223 steel-core - legal in Va?

[Colonel]

Saw a good price on some Russian 223 ammo, and apparently the bullets attract a magnet.

Does anyone know the laws/regs on buying steel-core 223 for use in a rifle in Virginia? These "AP" laws are hard to keep track of.

Thanks for any info.

--
"This is a Bad Bullet because it doesn't expand. And this is a Bad Bullet because it does.")

 

[THE DARK KNIGHT]

I'm guessing it's Wolf/Bear/Tiger/Uly/Tula/Barnaul/Herter's of some sort?

If so, the bi-metal bullet is not hardened steel like that of a penetrator. It is very soft ferrous metal used in mixture with the lead, not for penetration characteristics but because it reduces manufacturing cost of the bullet. This is a common misconception among shooters and especially ranges.

 

[NavyLCDR]

Depends mainly on what you intend to use the ammo for. The stuff you are talking, first, more than likely just has a bi-metal jacket and not a steel core. Even if it did have a steel core, VA law only prohibits the ammo from use during the commission of a crime:

18.2-308.3. Use or attempted use of restricted
ammunition in commission or attempted
commission of crimes prohibited;
penalty

A. When used in this section:

"Restricted firearm ammunition" applies to
bullets, projectiles or other types of ammunition
that are: (i) coated with or contain, in whole or in
part, polytetrafluorethylene or a similar product,
(ii) commonly known as "KTW" bullets or
"French Arcanes," or (iii) any cartridges containing
bullets coated with a plastic substance with
other than lead or lead alloy cores, jacketed bullets
with other than lead or lead alloy cores, or
cartridges of which the bullet itself is wholly comprised
of a metal or metal alloy other than lead.
This definition shall not be construed to include
shotgun shells or solid plastic bullets.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly
use or attempt to use restricted firearm ammunition
while committing or attempting to commit
a crime. Violation of this section shall constitute
a separate and distinct felony and any person
found guilty thereof shall be guilty of a Class
5 felony.

 

[nalioth]

Saw a good price on some Russian 223 ammo, and apparently the bullets attract a magnet.

Don't propagate this myth, please.

All Russian ammo will attract a magnet. This is because it uses soft steel for it's jacket material.

 

[NavyLCDR]

You will know if you purchase armor piercing ammunition from a reputable dealer according to Federal law because it is required to be conspicuously labeled as armor piercing. The Federal definition is:

(B) The term "armor piercing
ammunition" means—

(i) a projectile or projectile core
which may be used in a handgun
and which is constructed entirely
(excluding the presence of traces
of other substances) from one or a
combination of tungsten alloys,
steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium
copper, or depleted uranium; or
(ii) a full jacketed projectile larger
than .22 caliber designed and
intended for use in a handgun and
whose jacket has a weight of more
than 25 percent of the total weight
of the projectile.

(C) The term "armor piercing
ammunition" does not include shotgun
shot required by Federal or State
environmental or game regulations
for hunting purposes, a frangible projectile
designed for target shooting, a
projectile which the Attorney General
finds is primarily intended to be used
for sporting purposes, or any other
projectile or projectile core which the
Attorney General finds is intended to
be used for industrial purposes, including
a charge used in an oil and
gas well perforating device.

And exceptions:

Exemptions: The following articles
are exempted from the definition of armor
piercing ammunition.

5.56 mm (.223) SS 109 and M855
Ammunition, identified by a green coating
on the projectile tip.

U.S. .30-06 M2AP, identified by a
black coating on the projectile tip.

 

[NavyLCDR]

The Federal requirements to label armor piercing is:

(b) Armor piercing ammunition.

(1) Marking of ammunition. Each
licensed manufacturer or licensed importer
of armor piercing ammunition
shall identify such ammunition by
means of painting, staining or dying the
exterior of the projectile with an opaque
black coloring. This coloring must completely
cover the point of the projectile
and at least 50 percent of that portion of
the projectile which is visible when the
projectile is loaded into a cartridge case.

(2) Labeling of packages. Each licensed
manufacturer or licensed importer
of armor piercing ammunition
shall clearly and conspicuously label
each package in which armor piercing
ammunition is contained, e.g., each
box, carton, case, or other container.
The label shall include the words
“ARMOR PIERCING” in block letters at
least 1/4 inch in height. The lettering
shall be located on the exterior surface
of the package which contains information
concerning the caliber or gauge of
the ammunition. There shall also be
placed on the same surface of the
package in block lettering at least 1/8
inch in height the words “FOR
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES OR
EXPORTATION ONLY.” The statements
required by this subparagraph
shall be on a contrasting background.

 

[NavyLCDR]

In summary, I wouldn't fret over it.

 

[Colonel]

Thanks, fellas.