How To Measure Black Powder Without A Measuring Device? Top Answer Update

I’m not a gunpowder shooter – all I know about FF or FFF or FFFFFFFFFF is that one is finer ground than the other.

I am a multiple rifle and pistol cartridge shooter and reloader. As for the difference measuring a charge intended for use in a firearm makes, the difference is potentially quite significant. If you’re just shooting at common targets or practicing loads, a volumetric (“shovel”) measurement of weight might be close enough as long as you use the measure consistently. When you’re working to the extreme limit of what your firearm/cartridge/slug can ballistically deliver, then the difference can make all the difference. An extra front sight (or even a fraction of a front sight) can result in detachment of the case neck or head, or damage to the breech (mechanical components that operate the firing chamber) of the gun.

I never use shovels when reloading firearms. Pay the whopping $10 or $20 to find a decent powder weight scale (I got my last one off ebay for $5). They generally weigh to the nearest 1/10 of a grain – that’s 1/70000 of a pound or about 7 milligrams.

And we all do our jobs with that precision, don’t we?

Want to make custom ammo for your next trip to the shooting range? If so, you need to know how much gunpowder you need to make a bullet.

So how many grains of gunpowder is in 1 pound?

A pound of gunpowder has 7,000 grains of powder, no matter what type of powder you use. Measuring the correct amount of gunpowder is critical to ensuring bullet accuracy and effectiveness.

Let’s learn more about gunpowder, grain, and how it all fits together.

What exactly are spherical grains?

A grain is a unit used to measure the weight of a ball. Being a tiny entity, the weight of a grain is almost negligible – only 0.064 grams, in fact! The number of grains in a case is related to the total weight of the bullet.

This is where it gets complicated – bullets are often weighed in grains. But their grain weight doesn’t necessarily mean they contain all of those grains. For example, a 230 grain bullet does NOT contain 230 grains of powder.

Also, the center punch weight only measures the weight of the bullet, not the cartridge that came with it.

What units are grains measured in?

Grains are measured in grams, ounces, and pounds.

Gunpowder weight Number of grains 0.064 grams 1 grain 1 gram 15.43 grains 1 ounce 437.5 grains 1 pound 7,000 grains

Remember that 1 pound of gunpowder contains 7000 grains, whether it’s smokeless or black powder. As long as it weighs 1 pound, each type of powder invariably contains the same number of grains. 1 pound of powder = 458.592 grams.

Since you know how many grains are in a pound, you can also determine the ratio of grains to grams, grains to ounces, and more.

How many bullets can 1 pound of gunpowder make?

The number of bullets per pound of gunpowder depends on the size of the ammunition and the charge of the powder. A powder’s “charge weight” is how much motive power it imparts to a projectile (i.e. bullet), usually expressed as “weight in pounds”. More charge means bigger boom.

But different bullets require different charge weights per charge or per shot to be used safely. That’s why it’s important to decide how big you want the bowls to be. After that, you can make the necessary calculations to know the gunpowder charge in each bullet.

You should also have a reload guide handy before you start loading your own ammo. These books are made by gunpowder makers who know how many grains of powder you should put in different calibers of bullets.

For example, 9mm bullets (some of the most common for self-defense) come in 115, 124, and 147 grain (gr) grades. But none of them hold more than 100 grains of gunpowder! Instead, the most common charge weight is 5. This means that each bullet typically only needs 5 grains of powder to load.

9mm

In the example above of using charges of 5 grains, you could make 1,400 9mm bullets since each only takes 5 grains and 1 pound of gunpowder contains 7,000 grains.

7,000 grains / 5 grains per ball = 1,400 balls.

.223 Remington cartridges

Their source may vary, but most people use charges of around 25 grains.

7,000 grains / 25 grains per bullet = 280 .223 Remington bullets

Remember that each bullet type requires a different type of powder charge.

We recommend the Lyman 50th Edition Ammo Reloading Book, which has a lot of loading information you can use on popular ammo types. It can also help you with powder conversion and is excellent value for money.

Lyman 50th Edition Reloading Handbook Check price

Speer also has a lot of reload data that you can use to reload. Their guides are comprehensive and freely available online.

Alternatively, check gun forums and posts – amateur shooters on a good forum can offer their expertise with a helpful post or two and make sure you’re loading your gun correctly.

Importance of choosing the right shot grains

It’s important to remember to choose the right powder load for your bullet. If you don’t, your bullet may not enter your firearm’s receiver and cause a dud. On the other hand, if you overfill your bullet by filling it with too many grains of gunpowder, you can detonate it too violently, leading to an accident and possible injury.

Heavier bullets usually require more grains of gunpowder, or require larger grains of gunpowder to produce a proper explosion. Lighter bullets require fewer grains of gunpowder on average. However, this can vary dramatically from bullet to bullet depending on their materials, what types of weapons they’re used with, and more.

Bullet Size grains 9mm Luger 5.6 grains .223 25 grains .308 cartridge 45 grains

Again, be sure to use a gunpowder loading guide like the one recommended above to load your bullets carefully and safely, especially if you’re a beginner.

Smaller vs. larger grains

The size of the ball powder grains can also vary. With gunpowder, the smaller the grains, the more surface area is exposed to the priming substance. As a result, they usually burn faster than larger grains.

Of course, ammunition that uses smaller grains for its charge weight will detonate faster and with higher initial velocity from the barrel of a firearm. However, this earlier firing mostly ends before the bullet leaves the barrel of a firearm. Therefore, it does not maintain its speed for so long.

Larger grains are the opposite. Their surfaces are not exposed to explosives like smaller grains, so they take longer to burn through completely on their way down a gun’s barrel. So larger grains might be better when you need to make sure your bullet travels far and accurately without losing speed.

Note, however, that this is not a hard and fast rule, and different types of crops behave differently under fire (no pun intended). Be sure to refer to the loading guide above for specific bullet loads and load weights

Conclusion

Bottom Line: There are 7000 grains per pound of gunpowder. But remember, this doesn’t mean that you can simply divide 7000 by the bullet grain weight to know how many rounds you can fire. Each bullet’s grain weight measures its real weight, but the charge weight determines how many bullets you can make with a pound of gunpowder.

The author of Architect of Victory (WI354), Steve Wood, famous for Arcane Scenario, recently wrote an article for his blog (decorated with photos from his WI article – which we kindly let him ; ) entitled “Why play you still Black Powder? ‘ Read the article below and let us know what you think.

Read more on Steve’s blog at – http://arcanesceneryandmodels.co.uk/blog/

I was planning to write an updated guide to batch painting British Napoleonic figures based on my latest project, the 28th North Gloucestershire Regiment. I even went as far as making some step-by-step videos that I hope to post. However, rather than going straight into the painting, I thought I would give my project some context and background first. I’ve been stimulated by the number of questions that keep popping up on the social media feeds and forums I subscribe to, as well as everything else, and I hope that the series of posts will be useful for those new to the hobby.

I think veterans of the hobby forget how difficult and daunting it is for newcomers to delve into this odd hobby of collecting and painting Napoleonic figures or any other era in history. There is so much material out there, and while the internet makes this material easy to access, there is a lot of conflicting advice and some very open views that can be counterproductive. I hope the following helps, although I’m aware I’m just adding my own candid views to the mix!

To be clear, I have decided to paint and collect 28mm wargame figures to use mainly for “playing” wargames with my friends using the black powder rules. So before you even buy a pack of figures, you need to decide what scale figures you’re going to use and what rules you’re going to use. A good place to start would be to talk to the people you want to play wargames with and see what rulesets they use.

Why black powder?

When I first got back to the historical side of the hobby after a long time playing sci-fi games, I was looking for a set of rules that I could easily learn and play. I actually started with Sharp Practice version one. This had two attractions. First of all, you don’t need that many characters to start playing. In fact, I started with just 24 Victrix figures. Most importantly there were a couple of guys at the local club playing Sharp drills and they helped explain the rules and provided some extra figures when I needed them. Also, the rules had a certain charm, humor, and playability that made for a great game every time.

However, as my army grew, I looked for something that would allow me to raise a brigade or division. At that time, black powder was released randomly. It was and still is one of the best looking rulebooks out there. It was also easy to read and obviously designed for the joy of play rather than simply trying to recreate every drill tactic and nuance of the Napoleonic era. In fact, it’s not even a ruleset set specifically in the Napoleonic era, but rather a general guide to playing wargames throughout the “gunpowder” era. Brilliant! I would only have to learn a basic set of rules and I could play AWI or fight Zulus a hundred years later. Even better, it was co-written by Rick Priestly and Jervis Johnson, and these two know more than a thing or two about not only how to write a rule book, but how to strike the right note.

