Steel core ammo ban

[EricTheBarbarian]

This is something that has been somewhat confusing. I know most are aware that the Chicom steel core AK ammo has been banned from import. I've always read on here it was because some guy had made a AK pistol and therefore steel core pistol ammo was now banned from import.

Where this story doesn't really add up is the 7.62x54r steel core ammunition that is readily available. I've seen on here pictures of a mosin-nagant pistol that some guy had made. The other day I was talking to a guy who claims he has some custom built .308 pistol where he can hit a paperplate at 300 yrds. I would guess there has been some surplus .308 that was steel core(experts chime in) imported.

So I'm wondering what's the difference, and why is the x39 ammo singled out or whats the real reason for this? Is it because the AK is scarier or what?

 

[ArmedBear]

A lot of Chicom firearms-related stuff is banned, but I think that has to do with China, not bullet construction.

There's a very strictly interpreted "sporting purposes" limit on China. That's why you see NIB cheap SxS coach guns from China, but not M1A's, SKS's or AK's.

 

[alsaqr]

The "ban" on Chinese steel core ammo, SKS rifles and other stuff from China is due to an administrative restriction put in effect by Bill Clinton.

 

[rcmodel]

some guy had made a AK pistol

The "guy" was Robert C. Schuetz, President of Olympic Arms. And I ain't spent another penny with Olympic Arms since!

http://www.thegunzone.com/762x39.html

Further compounding the problem was Norinco's little problem at the time. (Norinco is/was a Chinese government run arms manufacture/importer.)

From Wikipedia:
"In 1994, some employees of Norinco came under federal investigation from both the FBI as well as the BATF after a successful sting dubbed “Operation Dragon Fire.” In May 1996, in what was called "the largest seizure of fully operational automatic weapons in U.S. history,"[3] 14 individuals and an Atlanta, Georgia company were indicted for the unlicensed importation and sale of 2,000 AK-47's into the United States. U.S. Customs agents posing as arms traffickers convinced a group of Chinese arms dealers, including three Norinco representatives, that they were in the market to buy guns for drug rings and street gangs.[4] "The defendants offered the government undercover agents more sophisticated weapons, including hand-held rocket launchers, mortars, anti-aircraft missiles, silenced machine guns and even tanks,"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norinco

At least they didn't use lead-based paint in the stock finish!

rcmodel

 

[EricTheBarbarian]

Interesting, there's more to it than I thought.

 

[Oohrah]

All Firearms and ammo from China was banned during the Clinton years.
About that time, a boat load of AKs (full auto) was found in the San Fan-
cisco area. Later a warehouse full of ammo was sized by BATF agents.
However it had to be returned (many truck loads) because it was pre ban
stuff:banghead: The market is all but dried up on Norinco ammo, and I
still have some left from those days. The bullets are not steel core.
Some have mild steel copper coated jackets with lead cores. The above
AKs were slated to go gangs. Memory is hazzy, but I believe Crips and
Bloods were to be the new owners! Anyhow, one of two SKSs I own
was a new Norinco. Can't see a whole bunch of difference between it and
my Russian. I think the ammo is superior to the Wolf stuff

 

[Scratchy]

I know for a fact that Norinco made/imported steel core.

 

[bejay]

they didnt just single out 7.62 by 39 there were other calibers involved and the fact they could be used in a handgun.
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/legal/armor.htm

most all firearms and ammunition was banned from import from china anyway as stated above the same year, but im sure it affected imports from other countrys as well.

 

[pmbiker]

Yes, the bullets were steel core, I'm still sitting on an unopened case from the '80s. Crazy thing is I have seen pple buying this stuff for as much as a dollar a round We used to blast through this stuff like it was bulk .22 ammo and you could buy a case for 80-sum bucks

And although it does have a steel core, it's not really AP. The steel used was mild, soft steel and probably has better penetration on hard targets than lead core but will not punch through heavy steel.

 

[MikeD999999]

I was an FFl back when the ATF sent out a memo about how the steel core Norinco ammo could no longer be sold by dealers. Regular citizens can still buy and sell it in the free states.

Mike D.

 

[CWL]

The people busted in the Norinco arms deal ran a restaurant in San Jose, CA called the "Bill of Fare". It's still there if anyone wants to have steak & eggs.

Hushed-up early-on, senior Norinco officials were involved in the deals, including the son of the former Premier of China. Aside from monetary greed, there was an intent to destabilize the USA with a bloodbath in our streets.

Even though Clinton was buddies with the China Lobby, they had to punish Norinco for what they tried to pull.

 

[feedthehogs]

No reason to boycott a legit firearms maker because of stupid laws passed by stupid people enforced by more stupid agencies.

Direct your anger toward politicians for watering down your freedoms.

I don't know whats more dangerous.
Politicians who pass gun laws or gun owners who don't seem to know from which end of the rifle the garbage flows.

Tip toeing thru the garbage dump as not to wake the sleeping giant is cowardly.

 

[LeibstandarteAdH]

From Wikipedia:
"In 1994, some employees of Norinco came under federal investigation from both the FBI as well as the BATF after a successful sting dubbed “Operation Dragon Fire.” In May 1996, in what was called "the largest seizure of fully operational automatic weapons in U.S. history,"[3] 14 individuals and an Atlanta, Georgia company were indicted for the unlicensed importation and sale of 2,000 AK-47's into the United States. U.S. Customs agents posing as arms traffickers convinced a group of Chinese arms dealers, including three Norinco representatives, that they were in the market to buy guns for drug rings and street gangs.[4] "The defendants offered the government undercover agents more sophisticated weapons, including hand-held rocket launchers, mortars, anti-aircraft missiles, silenced machine guns and even tanks,"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norinco

That whole norinco selling full auto AK's to american customs officials is BS, what they DID do was talk the chinese into bringing them to san francisco via china en route to Bosnia, when the container hit the port they raided it and cried ILLEGAL IMPORTS and came up with the deal that put norinco out of business in the states.

And Olympic arms owner did not mess it up for chinese ammo, but for all of surplus 7.62x39 as a whole. He had ample warnings and the implications are disasterous to firearms owners in that caliber to this day. It can be read up on.

 

[bejay]

I certainly wouldnt be blaming olympic arms or any firearm manufaturer for that matter for some of the laws and bans the atf comes up with, many of wich do not make much sense.

 

[LeibstandarteAdH]

I certainly wouldnt be blaming olympic arms or any firearm manufaturer for that matter for some of the laws and bans the atf comes up with, many of wich do not make much sense.

Then you must not know very much about the process that resulted in the banning of steel core 7.62x39 (which is all M43 surplus from the entire warsaw pact, china, and more)

just about the only 7.62x39 military surplus that didn't get run into the ground in terms of ever being imported was the Yugoslavian and South African.

 

[RP88]

since I hate the ATf's rules, I'd like to here how OlyArms effed up surplus ammo importation and what not. I've honestly never read up or heard of it. Care to post some info?

 

[bejay]

at the begining of this post rcmodel posted a link that tells about it, how much of it is true who knows, but seeing how there was already an ak pistol being manufactured prior to olympic arms ar pistol it just seems to me that some are blaming olympic arms for something the atf did, and something they would of done anyway.