Good news for WA reloaders — empty cartridge brass can be sent to you from interstate, and sellers on Gun Traders can supply it. The WA Firearms Act 2024 is actually clearer on this than most people realise. If your WA firearms licence authorises you to use the firearm you're reloading for, the Act also authorises you to manufacture ammunition for that firearm and possess the components needed for that purpose. Here's why.

The Short Answer

Yes — empty brass cases can be sold and shipped from Queensland to licensed customers in Western Australia. You need a current WA firearms licence that covers a firearm in the calibre you're ordering. That's the key requirement, and if you've got that, you're good to go.

What the WA Firearms Act 2024 Actually Says

Here's where it gets interesting. The WA Firearms Act 2024 expressly recognises a cartridge case as an ammunition component. Under section 117, a licensed person is authorised to manufacture ammunition for the firearm their licence covers. Section 250 then deals with the lawful possession of components needed for that purpose.

The distinction the Act actually draws — and this is the part most people get wrong — isn't about whether brass is primed or unprimed. It's about whether you have a single ammunition component, or sufficient components to manufacture ammunition. A box of empty cases is one component. That's well short of the threshold that triggers the "unassembled components of ammunition" provisions under sections 249–256, which require enough components together — case, primer, propellant and projectile — to actually make a complete round.

Put simply: a licensed WA shooter is lawfully authorised to possess empty brass cases for the purpose of reloading ammunition for their licensed firearm.

What You Need as a WA Customer

Just your current WA Firearms Licence, covering a firearm in the calibre you're ordering. Sellers on Gun Traders who supply WA customers will confirm your licence details before dispatching — the process is straightforward and most enquiries are turned around quickly.

One Thing Worth Knowing

This applies to empty brass cases only. Primers, powder and projectiles are a different matter — check with the individual seller about what they are able to supply to WA customers.

The Act also has separate provisions covering "unassembled components of ammunition" — meaning sufficient components together to manufacture ammunition. For centrefire ammunition, the Act gives the example of a cartridge case, primer, propellant and projectile together. Brass cases alone don't meet that definition.

What About the B709?

No B709 needed. That's a WA Police certification for importing firearms or ammunition from overseas through Australian Border Force — it's the overseas import process, not an interstate one. A sale from an eastern states seller to a WA address is a domestic transaction, and the B709 doesn't come into it.

Starline and Bertram Brass — Available on Gun Traders

Starline brass and Bertram brass are both listed on Gun Traders, with sellers who can supply eligible WA customers. Both are sold as new, empty cases — ammunition components as the Act defines them — and both fall squarely within what WA licence holders can receive.

Bertram is especially worth a look if you're loading for anything a bit out of the ordinary. They're one of the very few manufacturers producing brass for obsolete Australian calibres — .303 British, .310 Cadet, various wildcats — that can otherwise be a real pain to source. WA shooters no longer need to go overseas for it.

Got a question about a specific calibre or listing? Get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.

Disclaimer: This article reflects our understanding of the WA Firearms Act 2024 as of September 2026 and is provided for general guidance only. Firearms legislation can change and individual circumstances vary. Always confirm your obligations directly with WA Police Firearms Branch or a licensed firearms dealer. Gun Traders takes no responsibility for reliance on this information in place of professional legal advice.