We play a game!

In a recent blog I mentioned attending a demonstration game on a Napoleonic Day in Bingham of all places. Most visitors were “non-wargamers” and were fascinated by the sight of so many model soldiers on the table. The game was very loosely based on the Battle of Quatre Bras and most of the characters were representative of the combatants present during the battle. That’s about as close as I’ve gotten to a historical battle. Most of the games I play take place at the White Hart Pub at a reasonably sized table covered with a battle mat with a few scenery pieces placed on top. Occasionally we create a scenario, with a river crossing or a delayed deployment of troops being the two easiest, but rarely is the game based on a real battle.

Back to the demo game. Visitors were curious to know what we were doing. We replied: “We are playing a game with Napoleonic soldiers who are the characters”. I don’t think they believed us. They wanted it to be more serious. Some of them finally got it. This was a group of friends enjoying each other’s company while playing with toy soldiers in a historical context. That’s all it has to be. If you want competitive tournament play, there are much better rules out there. If you want to recreate the smallest details of what actually happened in a battle, you might be better off joining a reenactment group. This way you can really trudge through the fields and mud. The good news is you won’t get shot…

However, the Black Powder rules offer you a great introduction to historical wargaming, with simple rules to learn and an emphasis on enjoying the game.

Next question…

Once you’ve decided on a ruleset, some decisions are made for you. What scale do I use? Black powder is rated at 28mm but will work with most scales including 1/72 or 15mm. I like 28mm scale. There is a fantastic range and selection of figures in 28mm, both plastic and metal. If you prefer something else, do it. Again, I suspect you’ll need to consult with your existing or potential gaming buddies. If they’re already using 20mm figures, it makes sense to join them. But I don’t think you’ll go far wrong with 28mm.

Bases is a tricky subject – but guidance is in the rules and I’ll share my advice later in this series of articles.

So how many figures do you need in a unit? Again, the answer lies in the established rules. A normal unit is 24 digits, but that’s not as rigid as you might think. We often use half size units to play big games at smaller tables. The only important thing is that there should be some parity with your opponent. I’ll share my thoughts on this in a later blog when I get into bases.

The really BIG question!

Which army will you build? To a certain extent, this is the most difficult decision you will have to make. Do you collect British, French, Austrian, Russian, Prussian or any of the myriad other Napoleonic states involved in the conflict? This decision is made even more difficult by the fact that you then have to choose a campaign period. In my opinion it doesn’t matter as far as wargaming goes. We like to play games where Pennisular Brits fight Waterloo Prussians. We even had a Mexican unit on the table!

It’s a tough decision because once you commit, you’re going to paint an army, and that’s going to be a long-term project. To be fair, there’s no reason you can’t have a Pick & Mix army with one unit from each nation. However, when it comes to researching and gathering an army, I think having a common thread will help. You also don’t have to choose the “best” army. During many years of the Napoleonic era, the French were on the rise and were able to defeat all who came. At the other end of the scale, the Spanish Army, while powerful in its day, doesn’t enjoy the same reputation in combat – it does have some nice uniforms though! The beauty of black powder is that the rules don’t matter. There are some optional rules that allow you to give the army certain qualities, but nothing prevents you from playing a “vanilla” rules game where Spanish troops face, say, Russians on equal terms. Not realistic? It does not bother me. As I keep saying, war gaming is the social side of the hobby. It’s a chance to bring these lovingly painted troops to the table and see if the dice are friendly enough to let you win a battle.

Finally

If you want to start collecting and painting troops for wargames in the Napoleonic era, I recommend starting with the Black Powder ruleset. This is what my wargaming army is based on, and whenever I start painting a new unit I keep these rules in mind. It means I’m clear on how many characters I need to build a unit, how I’m supposed to build them, and what they’re going to do in the game. Next week I will explain how I research, how I paint my characters. Regardless of which rule set you choose, I hope you enjoy playing with your friends as much as I do!

Incidentally, the images used in this blog were provided by Wargames Illustrated. The figures are from my own collection and will appear in issue 345 on the Wellington and Napoleonic Era theme. Which leads me to an afterthought. I’m a huge Wargames Illustrated fan (and was long before they accepted my article) – if you’re thinking of getting into the hobby go and pick up a copy of the magazine! It’s a great way to get an overview of the hobby and I still think the physical magazine is better than browsing through the internet!

Marin le Bourgeoys created the flintlock mechanism between 1610 and 1615 while serving as valet de chambre (a job title similar to a footman but with greater potential for advancement) for King Henry IV. Pulling the trigger on Bourgeoys’ creation released the hammer, which contained a sharpened piece of flint that struck a piece of steel called Frizzen, flicking it back and creating a shower of sparks that ignited a small pan of powder.

Copyright Oleg Volk

which then went through a tiny hole in the barrel and ignited a larger charge of gunpowder, the explosion of which shot the lead bullet down the barrel and onto its target. Here was the original Rube Goldberg machine – but as it was slightly less bulky and inconsistent in firing than its predecessors (doglock, matchlock, wheellock mechanisms) and therefore more deadly, it was soon adopted for guns of the 17th and 18th centuries. century, first in muskets and then in rifles. In America, the most famous forms of these were known as Kentucky or Pennsylvania long rifles and were used to accurately kill small game and later British soldiers and officers during the American Revolutionary War. In the mid-19th century a caplock system rendered the flintlock obsolete, although it persisted among the less equipped; In the first year of the American Civil War, Tennessee had over 2,000 flintlock rifles in service.

Today, the M249 Squad’s automatic weapon can fire 1,000 rounds per minute, and the M40 sniper rifle can hit targets at a half-mile range. Even a standard hunting rifle firing .30-06 rounds can hit targets up to 500 yards away. And yet the weapon of le Bourgeoys lives on. It’s not because the flintlock rifle competes with modern guns. Hunters and enthusiasts who continue to use flintlock rifles admire them as intricate machines and works of art; They use them to gain access to the special, longer hunting seasons that most states offer, during which the forests are much less crowded than during the normal hunting season and the game faces less pressure from hunters; They appreciate the challenge of killing an animal with such a weapon, just as American and European hunters did hundreds of years earlier.

This challenge is no exaggeration. To use a flintlock rifle effectively requires mastering two initially clumsy and tedious operations: loading and firing. It’s not about ripping open powder cartridges with your teeth and banging home a ramrod like you are in The Patriot. To become a skilled flintlock hunter, you’ll need to spend time at the shooting range, learn not to flinch when explosions go off near your nose, and hone your ammo and powder combination.

Black Powder Safety

1. Do not smoke near the black powder or your gun.

2. Mark your ramrod to show where it will sit on the muzzle when the gun is loaded. So you can be sure that your load is properly seated; You can also check that the weapon isn’t already loaded.

3. Only use black powder or Pyrodex, not smokeless black powder, which can damage the gun.

4. If the rifle does not fire, hold it pointed down to prepare for a pendant fire or delayed discharge.

5. Thoroughly clean the rifle after each shot. Black powder causes severe corrosion and deposits that can damage the rifle or, worse, cause a blockage or explosion.

1 Gather your ammo. The ammunition for a flintlock rifle is not a self-contained cartridge like a modern gun. There are three separate main parts here: fine-grained gunpowder for the initial explosion in the “flash pan”, coarser gunpowder for the main explosion in the barrel of the rifle, and the bullet, either a round lead bullet or a conical-shaped bullet like a Minie ball. However, the type of powder (coarseness ranges from “F” or very coarse to “FFFF” or very fine), the amount of powder and the bullet used depend on the caliber and twist ratio of the rifle barrel fired is typically between 85 and 100 grains, or 0.19 and 0.23 ounces. Testing different combinations of powder and bullet types on a shooting range is the best way to tune a loadout for accuracy.

2 Load the quick cartridge. Soldiers in the 18th century used paper “cartridges” that contained both powder and bullets for easy loading. Today, plastic “fast loaders” do much the same thing: the plastic tube contains the bullet, main charge, and flash pan powder. The ball or sphere is stuck at the bottom and faces up; The main powder charge (in the number of grains you chose) is poured into the top, and the finer Flash Pan powder comes in a small side container that can be poured into the pan separately. Capped, the Speedloader keeps all three elements in one place for easy loading and keeping the powder dry. (Note: If you’re using bullets instead of conical bullets, you’ll also need cloth patches.)

