Green Tip Ammo

[ChrisJM981 924]

What is green tip ammo? I usually see it as 62 gr 5.56mm. Is that legal in the PRNJ?

[bbk 188]

The green tip is the standard NATO round (M855), standard issue for the military, and LE too I believe. I honestly am not sure if it is illegal in NJ, but a lot of the sites are saying that they won't ship it to NJ due to its armor piercing capability. Like I said, I'm not sure what the definitive law states.

[Chad 3]

Its ballistic tip ammo....traditionally used for varmint hunting.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_tip_bullet

 

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0012710213519a.shtml

[Caine 147]

I think he's referring to a painted green tip, Chad. Generally speaking, references to 62gr green tip are m855 like bbk said. Copy/Paste from the web:

 

"The cartridge is used by the M249 machine gun and the M16A2/A3/A4 and M4-series weapons. The cartridge is intended for use against personnel and unarmored targets. This is a training standard item used in both training and combat.

 

The M855 cartridge has a 62-grain, gilded metal-jacketed, lead alloy core bullet with a steel penetrator. The primer and case are waterproof.

 

This ammunition should not be used in the M16A1 except under emergency conditions, and only at targets less than 90 meters in distance. (The twist of the M16A1 rifling is not sufficient to stabilize the longer projectile of the round).

 

The cartridge is identified by a green bullet tip."

 

 

No clue on legality - it's definitely an FMJ, but I don't know if the "steel penetrator" makes it something else. From everything I've read on M855, it is actually NOT armor piercing, regardless of the "penetrator". According to a wiki page, one of the requirements of some earlier versions of this bullet was to penetrate NATO steel helmets, which is probably where the whole "armor piercing" thing comes from. But, it's a wiki, so who knows how accurate that is

[bbk 188]

Hehe, yea, my understanding of "armor piercing" capability was never dependent on the munition. I know there was a short thread about this after Corzine released one of his adverts.

[rscalzo 3]

I many cases the green tip is not one the bullet itself due to tumbling or loading before the tip was painted. You never really know if it is the M855 round or not. I've loaded quite a bit using surplus M855 bullets that did not have a green tip.

 

If shooting into a dirt berm there is no real safety issue. however if used on a steel backstop, damage can occur. I've fired these rounds at ballistic steel used to make steel reactive targets and a significant hole remained with the steel core embedded into the steel. The same steel when hit with a standard 7.62 M80 just left a smudge on the steel. I would use caution depending on the backstop or you risk serious and expensive damage.

 

Chad..you are thinking of the Honady's A-Max or V-Max rounds. Their bullets are very accurate when handloaded correctly by the way. Almost as accurate as the benchmark Sierra Matchking.

[Chad 3]

Sorry fellas....I was confused! lol :oops:

 

I love those Nossler ballistic tip BT's in .223! You're right RS, very accurate.