questions on steel core handgun ammo

[whm1974]

With all this uproar over the Five Seven and seeing ADs in Shotgun News for the CZ52 pistol and 7.62x25 ammo. I have some questions.

I know a dealer can't see me handgun AP ammo and I'm not looking for any. But due to some 7.62x25 Tov and 9x18 Mak ammo being steel core and somewhat easy to get at gun shows/online/whatever. Is steel core handgun ammo illegal to have?

I'm asking becuase I'm thinking of getting a Makarov and/or a CZ52.

I also live in IL if that matters.

-Bill

 

[femoralis]

I am not aware of any Mak ammo being sold online that is steel core. There is plenty of steel-jacketed Makarov ammo, which is legal.

 

[whm1974]

It's my understanding that you can get steel core 7.62x25 tov ammo sometimes since most custom agents can't read Slavic lauganes and the stuff gets let through. And of course the shipping crate doesn't say AP or steel core...

-Bill

 

[Scottmkiv]

Any ideas of where you can get this steel core 7.62x25? Or where to look? How to tell if ammo I see at a gun show is steel-cored?

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

Right here.

- pdmoderator

 

[whm1974]

I don't know how you can tell if some of the solvet bloc mil surplus handgun ammo is steel core. I just know that you can run across it now and then.

-Bill

 

[Jeff White]

If you need to know if it's steel core, you can use a magnet. In Illinois you pretty much live under the federal law:

(720 ILCS 5/24‑2.1) (from Ch. 38, par. 24‑2.1)
Sec. 24‑2.1. Unlawful use of firearm projectiles.
(a) A person commits the offense of unlawful use of firearm projectiles when he or she knowingly manufactures, sells, purchases, possesses, or carries any armor piercing bullet, dragon's breath shotgun shell, bolo shell, or flechette shell.
For the purposes of this Section:
"Armor piercing bullet" means any handgun bullet or handgun ammunition with projectiles or projectile cores constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper or depleted uranium, or fully jacketed bullets larger than 22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25% of the total weight of the projectile, and excluding those handgun projectiles whose cores are composed of soft materials such as lead or lead alloys, zinc or zinc alloys, frangible projectiles designed primarily for sporting purposes, and any other projectiles or projectile cores that the U. S. Secretary of the Treasury finds to be primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes or industrial purposes or that otherwise does not constitute "armor piercing ammunition" as that term is defined by federal law.
The definition contained herein shall not be construed to include shotgun shells.

I'd say that if BATFE approved it's import, it's legal in Illinois. This is another feel good law that I doubt has ever been enforced.

Jeff

 

[femoralis]

Steel-jacketed ammo (most russian stuff) will react to a magnet, though there is no steel core. There is no prohibition against a thin steel jacket on the bullet.

 

[whm1974]

Jeff white, from reading the above I'm getting the impressing that as long is there is lead between the iron/steel core and the jacket, then steel core pistol ammo is legal.

I'm getting confused here....

-Bill

 

[Jeff White]

Bill,
This is the key passage in the Illinois law:

excluding those handgun projectiles whose cores are composed of soft materials such as lead or lead alloys, zinc or zinc alloys, frangible projectiles designed primarily for sporting purposes, and any other projectiles or projectile cores that the U. S. Secretary of the Treasury finds to be primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes or industrial purposes or that otherwise does not constitute "armor piercing ammunition" as that term is defined by federal law.

Basically, if the Feds say it's good to go, it's good to go in IL. Nothing is imported without BATFE approval. So if it's in the gunshop for sale, it's most likely legal.

Jeff