3 Fill the barrel with powder. After ensuring proper safety standards (knowing what’s behind your target and using an appropriate backstop), you’re ready to load the gun. The main powder charge in the barrel goes first. Its explosion will propel the bullet through the rifled barrel and onto the target. Lay the stock of the rifle on the ground in front of you, with the barrel pointing toward the sky. Keeping your head and face away from the end of the barrel, open your speedloader tube and pour the main powder charge into the barrel’s muzzle.

4 Load the barrel with the bullet. Next, align the barrel of the quick loader with the muzzle of the rifle. If using a conical bullet or minie ball, make sure the correct end is facing up so it’s pointing at the target once seated in the barrel. If using a bullet rather than a conical bullet, place a patch of cloth over the muzzle of the barrel before loading the bullet on it. This patch “seals” some of the space around the round ball to ensure it gains spin as it travels down the rifled barrel. Push the bullet down the barrel with a “starter rod,” a short rod with a wooden ball on the end. Once it is secure in the muzzle, switch to the longer ramrod and squeeze the bullet until it is firmly seated on the powder charge at the end of the barrel. Tap it lightly to make sure it’s snug – most ramrods have markings that should line up with the end of the barrel when the bullet is fully seated at the other end of the barrel. The powder and bullet are now ready to be fired.

5 Prime the pan. The powder in the pan first ignites when a shooter pulls the trigger and lets the flint fall in a shower of sparks onto the frizzen – which in turn will hopefully travel through a small pinhole to ignite the main charge in the rifle’s barrel. To load the pan, lift the frizzen to an open position and set the hammer to halfway. Fine black powder should be poured into the pan until it is almost full. Using a small metal pick, make sure the pinhole is clear from the pan to the barrel, then close the battery.

6 Secure at half tail. With the battery closed and the hammer half cocked, the flint should be firmly against the battery. Double check that your flint is in good condition with no cracks or chips. Some shooters prefer to place a small cloth or rag between the flint and battery at this point to ensure there are no accidental sparks. This is how the rifle is carried while hunting – be sure to hold the rifle carefully and check frequently to see if the powder in the pan has fallen out or gotten wet. Without them, you can’t shoot if a deer appears broadside 20 yards away.

7 Full hammer and aim. When shouldering the rifle, use your thumb to pull the hammer back to the full firing position. Most flintlock rifles have standard “iron” sights. As with any other weapon, you aim by lining up the center post between the two rear sight posts and then centering on your target. (The effective range is typically around 200 yards.)

8 Press the shutter button. Again, this is like firing any other type of gun: Exhale slowly, hold your breath, and then gently — rather than jerk or pull — pull the trigger straight back.

9 Follow through. After all that preparation, this is easily the hardest part of firing a flintlock. The normal human reaction is to flinch at explosions that occur inches from his face. You have to fight against that. Several things must happen between pulling the trigger and firing the bullet: the flint sparkles against the battery, the pan in the powder ignites, and then the main charge in the barrel. This can last up to 1.5 seconds and involves a smaller and then a larger BOOM, during which an accurate shooter must keep his aim absolutely still. This takes a lot of practice: you have to anticipate the explosions without reacting to them. So it’s time to hit the range.

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Have you ever tried shooting a shotgun or shotgun sport? Many don’t try, thinking shotgun kicks like a mule. That’s what rumors bring you, because not only does a shotgun not have to bounce back like a sledgehammer, it shouldn’t.

Modern shotgun technology has incorporated multiple independent systems to reduce recoil. Springs, dampeners, gels, and rubber components are regularly used, sometimes in combination, to reduce recoil. Of course, the shotgun shell itself has a lot to do with perceived recoil. The “secret” for determining expected recoil and stopping power is printed right on the packaging.

If you’re lucky, you’ll occasionally come across a box of shotgun shells that say “Low Recoil.” But most are not, which leads us to what is still printed on almost every box of modern shotgun shells produced today: dram equivalent.

The term “dram equivalent” is a holdover from the days when shotgun shells were loaded with black powder. Black powder is (or at least was) measured in ‘drams’. This is a weight measure where 16 dram equals one ounce. By this measurement, 256 drams of black powder weigh one pound. (Trivia bonus! A pound of black powder is actually known as an “avoirdupois pound.”) All of that is well and good when you’re shooting a black powder shotgun — and it’s not likely to be. The shotgun shells that you find on the shelves of your dealer today are of course loaded with modern smokeless propellants. These gunpowders are much lighter than black powder for the same volume, so using a black powder weight chart to load a grenade with smokeless powder would be akin to shoving a small stick of dynamite down the barrel.

Finally we have the term “dram equivalent”. The only word in this term that deserves focus is “equivalent”. Coupled with “dram,” this became a way for manufacturers to tell shotguns the power of the charge in the shell. This gives the shooters an idea of ​​how the grenade works – the amount of pressure generated by the smokeless powder compared to the black powder that these early smokeless powder users had become accustomed to for so long. These early smokeless shooters understood what 3 ½ drams of black powder felt like in their shotgun in terms of recoil and how it performed in terms of penetration. While there are few shotguns today that know what shooting black powder shotshells really feels like, the grading system stuck on crates of shotgun shells and is still used today.

In this video, World Champion Target Shooter and Babes with Bullets instructor Kay Miculek explains to novice shooters the differences between different cartridge loads and demonstrates firing patterns on paper targets. Miculek describes the dram equivalent simply as how much gunpowder is in the charge or cartridge.

Watch more videos from NSSF

The most important thing to remember is that the larger the dram equivalent, the larger the powder charge and more power the shell will produce. For example, most clay target sports dictate that shotgun shells must not be more than “3 drams equivalent” to minimize noise and distance of the shot in public firing ranges. (Also, clay shooters don’t want a heavy recoil load because such heavy loads will tire a shooter over a long day of competition of 100-200 rounds or more). Many hunting loads carry dram equivalent markings that are slightly higher. Regardless, when you’re armed with the knowledge of what dram equivalents really are, you’ll be better prepared to select the ammo that will best suit your intended shotgun needs.

At typical shooting distances, a well-functioning powder measure works well. But for longer ranges, many handloaders prefer to weigh each load for the best accuracy.

By Layne Simpson

The only way to ensure that each individual powder charge in a batch of cartridges weighs the same is to weigh them carefully on a scale. Despite this, many handloaders have found that a small variation in powder charge weight usually has little to no effect on accuracy up to the maximum distances they shoot, and because of this they save time by measuring charges rather than weighing them.

In conventional benchrest competitions, where targets are placed at 100 and 200 yards, high-level shooters average less than 1/4 m.o.a. Accuracy. They use about a dozen carefully prepared shells for each rifle and reload them between squadrons during a game.

Instead of weighing powder charges, they use precision engineered measures to throw them. Ask any of these guys how much Vihtavuori N130 he shoots in his 6mm PPC and instead of giving an answer in grains, he’ll probably tell you what setting he’s using on his Harrell or Culver powder measure.

Back when I was taking far more prairie dogs each summer than I do now, I decided to compare the accuracy of ammunition primed with weighed powder charges versus those thrown to the meter of a progressive press. Several different powders and bullets were loaded into the .223 Remington. I’ve shot the ammo in two specialty rifles in .223 Remington, both of which are capable of firing at 100 yards within half an inch. I also tried the charges in my railgun.

Groups fired at 500 yards showed no difference in accuracy between weighed and measured charges. Some of the ammo loaded on the progressive press was actually slightly more accurate in the railgun, but I’ve put that down to coincidence rather than consistent differences in powder charge delivery.

Benchrest shooters and varminters shoot small cartridges that burn relatively small powder charges, but metering powder for larger appetite cartridges can work just as well.

Before a rifle built by Kenny Jarrett is shipped to a customer, it must consistently fire three bullets within half an inch at 100 yards. I used to visit his shop often and occasionally made accuracy tested rifles for him for fun. The powder charges of all test ammunition used in Jarrett’s store are thrown through RCBS and Redding measures. A scale is used, but only when setting the measures to throw the desired charge weight. Ditto for his line of special ammunition.

For most of the reloads that most of us do, RCBS, Lyman, Lee, Hornady, and Redding powder measures are accurate enough. Benchrest shooters typically opt for precision machined units like Neal Jones’ Micro-Measure and Sinclair International’s Harrell and RFD/R.

