What's the story on "Green Tip" Ammo in 5.56

[fullautovalmet76]

I sometimes buy ammo from the Ammoman.com. The site advertises ammo in 5.56 that is green tipped. I don't know what that is supposed to mean. Would someone clue me in, please?

[Hazcat]

Read this

http://www.thegunzone.com/556faq.html

[Pathfinder]

I sometimes buy ammo from the Ammoman.com. The site advertises ammo in 5.56 that is green tipped. I don't know what that is supposed to mean. Would someone clue me in, please?

I believe that green tip is the M855 ammo, with the SS109 bullet, which has a steel penetrator core. Usually more expensive than the "normal" plinker ammo, usually flagged M193 (IIRC).

[fullautovalmet76]

Thanks for the link, Hazcat! It completely answered my question.

-G

[Hazcat]

We but exist to serve. 

[jumbofrank]

For anyone who doesn't want to read the whole article:

Regular ball ammo is plain with no paint.
Armor piercing ammo is black tipped.
M855/SS109 is green tipped because it as a hybrid ball with penetrator.

As far as I know there aren't any other calibers with green tips.
The bullets will actually stick to a magnet but not really well.
Some people selling it advertise it as armor piercing ammo but it's not.
You can also get ammo with the same bullet weight without a penetrator.

[fullautovalmet76]

I do have one other question. According to the article the round is designed for barrels with a 1:7 twist; my barrel has a 1:9 twist. Given this, will the round still perform with a reasonable degree accuracy? Instead of getting 1 or 2 MOA at 100 yds., will I hit something on the planet Jupiter instead? 

[jumbofrank]

That bullet and similar weights will work GREAT in a 1:9 twist. The 1:7 is designed for the (extra long) tracer bullets. There's some argument about whether or not it was even neccesary for them. Winchester 64-grain PSP should work if you want to shoot game up to deer size.

[fullautovalmet76]

JumboFrank,
I thought it might work, but I wanted to consult more experienced shooters with this type of rifle on this one...Thanks again!

[jumbofrank]

I copied this from www.cactustactical.com/reloading/tips2.doc

Long Range Shooting Secrets
Bullets Tips

Rifle Twist Rates

.223 / 5.56mm
      1:14         up to 55 grains
      1:12         55 – 63 grains
      1:9           63 – 70 grains
      1:8           70 grains or more

It not that clearly defined in real life. For 62 grain bullets I'd still take a 1:9 over a 1:12 no matter what they say. A barrel in with a twist in between those two like a 1:10.5 would be even better, but I'm not buying a custom barrel. I shoot 55 grain bullets out of the fast 1:7 and 1:9 twists because those are the barrels I have and 55 grain ammo is cheaper. It just won't have great accuracy because it's over-stabilized.