Ammunition

Choosing ammunition can be very challenging especially if you are still a rookie in such a topic. Selecting the proper ammunition for personal defense, hunting, or any other activity is very important, and will implicate much to your firearms performance and safety. With so much information on the web and use of geek-speaking terms makes this topic confusing. In this article I will try to make this simple as possible to guide you well in an informative way.

Below are some types of ammunition you should consider next time you go searching.


Cartridge, 5.56-milli meter, Ball, M193 – a center-fire cartridge that has a 55-grain, metal-jacketed, led alloy core bullet. This is a standard cartridge for the field use with M16A1 firearm. There are no identifying marks for this type of ammunition.

Tracer, M196 – this type ammunition is also used on an M196A1 riffle. M19 cartridge has an orange or red painted tip. It is commonly used for incendiary effect, observation of fire, and signaling. Though use of 100% tracer rounds is highly discouraged because it will cause deposits of incendiary materials that could eventually damage the barrel, it should be used together with ball ammunition in a ratio not greater than 3 round balls to 1 tracer round.

Dummy, M199 – this can be used with any riffle; the cartridge is used mainly during a dry firing and any other training activity. It is identified by the six groove markings along the casing’s sides beginning at about inch from the tip.

Blank M200 – this cartridge is also used in any riffle and has no projectile. It has a closed case mouth with a seven – petal rosette crimp.

Ball, M855 – this ammunition is used with M16A2/3/4 and the M4 series. M855 cartridge has 62- grain bullet with lead alloy core that has a gilded metal-jacket with steel penetration. Its primer plus the case are waterproof. Its tip is green. M855 should never be sued in M16A1 unless under strict emergency conditions and on a target that is less than 90 meters.

The above are a few of the available ammunition in the market, and it should be able to guide you next time you are trying to find types of ammunition rounds for your fire arm.