Video that may interest you ×

Benchrest competitors sometimes tweak the loads they shoot between seasons, and the custom measures they use have more precise shot repeatability than some mass-produced products. I started using a Jones measure during my benchrest shooting days and still use it today. With many powders it’s not much better than high quality gauges available from other sources, but it works smoother and throws charges of coarse powder a little more evenly.

How a measure is used is extremely important. In order to throw charges with minimal variation, it must be operated exactly the same for each powder charge. If you bang the handle hard against its stops on one load and then squeeze it gently on the next, the weight of the two loads will likely vary more than if the handle were squeezed exactly the same both times.

I find a charge weight variation of 0.3 grains acceptable in the larger cartridges like .30-06 and up, but a good gauge that works properly and is filled with a smooth flowing powder should that be limited to no more than 0. hold 1 grain. When measuring extremely heavy loads, throwing two half loads into the case instead of a full load improves consistency with some measures. In other words, the handle is operated twice on a 40-grain setting instead of once on an 80-grain setting.

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Fine-grained powders dose more precisely than coarser powders with every dosing. Because of this, benchrest shooters use either bullet powder or fine-grain rod powder like Vihtavuori N130 and IMR-8208 XBR. The same applies to varmint cartridges.

Anytime I don’t use ball powder like W748 or A-2015 in the .223 Remington I use a small grit pen powder with Benchmark and V-N135. If the H4831 and IMR-7828 are your favorites for the .270 Winchester, finer granulated versions of these two powders, designated H4831SC (Short Cut) and IMR-7828SSC (Super Short Cut), flow more evenly than the originals and their burn rates are the same.

Digital dosing systems that can automatically measure and weigh powder loads are available from Lyman, RCBS, Hornady and PACT. After the machine has been programmed for the desired batch weight, pressing the start button or placing the pan on the digital scale causes powder to trickle from a storage hopper into the pan. Aside from being more precise than a standard gauge on large-grain powders, it completely eliminates operator inconsistency when throwing charges.

In order to get maximum efficiency from one, you may need to change your loading sequence a bit. When using a standard gauge, I load all the cases with powder before proceeding with seating bullets. Depending on the size of the charge delivered, a digital machine can take anywhere from five to 30 seconds to do its job. So if you put a bullet on a loaded case while the machine is dispensing powder for the next, the process speeds up a bit.

Distance to target often affects whether a handloader weighs or measures powder charges. Down to 500 yards I don’t think it’s important enough to bother, but when punching paper at longer distances those tiny variations can become huge, and for that I believe careful consideration of each load is the right one Is away.

Most of us load so few rounds of big game ammunition each year that weighing the loads isn’t a huge hassle. A lot of time can be saved when loading large quantities.

For powdered materials such as pharmaceuticals, dyes, proppants, and food, wettability is an important parameter to characterize. When the powders are immersed in a liquid, liquid can be drawn into the spaces between the powder particles by capillary forces. The wettability of the powder can be measured with a tensiometer and is related to properties such as bioavailability, color spread, breaking strength and mouthfeel. The sessile drop technique uses an optical tensiometer and is an option to measure powder wettability. In this measurement, a drop of liquid is placed on a surface and the contact angle is measured. Larger contact angle values ​​(>90°) indicate poor wettability and smaller contact angle values ​​(<90°) indicate good wettability. Contact angle goniometry of powders Many powders require sample preparation before measurement with an optical tensiometer. A common preparation is to compress the powder into a tablet using a press or other high-pressure device, as surface features and roughness can cause large variations in measurements. As can be seen in Figure 1, a poorly prepared powder sample can make establishing a baseline for the contact angle difficult or even impossible. An instrument with a high-speed camera is preferable if the powder is hydrophilic because the powder can absorb the droplet quickly. Hydrophobic powders can sometimes be measured directly if they are evenly distributed. A possible disadvantage of this approach is that the powder can crawl up the side of the liquid droplet and the liquid can distort the powder surface it was intended to study. Figure 1 – An as-is powder surface seen in an optical tensiometer. Because of the uneven surface, a baseline is difficult to determine. Force-based powder contact angle using the Washburn method A second way to measure powder wettability is to use a force tensiometer. In this instrument, the powder is placed in a spring-loaded jar with holes in the bottom. Filter paper is placed in the bottom of the jar to ensure powder does not fall out of the holes. A glass vessel with a porous sintered bottom can also be used for smaller amounts of powder. The vessel is then hung on the sample hook of the force tensiometer and immersed in the liquid. The tensiometer measures mass changes over time as liquid penetrates the powder. Figure 2 – The Sigma 700 force tensiometer (left) and the Theta Flex optical tensiometer (right). The contact angle can be measured by the Washburn equation, where C is the material constant, ρ is the density of the liquid, η is the viscosity of the liquid, γl is the surface tension of the liquid, and m2/t is the slope of the absorption curve. With the OneAttension software, a simple point-and-click operation allows the user to measure these relevant parameters. Figure 3 – A powder jar with filter paper (A), a jar with a sintered bottom (B) and a schematic of the powder wettability test performed by a force tensiometer (C). Images courtesy of Biolin Scientific. To determine the contact angle of a powder, measurements are typically carried out in two liquids. First the material constant C has to be calculated. A low surface tension liquid (usually hexane) is used because these liquids completely wet most materials and a zero contact angle can be assumed. Therefore, C is the only unknown in Washburn's equation and can be calculated directly. The second measurement uses the liquid of interest and the calculated C value can be used to determine the contact angle. In cases where an unknown liquid is used, the surface tension must be measured first. Figure 4 - The OneAttension software interface for powder wettability measurements. Mass (right y-axis) and mass2 (left y-axis) versus time are measured on the plot, and the contact angle, m2/t slope, cos(θ), and θ are shown in the right panel. For best results and reproducibility, the liquids used during measurements should be as pure as possible. Changes in purity affect the surface tension of the liquid and can cause measurement errors. In addition, the packing, mass and particle size of the powder should also be checked. The same mass of sample should be used for each measurement, and if the vessel is moved to improve packing, it should also be done in the same way each time. The washburn approach may not work for water contact angles if the powder is too hydrophobic as the liquid simply will not wick into the pores. Surface free energy of powders It is possible to measure the surface free energy (SFE) of a powder much like you would on a flat, planar surface. After using the Washburn method to obtain contact angles with at least two probe liquids with polar and disperse components (water and diiodomethane are the most common), one can use the OneAttension software to automatically calculate the SFE using the desired method.

What’s on a box of clams?

Have all the numbers and measurements on a box of shotgun shells confused you about what to buy? Sure, it can be confusing if you let it. Here’s a quick guide to making you a shotgun shell guru!

You bought a new shotgun and now you need cartridges for it. So you run to the local gun shop to buy some. But then you see all the mumbo-jumbo on the box – dram equivalent? ounces? shot size? – and uh, you’re confused! Well don’t be. Read this instead!

gauge

If you’re not sure what the gauge is, you need to do some research; but there are a few things the average shotgun might not know. Gauge is an Old English measure of bore diameter, reflecting the number of pure lead balls of the same diameter equal to one pound. For example, 12 gauge is 0.729 inch in diameter, so 12 solid lead balls with a diameter of 0.729 inch equal one pound. The smaller the number, the larger the caliber size (and usually more powerful the shotgun).

Strength has little to do with the size of a shotgun’s pattern – that’s determined by the choke – but more to do with the density potential of the pattern. While a 10-gauge shell can hold more shot and more powder than a 12-gauge shell of the same length, it’s not always loaded for it. Therefore, you must read the box and read on.

shot size

This is the diameter of the individual pellets, collectively called shot. Pellet diameter is referred to as “shot size” and conforms to an established system where the larger the number, the smaller the shot. For example, #8 pellets are smaller than #6 pellets. In general, the smaller the pellet, the smaller the game that should be hunted with it. For example, you can hunt pigeons with No. 8 shot and large geese with No. 2 shot.

Winchester’s AA #8 Target charges are effective on clay targets and pigeons, while their Xpert® Snow Goose charges combine #1 and #2 for optimal performance in the field.

ounces

This refers to the total weight of the payload. It is used for almost all sizes of shot, except for shot where the number of pellets is used. For example, a 1-oz. Charge of #8s has about 410 pellets. A 1-1/8 oz. Load has about 461 pellets. However, the heavier the charge, the more recoil it will generate, all else being equal.

dram equivalent

Centuries ago, shotgun shells were loaded with black powder measured in drams; 16 of them correspond to one ounce. After the advent of smokeless powder, shotgun shell handloaders needed a conversion system to understand black powder to smokeless powder equivalents. The term “dram equivalent” was coined.

