Ammo number designation

[Mail Clerk]

Hello to all,

I found some ammo in my garage and forgot if I can shoot this ammo at the range. Can anyone tell me what these numbers mean??? I have 223 remington style ammo with numbers:

M855- 55 grain

M193- 55 grain

white box Malisian- 55 grain I think but don't know nember designation.


Mail Clerk

[SixPointEight]

m193 is 55gr ball .223.

If the stuff marked m855 is 55gr then It's reloaded. Be wary of it. True M855 spec ammo should be 62gr.

here's a bit about the ammo:

"U.S. military specifications for M193 Ball ammunition require a 55
grain bullet (q 2 grains) at a muzzle velocity of 3,250 q 40 fps from a 20
inch test barrel measured 15 feet from the muzzle. The accuracy requirement
from a test fixture calls for a maximum of a two inch mean radius at 200
yards from ten 10 shot groups (which equates to approximately three MOA).
"Statistically average" M193 ranges from 1.2 to 1.6 inches mean radius,
which is equivalent to 1.8 to 2.4 MOA. Velocity from an M16 rifle or
pressure test barrel usually runs about 3,200 fps due to gas loss through
the port. Accuracy is typically around 2 to 2+ MOA from an M16A1 rifle at
ranges of 100 to 300 yards. M193 ammunition is suitable for use in 1 twist
in 12 inches or faster twists. While commercial sporting rifles in this
caliber usually have one in 14 rifling, the M193 boat tailed bullet is
barely stabilized with that rate of twist at ambient temperatures, and will
not stabilize at all when the air temperature drops below freezing.

"NATO specifications for SS109 (U.S. M855) Ball require a 61.7 grain
(q 1.5 grains) with a hardened steel penetrator at a velocity of 3,025 fps
(q 40 fps) from a 20 inch barrel 25 meters from the muzzle. Typical
velocity 15 feet from the M16A2's muzzle is around 3,100 fps. The accuracy
requirement from a test fixture equates to a maximum of approximately four
MOA over the 100 to 600 yard range. Typical accuracy of average lots in an
M16A2 is about 2+ MOA. This round must also penetrate a nominal 10 gauge
SAE 1010 or 1020 steel test plate at a range of at least 570 meters (623
yards). The M193 round will penetrate this same plate reliably at 400
yards, and about half the time at 500 yards.

[Mail Clerk]

JT1989,

Thanks for info! I just forgot cuz this stuff goes back to the aerly to mid- 80's era ammo. The M855 ammo can't be reloads cuz they were bought all new/fresh in military style boxes/cartons. Thanks again :-)

Mail Clerk