How old does a person have to be to own a rifle?

Question:

Answer: In the United States to purchase a rifle or shotgun (long-gun) legally from a firearm retailer or private seller, the minimum age is 18. If you ever have an interest in pistols, automatics, or destructive devices those require the purchaser to be 21. If you ever decide to build your own firearm (blackpowder muzzleloaders excluded) the age requirement is also 21. You may run into a problem depending upon what rifle you buy. For example lets say you buy a .22 rifle. Some retailers will refuse to sell you .22 cartridges unless your are 21 because they can go into rifles or pistols. Others will ask if the cartridges are for a rifle or pistol, if you say rifle then the age restriction will be 18, if you say pistol it will be 21.

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