Inevitably, contractors will be using this ammo at one point or another. So I figured I would just give a heads up in case you do see some of it floating around. This ‘green ammo’ sounds interesting, but I would really like to hear some more input before making any judgments on the stuff.
On the positive side, the article below says that it is a more accurate and consistent round. I like that, and I wonder how it compares to the Mk 262 or the Mk 318 ? If anyone has experience with this ammo, or if your company is able to obtain this stuff out there, I would like to hear your feedback. I also wonder what ammo the SEALs were using in their HK 416’s when they killed Bin Laden, because I am sure that will get a ton of attention as well. –Matt
Green Bullet’ as Effective as M855 Round – Consistently
May 9, 2011
Aberdeen, Md. – Since June, the Army has fielded about 30 million of its new 5.56 M855A1 “Enhanced Performance Round” in Afghanistan.
The cartridge, sometimes called the “green bullet” because it has an environmentally-friendly copper core instead of the traditional lead, has been getting mostly good reviews in the 11 months since it first deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom.
“The vast majority of everything we’ve got back from the field is positive,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey K. Woods, product manager, small caliber ammunition, during a “media day” at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.
During the day-long event, reporters learned the benefits of the new cartridge, witnessed a demonstration of the round, compared to the round it is designed to replace, and had the opportunity to fire the round from both an M16 and M4 rifle.
Perhaps the biggest plus of the M855A1 “enhanced performance round” is the consistency it brings to the fight — more so than the 5.56 M822 round it is designed to replace.
Woods and other officials were reticent to talk specifically about the effects of the new bullet, or any bullet, on a “soft target” — a euphemism for enemy personnel. But what they made clear was the M855A1 is at least equal to the M855 on a soft target — but that it did damage with more consistency. (more…)