Today, with a variety of modern powders, the dram equivalent is often a rough estimate. For example, a common 12 gauge dram equivalent for skeet loads is 3-¾, while some heavy new loads contain 4-½ dram equivalent. Regarding buckshot, many companies like Winchester now specify the velocity of the charge rather than the dram equivalent, which is a product of the powder charge and the payload.

length/pellet count

Shell length determines the shell’s ability to hold more pellets and powder, although this is not necessarily the case. Lengths range from 1-¾” to 3 ½” magnums. In general, a longer length means more pellets, more energy, more recoil, and less magazine capacity.

lead or steel

For waterfowl and migratory birds, hunters are required by law to use steel (or other lead-free) shot. For almost everything else, lead is desirable because of its heavier pellets, which carry energy more effectively than steel and expand when they hit a target.

Winchester’s Blind Side™ loads take waterfowl hunting to a whole new level. Blind Side™ uses steel shot shaped into a six-sided “hex” shape that offers increased trauma and wound channels, resulting in quick kills.

Buffered shot

Refers to the presence of buffering material that prevents the pellets from colliding at the moment of recoil (shot) and therefore keeps them as spherical as possible, ultimately improving the downrange pattern and energy of the charge.

Conventional fritters look like small pieces of cornmeal. Winchester went one step further and changed turkey hunting forever when they developed Long Beard XR® with Shot-Lok® technology. Shot-Lok is a hardened resin that looks like the pellets are glued together in the shell. When fired, the Shot-Lok breaks into micro-sized particles that protect the shot and nearly eliminate shot deformation. The result? Extremely tight patterns and a longer effective range that has produced world record patterns and tons of dead turkeys!

Plated shot

Copper plating adds extra protection to soft lead pellets to reduce deformation on recoil. This improves low end performance as rounder pellets fly more accurately. It usually adds a cost worth the performance improvements.

service rifle cartridge

“NATO round” redirects here. For the larger cartridge, see 7.62×51mm NATO. For the even larger 12.7×99mm NATO cartridge, see .50 BMG

The 5.56×45mm NATO (official NATO nomenclature 5.56 NATO, but often pronounced “five-five-six”) is a bottlenecked rimless intermediate cartridge family developed in Belgium by FN Herstal in the late 1970s. It consists of the SS109, L110 and SS111 cartridges. On October 28, 1980, it was standardized under STANAG 4172 as the second standard service rifle cartridge for NATO forces as well as many non-NATO countries. While not entirely identical, the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge family was derived from, and dimensionally similar to, the .223 Remington cartridge designed by Remington Arms in the early 1960s.

history [edit]

In 1954, the larger 7.62×51mm NATO rifle cartridge[8] was selected as the first standard NATO rifle cartridge. At the time of selection, there was criticism that the recoil strength of the 7.62×51mm NATO when fired from a light, modern hand-held service rifle did not allow for a sufficient automatic rate of fire for modern combat.

The British had ample evidence from their own experimentation with intermediate cartridges since 1945 and were on the verge of adopting the .280 (7mm) cartridge when the selection of 7.62×51mm (.300) was made as the NATO standard. The FN company was also involved in the development of the .280 cartridge, including the development of a .280 version of the FN FAL.[10] Concerns about recoil and overall 7.62mm effectiveness were overruled by the US, and the other NATO nations accepted that standardization was more important than selecting an otherwise ideal cartridge.

The development of the cartridge that would eventually become the .223 Remington (from which 5.56mm NATO was eventually developed) was inseparable from the development of a new light combat rifle. The cartridge and rifle were developed as a unit by Fairchild Industries, Remington Arms and several engineers based on a U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC) developed a goal. Early development work began in 1957. A project to develop a small caliber high velocity firearm (SCHV) was launched. Armalite’s Eugene Stoner was invited to scale down the AR-10’s design (7.62mm). Winchester was also invited to participate.[11][5] The parameters requested by CONARC:

.22 caliber

Bullet exceeds supersonic speed to 500 yards [11] [5]

rifle weight of 6 lbs

Magazine capacity of 20 rounds

Choose the fire for both semi-automatic and fully automatic use

Penetration of a US steel helmet through one side at 500 yards

Penetration of 0.135″ steel plate at 500 yards

Accuracy and ballistics are equivalent to M2 (.30-06 Springfield) ball ammunition out to 500 yards

Wound ability equal to M1 Carbine[5]

Springfield Armory’s Earle Harvey lengthened the .222 Remington cartridge case to meet the requirements. It was then known as the .224 Springfield. In parallel with the SCHV project, Springfield Armory was developing a 7.62mm rifle. Harvey was ordered to stop all work on the SCHV to avoid any resource competition.

Eugene Stoner of Armalite (a division of Fairchild Industries) was advised to produce a scaled down version of the 7.62mm AR-10 design. In May 1957, Stoner demonstrated the prototype AR-15 to General Willard G. Wyman, CONARC’s commander-in-chief. As a result, CONARC ordered rifles for testing. Stoner and Frank Snow of Sierra Bullet began work on the .222 Remington cartridge. Using a ballistics calculator, they determined that to achieve the required 500-yard performance, a 55-grain bullet would need to be fired at 1,006 m/s (3,300 ft/s).[5]

Robert Hutton (technical editor of Guns & Ammo magazine) began developing a powder charge to meet the 1,006 m/s (3,300 ft/s) target. He used DuPont IMR4198, IMR3031 and an Olin powder to work up loads. Tests were conducted using a Remington 722 rifle with a 22-inch Apex barrel. During a public demonstration, the cartridge successfully penetrated the US steel helmet as required. However, tests showed that the chamber pressure was excessive.[11][5]

Stoner contacted both Winchester and Remington to increase case capacity. Remington created a larger cartridge called the “.222 Special” loaded with DuPont IMR4475 powder.

In parallel testing of the T44E4 (future M14) and the AR-15 in 1958, the T44E4 suffered 16 failures per 1,000 rounds fired compared to the AR-15’s 6.1.

Because several different .222 caliber cartridges were developed for the SCHV project, the 222 Special was renamed the .223 Remington in 1959. A report was produced in May of that year stating that squads of five to seven people armed with AR-15 rifles had higher hit probabilities than squads of 11 people armed with M-14 rifles. At a picnic on July 4, Air Force General Curtis LeMay fired an AR-15 and was very impressed. He ordered some of them to replace M2 carbines used by the Luftwaffe. By November, tests at Aberdeen Proving Ground showed the AR-15 failure rate had declined to 2.5 failures per 1,000 rounds, leading to the M-16 being accepted for Air Force Trials.

Marksmanship tests in 1961 comparing the M-16 to the M-14 showed that 43% of M-16 gunners achieved “expert”, while only 22% of M-14 gunners did. General LeMay then ordered 80,000 rifles.[5]

In the spring of 1962, Remington submitted the specifications for the .223 Remington to the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI). In July 1962, operational testing ended with a recommendation for adoption of the M-16 rifle chambered in .223 Remington.

In September 1963, the .223 Remington cartridge was officially accepted and designated “Cartridge, 5.56mm ball, M193”. The specification includes a Remington-designed bullet and the use of IMR4475 powder, resulting in a muzzle velocity of 991 m/s (3,250 ft/s) and a chamber pressure of 52,000 psi.[5]

In 1970, NATO members signed an agreement to select a second, smaller caliber cartridge to replace the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.[12] Of the cartridges on offer, the .223 Remington (M193) was the basis for a new design by FN Herstal. The cartridge created by FN was called “5.56×45mm NATO” with a military designation SS109 in NATO and M855 in the US. These new SS109 ball shells required a 228 mm (1 in 9 in) twist rate, while adequate stabilization of the longer L110 Tracer projectile required an even faster 178 mm (1 in 7 in) twist rate.[5]

The Belgian 62-gram SS109 cartridge was selected as the second NATO standard rifle cartridge for standardization, resulting in STANAG 4172 of October 1980. The SS109 used a 62 gram full metal jacket bullet with a seven-grain mild steel tip to shift the center of gravity aft, increasing flight stability and therefore the likelihood of hitting the target tip first at longer ranges, in part to meet the requirement that the bullet must be able to penetrate one side of a WWII US M1 helmet at 800 meters (which was also the requirement). for the 7.62×51mm NATO). A real helmet was not used for development testing, instead a SAE 1010 or SAE 1020 mild steel plate positioned to hit at exactly 90 degrees. It had a slightly lower muzzle velocity but better long range performance due to a higher sectional density and superior drag coefficient. This requirement made the SS109 (M855) round less fragmentable than the M193. [citation needed] [14]

The .223 Remington cartridge inspired an international trend towards relatively small, lightweight, high-velocity military service cartridges that allow a soldier to carry more ammunition for the same weight compared to their larger and heavier predecessor cartridges, and have a favorable maximum at close range Range or “Battle Zero” characteristics and produce relatively low bolt thrust and free recoil momentum, favoring light weapon design and automatic fire accuracy. Similar intermediate cartridges were developed and adopted in 1974 by the Soviet Union (5.45×39mm)[17] and in 1987 by the People’s Republic of China (5.8×42mm).

