Cartridges For the AR/M16 Series Rifles







The 5.56-mm ball M855 (A059) cartridge is has 62gr gilded, metal-jacketed, lead alloy core bullet with a steel penetrator. The primer and case are waterproof. The cartridge is intended for use against personnel and unarmored targets. This is a training standard item used in both training and combat. 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).
The cartridge is identified by a green bullet tip.

Type Classification: STD - MSR 05826003
Type Classification Date: 1982. Unit cost: $0.26 (Fiscal Year 2005).



The M856 tracer is intended to permit visible observation of the bullet's in-flight path or trajectory to the point of impact. This is a training standard item used in both training and combat. The M856 tracer cartridge has characteristics similar to the M196 tracer with a slightly longer tracer burnout distance. The M856 is ballistically matched to the M855 ball cartridge. The tracer bullet delivers a visible red light signature through its trajectory. The M856 does not have a steel penetrator. 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 projectile of the heavier ammunition).
The cartridge is identified by an orange bullet tip.

Type Classification: STD - MSR 05826002
Type Classification Date: 1982. Unit cost: $0.30 (Fiscal Year 2005).



The cartridge is used for practice in loading 5.56mm weapons, for simulated firing to detect flinching of personnel when firing, and for inspecting and testing the weapon mechanisms. This round contains no propellant. It can identified by six longitudinal corrugations (flutings) in the cartridge case and by the absence of a primer. The primer well is open to prevent damage to the firing pin.

Type Classification: STD - AMCTC 4662



The 5.56-mm blank M200 (M2 link, A075) blank cartridge has no projectile. The case mouth is closed with a seven-petal rosette crimp and has a violet tip. The original M200 blank cartridge had a white tip. Field use of this cartridge resulted in residue buildup, which caused malfunctions. Only the violet-tipped M200 cartridge should be used. The blank round is used during training when simulated live fire is desired. An M15A2 blank-firing attachment must be used to fire this ammunition. Without the BFA, the weapon will not cycle because all of the gases will escape and virtually no pressure will be forced through the gas tube to trigger cycling.



The M193 cartridge is intended for use against personnel and unarmored targets. This item is a training standard item used in both training and combat. This cartridge can be fired by the M249 machine gun, but accuracy is degraded; therefore, it should only be used in emergency situations. The M193 cartridge has a bullet with a copper alloy jacket and a lead antimony alloy core. The cartridge is identified by a plain bullet tip.

Type Classification: STD - AMCTC 5143
Type Classification Date: 1975. Unit cost: $0.24 (Fiscal Year 2005).



The M196 tracer is intended to permit visible observation of the bullet's in-flight path or trajectory to the point of impact. Its main uses are for observation of fire, incendiary effect, and signaling. This cartridge can be fired by the M249 machine gun, but accuracy is degraded; therefore, it should only be used in emergency situations.

R284 tracer. The cartridge is identified by a red bullet tip.
Type Classification: STD - AMCTC 5055



The M856 tracer is intended to permit visible observation of the bullet's in-flight path or trajectory to the point of impact. This is a training standard item used in both training and combat. The M856 tracer cartridge has characteristics similar to the M196 tracer with a slightly longer tracer burnout distance. The M856 is ballistically matched to the M855 ball cartridge. The tracer bullet delivers a visible red light signature through its trajectory. The M856 does not have a steel penetrator. 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 projectile of the heavier ammunition).
The cartridge is identified by an orange bullet tip.

Type Classification: STD - MSR 05826002
Type Classification Date: 1982. Unit cost: $0.30 (Fiscal Year 2005).



M862 SRTA (Short Range Training Ammunition)
The cartridge is used by all rifles when equipped with the M2 training bolt. The cartridge is for training in local and urban training areas where range restrictions preclude use of full range standard service ammunition. Although M862 SRTA closely replicates the trajectory and characteristics of service ammunition out to 25 meters, it should not be used to set battle sight zero of weapons to fire service ammunition. The settings that are placed on the sights for SRTA could be different for service ammunition. If adequate range facilities are not available for sustainment training, SRTA can be used for any firing exercise of 25 meters or less. This includes the 25-meter scaled silhouette, 25-meter alternate qualification course, and quick-fire training. SRTA can also be used for Urban Operations training.

