ATF to reclassify M855/SS109 ammo (Victory!)

I'm surprised it took that long with those jackals.

 

There are projectiles with more "umph" than just API floating around.

 

@-06 - Yeah, but it's "scary" because it's "armor piercing" and "incendiary" and it comes from an "evil black rifle". Gad, I want to vomit...among other things.

 

Meh, you can still get 50BMG in AP, API, APIT and ball.

 

Cream rises to the top, so does 6hit.

 

Considering that my barrel is a surplus M16 20 inch with a twist rate of 1 in 12 what do any of you more knowledgeable 5.56 users consider a good bullet for it? Currently I use PMC 55 gr. ball rounds.

 

1:12 will be stable up to 60-62 gr. although I believe mil-spec is 55 gr. Going from memory here. Anything heavier than that and it's not putting enough spin on the projectile and MOA goes from like 2-3 to 7 (or worse). If you've got 55 gr and it's working, keep on truckin'. I wouldn't go above 62 (69 gr is a no no unless you're in the 20-50 yd range...and going more for suppressive fire).

 

Thanks. 55 gr. shoots as accurate as I'm able.100 yds is pretty much max for me with irons. Farther out I use glass on one of my .30s.

 

Actually, it's opposite. 62 grain is marginal at best from a 1/12 and will start to tumble or veer off after about a hundred yards. Military manuals list it as "combat emergency" only.

1/7 twist will stabilize anything from 55 grain up through 77 grain.

Here's a good post for ammo recommendations specific to barrel twists:

5.56 mm Duty Loads

Not a call out, just a clarification.

 

• AIM Surplus

While it last. $399.00

 

Price went up today for those without an account.

Still a lot better than The Dirt Folks.
Carl Gustaf NATO SS109/M855 5.56X45/.223 62grn 1,000rd Can SKU: A556CG

$429.50 Quantity:
BULLET INFORMATION:
Thanks to its unique projectile design this load possesses a higher ballistic coefficient than standard M855 ball. The noticeably longer projectile ensures it better retains both its velocity and energy over distance. The end result is it shoots flatter, drifts less in the wind and hits harder compared to standard M855. It also possesses greater sectional density for deeper penetration.

Ammunition Purchase Requirements

Note as of 2-20-15: Final shipment arrived. This is it so order now. Most orders will ship week of 23rd-27th.

Recent Production (2007+) Surplus Swedish Carl Gustaf NATO SS109/M855 5.56X45 (.223) Ammunition. Features a 62grn Steel Core Full Bi-metal Jacketed Bullet, Brass Case and Non-Corrosive Berdan Primer. Packaged 10rds on a Charger Sealed in a Plastic Pack, 1,000rds in a Resealable M2A1 .50cal Can. Includes M16/AR15 and HK G36 Magazine Loaders as Pictured.

 

Um, correct me if I'm wrong but M855/SS109 IS the standard. It meets VERY specific design tolerances. If it has a longer projectile, how exactly is it M855?

This came from the US Army Research Lab (same info in a number of documents there on M855).

Length (mm) - 23.057
Mass, m(g) - 4.04
Center of Gravity, XCG (mm from nose) - 14.279
Axial Moment of Inertia, Ix(g-cm2) - 0.1416
Transverse Moment of Inertia, Iy(g-cm2) - 1.138



Here we have a FIXED length. I won't quote Wikipedia (I hate doing that) but the overall length is FIXED as well for the round. It isn't "about" a certain length or "around", it's FIXED. If you can "see" that the projectile is longer, technically all you can see is more exposed projectile (unless they have a cut away...which they don't), which means they have monkeyed with other dimensions.

I'm sorry, rant off, it's just that ads like that drive me up the wall. There's a standard, stick to it if you are going to use the "name". If you do something different (longer projectile, out of spec brass, whatever) it's NOT what you are calling it!

 

It's all about the marketing. Peeps running to gobble up this stuff right now are buying into the marketing ploy.

Sure, maybe M855 won't be around anymore for sale to common folk. inside of 100 yards standard ball will still blow through 5/16 mild steel.

I still prefer the poly tipped varmit rounds. Raccoons and woodchucks don't stand a chance.

 

Beats me.