Cartridge dimensions[ edit ]

The 5.56×45mm NATO has a cartridge case capacity of 1.85 ml (28.5 grains H2O).

5.56×45mm NATO cross-section

5.56×45mm maximum NATO cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm).[18][19]

Twist rate for this cartridge is 177.8 mm (1 in 7 in), 6 grooves right hand twist, Ø lands = 5.56 millimeters (0.219 in), Ø grooves = 5.69 millimeters (0.224 in).

Per STANAG 4172 and official NATO testing guidelines, the 5.56×45mm NATO case can withstand up to 420.0 MPa (60,916 psi) piezo operating pressure. In NATO regulated organizations, each rifle cartridge combination must be tested at 537.5 MPa (77,958 psi) to be certified for service issue. STANAG 4172 defines the Belgian ball cartridge SS109 as a NATO reference cartridge and adds a significant number of technical requirements such as: long standard proof run and primer sensitivity not covered by the civilian C.I.P. and SAAMI Munitions Decisions and Recommendations.[6]

The NATO military alliance uses a NATO-specific recognized class of procedures to control the safety and quality of firearms ammunition called NATO EPVAT tests. The civil organizations C.I.P. and SAAMI use less comprehensive testing procedures than NATO. The NATO Manual of Proof and Inspection AC/225 (LG/3-SG/1) D/8 specifies that any weapon or component considered vulnerable to the effects of rapid pressure change, e.g. B. Barrels, breech blocks and breeches, will be tested by firing a dry round at a corrected minimum of 25% overpressure and an oiled round at a corrected minimum of 25% overpressure. 25% gauge is 25% gauge of the working pressure, giving up to 430.0 MPa (62,366 psi) (P max ) piezo working pressure for the 5.56×45mm NATO. The working pressure is defined as the mean pressure that the working cartridge will produce at a temperature of 21°C (70°F). Such a high-pressure test is conducted with both the weapon and ammunition conditioned to an ambient temperature of 21 °C (70 °F). Each gun is individually tested from a batch of ammunition that produces a minimum corrected mean chamber pressure. The corrected proof pressure requirement (operating pressure (P max ) + 25%) for the 5.56×45mm NATO like the STANAG 4172 is 537.3 MPa (77,929 psi) (PE) piezo pressure. This pressure must be used in a NATO design EPVAT barrel with a Kistler 6215 pickup,[21][22] an HPI GP6 pickup[23] or with C.I.P. to be recorded. requirements.[20]

The US SAAMI lists the Maximum Mean Pressure (MAP) for the .223 Remington cartridge as 55,000 psi (379.2 MPa) piezo pressure with a variation of up to 58,000 psi (399.9 MPa).

Gun barrel configurations[ edit ]

When 5.56×45mm NATO was adopted as the standard in 1980, NATO chose a 178mm (1:7) twist rate for the 5.56×45mm NATO chambering to avoid the relatively long L110/M856 5.56 NATO × Adequately stabilize 45mm NATO tracer projectile. 5][25][26] The US at that time converted all rifles in inventory by replacing barrels, and all new US military rifles have since been made with this ratio.[27]

In the US, AR rifle manufacturers can supply barrels chambered in .223 Remington, .223 Wylde, 223 Noveske, or 5.56×45mm NATO in lengths ranging from pistol (7.5 in) to long rifle (24 Customs) specify. These barrels are also available with bores from 356 mm (1 in 14″) to 178 mm (1 in 7″). US manufacturers are moving towards 5.56×45mm NATO and 178mm (1 in 7″), which ensures the least adhesion. [28] Bolt-action rifles have few options in this regard. [citation needed] Those designed for .223 Remington may not have a fast enough rifle to stabilize the longer 5.56×45mm NATO bullets, which range up to 77 gr Some .223 Remington hunting loads range up to 90 grains.

performance [edit]

5.56×45mm NATO rounds in a STANAG magazine

The 5.56×45mm NATO SS109/M855 cartridge (NATO: SS109; USA: M855) with standard 62 g. Steel penetrator lead core bullets penetrate approximately 38 to 51 cm (15 to 20 inches) of soft tissue under ideal circumstances. As with all pointed projectiles, it tends to yaw in soft tissue. However, at impact velocities above approximately 762 m/s (2,500 ft/s), it can yaw and then fragment at the cannelure (the crimping groove around the bullet’s cylinder). These fragments can propagate through flesh and bone, causing additional internal injuries.[31]

Fragmentation, if and when it occurs, does much more damage to human tissue than the projectile’s dimensions and velocities suggest. This fragmentation effect is highly dependent on velocity and therefore barrel length: short-barreled carbines produce lower muzzle velocity and therefore lose wounding effectiveness at much shorter ranges than longer-barreled rifles.

Proponents of the hydrostatic shock theory claim that the shock wave from a high-velocity bullet produces wound effects beyond the tissue being crushed and lacerated directly by the bullet and fragments. However, others argue that tissue damage from hydrostatic shock is a myth. Critics argue that acoustic pressure waves do not cause tissue destruction and that the formation of transient cavities is the root cause of tissue destruction wrongly attributed to acoustic pressure waves.[36]

The SS109/M855 NATO bullet can penetrate up to 3 mm (0.12 inch) of steel at 600 meters.[37] According to Nammo, a Finnish-Norwegian ammunition manufacturer, the 5.56×45mm NATO M995 armor-piercing round can penetrate up to 12mm (0.47 in) of RHA steel at 100 meters.

The US Army Ballistic Research Laboratory measured a ballistic coefficient (G7 BC) of 0.151 and a form factor (G7 i) of 1.172 for the SS109/M855 ball projectile.[39]

The Swedish military has measured the bullet velocities of SS109/M855 military cartridges fired from different barrel lengths at 4 m (13.1 ft) from the muzzle.

Barrel Length SS109/M855 V 4 Bullet Velocity V 4 Velocity Loss 210 mm (8.3 in) 723 m/s (2,372 ft/s) 41 m/s (135 ft/s) 240 mm (9.4 in) 764 m/s ( 2,507 ft/s) 32 m/s (105 ft/s) 270 mm (10.6 in) 796 m/s (2,612 ft/s) 29 m/s (95 ft/s) 300 mm (11.8 inch) 825 m/s 18 m/s 330 mm 843 m/s 23 m/s 360 mm 866 m/s (2,841 ft/s) 12 m/s (39 ft/s) 390 mm (15.4 in) 878 m/s (2,881 ft/s) 14 m/s (46 ft/s) 420 mm (16.5 in) ) 892 m/s (2,927 ft/s) 14 m/s (46 ft/s) 450 mm (17.7 in) 906 m/s (2,972 ft/s) 9 m/s (30 ft/s) 480 mm (18.9 in) 915 m/s (3,002 ft/s) 7 m/s ( 23 ft/s) 508 mm (20.0 in) 922 m/s (3,025 ft/s) –

criticism [edit]

There has been much debate over the bullet’s alleged poor performance on target in terms of stopping power, lethality, and range. Some of this criticism was used to advocate a medium-sized cartridge between the 5.56 and 7.62 NATO sizes, while criticism of poor barrier penetration and accuracy was used to support the M855A1 EPR round. The criticism of range, accuracy and lethality is arguably related to the barrel length change and twist between the M16 and M4. The earlier 5,56 cartridges (M855 / SS109 and the original M193) were optimized for a 20-inch (51 cm) barrel with a 1:12 twist. The M4 carbine’s shorter 14.5-inch (37 cm) barrel (with a 1:7 twist) produces a lower muzzle velocity, reducing the likelihood of the bullet tipping over (yawing, fragmenting, or expanding) on ​​target ), resulting in less significant wounds.

