I got a bunch of APIs from Pat's reloading today, and just wanted input about legal issues with loading them. I live in Texas, and I know loaded AP and API is ok here, but are there any problems with reloading with them? Is it considered manufacturing? The BATFE would have a problem with that I suppose.

I was planning on shooting these through my m1a just to play around with knocking holes in metal plates.

Best advice is to contact a lawyer in your area who is familiar with your states firearms laws.

As far as I know the ATF doesn't regulate reloading for personal use. They only care if you are doing so for profit.

muck

most states require expanding bullets for legal hunting....not controlled by BATF....controlled by Game and fish hunting laws.

As to rolling rocks around in a quary or target shooting or just smashing concrete blocks have a ball.....load em up and go to it....nothing at all illegal about it....just don't take them hunting.

they are legal to hunt with here.
BUT, remember, the critter aint gunna put out the API ..

texas has some "interesting" game laws.. things like, if you built it, its legal to hunt with any centerfire sporting round for "big game" NATIVE game(deer and turkey, sheep, elk, etc) .. but a 22 mag is more powerful than a 25ACP.. yet the 25ACP is legal to hunt deer with .. mags? Load em up .. semi'autos.. do that ..50BMG? sure, not a problem...

some counties are rimfire and shotgun ONLY for turkey, usually spring turkeys .. so a 25ACP, legal for deer, aint legal for turkey, but a 22 short, legal for turkey THOSE days, aint legal for deer...

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
they are legal to hunt with here.

Jeffeosso....I knew they were legal in a few states.....
Ever used them?....and if so how'd they work?

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

AP, API, Tracer, or any other projectile fired from a centerfire rifle or pistol is legal in Texas.

I've used APs and Tracers on turkeys. They work fine, if you like your bird to explode! Turkey are very thin skinned and they simply pop when hit with projectiles much bigger than 22cal.

Thanks guys. I was all over the atf.gov site trying to find a straight answer about reloading them. Not the most clear piece of legislation on the books.

Vapo
i have not used api on game.. though i have used ap ball .. works exactly like a solid!

quote:

trying to find a straight answer about reloading them.

Laws only make things illegal....no law ever made anything legal.....if there is no law against it then it's legal. Therefore if you don't find a law...it's legal.....

At least two Texans have agreed.....and it seems you can use them for hunting too....
Let us know how they work for you.....

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
Vapo
i have not used api on game.. though i have used ap ball .. works exactly like a solid!

Thanks Jeffe

Sorry Buddy ... they do work just like solids.. pointy solids, but the AP stuff just goes right through, in .308...

the BMG stuff, now, that's CRAZY ... with its reputation for spitting jackets on impact, it can lead to interesting exits... imagine a golf ball at mach 11 ...

we shoot some APIs are steel, which is fun, in the 50s .. just goes right on through!

IIRC the Feds have a problem with AP loaded in 308Win. AP ammo is illegal for pistols and there have been commercially manufactured pistols in 308. The 30 cal AP bullets available have the canalure cut for 30-06.

Not really pertinant to the discussion here, but I have some of that old black tip 30-06, and that stuff is tough! 164 grain with a hardened steel penetrator, they punch a hole through a 3/4" plow shank just like it was drilled on a drill press.