M855A1 Update...

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Good Ol' Boy

Good Ol' Boy

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Some of you may remember the thread I started where I was gifted some M855A1 ammo and initially tested it on a 1/4" thick AR500 target. It went through it like butter. The other visible impacts on the first target pictured were standard .223 FMJ.

Well I finally got to try the M855A1 again today at my buddies range on a piece of 3/8" thick AR500 steel. This is the result in the second pic.

20220710_213156.jpg 20220827_213959.jpg
 
Wow, I would have expected and probably bet money that the M855A1 would slice through ⅜ AR500. I have always wanted to get some to test.
 
That's a significant step up in performance. I've shot true 1/4" ar500 steel at 25 yards with m855 and it left just the tiniest of dimples

I have my doubts about the 1/4" target being ar500 though. The picture makes it look like the fmj .223 hits left craters, which wouldn't be the case with true ar500. I've never had fmj .223 ammo leave anything but splash marks and lead smears on ar500.
 
Thanks for the data/results! Of course, the overall availability of the m855a1 on the civilian market is non-existent through what is often termed "normal channels of commerce". And (afaik) as a result, its legal status has not needed to be evaluated in any serious way by ATF. We might all better regard this situation as best left alone, I'd say. Just my .02 cents...worth at least what it cost 'ya!
 
silicosys4 said:
That's a significant step up in performance. I've shot true 1/4" ar500 steel at 25 yards with m855 and it left just the tiniest of dimples

I have my doubts about the 1/4" target being ar500 though. The picture makes it look like the fmj .223 hits left craters, which wouldn't be the case with true ar500. I've never had fmj .223 ammo leave anything but splash marks and lead smears on ar500.
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Well the top bigger target was the same brand as the smaller target, Champion. Both are advertised as AR500 steel. Take that for what you will.

As for the .223 "craters" on the big target, they were more like scratches, nothing even worth talking about.
 
Neo-Luddite said:
Thanks for the data/results! Of course, the overall availability of the m855a1 on the civilian market is non-existent through what is often termed "normal channels of commerce". And (afaik) as a result, its legal status has not needed to be evaluated in any serious way by ATF. We might all better regard this situation as best left alone, I'd say. Just my .02 cents...worth at least what it cost 'ya!
Click to expand...



Since I started researching this ammo after I was gifted some I have indeed found it for sale online.

And not sketchy sites, legitimate stores.

I don't know the legalities of it but the ammo is not cheap.
 
ETA, the first bigger target was shot at a distance of a little over 40yds. The second smaller and thicker target was shot at a range finder distance of 74yds.

Personally I don't think it would make any difference shooting the smaller target closer.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
Interesting, I didn't know that.

Not doubting you but do you have any sources to back that up?
Click to expand...
It comes directly from the specifications.

MIL-DTL-32338B - Cartridge, 5.56mm, Ball, Lead Free Slug: M855A1, paragraph 3.10, "Terminal performance."

3.10.1 3/8 inch mild steel. The bullets from two of three sample cartridges shall completely penetrate a 3/8 inch mild steel plate, as determined by perforations of a witness panel behind the plate, in impacts simulating ranges in excess of 350 yards (320 meters) from an M16 series rifle. Alternatively the M855A1 projectile shall meet the performance requirements by achieving a V50 of not greater than 1975 ft/s against the same steel plate.
 
M855A1 was the new stuff just as I was getting out of the military. My last marksmanship test was on A1 ammo and less than a week later I was turning in my gear. Never had time to try it against targets other than green mannequins. It will be interesting when more of this ammo starts making its way to the civilian market.
 
lysanderxiii said:
It comes directly from the specifications.

MIL-DTL-32338B - Cartridge, 5.56mm, Ball, Lead Free Slug: M855A1, paragraph 3.10, "Terminal performance."

