Time To Write To ATF Again

Three methods of contact are listed here.

I used email.

Put a hurry on it since they've only given until the 15th of March for comments.  Remember when they had to give 90 days?

State your opposition to them changing the classification of 5.56x45mm M855 to "armor piercing handgun ammunition," and that you feel that not only does the target shooting you do recreationally with your rifle constitute legitimate sporting purpose and that you would be unduly burdened by the reclassification of this presently cheap and readily available ammunition.

Be polite, don't cuss.

It's irksome that we have to keep reminding our government that sporting is not a synonym of hunting.

It's especially irksome that 18 U.S.C. §§ 921(a)(17) defines armor piercing ammo...

(A) The term “ammunition” means ammunition or cartridge cases, primers, bullets, or propellent powder designed for use in any firearm.
(B) The term “armor piercing ammunition” means—
(i) a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium; or
(ii) a full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.
(C) The term “armor piercing ammunition” does not include shotgun shot required by Federal or State environmental or game regulations for hunting purposes, a frangible projectile designed for target shooting, a projectile which the Attorney General finds is primarily intended to be used for sporting purposes, or any other projectile or projectile core which the Attorney General finds is intended to be used for industrial purposes, including a charge used in an oil and gas well perforating device.

M855 has lead in it, so it's not AP under 18 U.S.C. §§ 921(a)(17) (B) (i).  Its jacket is not more than 25% of the weight of projectile so it's not AP under 18 U.S.C. §§ 921(a)(17) (B) (ii).  It is also EXACTLY .22 caliber so, again, not AP under 18 U.S.C. §§ 921(a)(17) (B) (ii).

You may notice not a mention of rimfire or total projectile weights in the laws about AP, which means that ATF is really going out on their own for pure political purposes.