Technical Specifications for the NATO SS109 5.56 Round
Parameters English/US Metric
Bullet Weight 62 gr 4.01 gm
Bullet Type Ball
Muzzle Velocity
at 78 feet (24 meters) 2985 ft/sec 910 m/sec
Muzzle Energy
at 78 feet (24 meters) 1224 ft-lbs 1660 joules
Pressure:
Maximum Average
Maximum Average +3SD
55000 PSI
61000 PSI

3870 kg/cm2
4280 kg/cm2
Accuracy SDX;SDY;MAX
3 X 30 rounds 8.8" at 660 yards
or 7.9" at 600 yards 22.5 cm at 600 m
or 20.0 cm at 550 m
Penetration Complete penetration of SAE 1010/1020
steel plate, 3.5 mm thickness
placed at a distance of 625 yards
(570 meters) from the muzzle.
Cartridge, 5.56mm, Ball, M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round and MK318 MOD 0


The M855 was developed in the 1970s and adopted by NATO, including the U.S., in 1980. The M855 was not effective in many situations, lacking the stopping power to reliably disable enemy combatants or to penetrate light barriers and obstacles like car windshields. Under the U.S. Army "green bullet program", started in 1996, a cartridge was developed that would be both lead-free (the "green" part) and also pack more punch. Several experimental rounds were tested under the nomenclature Cartridge, 5.56mm, Ball, M855A1 for potential adoption by the Army and Marine Corps. However, in field trials the new ammo designs had problems that prevented adoption. The very promising M855A1 LFS (Lead Free Slug, made of an alloy of bismuth-tin with a steel penetrator) went into testing in 2007, but in August 2009 the M855A1 LFS was deemed a failure and was dropped from consideration.

The continuing delays were too much for the Marine Corps, who cancelled plans to adopt the Army M855A1 in 2010 and instead procured the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) enhanced 62 grain 5.56mm Special Operations Science and Technology (SOST) round for Marine use in Afghanistan. Formally known as the MK318 MOD 0, the SOST ammo stays on target longer and is more accurate when fired from short-barrel weapons. Having a lead core with a solid copper shank, SOST ammo is not lead-free like the Army wanted, but it does the job for the Marines.

On 23 June 2010, the Army announced it had completed testing and had begun shipping the M855A1 5.56mm Enhanced Performance Round to support warfighters in Afghanistan. In this design, the M855A1 enhancements include improved hard-target capability, more dependable, consistent performance at all distances, improved accuracy, reduced muzzle flash and a higher velocity. In testing, the M855A1 exceeded the performance of the M855 and even the performance of 7.62mm ball ammunition against certain types of targets, blurring performance differences between 5.56 and 7.62mm rounds. The M855A1 has the same weight, trajectory, and handling characteristics of the M855 so there is no additional training required.

The M855A1 is tailored for use in the M4 Carbine Weapon System but also vastly improves the performance of the M16 and M249 families of weapons. It is hailed as a true general purpose round since it outperforms earlier rounds across the spectrum of target types.

The Army planned to procure 200 millions M855A1 rounds, the most tested small arms round ever, over the 12-15 months following June 2010. The M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round is a "green" success, with an environmentally-friendly lead-free projectile that eliminates the use of up to 2,000 tons of lead each year. Unlike earlier rounds, the M855A1 can be used on training ranges where lead restrictions are enforced.

As of December 2009, the formal designation for the M855A1 cartridges included:

DODIC NSN Nomenclature & Packaging
AB56 1305-01-559-3332 Cartridge, 5.56mm, Ball, M855A1, Linked; Packed 200-Ctgs/Belt, Link, Cartridge, M27; 1-Belt/Magazine, Ammo, M249 SAW; 1-Magazine, Ammo, M249 SAW/Bandoleer 200 Rd Mag, (M249 M.G.); 4-Bandoleers/Container, Ammo, PA108; 2-Container, PA108/Box, Wirebound (Total 1600 Ctgs/Box, Wirebound)
AB57 1305-01-155-5459 Cartridge, 5.56mm, Ball, M855A1; Packed 10-Ctgs/10 Round Clip; 3-Clips/Carton; 4-Cartons/Bandoleer, M8 with Magazine Filler; 7-Bandoleers/Box, Ammunition M2A1; 2-Box, M2A1/Box, Wirebound (Total 1680 Ctgs/Box, Wirebound)
AB58 1305-01-457-4589 Cartridge, 5.56mm, M855A1, Ball (10-Rd Clips); Packed 10-Ctg/10 Round Clip; 3-Clip/Paperboard Box; 30-Papreboard Box/Inner Fiberboard Box; 2-Inner Fiberboard Box/Outer Fiberboard Box (Total 1800 Ctg/Outer Fiberboard Box)
DODIC: Department Of Defense Identification Code

 

It's all about Obama's law.

 

MK318 Mod 0: Range Reports - AR15.COM