As such, it is illegal to import firearms and ammunition, with certain exceptions. The Attorney General shall grant exceptions in certain cases spelled out in 925 (d). The one of those applicable to 7n6 is the sporting purposes exemption. But whether or not to grant this exemption to 7n6 is at the discretion of the Attorney General. And given that 925 (d)(3) specifically calls out 'military surplus firearms' as ineligible for this exemption, it isn't a stretch that they'd also deny it to military surplus ammunition.
Like I said, our previous generation(s) screwed up and gave too much power to an executive agency on this one. Legislation or court order are
the only remedy, and the latter is as disinclined to rule in our favor as anyone. Gotta fix the import regs through congress, or live with it.
"The initial reason to ban 7N6 was that it was made in Russia"
Actually, it was because AK74s were really taking off over here and 7N6 was one of (the?) cheapest centerfire rifle rounds associated with autoloaders available. That combination meant that 7N6 would be getting imported in greater and greater quantities in short order (heck, the ATF may have been alerted simply by all the ammo importation requests*). And there
was great mention of the steel core as I recall. Sound familiar, yet?
More importantly, 7N6 was the primary ammunition available at the time; AK74 prices/interest collapsed soon afterward. Obviously the hope was that the same could be accomplished for AR15s.
As I've said, this has always only ever been about banning the AR15. It makes no sense, even from a tyrannical standpoint, to be so ideologically fixated, but these are
anti-gunners we're talking about. The very image of an AR15 causes them physical pain.
"Why, if we'd get that worked up over it, why not try the same stuff with M855?"
Hardly; there wasn't much of an uproar beyond the few folks who already owned the guns.
TCB
*The popular conspiracy theory is that NATOs transition to the new ammo will dump untold billions of rounds of M855 onto the world --
our-- market. Not that any importer of ammunition would disclose business dealings currently under consideration, but...any news through the grapevine about lots of import deals on surplus ammo being made right now?
You have to ask Mother if you may bring in ammo/parts kits through American ports; it's potentially a very convenient way for the ATF/administration to keep tabs on developments in gun owning America before they're let out of the bag and become visible to us customers.