The combat missions of the last few months have again shown performance deficiencies in the terminals with 5.56 x 45 mm 62 g. M855FMJ. These problems have primarily manifested themselves as insufficient incapacitation of enemy forces despite being repeatedly hit by M855 bullets. These flaws appear to be related to the bullets exiting the enemy soldier’s body without yawring or fragmenting. This yaw and fragmentation failure can be caused by reduced impact velocities when fired from short-barreled weapons or as range increases. It can also occur when the bullets penetrate only minimal tissue, such as a limb or chest of a thin, malnourished person, as the bullet can exit the body before it can yaw and fragment. In addition, many countries produce SS109/M855 bullets in numerous factories. Although all SS109/M855 types must weigh 62g. For FMJ bullets designed with a steel penetrator in the nose, the composition, thickness, and relative weights of the jackets, penetrators, and cores are quite variable, as are the types and locations of the cannulas. Due to the significant design differences between the SS109/M855 category bullets, final performance is very different – with differences in yaw, fragmentation and depth of penetration. [41]

Wound profiles in ballistic gelatin

Note: Images are not to the same scale M16 M193 5.56×45mm M16A2 SS109/M855 5.56×45mm NATO

When 5.56mm bullets do not disrupt tissue (yaw, fragment, or deform), the results are less significant wounds that may not inflict sufficient blood loss or damage to immediately stop the target’s attack or advance. This applies to some 5.56×45mm FMJ bullets at longer ranges. As expected, rapid incapacitation is unlikely with lower wound effects: enemy soldiers can still pose a threat to friendly forces, and violent suspects can remain a danger to law enforcement personnel and the public. This yaw failure of 5.56×45mm NATO bullets can be caused by reduced impact velocities when fired from short-barreled weapons or as range to the target increases. Yaw and fragmentation failures can also occur when the bullets penetrate minimal tissue, e.g. a limb or chest of a thin person of short stature, as the bullet can exit the body before it can yaw and fragment. Two other yaw issues: variations in angle of attack (AOA) between different projectiles, even within the same batch of ammunition, as well as variations in fleet yaw between different rifles, were discussed by the Joint Service Wound Ballistic Integrated Product Team (JSWB-IPT) in 2006 ), which included experts from the military law enforcement user community, trauma surgeons, aeroballistics, weapons and ammunition engineers, and other scientific specialists. These yaw problems were most noticeable at close range and were more common with certain calibers and bullet styles – most susceptible was 5.56×45mm NATO FMJ ammunition such as the SS109/M855 and M193. dr Martin Fackler[42]

The 5.56×45mm NATO Standard SS109/M855 cartridge was designed for maximum performance when fired from a 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel, as was the original 5.56mm M193 Cartridge. Experiments with longer barrels up to 610 mm (24.0 in) resulted in no improvement or reduction in muzzle velocities for the SS109/M855 cartridge. Shorter barrels produce a larger flash and noise signature, and adding a silencer to a short-barreled AR family rifle can make it unreliable due to the shorter time the propellant burns in the barrel and higher muzzle pressure levels at the entrance of the silencer can cause faster cycling and feeding problems. Unless the gas port can be regulated or set to higher pressures, silencers for short-barreled 5.56×45mm NATO firearms must be larger and heavier than standard-length rifle models to function reliably. SS109/M855 rounds fired from barrels less than 254 mm (10.0 in) long do not have enough muzzle velocity energy to cause extreme damage, which can only be achieved at terminal velocities in excess of 750 m/s (2,500 ft / s) occur on impact and reduce wounding capacity.[43][44]

Compared to larger calibers, proponents of the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge claim that animal testing on the wounding effects of the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge compared to the 7.62×39mm NATO Patrone have revealed that the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge is more damaging due to the post-impact behavior of the 5.56mm projectile, which results in more soft tissue cavitation.[45] The US Army claimed in 2003 that the 5.56×45mm NATO’s lack of lethality at close range was a matter of perception rather than fact. With controlled pairs and good shot placement to the head and chest, the target was usually taken down with ease. The majority of failures were the result of hitting the target in non-vital areas such as the extremities. However, a minority of failures occurred despite multiple hits to the chest.[46]

Some have claimed that shot placement is the most important parameter in determining a bullet’s lethality. Difficulties with the 5.56×45mm NATO at long ranges have been attributed to training. [47] Swedish ISAF units relied on heavy .50 BMG machine guns for long-range firing due to their resilience to factors such as range and wind drift. Underperformance is therefore attributed to errors in range and wind estimation, target guidance, firing position, and stress under fire, factors that can be corrected with training.

Improvements [edit]

Progress has been made on 5.56mm ammunition. The US military had adopted for limited releases a 77-grain (5.0 g) “match” bullet, type classified as Mk 262. The heavy, lightly constructed bullet fragments more violently at close range and also has a longer fragmentation range ] Originally Developed for use in the Mk 12 SPR, the ammunition found favor with special forces[50] looking for a more effective cartridge to fire from their M4A1 carbines. Commercially available loads of these heavier (and longer) bullets can be prohibitively expensive, costing much more than surplus military ammunition. Additionally, these heavy caliber loads sacrifice some penetrating ability compared to the M855 round (which has a steel penetrator tip). The performance of 5.56×45mm military ammunition can generally be classified as almost entirely dependent on velocity to effectively wound. Heavy OTM bullets improve soft tissue wounding ability at the expense of hard target/barrier penetration.

US special forces had attempted to create a cartridge that would increase the performance of carbine M4 barrels and compact SCAR-L barrels while increasing the performance of hard targets. Development efforts led to the creation of the Mk318. The bullet uses an open tip design to damage soft tissue and has a brass back to penetrate hard targets. The tip and lead core shatter constantly, even when using short barrels, while the butt moves through once the forend hits.[51] It has more consistent performance because it’s not yaw dependent like the M855; The nose shatters on impact and the solid rear penetrator travels relatively straight. This makes the Mk318 effective against personnel with or without body armor. The round also increases accuracy from 3–5 minutes of arc (MOA) with the M855 from an M4A1 barrel to 1.71 MOA at 300 yards and 1.67 MOA at 600 yards from a 14-inch SCAR-L barrel ( 360mm). ]

For general issue, the US Army adopted the M855A1 round in 2010 to replace the M855. The main reason was the pressure to use lead-free bullets. The lead slug is replaced with a copper alloy slug in a reverse drawn jacket, with a hardened steel penetrator extending beyond the jacket, reducing lead contamination of the environment. The M855A1 offers several improvements in addition to being lead-free. It is slightly more accurate, has better consistency of effects in terms of vulnerability, and has increased penetration. The 62-grain (4.0 g) projectile is better at penetrating steel, brick, concrete, and masonry walls, as well as body armor and sheet metal. It penetrates 9.5 mm (3⁄8 in) of mild steel at 350 yards what the M855 can only do at 160 yards. The propellant burns faster, which reduces muzzle flash and gives higher muzzle velocity, an important feature when fired from a short-barreled M4 carbine. Although the M855A1 is more expensive to manufacture, its performance makes up for it. One potential hazard is that when fired it creates much greater pressure in the chamber, reducing parts life and increasing the risk of catastrophic weapon failure (although this has not happened yet).

The US Marines adopted the Mk318 in early 2010 due to delays with the M855A1. This was a temporary measure until the M855A1 became available to them, which happened in mid-2010 when the Army began receiving the cartridges. Both the Mk318 and M855A1 weigh the same and have similar performance, and both outperform the M855 against all targets. SOCOM spent less money developing the Mk318 and it is marginally better than the M855A1 in some situations, but costs more per round. The Army spent more developing the M855A1, which performs as well or nearly as well as the Mk318, but is cheaper per round and has the advantage of being lead-free. While SOCOM is constantly looking for better equipment, the Army and Marines have far more troops to supply and more ammunition to buy than SOCOM.

