Which kind of 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition would you rather have during a stuff-hits-the-fan scenario? M193? Or M855? That’s the prized knowledge you’ll have gained upon finishing this article!
Which 5.56×45 Ammo Is Best for Home Defense?
Truth be told, neither M193 nor M855 is ideal for home defense.
The U.S. Armed Forces honors the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907. One such convention prohibits “the use of bullets that expand or flatten easily in the human body.” As such, military ammunition is not loaded with soft point (SP) or hollow point* bullets. The M193 and M855 are both loaded with full metal jacket (FMJ) projectiles, which satisfy that (mostly) internationally recognized moratorium.
But here’s the thing: U.S. law enforcement agencies are not obligated to follow the Hague Conventions. They are permitted to implement bullets that expand/flatten after impact, which is why law enforcement officers (LEOs) carry jacketed hollow point (JHP) ammunition in their sidearms, and load SP or polymer-tipped ammunition in their rifles.
Expanding bullets such as those are better suited for defense for two key reasons:
- They inflict more damage to the threat; and
- They reduce (but by no means eliminate) the risk of over-penetration that could jeopardize innocent bystanders.
American civilians are allowed to purchase the same ammunition LEOs would use in the line of duty. That’s why you would be better advised to choose police-grade 5.56x45mm (or 223 Remington) ammo like Federal Premium Tactical Bonded or Speer Gold Dot for your home defense AR-15. It’s not magic, but it does represent better odds of neutralizing the threat before the threat can do the same to you.
*With the exception of the hollow point boat tail (HPBT) (or open tip match; OTM), which is not designed to expand during penetration of flesh, and only has a nose cavity as the result of a manufacturing process that yields a very sleek and balanced projectile.
Which 5.56×45 Ammo Is Best to Have During the Apocalypse?
That question is more in line with the spirit of this article.
To be sure, you would find law enforcement 5.56×45 to be invaluable during the most perilous kinds of challenges the end of the world could throw at you. You would also be better positioned if you had stockpiled ammo like Federal Fusion MSR for deer hunting, and Hornady Superformance Varmint for bagging critters that fit inside a stewpot.
But here’s the main problem with premium 5.56×45 (and 223 Rem) law enforcement and hunting ammo: THEY COST MORE. If you’re currently prepping to survive in a world that resembles a Mad Max movie, then you can’t buy nearly as much ammo if you shell out for high-quality, expanding bullets.
That’s why preppers stockpile bulk M193 and M855. Those rounds’ simpler bullets are a lot easier on the old coin purse. And even though their terminal ballistics don’t include true terminal expansion, you’ll soon see that they are perfectly capable of neutralizing even the most tenacious of threats. (Kind of makes sense, doesn’t it? That the U.S. Armed Forces doesn’t issue nonlethal 5.56×45 ammo for combat?)
What’s the Difference Between M193 and M855?
“M193” and “M855” are military specifications for two types of 5.56×45 ammunition:
- M193 ball – 55 grain FMJ, ~3,240 fps muzzle velocity out of a 20” barrel (ideal barrel twist: 1:10–1:12”; sufficient twist: 1:7–1:16”)
- M855 penetrator – 62 grain FMJ, ~3,020 fps muzzle velocity out of a 20” barrel (ideal barrel twist: 1:8–1:10”; sufficient twist: 1:6–1:14”)
M193 is the “vanilla” 5.56×45 ammo, as it were. It is loaded with the simplest (i.e. most economically designed) type of FMJ it could possibly have, and is accordingly the most popular AR-15 target ammunition in the country.
The M855 (which Europeans call “SS109,” and Australians call “F1”) cartridge’s FMJ weighs 7 grains more. That added heft grants the bullet greater momentum, which in turn (A) improves its resistance to cross and vertical winds, and (B) increases its sectional density (SD), which is a fancy way of saying it improves the bullet’s ability to penetrate barriers and soft tissue. (Note that the M855 FMJ’s higher SD doesn’t necessitate deeper penetration, as it begins fragmenting apart shortly after impact.)
But the M855 FMJ’s tip isn’t painted green merely to indicate that it’s heavier. Just beneath the tip of its jacket rests a 7 grain “penetrator”: a steel tip, which, true to its name, enhances the FMJ’s ability to penetrate. Under optimal circumstances, the M855 can pierce 0.12” thick sheet metal out to around 665 yards (though its odds of complete penetration drop significantly at around half that range).
Take caution if you choose M855 for target shooting. Many gun ranges prohibit projectiles that contain steel, for safety reasons. If your gun range bans “magnetic ammo,” then M855 is a no-go there. Needless to say, this limitation would be of little importance if the S were to really and truly HTF.
Which Is Better for Defense: M193, or M855?
Both of these Mil-Spec rounds are designed for combat. Either can instantly neutralize a threat. To label one as “more lethal” would be foolish, as doing so would overlook the significance of shot placement: the most crucial variable determining a cartridge’s effectiveness in combat, which is totally extrinsic to the cartridge itself.
