jkh@jade.UUCP (01/31/87)
Industry Circular
Department of the Treasury
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Washington, DC 20226
Number: 86-15 Date 12/4/86
ARMOR PIERCING AMMUNITION:
Federal Firearms Licensees and others concerned.
On August 28, 1986, the President signed Public Law 99-408 (100 Stat. 920)
which regulates the manufacture, importation, and sale of armor piercing
ammunition.
The Act amends chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code to define the
term armor piercing ammunition as "a projectile or projectile core which
may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the
presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of
tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted
uranium. Such term does not include shotgun shot required by Federal or
State environmental or game regulations for hunting purposes, a frangible
projectile designed for target shooting, a projectile which the Secretary
finds is primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes, or any other
projectile or projectile core which the Secretary finds is intended to be
used for industrial purposes, including a charge used in an oil and gas
well perforating device."
Provisions of Public Law 99-408 provide that:
1. No person may manufacture or import armor piercing ammunition
and no manufacturer or importer may sell or deliver such
ammunition except:
a. for the use of the United States or any department or
agency thereof or any State or any department, agency or
political subdivision thereof;
b. for the purposes of exportation; or
c. for the purposes of testing or experimentation as
authorized by the Director.
2. Manufacturers and importers of armor piercing ammunition
must be licensed by the Bureau. Such licenses have a fee of
$1,000 per year.
3. Licensed importers and licensed manufacturers must mark all
armor piercing projectiles and packages containing such
projectiles for distribution.
4. The Director may, after notice and opportunity for hearing,
revoke the license of a licensed dealer who willfully transfers
armor piercing ammunition.
The Bureau is issuing temporary regulations which will be effective on the
date of publication in the _Federal_Register_, except for the licensing
provisions which will be effective December 1, 1986.
Regulatory provisions will establish recordkeeping requirements for all
armor piercing ammunition dispositions and procedures for approval to
receive armor piercing ammunition for testing and experimentation.
Regulations will establish the marking requirements for armor piercing
projectiles and packages containing such projectiles.
Regulations promulgated under the Act will allow for armor piercing
ammunition received and maintained by licensed dealers as business
inventory prior to August 28, 1986, to be transferred to any department
or agency of the United States or any State or political subdivision
thereof if a record of such ammunition is maintained in the form and
manner prescribed by regulation.
As required by the Act, the Director is hereunder furnishing each licensed
dealer information defining projectiles considered armor piercing. Such
information is not all-inclusive for the purposes of the prohibition on
manufacture, importation, or sale or delivery by a manufacturer or
importer of such ammunition or 18 U.S.C. 929 relating to criminal misuse
of armor piercing ammunition.
List of Armor Piercing Ammunition
---------------------------------
The following is an initial listing of projectiles considered armor
piercing.
1. KTW ammunition, all calibers. (Identified by a green coating on the
projectile.)
2. ARCANE ammunitions, all calibers. (Identified by a pointed bronze
or brass projectile.)
3. THV ammunition, all calibers. (Identified by a brass or bronze
projectile and having a head stamp containing the letters SFM and
THV.)
4. Czechoslovakian manufactured 9mm Parabellum (Luger) ammunition
having an iron or steel bullet core. (Identified by a cupro nickel
jacket and a head stamp containing a triangle, star and dates of 49,
50, 51 or 52. This bullet is attracted to a magnet.)
5. German manufactured 9mm Parabellum (Luger) aummunition having an
iron or steel bullet core. (Original packing is marked Pistolenpatronen
08 m.E. This bullet is attracted to a magnet.)
6. MSC .25ACP caliber ammunition. (Identified by a hollow point bronze
bullet.)
7. Black Steel Armor Piercing Ammunition as produced by National Cartridge,
Atlanta, Georgia.
8. Black Steel Metal Piercing Ammunition as produced by National Cartridge,
Atlanta, Georgia.
9. 7.62mm NATO AP. (Identified by black coloring on the bullet tip. This
ammunition is produced in various NATO countries. The U.S. military
designation is M61 AP).
10. 7.62mm NATO SLAP. (Identified by a projectile having a plastic sabot
around a hard penetrator. The penetrator protrudes above the sabot and
is similar in appearance to a Remington accelerator cartridge).
Inquiries regarding this circular to refer to its number and be addressed
to the Associate Director (Compliance Operations) Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms, P.O. Box 189, Washington, DC 20044-0189.
Stephen E. Higgins (signed)
Director