and therefore suitable"

Source:
https://www.police.vic.gov.au/safe-storage

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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by cz515 » 13 Feb 2021, 6:23 pm

I haven't read the thread.... but this is covered in your safety course.... thought everyone would know it and not have any confusion about it
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by ThePlinkster » 13 Feb 2021, 6:28 pm

cz515 wrote:I haven't read the thread.... but this is covered in your safety course.... thought everyone would know it and not have any confusion about it

This thread was created because some LGS give out the wrong information to their customers. For example; a salesperson from my LGS told me that it was illegal to store ammunition in that compartment inside the rifle safe.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by Lsfan » 13 Feb 2021, 7:19 pm

Presumably this is all about the risk of someone breaking in and having access to the guns and ammo being in the one safe, albeit with separate locks. It may be the same in all states, but in nsw you need to have the rifle inoperable when travelling. I remove the bolt and when I get home it stays in a separate place to the rifle and ammo so it’s an added safety measure. I understand many of you are on properties and have no need to remove the bolt as you’re not travelling but this works for me.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by RoginaJack » 15 Feb 2021, 10:22 am

One other point (of many) is that the storage capacity of the internal gun safes are not large by any means. The internal safes are just too small to store ammo as well.
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by ThePlinkster » 15 Feb 2021, 10:23 am

RoginaJack wrote:One other point (of many) is that the storage capacity of the internal gun safes are not large by any means. The internal safes are just too small to store ammo as well.

Agreed
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Re: Storing ammo in rifle safe (Question)

Post by bladeracer » 17 Feb 2021, 2:49 pm

ThePlinkster wrote:
cz515 wrote:I haven't read the thread.... but this is covered in your safety course.... thought everyone would know it and not have any confusion about it

This thread was created because some LGS give out the wrong information to their customers. For example; a salesperson from my LGS told me that it was illegal to store ammunition in that compartment inside the rifle safe.


The salesperson is technically correct, under the law it is illegal.
In Victoria it is a Commissioner's decree to allow storing ammo in a differently-keyed bolt receptacle within the actual safe, despite what the law requires, but this could be removed with the stroke of a pen at any time.
As already stated though, the bolt storage receptacle is very small for ammo storage, even in 20-rifle safes.
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