M855 62gr 5.56x45 (Steel Core)

[cockedNlocked]

A lot of people ask what exactly does steel core mean in a round well here is some info, these are some videos i found online that can help show the damage done by these light armor piecing rounds.

This is a Nato round and is used in our military.

Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, M855 (United States): 5.56x45mm 62-grain FN SS109 ball cartridge, green tip w/steel penetrator and a lead core.

Now how much damage does this round really do???

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6gHCNMSbqQ[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCRkJqN7xn4[/youtube]


Also just to let everyone know there is a new m855 out callled the M855A1

M855A1
M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round and its environmentally friendly projectile.

June 2010, the United States Army announced it began shipping its new 5.56mm cartridge, the M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round, to active combat zones. During testing, the M855A1 performed better than current 7.62x51mm NATO ball ammunition against certain types of targets (particularly hardened steel), blurring the performance differences that previously separated the two cartridges. The US Army Picatinny Arsenal stated that the new M855A1 offers improved hard target capability, more consistent performance at all distances, enhanced dependability, improved accuracy, reduced muzzle flash, and higher velocity compared to the M855 round. Further the Army stated the new M855A1 ammunition is tailored for use in M4 carbines but should also give enhanced performance in M16 rifles and M249 light machine guns. The new 62-grain (4 g) projectile or bullet used in the M855A1 round has a copper core with a 19-grain (1.2 g) steel “stacked-cone” penetrating tip. The M855A1 cartridge is sometimes referred to as "green ammo" because it fires a lead free projectile.

The M855A1 was put on hold in August 2009 due to the experimental bismuth-tin alloy core exhibiting undependable ballistics at high temperatures. The US Army has since replaced the bismuth-tin alloy core with one of solid copper eliminating the heat issue. The United States Marine Corps purchased 1.8 million rounds in 2010, with plans to adopt the round to replace the interim MK318 SOST rounds used in Afghanistan when the M855A1 project was delayed.

 

[DHonovich]

Thanks for posting this up Alex; the videos are very informative.

 

[Rossignol]

Wow! Good info man! Love the vid too, impressive!

 

[gumbydammit]

If you can, get your hands on the book "The Great Rifle Controversy."
It's about the development of the M14 then subsequent adoption of the M16.

Why a 62 grain bullet? You'll love this.

When the Army proposed the M249 SAW, it was supposed to fire the same round, M193 55gr FMJ ammo. BUT, when the specs went up the chain, someone decided they needed to change something on the proposal. So, they changed the max effective range from 500 yards to 600 yards. The round had to penetrate an M1 US Steel Pot helmet at that range.

After changing the range, the proposal was sent higher up the food chain. At the next level, the range was again changed, from 600 yards to 700 yards.

At the next level, the range was changed AGAIN, to 800 yards.

The M193 55gr round could not penetrate a Steel Pot at 800 yards. To get the penetration, a 62 gr round with a steel penetrator was used. To stabilize this round, different rifling was needed. So, that is how the M855 round came about. This is the round that until recently was used as the primary round by all our forces. It has a nasty habit of simply boring a .223 caliber hole through what it hits. Failures to stop were first reported by the Rangers in Magadishu in 1993.

As the Cherry on top of the Sundae, the bullet design that was adopted is Belgian. The US pays a license fee for every single 62 gr M855 round produced. All because some REMFs at the Pentagon had to justify their exisistence by changing the range on a weapon's proposal.

 

[Rossignol]

This is some interesting stuff! I had never before heard any of this!

 

[gumbydammit]

Saturday, my Wife & I watched a program about President Kennedy's Secret Service detail, what went on before and after the shooting. Pretty interesting.
They showed several videos of the actual shooting that I had never seen. There was also one of the ride to Parkland Hospital. Standing up in the chase car, one of the Agents is holding an AR-15.