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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Feds Ok Rhino-Ammo, Saying It’s Nothing Unique

Associated Press

Federal regulators have decided to approve the sale of the Rhino-Ammo fragmenting bullet after tests showed the notorious ammunition is no different than other hollow-point bullets.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Washington test-fired less than a dozen of the new bullets and will license them within 60 days, bureau spokesman Tom Hill said Friday.

“According to our tests, it’s no different from any other hollowpoint bullets on the market and as long as it’s not armor-piercing, which it’s not, we have no problem licensing its manufacture,” he said.

David Keen, the Huntsville chemist who invented Rhino-Ammo, had claimed that the bullets could cause catastrophic wounds and instantaneous death. The bullets are made of metal-encased plastic containing lead pellets.

The bullets had been criticized by police groups who feared they would wind up in criminals’ guns.