Armor-Piercing Ammo (?)

[Yugo]

How do you know if the ammo you have is not armor-piercing? I have some hollow points (7.62.39) are these considered armor-piercing? I dont want to be breaking any laws.

[Vicious_138]

hollow points are not armor piercing, but armor piercing rifle ammo is totally legal anyway.

armor piercing handgun ammo on the other hand is illegal in CA

[Yugo]

hollow points are not armor piercing, but armor piercing rifle ammo is totally legal anyway.

armor piercing handgun ammo on the other hand is illegal in CA

ok id dont have any armor-piercing (looking) hand gun ammo......but just for the sake of the question can some one post a pic or more info on this handgun armor-piercing ammo, so I know to avoid it.

[NytWolf]

"Armor-piercing" is just a term the anti's came up with. By their definition, it's basically any bullet that is made out of steel. I'm sure someone else will come by and give a more precise definition.

[lawhite92]

The antis use the terms "armor piercing" and "cop killers" incorrectly. They just pick out any dangerous sounding bullets like hollow points or Teflon coated like with black talon ammo, without knowing that hollow points actually have less penetration and Teflon coating has nothing to do with the bullets penetration. For the most part you shouldn't have to worry, steel core penetrators rifle ammo are legal, butost ranges won't allow them.

[Southpaw45]

I have personally have never seen AP handgun ammo. I do know that Mil Spec rifle AP ammo is FMJ and the bullet tips are painted black to designate that there AP.

[chim-chim7]

If it sticks against a magnet, it has a bi-metal jacket. Meaning it has two layers of jacketing. It's a lead bullet, shrouded with a steel jacket then followed up with a thin jacket of copper. Most indoor shooting ranges will not allow them. The steel in the jacket can seperate when it hits the steel backstop and fragment. Those pieces could fly back hitting another shooter. Same with steel shot in shotguns.

I was wearing shorts one time at the range. This guy a few lanes over was shooting a 12Gage and using steel bird shot. Every time he shot I felt some of the shot hitting my legs. Steel on steel is not good. Needless to say I chewed his a** real good then had him removed from the range for his poor attitude when confronted. Not even a sorry, my left leg had airsoft like welts at close range.

[RustyMacHine]

What about the Lake City 62 Grain M855 Penetrator used in an AR pistol ? (An AR pistol - HSC required to purchase and limit one/ 30 days= Handgun to me).

(I don't mean to stir the pot, but since yugo mentioned it.)

[Noonanda]

What about the Lake City 62 Grain M855 Penetrator used in an AR pistol ? (An AR pistol - HSC required to purchase and limit one/ 30 days= Handgun to me).

(I don't mean to stir the pot, but since yugo mentioned it.)

M-855 is not Armor Piercing designated ammo, M-995 is AP and if you can get a hold of it in the Civilian world more power to you

[secret.asian.man]

take a magnet and test the bullet slug. if it sticks there is steel in there. if it doesn't then you are being compliant with local outdoor range rules.

[RustyMacHine]

M-855 is not Armor Piercing designated ammo, M-995 is AP and if you can get a hold of it in the Civilian world more power to you

I see, so no worries loading any run of the mill / commercially available to civilian ammo into an AR or AK pistol then.

So ending up with Milspec AP ammo is highly unlikely in my lifetime.

Thanks.

[Southpaw45]

M-855 is not Armor Piercing designated ammo, M-995 is AP and if you can get a hold of it in the Civilian world more power to you

This is correct. Like I said, look for the black tips. http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/i...56mm_ammo.html http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m993.htm

[Noonanda]

This is correct. Like I said, look for the black tips. http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/i...56mm_ammo.html http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m993.htm

Problem is it is hard to get for the military, we had to have our Bn Commander call the ASP and say "do not substitute" when we were requesting AP 4 &1 for our SAW gunners to train with. In country it was easier but still somewhat a pain in the butt to get.

I have never seen seen it for sale on the Civilan market, either as loaded ammo or as pulled bullets. I have seen tracers, but never any AP. So if you are able to find it go also buy a lotto ticket lol

[Fishslayer]

If it is armor piercing it would say so on the box.

According to the folks at P2K not all steel core ammo is armor piercing. The x54R in the spam cans is steel core & they are perfectly OK with shooting it at their range.

I asked a guy with a youtube video involving armor piercing ammo & he told me the steel core x54R made neat sparks but didn't nearly penetrate like sho' nuff AP.

[Southpaw45]

Problem is it is hard to get for the military, we had to have our Bn Commander call the ASP and say "do not substitute" when we were requesting AP 4 &1 for our SAW gunners to train with. In country it was easier but still somewhat a pain in the butt to get.

I have never seen seen it for sale on the Civilan market, either as loaded ammo or as pulled bullets. I have seen tracers, but never any AP. So if you are able to find it go also buy a lotto ticket lol

Yep! I bought 60 rounds of the stuff in 5.56 on stripper clips about 18 years ago at a gun show and havent seen it since.