I believe the real story, as far as what actually passed, was in 2005, and the relevant vote was #216 on the Craig amendment.
See
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_109_1.htm
The final vote in 2004 failed with only 8 Yea votes from the following:
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
Daschle (R-SD) (gone)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Pryor (D-AR)
Breaux (D-LA) (gone)
The vote in 2005 passed 87-11 after the measure had been reworked. Kennedy's amendment to expand the definition of "armor piercing" was defeated, but the Craig amendment provides for "a study". The entire text of the amendment as submitted and passed appears below.
SA 1645. Mr. CRAIG proposed an amendment to the bill S. 397, to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others; as follows:
On page 13, after line 4, insert the following:
SEC. 5. ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION.
(a) Unlawful Acts.--Section 922(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraphs (7) and (8) and inserting the following:
``(7) for any person to manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition, unless--
``(A) the manufacture of such ammunition is for the use of the United States, any department or agency of the United States, any State, or any department, agency, or political subdivision of a State;
``(B) the manufacture of such ammunition is for the purpose of exportation; or
``(C) the manufacture or importation of such ammunition is for the purpose of testing or experimentation and has been authorized by the Attorney General;
``(8) for any manufacturer or importer to sell or deliver armor piercing ammunition, unless such sale or delivery--
``(A) is for the use of the United States, any department or agency of the United States, any State, or any department, agency, or political subdivision of a State;
``(B) is for the purpose of exportation; or
``(C) is for the purpose of testing or experimentation and has been authorized by the Attorney General;''.
(b) Penalties.--Section 924(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Except to the extent that a greater minimum sentence is otherwise provided under this subsection, or by any other provision of law, any person who, during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime (including a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime that provides for an enhanced punishment if committed by the use of a deadly or dangerous weapon or device) for which the person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, uses or carries armor piercing ammunition, or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses armor piercing ammunition, shall, in addition to the punishment provided for such crime of violence or drug trafficking crime or conviction under this section--
``(A) be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years; and
``(B) if death results from the use of such ammunition--
``(i) if the killing is murder (as defined in section 1111), be punished by death or sentenced to a term of imprisonment for any term of years or for life; and
``(ii) if the killing is manslaughter (as defined in section 1112), be punished as provided in section 1112.''.
(c) Study and Report.--
(1) STUDY.--The Attorney General shall conduct a study to determine whether a uniform standard for the testing of projectiles against Body Armor is feasible.
(2) ISSUES TO BE STUDIED.--The study conducted under paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) variations in performance that are related to the length of the barrel of the handgun or center-fire rifle from which the projectile is fired; and
(B) the amount of powder used to propel the projectile.
(3) REPORT.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit a report containing the results of the study conducted under this subsection to--
(A) the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; and
(B) the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives.
