AFTE Store - 5.56 x 45mm SS109/M855 Bullets: Design, Exterior and Terminal Ballistic Performance

Surplus military ammunition and foreign-made, military-style ammunition in 5.56x45mm caliber is commonly available in many sporting goods stores and gun stores in the U.S. Its lower cost compared to commercial ammunition, its reliability and suitability for informal target practice makes such ammunition in this popular caliber relatively common. Consequently, it is foreseeable that it will also be misused or employed in the commission of a crime. Although the adoption of this 5.56x45mm round by NATO places some specific design requirements on the projectile, there is nonetheless considerable variation in some of the class characteristic features among various sources of this ammunition. Even countries who are not members of NATO produce this ammunition and sometimes designate it ASS109″- the original NATO designation. Reference information such as that presented in this article should be of value to examiners confronted with fired bullets or bullet fragments from such ammunition.