150rds – 5.56x45 Federal American Eagle 62gr. FMJ XM855 Ammo

150rds – 5.56x45 Federal American Eagle 62gr. FMJ XM855 Ammo Details

We don’t know you personally, but we bet you could do with a little more 5.56x45 M855 ammunition. How do we know this? Because everyone could do with a little more 5.56x45 M855 ammunition. It’s great fun to run through your AR-style rifle at the range!

This cartridge’s 62 grain full metal jacket projectile will attract a magnet – but not because the jacket itself contains steel. The M855 projectile’s tip is painted green to indicate that its core is divided into two sections. The lead rear section provides the mass and resultant momentum the bullet needs in order to keep a flat trajectory and strike hard on impact. The steel front section – i.e. the “penetrator” – makes the bullet hard enough to pierce sheet metal at ranges beyond 500 yards.

The tactical advantage of the M855 projectile is self-evident, as a bullet which can penetrate light body armor is of clear value to our troops. But when Federal puts an “X” in front of the M855 designation, it’s because they loaded that particular ammo so civilians can get a feel for the same stuff our Armed Forces would use at the range. Just take care that a 1:9” or 1:8” barrel twist will give a 62 grain bullet its best rotational stability and resultant accuracy, but a 1:7” barrel twist is perfectly serviceable for covering all but the longest distances.

Federal loads this ammunition with reloadable military grade brass cases. They have noncorrosive Boxer primers, but the cases’ mottled appearance may raise one of your eyebrows. Are this ammo’s cases reloaded? Not at all! Military cases undergo the same heat-treatment process as all other cases, but they are not polished afterward. This is for two reasons: enhanced cosmetics don’t matter on a battlefield, and shiny cases can reflect more light and accordingly alert the enemy to the shooter’s location.