Ask a wildlife manager: What is considered military full metal jacketed ammo as referenced by R12-4-303
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Answer: Provided by Gene Elms, law enforcement branch chief
The ammo the statute is referring to is an entirely metal bullet and does not exhibit any of the characteristics of a mushroomed lead bullet on impact. These rounds were outlawed for hunting because they do not create a substantial wound for harvesting an animal humanely.
To identify military ammunition, they are usually distinguished as such by a “code” of single numbers and letters stamped into the base of the brass around the primer.
Most ammunition has a metal jacket and most have a lead core, and are acceptable for hunting. Generally, ammunition suitable for hunting is identified by the name of the manufacturer on the base of the cartridge, for example “Rem,” “Win,” “Speer” or some other manufacturer should be stamped on the base.
This is not very accurate. I reload ammunition and often use surplus military brass, which has the markings refered to, but use lead soft-nose bullets. I also reload ammunition with Barnes bullets, which are 100% copper, and contain no lead, and seem to fit into your description of “full metal jacketed” ammo. Please clarify this definition to bring it into harmony with current bullet technology and your own encouragement of non-lead ammunition use by hunters.