Posted on 02/26/2015 9:11:30 PM PST by Perseverando
Jeff Knox explains why latest move by BATF is 'ridiculous'
The Obama administration’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, or BATF, recently announced its intention to ban the manufacture, importation and distribution of popular SS109/M855 ammunition commonly used in AR-15 type rifles, based on the construction of the projectile it uses. This ammo served as the standard issue, 5.56 x 45mm round used by the U.S. military and most NATO countries around the world. It is commonly referred to as “Green Tip” because the military puts a bit of green paint on the tip of the bullet to help soldiers easily identify it.
Since the AR platform is the single most popular rifle in the country, and M855 is one of the most common types of ammunition used in AR rifles, banning this ammo would have a significant effect on the market, by reducing ammo supply, driving up prices and forcing the military to spend money to destroy their older stocks, rather than making money by selling it to shooters. And since the U.S. recently transitioned to a new, slightly different loading as their primary round, designated as M855A1, being unable to sell surplus M855 and its European equivalent SS109 to U.S. consumers could become a costly problem.
The proposed ban won’t apply to other common types of 5.56 ammunition, only the SS109/M855 rounds. It also won’t ban possession of this ammunition, just manufacture, importation and distribution. So someone with a crate of this stuff in his basement won’t have to worry about becoming a felon overnight. But that is small consolation.
The justification for banning M855 arises from a 1986 law that was supposed to help protect police officers. As more police were wearing body armor, handgun ammunition capable of penetrating their vests was considered a serious threat.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
...Identify it - as what?
Don't get you knickers in a twist over it. The green tip distinguishes the M855 bullet from the M193 bullet. Once assembled into a cartridge, the two types of bullet are very difficult to distinguish from each other without the paint.
Yet...
Red tip is a tracer. Loaded into magazine every fourth round with three green tips in between.
Contrary to popular opinion, green tip ammo is not armor piercing but it does do well against some metal (penetrates further than most).
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Never happened with any pistol. It was all media driven hype, and still is. It is a mythological hypothetical, like all the “blood in the street” stories about concealed carry.
http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2015/02/556-ammunition-and-switchblade-knives.html
Contrary to popular opinion, green tip ammo is not armor piercing but it does do well against some metal (penetrates further than most). There is a steel tip in front of the lead core.
As I recall, the ammunition was produced because someone was concerned about the ability of the 5.56 to penetrate a helmet at 400 yards. The M855 and SS109 will do it; the M193 will not do it reliably. Of course, it depends on the helmet and the angle; but I think pre-kevlar steel helmets with the fiberglass liner were used in the tests...
It appears to be a foot in the door for banning all ammunition other than .22 rimfire. How bad can a .22 rimfire be made?
Tracers were red when I was in the military (66-70).
Right!!!
I think my 45-70 is a lot more dangerous than 5.56. Kind of reminds me of when Black Talon ammo was banned. They took it off the market so newer, more potent rounds were developed. Guess that will happen with 5.56 as well. I see this action as an attack on the ammo supply. Green Tip has already shot up from .36 to .60 and higher in some cases. Supplies have almost disappeared, so I expect another ammo crisis. Even non-affected 5.56 is up about .04 and more per round. Green tip is not a particularly preferred ammo, simply an alternate available when better rounds are not in supply. Taking it out of the supply chain means less ammo available, higher prices, and less people shooting or purchasing the AR style rifles now being discounted due to over supply. This is back door gun control, and one must ask why?
Because Democrats, that's why. Or, more accurately, because statists (which includes RINOs).
And what are they saying...that a 3006 or a 308 or even the lowly 7.62x39 won't penetrate body armor...??
I don't get it at all.. Body armor can not be the primary reason for this silly crap...
and the steel core?
I heard yesterday (can’t remember who said...maybe Rush?) that NO police have been killed with this ammo.
Obama’s crusade against American gun owners has cost his party the house, the senate, the majority of state legislatures and governorships, and countless thousands of white voters for years to come. He may be taking military surplus ammo away from us but he’s just handing us all the political ammunition we could ever need. He thought he was disarming us but he has done exactly the opposite. You can’t walk down the street without tripping over an assault rifle these days. All thanks to one dog eating, commie, muslim c***sucker.
Correct. There is no precedent for the language of this ban, they simply want to disrupt the supply of mil-spec surplus to civilians. Back-door gun control, plain and simple.
I happen to prefer 7.62x51mm with 168 grain pills. Lets you "reach out" and touch someone better than 5.56x45.
Stolen by me, soon to be spread far and wide.
;-)
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