U.S. Army Places Huge Order for New M855A1 Ammo
ATK has received orders from the U.S. Army for nearly 300 million rounds of the new M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR). The EPR is an enhanced version of the M855 5.56mm cartridge, used by U.S. troops since the early 1980s. ATK also announced it has received additional orders worth $10 million for nonstandard ammunition (NSA) in support of its current NSA multi-year contract with the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Rock Island, Ill. The three-year contract calls for ATK to acquire and deliver a broad range of NSA, or non-NATO ammunition [such as 7.62×39], to Kabul, Afghanistan, to train and sustain allied security forces.
The military sought to replace current M855 ammo because M855 has not performed optimally in the Afghan theater. The Army’s Picatinny Arsenal claims that the new M855A1 has improved hard target capability, more consistent performance at all distances, improved accuracy, reduced muzzle flash, and higher velocity. M855A1 ammo is tailored for use in M4 carbines but should also give enhanced performance in M16s and M249s.
New Steel-Tip Bullet Design
The 62-grain bullet for the new M855A1 ammo is a completely new design. While it may appear to have a plastic “ballistic tip”, that’s deceiving. The new bullet created for M855A1 ammo has a bismuth-tin alloy core with a steel “stacked-cone” penetrating tip. The photo at right shows the version from last year; the final production version may be slightly different (e.g. the final version tip is a different color). Apparently the latest bullet design is a winner. During testing, M855A1 ammo performed better than current 7.62mm ball ammunition against certain types of targets. According to Lt. Col. Jeffrey K. Woods, the program’s product manager, the new M855A1 ammo is “the best general purpose 5.56mm round ever produced. A true general purpose round, the M855A1 exceeds the performance of the current M855 against the many different types of targets likely to be encountered in combat.”
While this may be an improvement over the older M855 ammo, I don’t see it as solving the whole issue with the 5.56 round. I have several friends in different branches of the military that have been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and they all say the same thing, the 5.56 just doesn’t have the power to stop insurgents, especially those drugged up on suicide missions. I have also been told stories of “bad guys” who show off all the 5.56 hits they have survived, like they are bragging or something, as it seems to be a new fad to brag about taking more bullets than the others have. We need a superior round that they don’t just walk away after being hit with. We need to go to a 6mm, 6.5mm or 7.62mm round that has more stopping ability. Many of those deployed are aware of this, why are we not doing more about it?
One friend showed me a picture of his squad, and the designated marksmen were holding M1A’s from Springfield Armory, as apparently their squad was able to purchase several for the DM’s so they had weapons better suited to long range shots than the 5.56.
I just don’t understand why we are not giving our soldiers more capable weapons. It’s not like they don’t exist, because they do. AR-10’s, M1A’s, and even AR-15’s chambered for larger rounds such as .308, 6.5 Grendel, .30AR, 6.8SPC and others are readily available. Even the 6mm-.223 would be better than the 5.56 out to 300yds, and will still use the same mags as well.
Our soldiers need more than a new load, they need a new round. We need to give it to them so they can be more effective.
Agree 100% but I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for it to be replaced in general service by a more effective caliber.
The US, like all other militaries who bought into 5.56 mm ammunition, has a huge inventory of weapons and massive production facilities tied-up in 5.56 mm ammunition. It would be a very brave leader who, in the current economic climate, would step up and champion the idea of making obsolete this huge investment. Just look at US history, when in the 1930s Gen Douglas MacArthur (for exactly the same reasons) directed that the new M1 rifle would be in .30-06 of which there were huge stocks, and not the calibre originally envisioned for it.
Head shots.Really, I wouldn’t want to be be shot by a pellet gun. 62 gr.hits and bragging??? Why did the Bad Guys, “hadji” fall when I pulled the trigger? Sounds like bad marksmanship, or pray and spray on our part.
It’s called Hydrostatic Shock fellas, bullet traveling at x-speed = death.