The cartridge is identified by a blue plastic bullet.




The M995 is a 5.56-mm Armor Piercing (AP) cartridge that provides an AP capability for the M16A2 rifle, the M4 carbine, and the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). The M993 is a 7.62-mm AP cartridge which provides an AP capability for the M60 machine gun, and the M24 sniper rifle. These cartridges were designed to augment the fielded version of the ammunition (M855 and M80), which employ a soft lead (or ball) projectile. The M993 and M995 were initiated in 1992 as part of the Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP), and intended to give the soldier an added capability against armored threat vehicles. This capability will support the precision engagement and dominant maneuver force aspects of Joint Vision 2010. DOT&E activity for these programs involved Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) only; no formal operational testing or oversight was involved. The combined LFT&E strategy for these two programs was approved by DOT&E in November 1996, and the detailed test plan (DTP) was approved in December 1996. Previous developmental testing of these two cartridges focused on shots against simple range targets - not against an actual threat vehicle. By combining Joint Live Fire (JLF) assets, namely a BRDM-2 armored personnel carrier, with the Army's funded LFT&E program, a credible full-up systems level lethality live fire program was made possible.

The LFT&E program was conducted in accordance with the approved LFT&E strategy from November 1996 to April 1997. In particular, the Army conducted dedicated live fire tests involving approximately 100 M995/M993 shots against the Russian BRDM-2 armored personnel carrier in April 1997. The armor perforation capability and the potential for crew incapacitation from behind armor effects were assessed. All testing has been completed and the Army's report to DOT&E has been completed.

The M995 and M993 AP cartridges are required to have better penetration capability than the standard M855 and M80 ball rounds, especially improved capability to penetrate lightly armored vehicles at extended ranges. The primary intent is to improve incapacitation against troops within lightly armored vehicles. All available test data indicate that the M995 and M993 meet these requirements, and will be effective in a realistic combat environment. In the past, small arms lethality live fire programs have not used actual threat vehicles, but have relied on simple armor plates as the targets. In this program, an actual threat vehicle was used, and shown unequivocally that realistic small arms LFT&E can be accomplished using actual threat vehicles at a minimum cost. Had the testing been conducted using simple armor plate targets, it would have been more difficult to assess system performance

The cartridge consists of a projectile and a propelling charge contained in a brass cartridge case to which the projectile is secured. The projectile consists of a dense metal penetrator (tungsten carbide), which is enclosed by a standard gilding metal jacket. An aluminum cup sits at the rear of the projectile for the purpose of properly locating the penetrator within the projectile. The cartridge utilizes a conventional brass case and double base propellant. A standard rifle cartridge primer is used in the case to initiate the propelling charge.

The penetrator is similar to components used in other small caliber cartridges currently used by the US Army, but tungsten has better penetration capabilities than the other materials and is the design feature, which enhances the armor piercing capability of the cartridge.
This cartridge is identified by black bullet tip identification paint.

Type Classification: Std - 29 Mar 96
Unit cost: $1.44 (Fiscal Year 2005).




The M755 blank cartridge is especially designed for use with the Sting Ring Airfoil Munition System which consists of the M234 launcher and the 64mm riot control M743 projectile fired from the M1GA1 rifle.
The cartridge is only for use with the M234 riot control 64mm projectile launcher. The launcher is attached to the flash suppressor of the M16A1 rifle and actuated by firing an M755 5.56mm blank cartridge. The M755 blank cartridge is the only cartridge that will give the projectile M743 the proper velocity. Use of other blank cartridges may damage the system.
The blank cartridge is fed into the firing chamber. When fired, the primer ignites the propellant. The expanding propellant, gases pass from the muzzle of the rifle into the launcher manifold. The projectile is ejected from the launcher barrel to a maximum range of 328 feet (100 m). The propellant charge is not sufficient to eject the cartridge case which must be ejected by pulling the charging handle of the rifle all the way back. The cartridge is closed with a seven petal nose crimp and moisture sealed. The crimped tips of the cartridge is painted with yellow lacquer for identification and thus lessen the chance of mixing them with the standard 5.56mm blank cartridges.

