Soon after NATO examined the SS109, the US Military designated it at the M855, but they are the same round. Given the current debate, it is important to note that the SS109 was not required to pierce body armor, and it was not designed or tested for such. The round was essentially developed to increase the range of the FN Minimi machine gun, and NATO selected it as the best option out of the ammunition it tested. They decided upon the SS109 which had been designed for use in FN Herstal firearms like the the FN FNC rifle and the FN Minimi machine gun. It was originally selected by NATO in their search to standardize a second caliber. When we begin to examine why the M855 was developed, the confusion of why it is being banned grows for many. The bullet does have a steel tip, but that is not mentioned in the above classifications released by the ATF. Its core is still lead like many conventional bullets, and its jacket does not weigh over 25% of the total weight of the projectile. The real outrage that critics have of the pending ATF ban is that M855 doesn’t fall into either of the above categories. Why The M855 Isn’t Classified As Armor Piercing 22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.
#Steel assault rifle rounds full#
(ii) a full jacketed projectile larger than.(i) a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium copper or depleted uranium or.Green tip M855s alongside tracer M856 rounds in an ammunition belt. If a FMJ round (.22 rounds are excluded) has a jacket that exceeds 25% of the total weight of the projectile, then it is considered armor piercing. This can also be accomplished by a thicker brass jacket, and this is measured by the percentage of the jacket in regards to the rest of the bullet. These materials are far more dense than lead, and give the round the added weight it needs. Armor piercing rounds need added weight to help punch through tougher targets, that’s why the core of traditional armor piercing rounds usually consist of iron, steel, brass, bronze, tungsten alloy, beryllium copper, or depleted uranium. We’ll cite the full ATF definition in a second, but to simplify it first, armor piercing ammo is classified either by the contents of the core of the bullet or the jacket weight (or really concentration) of the jacket in regard to the rest of the bullet. The ATF is calling for open feedback from anyone concerned about the withdrawal of this round until March 16, 2015, so now is the time to get educated and speak up if you use the round or you are concerned about how the removal of this round will effect the availability and pricing of other 5.56 ammunition. Let’s examine this debate in more detail so you have all the facts. Yet critics of the ban argue that removing the round from the market will destabilize the already shaky market for AR ammunition. The ATF now argues that the M855 is dangerous to those who wear body armor like law enforcement officers, especially when used with the AR pistol platform. Comparison of several 5.56 military rounds.
In the past the round has been generally grouped together with proper “black tip” armor piercing rounds, but up until now, the M855 has received an exception because it does not contain the same characteristics of an armor piercing round. However, if you haven’t heard already, the ATF is withdrawing these rounds from the civilian market citing their armor piercing capabilities.
These rounds, commonly known as “green tip” rounds because of their color coding, are designed for use with the AR platform in the popular caliber of 5.56. If you’re a regular reader of firearm news and issues, then you’ve surely come across the recent stir around the M855 / SS109 round.
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