These rounds’ FMJs may not deliver terminal expansion, but they are certainly equipped to inflict larger wound cavities than their 0.224” diameter alone can account for. Jane’s International Defence Review (IDR) provides a good up-close glimpse at their respective terminal ballistics. To summarize the contents of pages 61 and 62:
- When an M193 FMJ strikes ordnance gelatin at a velocity of 3,094 fps, it penetrates to a depth of ~4” before fragmenting apart to excavate gaping permanent and temporary wound cavities. Its wound channel narrows to its approximate original diameter at ~9”, and stops at 14” (at which point it has shed 64% of its weight).
- When an M855 FMJ strikes ordnance gelatin at a velocity of 3,035 fps, it penetrates to a depth of ~3.5” before fragmenting apart to excavate gaping permanent and temporary wound cavities. Its wound channel narrows to its approximate original diameter at ~10”, and stops at 13” (at which point it has shed 50% of its weight).
That’s a lot of numbers. The most illuminating nugget of information contained within the IDR article is this: “The abdominal and the thigh wound produced by the M855 or SS109 bullets would be essentially the same as those described above for the […] M193 bullet.”
In fewer words, the two bullets’ terminal ballistics are similar enough to be regarded as interchangeable. To that end, the greatest justifications for favoring M855 over (cheaper) M193 are:
- Its superior ability to pierce sheet metal (e.g. body armor, vehicles); and/or
- Its superior resistance to wind deflection, as provided by its heavier bullet.
M193 vs. M855 Ballistic Performance
Real world performance invariably varies. It is correct to expect different terminal performance than the instances described just above, as impact velocity, point of impact, and several other factors ultimately contribute to wound channel depth and diameter.
Ballistic performance is similarly not set in stone. Atmospheric conditions, altitude, the ammunition, the firearm, and the shooter all contribute to a bullet’s precision and accuracy.
That being said, we can easily calculate the kind of ballistic performance one can *reasonably expect* of either cartridge. Let’s compare these two rounds side by side, and see how they do when wind speed and angle are 15 mph and 90°:
- PMC X-TAC M193 – 3,270 fps muzzle velocity (20” barrel); 0.243 G1 ballistic coefficient
- PMC X-TAC LAP (same as M855) – 3,100 fps muzzle velocity (20” barrel); 0.304 ballistic coefficient
|
Cartridge |
Range (yds) |
0 |
100 |
200 |
300 |
400 |
500 |
|
M193 |
Velocity (fps) |
3270 |
2863 |
2492 |
2149 |
1836 |
1556 |
|
M855 |
Velocity (fps) |
3100 |
2784 |
2490 |
2214 |
1956 |
1718 |
|
M193 |
Energy (ft lbs) |
1306 |
1001 |
758 |
564 |
412 |
296 |
|
M855 |
Energy (ft lbs) |
1323 |
1067 |
854 |
675 |
527 |
407 |
|
M193 |
Elevation (in) |
-1.5 |
1.4 |
0.0 |
-7.0 |
-21.7 |
-46.7 |
|
M855 |
Elevation (in) |
-1.5 |
1.5 |
0.0 |
-7.1 |
-21.4 |
-44.8 |
|
M193 |
Windage (in) |
0.0 |
1.7 |
7.2 |
17.2 |
32.8 |
55.5 |
|
M855 |
Windage (in) |
0.0 |
1.5 |
6.0 |
14.2 |
26.7 |
44.4 |
To reiterate, this is only one hypothetical comparison between two individual cartridges. You would nearly certainly witness different results, as well as more variation, during a real-life test. Even so, we can infer the following about the two rounds’ performance:
- Despite having a lower muzzle velocity, the M855 conserves more velocity and kinetic energy downrange – a testament to the superior ballistic efficiency it gains from its greater mass.
- Likewise, the M855 exhibits a flatter downrange trajectory, accompanied by higher resistance to wind interference.
In summary, the M855 truly is preferable for long range – the reason why many AR-15 aficionados favor it for target shooting. Whether or not its advantages would pose any actual value during an SHTF scenario depends almost entirely on the shooter’s marksmanship, however. There is no such thing as “more accurate” ammo. There is only ammo that more accurately reflects the shooter’s skill with their rifle.
The Takeaway
If your sole goal is to stack up the largest stockpile of 5.56×45 ammunition that your budget will allow, then M193 is your best friend. It is the most economical form of 5.56×45, and by all means capable of neutralizing a threat. It (and M855, for that matter) may be less than ideal for home defense owing to (A) its inability to deliver true terminal expansion, and (B) the typically more relaxed standards for uniformity manufacturers observe while loading it, yet you would be glad to call it your ally during TEOTWAWKI.
If you’re comfortable spending a little more – and content to own a large quantity of 5.56×45 that is impermissible at gun ranges which forbid “magnetic ammo” – then M855 is well worth the investment. Its FMJ’s penetrator core represents improved odds of piercing sheet metal and other barriers, and its heavier weight facilitates long-range accuracy.
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