What are the Federal laws on AP ammo

[SA1911a1]

I was looking at some Federal Statutes on an unrelated subject today and ran across what I read to be a prohibition on AP ammo for anything but law enforcement or military use. Is that just for manufacturing and interstate sales or is it illegal to own? If I am not mistaken, I believe that Florida law forbids AP ammo for pistols, but I did not think that it applied to rifles.

[awalker1829]

Which statute were you looking at?

[awalker1829]

Having read a bit more on the subject, the federal law is more focused on prohibition of use of armor piercing bullets in ammunition that can be used in a pistol and prohibiting sale of AP ammunition directly to the public. Manufacturing ammunition is defined as making ammunition for the purposes of selling it. While the law states that armor piercing ammunition may only be manufactured for sale to the government or export, it does not address possession of armor piercing ammunition by civilians, other than to prohibit prohibited possessors from possessing it and enhancing punishment if AP ammunition is used in commission of a crime in which a victim dies.

My observation is that once the ammunition is sold to the government, it can be resold by the government either directly to civilians as government surplus or indirectly if the ammunition is sold to the manufacturer and either resold to a licensed dealer as either complete ammunition or components. Thus, as long as you are not a prohibited possessor and/or your state or municipality does not prohibit possession of AP ammunition by a civilian, you can have AP ammunition.

Disclaimer: The preceding statement is strictly my personal opinion. I am not an attorney and nothing in the preceding statement is to be construed as a legal opinion. If you have questions regarding the law, please consult a licensed attorney.

[SA1911a1]

Having read a bit more on the subject, the federal law is more focused on prohibition of use of armor piercing bullets in ammunition that can be used in a pistol and prohibiting sale of AP ammunition directly to the public. Manufacturing ammunition is defined as making ammunition for the purposes of selling it. While the law states that armor piercing ammunition may only be manufactured for sale to the government or export, it does not address possession of armor piercing ammunition by civilians, other than to prohibit prohibited possessors from possessing it and enhancing punishment if AP ammunition is used in commission of a crime in which a victim dies.

My observation is that once the ammunition is sold to the government, it can be resold by the government either directly to civilians as government surplus or indirectly if the ammunition is sold to the manufacturer and either resold to a licensed dealer as either complete ammunition or components. Thus, as long as you are not a prohibited possessor and/or your state or municipality does not prohibit possession of AP ammunition by a civilian, you can have AP ammunition.

Disclaimer: The preceding statement is strictly my personal opinion. I am not an attorney and nothing in the preceding statement is to be construed as a legal opinion. If you have questions regarding the law, please consult a licensed attorney.

Thank you for your opinion.