I need to know if this is legal?

I am a reloading instructor - and - a certified Alaskan Hunter Safety Instructor. You have two things mixed here.

For revolver pistols - it was quite common to reverse target wad cutter ammo and send it out with the big hollow point first. This works fine with cast lead bullets in revolvers.

In a semi-auto pistol or rifle - reversing a FMJ can cause the firearm to blow up should the bullet get pushed back into the case!!!

Is what you propose legal? No. Two reasons. If you are discovered hunting with a FMJ that is reversed, it is still a FMJ, and you will receive a fine. If you are discovered with a dead game animal and a wildlife officer notices a FMJ fall out - you will get a fine.

Yes, you could pay $10,000+ for an expert witness whom compaires the barrel twist rates and proves the bullet went out backwards - but - will you get a jury that listens? Probably not.

The reason FMJ is illegal - because it is designed to wound, not kill. You kill a soldier - you remove one man from the battlefield. Wound a soldier - your remove three - the wounded and two men to carry him away.

My advice. Trade the ball ammo with people who have ammo you like. Make them a deal they can't refuse - like 40 rounds of ball for every box of factory soft point they give you.

You need to totally re-think what the heck you are doing - before you loose a rifle, finger and eye - or end up in court for several years spending your life's savings just the end up fighting over a $.07 cent bullet!!

I wouldn't try it it would of course depend on the official you ran into but most wouldn't appreciate the technicality that the ball was reversed and if it was me I would say do you have any proof that your round will expand.

For the chance you take just go out and buy a box of ammo and use your FMJ for practice

I have seen this done and yes it does work in terms of expansion. However accuracy is effected to the point I would never trust one of these out to 100 yards.. not even close.

And of course it wont be legal because it still is FMJ ammo. Save the ball ammo for stock piling and shooting at the range.

What I have done in the past, pull the bullet, dump the powder back into the case, and replace the bullet with the same size and weight soft point bullet. Works great.

Bad idea......You can't afford 1 box of ammo or 1 round? It won't fly to a game warden or judge since its the same bullet. Reload your own and cast some plain lead if you want cheap.

Legal or not

If you are not trying to be cheap, Why would you do this. I want a nice clean kill. Like one shot, I hate tracking wounded animals they go right for the thick of the woods, and in Florida you have a large amount of snakes active at dusk and dawn.

Even if it would work safely, why would it be legal? It is still considered a fmj bullet...

Not in my opinion. But I'm not a lawyer.