3.10.1 3/8 inch mild steel. The bullets from two of three sample cartridges shall completely penetrate a 3/8 inch mild steel plate, as determined by perforations of a witness panel behind the plate, in impacts simulating ranges in excess of 350 yards (320 meters) from an M16 series rifle. Alternatively the M855A1 projectile shall meet the performance requirements by achieving a V50 of not greater than 1975 ft/s against the same steel plate.
Click to expand...




Thanks.

Obviously 1/4" AR500 is harder, however it still penetrated. 3/8" AR500 is what it took to stop it.

Mild steel seems like a crappy way to measure performance of a cartridge. My buddy uses 1/2" mild steel railroad plates for targets and .223 FMJ punches through them no problem.

But I understand you're just the messenger here, relaying info. Thanks again.
 
herrwalther said:
M855A1 was the new stuff just as I was getting out of the military. My last marksmanship test was on A1 ammo and less than a week later I was turning in my gear. Never had time to try it against targets other than green mannequins. It will be interesting when more of this ammo starts making its way to the civilian market.
Click to expand...



Indeed. As I said its available for sale to the public and from my small sample experience pretty freaking outstanding.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
Thanks.

Obviously 1/4" AR500 is harder, however it still penetrated. 3/8" AR500 is what it took to stop it.

Mild steel seems like a crappy way to measure performance of a cartridge. My buddy uses 1/2" mild steel railroad plates for targets and .223 FMJ punches through them no problem.

But I understand you're just the messenger here, relaying info. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Mild steel is probably the most used type steel for buildings and/or structures.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
Since I started researching this ammo after I was gifted some I have indeed found it for sale online.

And not sketchy sites, legitimate stores.

I don't know the legalities of it but the ammo is not cheap.
Click to expand...
No it's not; I keep abreast of the price, too. AFAIK, none of it began except as Mil/LE contract; I have never encountered any sold by a manufacturer as overrun/surplus. It seems to "leak out" into the market..from secondary, tertiary sellers. For now that has escaped major notice. I'm hoping that it stays that way as yes, as you've demonstrated, it comes close to replicating 7.62 NATO M80 Ball in 5.56. And that is quite something!
 
I use a lot of AR 500/550 plates, but I wont use M855 or other steel core/penetrator rounds on my plates.

This is one of two 1/2” AR 500 15”W x 24”T torso silhouette targets I made several years ago. I had to use a plasma cutter to cut the shape, I will say that the heat of the cut softened the cut edges to the point that bullets will dent/gouge those edges if struck. (My commercial plates use water jet cutting so the edges aren’t compromised.) I hang them on steel pipe frames with a grade 8 bolt holding it to conveyor belt strips.

Both of these have taken hundreds of hits from .22 lr to 5.56/30-06 fmj to .45/70 stompers with just minor little surface divots as the only damage.

8460DC3A-155A-4C10-8262-57E0AA696E72.jpeg

I fear penetrating rounds would damage the plates more than the regular fmj does, since this stuff isn’t cheap I’ll pass. :)

Stay safe.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
Some of you may remember the thread I started where I was gifted some M855A1 ammo and initially tested it on a 1/4" thick AR500 target. It went through it like butter. The other visible impacts on the first target pictured were standard .223 FMJ.

Well I finally got to try the M855A1 again today at my buddies range on a piece of 3/8" thick AR500 steel. This is the result in the second pic.

View attachment 1099292 View attachment 1099293
Click to expand...
How far away were you?
 
The sites that have this ammo for sale have the same wording and the same don't take credit card problems but will use PayPal.
Scam.

The only ammo for sale has been stolen.
It's not for sale to the public or Law Enforcement.

The military does not use it for training ammo as it tears up the targets.
 
powermad said:
The military does not use it for training ammo as it tears up the targets.
Click to expand...

Incorrect. I used it at my last qualification in 2015. The targets we use are 3D green plastic dummies. Newer ranges use impact sensors at the base of the target to register a hit for qualification counting. Regardless of ammo used, the target dummies need to be replaced. Because I have shot at targets and shot through the holes put by many previous qualifications. On some ranges I had to shoot at the berm and bounce the round into the target in order to register a hit.
 
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