EQUIPMENT EVALUATION

FOR: UNCLASSIFIED (07/07/92) 
EVALUATOR: Nightranger
PRIORITY: Standard

EVALUATION:    PMC Ultramag (38J) 38 Special +P 66
               grain Tubular ammunition. ARMOR
               PIERCING.

LEGALITIES:    Legal for sale and possession in
               most states.  Soon to be Illegal for
               distribution in California.
          
BACKGROUND:  These rounds have been banned in
California due to their armor piercing ability,
including the capability of piercing bullet proof
vests.  The state government has legislated a bann
on the importation of these rounds into California. 
Dealers have been notified that new shipments may
not be ordered and old shipments must be sold
immediately before the end of the year.   Ultramags
have thus become rare.  They are only manufactured
in 38 Special and 44 special.
(THESE ROUNDS ARE STILL BEING SOLD)

ANALYSIS:  These rounds have proven extremely
deadly against human targets and have even been
known to penetrate bulletproof vests.  The round is
designed as follows:

               Based on the experiments of Abraham
          Flatau, the PMC Ultramag load uses a
          Tubular bullet.  There is a plug at the
          bottom of the bullet in order to seal the
          bore, but it drops away in flight.  The
          tubular bullet penetrates well in tissue. 
          It's said to be an effective combat load. 
          [Clapp, Wiley M. "Handgun Ammo Surveyed."
          Handguns '89. Northbrook, IL: DBI Books,
          Inc., 1988) 69.]  

The following evaluation discusses the attributes
and effectiveness of the Ultramag:

          The next type of ammunition to look at
     is...PMC's Ultramag with an unusual tubular
     bullet.  Made completely from bronze, the
     bullet is a perfect tube, except for the nose
     area, which has an ogive of sorts for inflight
     stability.  The base of the tubes has a light
     plastic cap riding over the powder.  This
     feature insures the bore will be obturated or
     sealed, until the projectile exits the muzzle,
     at which time the base cap will drop away.

          Since the bullet is light, it can get up
     a good head of steam with conventional powder
     charges and pressures.  Upon impact, the
     bullet acts like a cookie cutter and slices
     out a long, cylindrical section of tissue. 
     Presently available only in .38 Special and
     .44 Special, the tricky little bullets avoid
     the bullet ban because they won't penetrate a
     policeman's vest (This has proven false and
     has subsequently been banned).  [Clapp, 71)