'Devastator' ammo - Legal in Florida?

[Brass Fetcher]

I've got a request to do a gelatin test involving 'Devastator' ammunition from Hi-Vel. Can anyone advise as to the legality of possession of such a round in Florida? I've seen the brass cases with Hi-Vel headstamps, but I am not sure.

The statues say that 'explosives' in the tip of a bullet are a no-no... I wonder what an 'explosive' is though... they don't say.

Thank you,

JE223

 

[Brass Fetcher]

I just browsed through the local gun show and did not find any such ammunition in the 'questionable ammunition' booth. I seem to recall seeing it years ago, but not anymore. So, I am guessing that it is not legal in FL.

My 'moral of the story' from this: don't do anything for anyone that you are not sure of. The person in questions tone seemed to hint that there was something shady about such a deal (in this case, possession of said ammunition), but that they were willing to pay a larger than normal testing fee to see it done. I'm glad that offer raised the flag of suspicion with me!

So I guess I'm saying this... Don't be greedy and follow the law. No matter how stupid it may seem (in regards to firearms especially).

 

[shamrock404]

The only thing I found on the internet was the Devastator bullet at this web site and it look like a lead cast hollow point bullet. Sorry I could not help more.

http://www.lasc.us/LymanDevastator.htm

Have a nice day and a wonderful week.
Preston

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Preston,

Thank you for looking it up for me. It would be a bad day indeed if they banned any genuine expanding bullet ... the original 'devastator', to which I think the person in question (in the emails) was referring, was actually a hollowpoint that contained a small quantity of impact-sensitive explosive, like a primer has.

As far as a I know, John Hinckley used such ammunition in his attempted assassination of President Reagan, and the round thusly gained notoriety. This issue was very touch and go with me, as Florida statutes disallow 'explosive tipped ammunition'... I just was not sure if the small quantity in these rounds would fall under this law or not. The fact that I have not heard back from the original point of contact seems to indicate that, yes, they are not legal here in FL.

 

[shamrock404]

JE223
Me thinks that any exploding bullet would be against the law in any state and perhaps be against federal law. Any way have a nice day and a wonderful week.
Preston

 

[highlander 5]

the Devastator bullets don't explode they are supposed to expand violently .
I had a co worker who bought a box and quite frankly I wasn't impressed was 44 Spl fired from a Charter Arms Bulldog made a nice hole not much of anything else. IF it did have an explosive in the bullet the BATFE would be on them like a cheap suit

 

[cpileri]

From the Desk of Agent Schmuckatelli, ATF...

Dear THRers,
Darn. Foiled again!
Regards,
S-

 

[GregGry]

hum, whats this then? http://ammunitiontogo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=51&products_id=205

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Check the >Florida< state statutes on firearms.

 

[CJ]

http://www.hi-vel.com/Catalog__20/Devastator_Ammunition/devastator_ammunition.html

"DEVASTATOR AMMUNITION
THE ULTIMATE SELF-DEFENSE AMMUNITON. THE PROJECTILE CONTAINS A SPECIAL DETONATING COMPOUND THAT GREATLY INCREASES STOPPING POWER BY VIRTUALLY DELIVERING ALL THE KINETIC ENERGY INTO THE BODY. PRODUCES A WOUND CHANNEL 3-4 TIMES THE BULLET DIAMETER. WORKS WITH ANY FIREARM."

Personally, I like the all caps. It makes it seem like they really mean it. Actually, the little flashing dots on their front page make me think they're trying to appeal to the same audience as "Extreme Shock - The World's Most Advanced Ammunition!!!!!", although they seem a bit more stuck in the early 90s of web design.