Legality of loading steel-core ammo.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Deus Machina

Member
Joined
May 24, 2007
Messages
3,174
Location
Brandon, Florida
In Florida, to start.

Bought a can of old Albanian steel-jacket, steel-core 7.62x54r to go with my nagant, and the local indoor range may or may not allow me to shoot it--they can handle up to and including .50BMG. There aren't many outdoor ranges anyway.

So, knowing the desirability of steel-core AK rounds, and knowing this weight crosses down to useable through a x39, my idea was--if I can't use it--to pull the bullets and sell or trade them for standard FMJ, JHP, what have you.

So, knowing it's illegal to buy steel-core AP ammo in some states, is it illegal to load it in mine? It'd be even better if I don't have to worry about it, but I don't want to destroy a backstop.
 
I could be mistaken on that, and I do doubt it's meant to go through armored doors or anything.

It was explained to me that it started out because it was more likely to pierce steel helmets and was classified as AP ammo under some laws, but I really have no firsthand knowledge of this. And since I can't search the proper laws right now (the search is down on the site I know that has them), I'd prefer to ask the folks here that are more knowledgeable than I.
 
Deus Machina said:
So, knowing it's illegal to buy steel-core AP ammo in some states, is it illegal to load it in mine?
It's not illegal to buy steel cored ammo.

It's illegal to import (and sell - if you're a licensed dealer) armor piercing pistol ammuntion.

The powers that be have used this excuse to stop the importation of cheap soft steel cored ammunition (by erroneously calling it "armor piercing").
 
There may also be a law in Florida about armor piercing ammunition.

It's illegal to import (and sell - if you're a licensed dealer) armor piercing pistol ammuntion.
FYI, apparently 7.62x39 is classified as a pistol cartridge. Not sure about Nagant ammo though.
And I think it's also illegal to manufacture armor piercing handgun ammunition, which is why you can't get the all copper rounds for calibers like 10mm.

And the usual: consult a lawyer.
 
At the Federal level, steel-core ammo is NOT considered armor-piercing in and of itself. And I don't know of any state that considers it as well. It's still imported last I heard, in both 7.62x54 and x39 versions.
 
Steel core ammo is banned for hunting in many states due to FIRE RISK. There have been fires started by steel-core ammo when it hit something and made sparks.
 
"...apparently 7.62x39 is classified as a pistol cartridge..." By whom? Just curious.
"...Steel core ammo is banned for hunting in many states due to FIRE RISK..." More likely because it's milsurp FMJ ammo. Ball ammo certainly isn't suitable for hunting anything other than varmints, though. It doesn't expand at all. A lot of ranges don't allow it. Too many idiots damaging range kit.
AP it ain't.
 
Okay, so we've established that this isn't, by design, armor piercing. And I'll be checking the books as soon as I can access them if it is by law.

The more immediate question, then: will it damage an average rifle backstop 100 yards away? It's advertised as capable of anything under .50 BMG, after all.
 
FYI, apparently 7.62x39 is classified as a pistol cartridge. Not sure about Nagant ammo though.
And I think it's also illegal to manufacture armor piercing handgun ammunition, which is why you can't get the all copper rounds for calibers like 10mm.

Some years ago before the AWB somebody made a "pistol" by grafting a handgrip on a short barreled AK. I remember the ammo distributors begging him not to do it, because it would make the 7.62x39 steel core illegal "armor piercing pistol ammo".

I'm pretty sure you CAN get all copper pistol ammo, e.g.:

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/handgun.aspx?id=601

http://www.chuckhawks.com/cor-bon_DPX_pistol.htm
 
To restate this all in coherent matter.
There are states that have rules against steel core ammo and this has to be checked state by state.

Federal regulations state that pistol rounds and some rifle rounds that the FEDs claims are also pistol rounds may not use solid steel core ammo. In some cases steel inserts are ok, the SS109 5.56 M16 rifle cartridge.
Most older cartridges that were mainly used in bolt action rifles are not included like the 7.62 x 54 under federal regulations. I believe that there are other laws about firing any steel core ammo at federal agents which also is applied to semiauto "assault rifles" which is redundant since murder and assault are already illegal.
 
I'll put it this way: I have a hard time believing 7.62x39 is classified as a pistol round, given that it's even bigger than .223 which is solely a rifle round. Yes, there's pistol AK's, but they're rather impractical. There's pistol AR's, too, with the same result. The pistol AK is still going to require a full-sized receiver that can't be used one-handed, will be heavy, and will be totally uncontrollable. It's the same thing as if you took the stock off a normal rifle. Pistol AK's are more for looks than practicality.
 
Mike the Wolf said:
I'll put it this way: I have a hard time believing 7.62x39 is classified as a pistol round, given that it's even bigger than .223 which is solely a rifle round. Yes, there's pistol AK's, but they're rather impractical.
Stop using logic.

The gun-grabbers got this law crafted on pure "save the children" balderdash.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top