Can/ do military contractors use expanding ammo.?

[1911man]

I was just wondering, since they are not part of the armed forces.

[OIF_VET]

It depends on logistics more than anything else. Ammo is heavy to ship and you don't want bunch of different types and calipers out there. But if the contract is in support of the DOD, USAID, CIA, etc... They will issue out of that entities stock since they specify what the contractors carry. Which usually is the same stuff as the military. I know DOS contracts had 9mm HP for handguns and standard military ball for rifles an machine guns. In regard to these fly by night companies who hold contacts for the local governments (Iraqi or Afgani) there country, their rules.

[Tripper]

Not sure if contractors are bound by Geneva convention, I'd bet (very little) they are and if so could not use hollow point, would need to use ball like everyone else
That's why new firearm and ammo is being considered now

[Josh3239]

Geneva Convention deals with the treatment of prisoners. Hague Convention deals with prohibited weapons.

Hollow points, contrary to popular belief, are not banned in war. Hollow points nor open tip match loads are not listed specifically nor are they prohibited by the Hague. Since the 80's the US military opined that hollow points are lawful. 7.62x51 NATO 168 OTMs and 77gr 5.56mm OTM are issued. Try the M118LR or the Mk262.

Security contractors can pretty much do what they want (I would assume as long as it is within the legal limits of their security contract or not prohibited).

[Tripper]

yes, you are correct,i just came back to correct that to be Hague,but wanted to see if handguns were included, i think hollow point is assumed possibly as it is designed to kill, and weapons for were cannot be intended to kill, or some reasoning such as that.
i somewhat agree that it is legal
here is an excerpt
/quote
Declare as follows:
The Contracting Parties agree to abstain from the use of bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body, such as bullets with a hard envelope which does not entirely cover the core, or is pierced with incisions.
The present Declaration is only binding for the Contracting Powers in the case of a war between two or more of them.
/endquote

i think that would include hollow point, \i agree that military may think it is legal based on the fact it is binding only between the signing countries, and there is no t'war' between 2 or more of them, so, iraq/iran would not be applicable as they are not signing countries
oh, and the likelihood of superceding treaties

but, hague is suppose to imply what is humane, and use of HP could be considered inhumane, and a country could claim warcrimes

[JoshuaS]

Germany claimed war crimes when we used shotguns in WWI.

The convention you are quoting also banned aerial bombs....

[Tripper]

Can/ do military contractors use expanding ammo.?

Germany claimed war crimes when we used shotguns in WWI.

The convention you are quoting also banned aerial bombs....

I think only aerial bombs like bouncing Betty's,

[Quiet]

What ever they used is acquired in country (outside the USA).

[BigPimping]

They used them when I was there. I saw pallets of them in country.

[Josh3239]

Otm's like the M118LR which utilize the Sierra Matchking BTHP is just barely a hollow point and is designed for a much degree of precision and lethality. It is not less lethal or less humane. The prohibition on expanding ammunition was purely political, regardless the Sierra Gameking would be closer to a Hague prohibited bullet. It is simply a myth that hollow points are prohibited. It has been use for years. And hollow points nor Otm's are not mentioned in The Hague Conventions.

[pacrat]

I think only aerial bombs like bouncing Betty's,

"Bouncing Betty" is an anti personnel land mine.

[Tripper]

Can/ do military contractors use expanding ammo.?

"Bouncing Betty" is an anti personnel land mine.

Yes I know,, and it's design I think is the type Hague prohibits, it goes aerial, I'm thinking
I'm pretty sure BBs are prohibited

[Tripper]

Can/ do military contractors use expanding ammo.?

Otm's like the M118LR which utilize the Sierra Matchking BTHP is just barely a hollow point and is designed for a much degree of precision and lethality. It is not less lethal or less humane. The prohibition on expanding ammunition was purely political, regardless the Sierra Gameking would be closer to a Hague prohibited bullet. It is simply a myth that hollow points are prohibited. It has been use for years. And hollow points nor Otm's are not mentioned in The Hague Conventions.

I quoted the part above that does relate to hollow point, it's not myth, article c4 or 4c
Hard envelope that does not cover the entire core = hollow point
I think the RIP bullet would meet the 'pierced' part of the prohibited

[mikenewgun87]

We all know that contractors are cowboys and dont follow rules!!!