Help identify 5.56

[Diabolus]

I have some 5.56 with LC 10 on the headstamp. Does anyone have details on this ammo?

Grain?
Non-magnetic?

Good quality?

[Moemoe1]

Obviously lake city if its green tip that's a no go at the range. I'm sure it's the stuff that comes in the brown box so I'm guessing 55gr non magnetic. Lake city is great quality ammunition

[1GunLover]

It could be Lake City M193 55gr FMJ
or Lake City M855 Green tip Nato 62gr with a tungson steel core penetrator. (10) Stands for the year 2010.

M855 is Magnetic and not range safe due to the steel core. It is great quality Nato spec ammunition.

[Moemoe1]

I've got some that say the same thing and its not M855 green tip. The brown box ones are lake city too.

[hermosabeach]

Does it show signs of being reloaded?

Are the primers sealed?
Bullets sealed?

[windrunner]

Pics would be fantastic.

[WWHD116]

I have some 5.56 with LC 10 on the headstamp. Does anyone have details on this ammo?

Grain?
Non-magnetic?

Good quality?

Lake City ammo is quality 5.56 made in the USA at the US Army's ammunition plant in Lake City, Missouri.

The brass is desirable because it is mil-spec, thicker than most commercial 5.56/.223. It can be reloaded many times. The primers are usually crimped and sealed with lacquer. The projectiles are usually sealed with tar, and many times there is visible sealant residue on the bullet or crimp.

The best way to find if it is magnetic is to test the bullet with a magnet. There are many types of 5.56 made at the Lake City plant, but there are only 3 types we usually see sold on the commercial market.

M196 54 gr Tracer

M193 55 gr Ball

M855 62 gr Ball

Many reloaders use Lake City Brass for their product, the headstamp is not definitive of it's origin. However, if the primer crimp is still intact it is most likely LC factory 5.56mm.

It could be Lake City M193 55gr FMJ
or Lake City M855 Green tip Nato 62gr with a tungson steel core penetrator. (10) Stands for the year 2010.

M855 is Magnetic and not range safe due to the steel core. It is great quality Nato spec ammunition.

M855 does not have a Tungsten core. It has a steel rod as the core of the projectile. It is similiar to M43 spec 7.62x39 as it does have enhanced penetration on hard targets. IF it had a true tungsten core it would be real armor priercing, and illegal to purchase as new surplus on the commercial market.

[JDay]

OP, this is the for sale section, not Q&A.

M855 does not have a Tungsten core. It has a steel rod as the core of the projectile. It is similiar to M43 spec 7.62x39 as it does have enhanced penetration on hard targets. IF it had a true tungsten core it would be real armor priercing, and illegal to purchase as new surplus on the commercial market.

Only armor piercing handgun ammo is banned from commercial sale.

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[WWHD116]

Only armor piercing handgun ammo is banned from commercial sale.

You are wrong, not factually, but in your interpretation of the law. Sorry to break the news to you JDay, unfortunately for us 5.56 NATO/.223 REM. is considered a handgun cartridge. Just like 7.62x39mm. Ever heard of an AR or AK pistol?

Since there are also pistols chambered in 7.62x51 NATO (.308 Win) you could also include this in the list of "handgun cartridges".

If there is a pistol that is chambered in a rifle caliber, it is now considered a pistol caliber. The law was written (intenionally or otherwise) to be overly broad.

which may be used in a handgun

In addition, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 added
to the definition of armor piercing ammunition the following:

"... a full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended
for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of
the total weight of the projectile."

Exemptions: The following articles are exempted from the definition of armor
piercing ammunition.

5.56 mm (.223) SS 109 and M855 Ammunition, identified by a green coating on
the projectile tip.

U.S. .30-06 M2AP, identified by a black coating on the projectile tip.

Here is the full story in a nutshell. http://www.thegunzone.com/762x39.html