Odd Ammo found: XM995

[Plinkin' Logs]

Well its not all that often I get excited about finding some cool ammo, but I think I might have found some really cool ammo I bought from a friend for $1. I am told that they are 5 rounds of 5.56 XM995, a.k.a the terrifying AP "black tips" ! He told me got them at a pawn shop that he was friendly with the owner out of a box of mismatch ammo. How they got their is a story of their own. My friend was just going to give them to me (between you guys and me, I think its cause he forgot my birthday last month ) but I game him a whole dollar for them .

Are they actually worth anything or are they just cool? Anyway just thought that this was an interesting find as you don't usually see military AP rounds in 5.56 just floating around behind most ammo counters.

 

[Comrade Mike]

I didn't know any got release to civilian sales.

 

[Plinkin' Logs]

Yeah I didn't think so either. Anyway here is a photo of one of the little things. The casing is annealed too but it doesn't show up very well in the photo with the flash on.

 

[Plinkin' Logs]

Wow searching the internet I can't even seem to find any other pictures of this stuff. According to what I can find, the XM 995 are a improved version of the older XM 993. Other then that, they were most commonly issued for use in conjunction with the M249 SAW especially. I would be tempted to cut one of the bullets in half if I had more then 5 . I'm also wondering if this is a hand loaded "XM 995" set as I know you can purchase the AP bullets readily but not complete cartridges. not sure if those would have the black tip though.

 

[Thermactor]

Could ya pull one apart and measure and weigh the projectile?

 

[lysanderxiii]

It's going to be 52 grains +/- a bit

 

[Mayvik]

Or it could be some PMC and a dab of nail polish...

 

[Plinkin' Logs]

According to my scale miniature 3.35 grams, which according to conversion calculator 51.69840 grains. I was able to do so without damaging the bullet with a bullet puller