Ammunition has its own identification regime, and it is visual rather than numeric. Each licensed manufacturer or importer of armor piercing ammunition must identify it by painting, staining or dying the exterior of the projectile with an opaque black coloring. The coverage is specified: the coloring must completely cover the point of the projectile and at least 50 percent of the portion visible when the projectile is loaded into a cartridge case. Where a firearm is identified so it can be traced, this ammunition is identified so it can be recognized on sight.

Package labeling is specified to the same degree. Each licensed manufacturer or importer must clearly and conspicuously label every package containing armor piercing ammunition — each box, carton, case or other container. The label must include the words ARMOR PIERCING in block letters at least 1/4 inch in height, placed on the exterior surface that carries the caliber or gauge information. On that same surface, in block lettering at least 1/8 inch in height, must appear the words FOR GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES OR EXPORTATION ONLY. Those statements must be on a contrasting background.

That second legend is not decoration; it states the restriction the ammunition is under. No person shall manufacture or import, and no manufacturer or importer shall sell or deliver, armor piercing ammunition, except for the use of the United States or any department or agency of it, or any State or any department, agency or political subdivision of a State; or for the purpose of exportation; or, for a sale or delivery by a manufacturer or importer, for testing or experimentation as authorized by the Director. A dealer meeting a package carrying that legend is looking at ammunition whose lawful destinations are the three the regulation names, and the label exists so that fact travels with the box.