5.56 Lake City XM855 62 gr. Penetrator Ammo

[rswartsell]

Time to start thinking about bulk AR ammo. What opinions experience do you have with the above choice?

Not happy with Wolf steel case, looking to upgrade.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

What exactly do you want to know? It's pretty standard ammo. M193 is generally a bit cheaper.

 

[pinstripe]

Bought some xm855 federal from walmart in a 420 rd. ammo can. Its on strippers with a loading throat. It is the green tip and is reloadable. my ar and my mini 14 eat it up!

 

[rswartsell]

Accuracy? Reliability? I'm curious about the 62 gr "Penetrator" bullet. Do I understand right that Lake City is a contract supplier to US Army and these are "over-runs"?

 

[tundraotto]

xm193 is more accurate and usually about the same price....

 

[MrDig]

Federal told me it has a Ballistic Coefficient of .307 and Muzzle Velocity of 3000 +/- 40 fps through a 5.56 test barrel 20 inches long.
I have not shot any of mine yet the indoor range I go to does not allow Steel Core ammo

 

[jim243]

I purchased pulled bulk 223 62 grain steel core bullets a while back. They shoot very well but have a couple problems, first the army dropped the use of them because they are short range bullets 100 yards ( the steel core makes them unstable at longer ranges) and second most if not all public ranges will not let you use them even for target pratice because it tears up their equipment and range.

And you can not use them for hunting, No FMJ allowed and most states require lead tipped bullets for hunting.

So when you get caught with those green tip bullets, you will find you are on the way out the door or into jail.

Jim

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

It is reliable ammunition. It is essentially the same as the ammo shipped to the department of defense, but the "X" in XM855 indicates a commercial production run that isn't subject to the same quality controls as the DOD contract ammo. I believe the DOD contract stipulates a maximum 2 MOA tolerance for accuracy when fired from a test barrel.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

I purchased pulled bulk 223 62 grain steel core bullets a while back. They shoot very well but have a couple problems, first the army dropped the use of them because they are short range bullets 100 yards ( the steel core makes them unstable at longer ranges)

This garbage is completely wrong. M855 is still the standard 5.56mm round for rifles and machine guns in the US DOD, and nothing about it is unstable over 100yds.

 

[Ramone]

It's my "buy cheap, Stack Deep" barter/plinking ammo. It runs fine, makes sub 2" groups at 100 yards.

I get it here:

http://www.targetsportsusa.com/p-30...62-gr-green-tip-fmj-420-rounds-wammo-can.aspx

Note that this is M855, not XM855.

It is my understanding that XM855 is from batches that failed final testing, but is still safe to fire, and M855 is from overruns that passed testing.

 

[jim243]

Sergeant, I have not noticed any unstableity in them either, but I only shoot 100 yards. The problem is you can not use them on a public range, so unless you have your own range, what's the point of purchasing them??

Jim

 

[rswartsell]

So what specifically is the difference between the M193 and this stuff, 55 gr vs 62gr? Steel core, penetrating so that ranges ban it? What else do I need to know before commiting to 1000 rounds?

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

I do totally agree with you on that one. Many ranges will not allow ammunition with a bullet containing steel.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

Read here: ammo.ar15.com

 

[jim243]

What else do I need to know before commiting to 1000 rounds?

That's about it and they can not be used for hunting. That's all.

I have over 500 rounds loaded, but it is kept for self defence just in case. For pratice rounds, I use the 55 grain soft points.

Jim

 

[jim243]

The M855 round and particularly the M856 tracer round, are very long bullets and require a faster twist rate in order to be stabilized in air. Firing M855 from a 1:12-twist rifle would result in an understabilized bullet that would only fly straight for about 90 yards, then veer off as much as 30° in a random direction. In order to prevent soldiers from accidentally firing M855 in 1:12-twist rifles, M855/SS-109 was given a green-painted bullet tip. This allows M855/SS-109 to be differentiated from plain-tipped M193. M16A2s, A3s, A4s, M4s and M4A1s all have a 1:7 twist and can stabilize both M855 and M193.

Thanks Sergeant good info.

Jim

 

[Fishbed77]

They shoot very well but have a couple problems, first the army dropped the use of them because they are short range bullets 100 yards

Huh? This is completely wrong.

 

[Jeff F]

The M193 is 55 grain FMJ. The M855 is 62 grain FMJ with a steel penetrator in it tip. Because steel is a lot lighter then lead the M855 bullet is longer then a standard 62 grain bullet, about as long as a standard 69 grain bullet. M855 is not armor piercing but penetrates better then a standard FMJ. Also the steel penetrator M855 and the steel jackets on some of the Russian .223 on the market will spark when they hit rocks, be careful plinking in dry conditions.

 

[jim243]

Huh? This is completely wrong.

Only partially wrong.

Jim

 

[MrDig]

Steel Core is not allowed on the indoor range I go to, it is allowed at most outdoor ranges with high Earth Berms. I shoot it at a couple of gravel pits too just shoot into the high earth walls around you.