2005 California Penal Code Sections 12320-12325 CHAPTER 2.6. AMMUNITION

12320.  Any person, firm, or corporation who, within this state
knowingly possesses any handgun ammunition designed primarily to
penetrate metal or armor is guilty of a public offense and upon
conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the state
prison, or in the county jail for a term not to exceed one year, or
by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both
such fine and imprisonment.
12321.  Any person, firm, or corporation who, within this state,
manufactures, imports, sells, offers to sell, or knowingly transports
any handgun ammunition designed primarily to penetrate metal or
armor is guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be
punished by imprisonment in state prison, or by a fine not to exceed
five thousand dollars ($5,000), or by both such fine and
imprisonment.
12322.  Nothing in this chapter shall apply to or affect either of
the following:
   (a) The sale to, purchase by, possession of, or use of any
ammunition by any member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine
Corps of the United States, or the National Guard, while on duty and
acting within the scope and course of his or her employment, or any
police agency or forensic laboratory or any person who is the holder
of a valid permit issued pursuant to Section 12305.
   (b) The possession of handgun ammunition designed primarily to
penetrate metal or armor by a person who found the ammunition, if he
or she is not prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition
pursuant to Section 12021, 12021.1, or paragraph (1) of subdivision
(b) of Section 12316 of this code or Section 8100 or 8103 of the
Welfare and Institutions Code and is transporting the ammunition to a
law enforcement agency for disposition according to law.
12323.  As used in this chapter, the following definitions shall
apply:
   (a) "Handgun ammunition" means ammunition principally for use in
pistols, revolvers, and other firearms capable of being concealed
upon the person, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 12001,
notwithstanding that the ammunition may also be used in some rifles.
   (b) "Handgun ammunition designed primarily to penetrate metal or
armor" means any ammunition, except a shotgun shell or ammunition
primarily designed for use in rifles, that is designed primarily to
penetrate a body vest or body shield, and has either of the following
characteristics:
   (1) Has projectile or projectile core constructed entirely,
excluding the presence of traces of other substances, from one or a
combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, beryllium copper,
or depleted uranium, or any equivalent material of similar density
or hardness.
   (2) Is primarily manufactured or designed, by virtue of its shape,
cross-sectional density, or any coating applied thereto, including,
but not limited to, ammunition commonly known as "KTW ammunition," to
breach or penetrate a body vest or body shield when fired from a
pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon
the person.
   (c) "Body vest or shield" means any bullet-resistant material
intended to provide ballistic and trauma protection for the wearer or
holder.
   (d) "Rifle" shall have the same meaning as defined in paragraph
(20) of subdivision (c) of Section 12020.
12324.  Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the possession,
importation, sale, attempted sale, or transport of ammunition from
which the propellant has been removed and the primer has been
permanently deactivated.
12325.  Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the manufacture of
ammunition under contracts approved by agencies of the state or
federal government.