What is M855A1 ammo used for?
The M855A1, a 5.56 mm Ball ammunition, is an enhanced performance round for today’s combat and training environments. It works with the M4 Carbine, the M249 machine gun, and the H&K and M16A2 rifles. It is suitable for use in most weapons with a 1-in-7 barrel twist.
Will the M855A1 replace the leaded M855?
Once the M855A1 replaces the leaded M855, it will reduce the amount of lead in production by approximately 2,000 metric tons yearly, based on the amount now used to make the M855.
What is the accuracy of the M855A1?
The M855A1’s developers have described it as yielding “match-like” accuracy, which most rifle shooters would define as one minute-of-angle (m.o.a.), or groups measuring no more than 1 inch at 100 yards.
Is the M855 ‘green tip’ better than M855A1?
While the penetration capability of M855A1 was pretty well documented at that point, not much was said in terms of accuracy aside from it was “better” than M855 ‘Green Tip’. But what exactly is “better”? The Army has published a report stating that, in testing, the EPR round place 95% of shots inside an 8×8 inch box at 600 yards.
When did you first come across the M855A1 enhanced performance round?
I first came across the M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR) during my first deployment to Afghanistan back in 2012. At the time, M855A1 was only being issued in war zones, so none of us had any experience training with it prior to the deployment.
How accurate is the M855A1 EPR?
During my 26 years in the Army, the average accuracy from M855 Green Tip I observed averaged between 2 and 3.5 MOA. So, when the military said the new EPR round was “better” (but not by how much) that did not instill much desire in me to give M855A1 a serious look.
What is the difference between the M856 and the M855?
The U.S. military’s standard M856 5.56 mm tracer round was longer, heavier (63.7 grains) and slower than the M855 ball, and simply would not stabilize with a 1:9-inch twist barrel. Thus, despite it doubling M855 group sizes, the M16A2 (and later, the M4) specified a 1:7-inch rate-of-twist barrel to stabilize the tracer round.