Type Classification: STD - MSR 04786005




The M232 cartridge is an inert round used for testing the mechanisms of 5.56mm weapons. The cartridge is identified by a black chemical finish over the entire round and by the absence of a primer.

Type Classification: STD - AMCTC 4485
Unit cost: $0.52 (Fiscal Year 2005).




The M197 cartridge is used to proof test weapons during manufacture, test, or repair. The cartridge is loaded with a special propellant to produce pressures substantially in excess of the service round. The 56gr bullet is propelled by a propellant that produces 70,000 PSI chamber pressure.

The cartridge is identified by a stannic-stained (silvered) or nickel-plated cartridge case.
Type Classification: STD - AMCTC 4484




The M195 cartridge provides pressure, on functioning, to project grenades to a desired target using a grenade projection adapter.

The cartridge is identified by a rose-petal (rosette-crimp) closure of the cartridge case mouth sealed with red lacquer.

Type Classification: STD - AMCTC 6919





Ballistic Data for 5.56mm Ammunition.
Model Cartridge Weight Cartridge Length Propellant Projectile Weight Chamber Pressure Muzzle Velocity
15 ft (4.6 m) from muzzle
M193 Ball 182 gr (11.79 gm) 2.26 in (57.4 mm) WC 844 or CMR 170 56 gr (3.63 gm) 52,000 psi (3,656 kg/cm²) 3,250 fps (991 mps)
M195 Grenade 126 gr (8.16 gm) 1.9 in (48.3 mm) IMR 4475 N/A N/A 140 to 165 fps (43 to 50 mps) *
M196 Tracer 177 gr (11.47 gm) 2.26 in (57.4 mm) WC 844, IMR 8208M, or CMR 170 54 gr (3.5 gm) 52,000 psi (3,656 kg/cm²) 3,200 fps (975 mps)
M197 HPT 174 gr (11.27 gm) 2.26 in (57.4 mm) SR 7641 56 gr (3.63 gm) 70,000 psi (4,921 kg/cm²) N/A
M199 Dummy 150 gr (9.72 gm) 2.26 in (57.4 mm) N/A N/A N/A N/A
M200 Blank 107 gr (6.93 gm) 1.9 in (48.3 mm) HPC 13 N/A N/A N/A
M232 Dummy 161 gr (10.43 gm) 2.26 in (57.4 mm) N/A N/A N/A N/A
M755 Blank 112 gr (7.26 gm) 1.9 in (48.3 mm) Hi Skor 700X N/A N/A 172 to 198 fps (52 to 60 mps) **
M855 Ball 190 gr (12.31 gm) 2.26 in (57.4 mm) WC 844 62 gr (4.02 gm) 55,000 psi (3,867 kg/cm²) 3,025 fps (922 mps) ***
M856 Tracer 191 gr (12.38 gm) 2.26 in (57.4 mm) WC 844 63.7 gr (4.13 gm) 55,000 psi (3,867 kg/cm²) 2,870 fps (875 mps) ***
M862 SRTA 108 gr (7 gm) 2.03 in (51.56 mm) WPR 260 3.6 gr (0.23 gm) 15,750 psi (1,107 kg/cm²) 4,525 fps (1,379 mps)
M995 AP 180 gr (11.66 gm) 2.25 in (57.15 mm) WCR845 52 gr (3.37 gm) 50,250 psi (3,533 kg/cm²) 3,324 fps (1,013 mps) ***
*M195 - Velocity at 5.5 ft (1.7 m) from muzzle for projected grenade.
**M755 - Velocity for projected M743 Sting Ring Airfoil Munition.
***M855, M856, M995 - Velocity at 78 ft (24 m) from muzzle.






[an error occurred while processing this directive]