What is the difference between XM855 and M855?

What is the difference between XM855 and M855?

Federal 5.56 NATO ammo is produced for the military and the civilian market at the Lake City Ammo Plant, which is ran by the U.S Military. Service-issued ammunition is labeled as “M855” (steel-core penetrator) or “M193” (conventional ball ammo). The civilian equivalents to these rounds are labeled “XM855” and “XM193”.

Is XM855 armor piercing?

Although M855 ammo is not armor piercing ammunition, the steel “penetrator” at the tip of the core helps it punch through barriers pretty effectively. It penetrates glass, thin metals, thick clothing, and brush rather well. However, don’t expect M855 rounds to plow through auto glass, brick, or modern body armor.

What is the difference between XM855 and XM193?

M193 vs M855 The M193 cartridge is a 55 gr lead core surrounded by a copper jacket (FMJ-BT, full metal jacket with boat tail). While the M855 “green tip” cartridge is 62 gr and has a steel core “penetrator” at the tip which helps it go through barriers more easily (also FMJ-BT).

What’s up with ammo shortage?

The shortage has been attributed to many factors, including pandemic-era supply chain disruptions, the bankruptcy of major supplier Remington in 2020, the massive amount of new gun owners in the last year, and the resulting surge in demand.

Does the military use M855?

The ammunition used by the soldier was the M855 “green-tip” projectile, adopted by the U.S. Army and Marines in the 1980s. It uses a fifty-five grain lead projectile with a copper jacket. It is designed to be stabilized by the 1:12 twist and twenty inches of the M16’s original barrel.

What kind of ammo is in the xm855?

Federal XM855 5.56mm NATO ammunition is loaded to Military specification at the Lake City facility. This particular load uses the XM855 bullet which is a 62 grain Green Tip Steel Penetrator. The finished rounds consist of sealed primers which is ideal for long term storage and moisture protection.

What kind of bullet is in a M855?

5.56mm 62 grain M855 ammunition features a FMJ steel core penetrator spitzer boat-tail bullet, with a green bullet tip. The M855 projectile has much-improved penetration characteristics over the old M193 55-grain projectile at all ranges, resulting in higher retained velocity and greater accuracy at long range.

What is the difference between the M855 and M855 green tip cartridges?

While the M855 “green tip” cartridge is 62 gr and has a steel core “penetrator” at the tip which helps it go through barriers more easily (also FMJ-BT). You can see the lighter gray of the steel below.

What is the difference between M193 and M855?

The M855 projectile has much-improved penetration characteristics over the old M193 55-grain projectile at all ranges, resulting in higher retained velocity and greater accuracy at long range. The 5.56mm M855 is ideal for use in AR15, M16 and M4 rifles.

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