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Posted: 12/5/2012 8:05:37 AM EDT
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I am interested in buying a 400-500 rounds of this ammo. I have never shot XM855 in my rifle but it is designed for it since my colt has a 1:7 barrel.
I typically shoot AMerican Eagle black box .223 (Walmart has it for 6.50 a box) Are all XM855 designed pretty much the same(stupid question as i expect they shoot meet the spec and be identical but i want to confirm)? Meaning is there a manufacturer that i should go with? Is LakeCity the best? Are there a couple good ones to look for? Sorry if this has been addressed, but i dont want to spend 200 dollars in ammo and regret my decision. |
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M855 is generally loaded all the same. The spec keeps the amount of powder the same as well as the bullet weight. It also specifies that the rounds use steel penetrators in the bullets.
Now as far as rifles being designed for it.... The twist ratio helps but if your rifle isn't chambered for 5.56 NATO then you can't use it. Lake City is as good as it gets from what I've seen but I don't shoot M855. |
| M855 is a good round. A couple things to note though. It is a penetrating round that has a steel core. some ranges don't allow it, so you will have to check. Because there is a steel core inside it inherently might not be perfectly balanced. this can lead to it not being as accurate at longer ranges the a good ball ammo like the m193. I would say unless you have a need for the steel core or want to stock up save the money and keep buying the .223 |
| PMC X-Tac if your going with m855. It has a MILD steel core that has no other purpose other than to keep it pointed straight and penetrate a WWII era russian helmet at 600yds. Its cold war era design and thinking. It does NOT fragment reliably at any velocity and costs more than M193. Basically its a Hype thing......sellers saying its "Armor piercing" or has a "steel Penetrator". I cannot see ever using it unless i have to choose between that and Tula or Wolf. Unless you find a hell of a deal and are gonna use it as range ammo, i would go with xtac m193 instead. Its good range ammo and while not perfect, the Terminal ballistics are much better than 855. Just saying. Your rifle was not designed around m855 either. 1/7 twist will shoot 55gr to 77gr with no problems. |
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Quoted:
I am interested in buying a 400-500 rounds of this ammo. I have never shot XM855 in my rifle but it is designed for it since my colt has a 1:7 barrel. I typically shoot AMerican Eagle black box .223 (Walmart has it for 6.50 a box) Are all XM855 designed pretty much the same(stupid question as i expect they shoot meet the spec and be identical but i want to confirm)? Meaning is there a manufacturer that i should go with? Is LakeCity the best? Are there a couple good ones to look for? Sorry if this has been addressed, but i dont want to spend 200 dollars in ammo and regret my decision. Search for the post by Molon, he did a nice write up on M855 ammo. I like the IMI version, but it has not been available in the market lately. Search the links on this page: http://www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=210 |
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Personally I'm getting the xm855/m855 because it can penetrate slightly better than the traditional ball ammo. So I'll be tucking 1000rds away for a rainy/SHTF kinda day.
I have seen several threads comparing m855 rounds so that leads me to believe they are very closely made to certain specs but that ultimately they perform differently. All I have on hand right now is some foreign stuff that came in green boxes 5-10 years ago and IIRC it shot/hit just fine. -Emt1581 |
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from a .mil file...
Cartridge, 5.56-mm, Ball, M855. (Used in the M16A2/3/4 and M4-series weapons.) The M855 cartridge has a 62-grain,
gilded metal-jacketed, lead alloy core bullet with a steel penetrator. The primer and case are waterproof. This round is also linked and used in the M249. It has a green tip. This ammunition should not be used in the M16A1 except under emergency conditions, and only at targets less than 90 meters in distance. (The twist of the M16A1 rifling is not sufficient to stabilize the heavier projectile of the round). referring to the old 1/12 rate... |
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