Barnes Banded Solids under a Ban by the ATF?

[Rob]

wow, say that subject ten times fast...

Anyway, I just read this over on the accurate reloading forum:
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4711043/m/9271033761

Evidently, it would appear that the ATF is concerned that brass solids can be put into certain handguns and used as armor piercing rounds.  So according to a couple folks who claimed to have called Barnes to find out why they cannot order any Banded Solids, it would appear that the ATF had them cease production.
This post was the most informative on the subject and I am pasting it in here

RobGunbuilder:

Based on what I've found out from a pretty reliable source and read between the lines, it seems like brass solids in anything that can be shot out of a AR-15 Pistol is going to be a problem for us. Brass .223's, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, .308 anything, .458 Socom etc.If some yahoo can seat a solid brass.458 500 gr bullet in a Socom its AP as far as BATFE is concerned. RN, FN doesn't matter. If it fits in a widely available pistol we are technically screwed. At least for now. All of the above Can easily be obtained in widely available Ar-15 pistols, with short barrels. Not aware of any.338's, .375's except in the contender/encore pistols though. Thus BATFE thinks its well within its rulings on no solid brass AP rounds for pistols. Interesting they recently ruled SS 109 .223 with steel penetrators are not AP and they are worse than any Brass solids.
I would not get all excited and hysterical about cup and core solids, copper solids etc, or over .510 solids( no major supplier of pistols chambered so far) as the current legal definition of AP does not apply( not pistol rounds, just rifle rounds). They also need to rule on predominately rifle caliber solid bullets of .338 and up and I would think the bullet manufacturers and Hunters could sway them if a reasonable argument is presented. The damn Big Bore Contender pistols are going to make this difficult though. With that said, they are Single shots and what ATF is really worried about is Semi auto's. This undoubtably all started with "Elite Ammunition" selling 5.7X28 turned brass bullets( using the Barnes banded solid Design) ostensibly as Armored vest Penetrators to get around the ban on FN AP rounds. FN 5.7's and Ar-15' short barreled uppers in 5.7X28 with 30-50rd capacity are readily available as are shorty .223's to the Homeboys and you can bet they have figured it out. Elite also made 6.5 and 6.8 turned brass bullets using the Barnes design. Elite's argument following confiscation by local agents of their .223, 6.5 and 6.8 bullets was if Barnes can do it why can't we? Naturally BATFE then had some words with Barnes and probably it occured to them to question other brass solids that could be used in Pistols.( my supposition). BTW. Nothing has stirred up BATFE like 5.7 X28's ( FT. Hood and years of bad press about cop killer bullets) in any semi auto anything. They flat hate that round because it was specifically developed for AP. Thanks ELite, nice job!-Rob

[FC]

The really dumb part about that is that you don't even need AP rounds to pierce common body armor with an AR pistol, fmj's will do the job nicely!

[jaymark6655]

So after lead is banned for being uneco friendly and everybody is hunting with solid brass, they will be banned for being AP?  Just something to think about.

[demontang]

Ok just about any high power rifle can go though the light body armor and most will put a big dent in trauma plates if not go through them as well. I know my 338 will go through 1/2 mild steel at 300 yards and it will almost punch a hole in 1/2 tempered steel at 100yds with a soft bullet. As for a pistol all someone needs is to turn there own bullets or just simply get the right cal and it can penetrate light body armor with just fmj.

[Rob]

As I understand it, they are worried about people putting the "rifle bullets" into handgun cartridges.

total garbage if you ask me.

Another infringement on our rights.

[JimmyHoffa]

The same agency that has been supplying illegal guns to the cartels.

[demontang]

  The system is just full of people that want to take away all are right and then do it one piece at a time

[Atroxus]

Yet more evidence of the mass retardation of the ATF. I sometimes wonder if being retarded is a requirement to get hired on by the ATF, or if being an ATF employee just erodes the intelligence over time. I suspect the latter as it seems to me the higher up the chain of command you get the greater the severity of the stupidity. Not that I expect anyone at the ATF will ever be able to grasp the concept, but any criminal who wants "cop-killer" bullets will find a way to get them regardless of whether they are legal or not. 

[mazama]

All military ammo under the geneva convention will probably penetrate body armor

[demontang]

Its funny they are all over this ap type of ammo but even if it doesnt penetrat the armor sometime just the energy can kill and severly injure. If a criminal wants they can get what ever they want all it does is take it away from the good people of this country and make them bitter and more defient toward the laws and those who up hold it.

[ICEMAN]

One small bit at a time.

[Biggerhammer]

What do you expect when the current administration appoints a total anti-gun nut with a long history if pro gun control to head the department. He sold them the " Change " enough clowns bought it and now the fall out. Funny thing is even in our shooting and outdoor/hunter world there are quite a few that voted for the clown. Not so funny now, is it?