SS109 ban?

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Anyone recall how the supply ofcheap Chinese steel-core 7.62×39 was shutdown because Oly made a 7.62×39 semiauto pistol? The ammo which had previously been rifle ammo was now considered ‘handgun ammo’ and since it had a steel core became ‘armour piercing’ handgun ammo? Remember that? I mention itbecause Taurus is coming out with a .223 Rem. revolver. All that lovely SS109 ammo might, might, might be a thing of the past……….Opinions?

1 thought on “SS109 ban?”

  1. .223 has been available in a pistol for a while now, T/C, all the AR “pistols”, the PLR-16 from keltec…

    however, i don’t think SS109 counts as AP (even with the moronic BATF definitions of such) because there is such a small amount of steel in it. I was always told it was for stabilization rather than penetration, and didn’t make enough difference in penetration to matter.
    from Ammo Oracle

    Q. But isn’t M855 ammo Armor Piercing (AP) and illegal to possess for non-law enforcement? Isn’t M855/SS-109 restricted to military/law enforcement use? Isn’t SS-109 illegal in Illinois?

    No… no… and not as of July 26, 2002.

    Some states may regulate it, but Illinois doesn’t. We’re not sure how that rumor got started. This comes up quite often because less than ethical suppliers try to use the marketing punch of “armor piercing” to sell more of their ammo. Since M855/SS-109 is more expensive than M193, some dealers go to great lengths to pawn it off. It is true that M855 was designed to increase penetration at longer ranges (500-600 meters) primarily to deal with the SAW issues, but don’t mistake this “enhanced long-range penetration” design for “armor piercing.” M855 is officially considered “ball,” or standard ammunition by the military.

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