Alternatives [edit]

If the 5.56mm bullet is moving too slowly to reliably yaw, expand, or fragment on impact, the wound size and potential to incapacitate a person is greatly reduced. There have been numerous attempts to create an intermediate cartridge that would address the complaints of lack of stopping power of 5.56 NATO as well as lack of rifle controllability observed when firing 7.62 NATO in full auto. Some alternative cartridges, such as the 300 AAC Blackout (7.62×35mm), focus on penetration and stopping power at close range while sacrificing long-range performance. These calibers are designed to be compatible with the 5.56 by maintaining similar dimensions, allowing them to be used in a 5.56 chambered rifle with a simple barrel swap.

By late 2004, the 6.8mm (6.8×43mm) Remington SPC saw limited use by US special operators. However, it was not adopted for widespread use due to resistance from officials to changing calibers. In 2007, both US-SOCOM and the US Marine Corps decided not to field weapons chambered in the 6.8×43mm due to logistical and cost considerations.

In April 2022, the US Army selected a new rifle and light machine gun as part of the Next Generation Squad Weapon Program. They will replace 5.56mm weapons chambered in 6.8×51mm Fury, which have greater accuracy and range while being more lethal than 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO against emerging threats.

5.56mm NATO versus .223 Remington[edit]

The external dimensions of the 5.56mm NATO and .223 Remington cartridges are identical.[13][60] While the cartridges are identical except for the powder charge, the chamber guide, i.e. the area where the rifle begins, is cut at a more acute angle on some commercial .223 chamberings. Because of this, a cartridge loaded to produce 5.56mm pressures in a 5.56mm chamber may develop pressures that exceed SAAMI limits when chambered in a .223 Remington fired with a short lead. Because the chambers are different, the headspace gauges used for the two chambers are different.[61]

Brass case [ edit ]

Die Maßangaben von 5,56 NATO und .223 handelsüblichen Messinggehäusen sind identisch. Die Gehäuse haben bei der Messung tendenziell eine ähnliche Gehäusekapazität, wobei Abweichungen hauptsächlich auf die Marke und nicht auf die Bezeichnung 5,56 gegenüber 0,223 zurückzuführen sind. Das hat zur Folge, dass es “5.56er Messing” oder “.223er Messing” nicht gibt, die Unterschiede bei den Patronen liegen in der Druckstufe und in der Kammerbleilänge, nicht in der Form oder Dicke des Messings.[62 ][63]

Im Juli 2012 forderte die US-Armee Anbieter auf, alternative Patronenhülsen bereitzustellen, um das Gewicht einer M855A1 5,56-mm-Patrone um mindestens 10 Prozent zu reduzieren, sowie für die 7,62 NATO- und .50 BMG-Patronen. Die Patronenhülsen müssen im vollständig montierten Zustand alle Leistungsanforderungen erfüllen, von der Lake City Army Ammunition Plant verwendet werden können und in Mengen von insgesamt etwa 45 Millionen pro Jahr hergestellt werden. Munition mit Polymergehäuse wird als wahrscheinliche Technologie für leichte Gehäuse erwartet.[64] Eine Hybrid-Polymer / Metall-Version eines herkömmlichen Patronengehäuses wäre dicker als normale Gehäuse und würde den Platz für das Treibmittel verringern, obwohl bestimmte Polymere thermodynamisch effizienter sein könnten und beim Abfeuern keine Energie an das Gehäuse oder die Kammer verlieren. [66]

Druck [ bearbeiten ]

C.I.P. definiert den maximalen Betriebs- und Prüftestdruck der .223 Remington-Patrone gleich der 5,56-mm-NATO bei 430 MPa (62.366 psi). Dies unterscheidet sich von der SAAMI-Maximaldruckspezifikation für .223 Remington von 380 MPa (55.114 psi), da CIP-Testprotokolle den Druck unter Verwendung eines gebohrten Gehäuses und nicht eines intakten Gehäuses mit einem konformen Kolben messen, zusammen mit anderen Unterschieden. Die NATO verwendet EPVAT-Drucktestprotokolle der NATO für ihre Munitionsspezifikationen für Kleinwaffen.[68][69] Unterschiede in der Testmethodik haben zu weit verbreiteter Verwirrung geführt, aber wenn sie mit identischen Messgeräten unter Verwendung identischer Methoden gemessen werden, ergibt .223 Remington Spitzendurchschnittsdrücke von etwa 5.000 psi unter 5,56 NATO.

Kammer [ bearbeiten ]

Die 5,56-mm-NATO-Kammer, die als NATO- oder Mil-Spec-Kammer bekannt ist, hat einen längeren Vorsprung, der dem Abstand zwischen der Mündung der Patrone und dem Punkt entspricht, an dem das Gewehr in die Kugel eingreift. Die .223 Remington-Kammer, bekannt als SAAMI-Kammer, darf eine kürzere Führung haben und muss nur auf den niedrigeren SAAMI-Kammerdruck geprüft werden. Um diese Probleme anzugehen, gibt es verschiedene proprietäre Kammern, wie die Wylde-Kammer (Rock River Arms) [71] oder die ArmaLite-Kammer, die sowohl für 5,56 × 45 mm NATO als auch .223 Remington gleichermaßen gut geeignet sind. Der Leade des .223 Remington Minimum C.I.P. Kammer unterscheidet sich auch von der 5,56-mm-NATO-Kammerspezifikation. Die Gehäuse und Kammern .223 Remington und 5,56 × 45 mm NATO haben praktisch die gleichen Abmessungen, aber aufgrund der Tatsache, dass .223 Remington für viel niedrigere Drücke ausgelegt ist als die 5,56 × 45 mm NATO, sind die Patronen nicht vollständig austauschbar. Das Abfeuern einer 5,56 × 45-mm-NATO-Patrone aus einem Gewehr mit einer Kammer von .223 Remington könnte sowohl für den Benutzer als auch für die Waffe schädlich oder tödlich sein. .223-Remington-Munition kann jedoch sicher von fast jedem Gewehr abgefeuert werden, das in einer 5,56 × 45-mm-NATO untergebracht ist as Die von der NATO spezifizierten Gewehre können mit viel höheren Kammerdrücken umgehen, als die .223 Remington produzieren kann.

Die Verwendung kommerzieller .223 Remington-Patronen in einem 5,56-mm-NATO-Kammergewehr sollte zuverlässig funktionieren, aber bis vor kurzem wurde angenommen, dass dies aufgrund der längeren Führung weniger genau ist als beim Abfeuern mit einer .223 Remington-Kammerkanone. Although that may have been true in the early 1960s when the two rounds were developed, recent testing has shown that with today’s ammunition, rifles chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO can also fire .223 ammunition every bit as accurately as rifles chambered in .223 Remington, and the 5.56×45mm NATO chamber has the additional advantage of being able to safely fire both calibers.[73] Using 5.56×45mm NATO mil-spec cartridges (such as the M855) in a .223 Remington chambered rifle can lead to excessive wear and stress on the rifle and even be unsafe, and SAAMI recommends against the practice.[74][75] Some commercial rifles marked as “.223 Remington” are in fact suited for 5.56×45mm NATO, such as many commercial AR-15 variants and the Ruger Mini-14 (marked “.223 cal”, except the Mini-14 “Target” model, which only fires .223), but the manufacturer should always be consulted to verify that this is acceptable before attempting it, and signs of excessive pressure (such as flattening or gas staining of the primers) should be looked for in the initial testing with 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition.[76]

The upper receiver (to which the barrel with its chamber are attached) and the lower receiver are entirely separate parts in AR-15 style rifles. If the lower receiver has either .223 or 5.56 stamped on it, it does not guarantee the upper assembly is rated for the same caliber, because the upper and the lower receiver in the same rifle can, and frequently do, come from different manufacturers – particularly with rifles sold to civilians or second-hand rifles that have been repaired with spare parts. Since all parts are interchangeable, a shooter must take great caution to check for markings of 5.56×45mm on the barrel before attempting to fire 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition out of it.[citation needed]

In more practical terms, as of 2010 most AR-15 parts suppliers engineer their complete upper assemblies (not to be confused with stripped uppers where the barrel is not included) to support both calibers in order to satisfy market demand and prevent any potential problems. Some manufacturers have begun offering a hybrid .223 Wylde chamber designed to optimally support both cartridges.[citation needed]

Ammunition capacity for weight comparison [ edit ]

The first confrontations between the AK-47 and the M14 rifle came in the early part of the Vietnam War. Battlefield reports indicated that the M14 was uncontrollable in full-auto and that soldiers could not carry enough ammo to maintain fire superiority over the AK-47.[77] A replacement was needed, as a result, the Army was forced to reconsider a 1957 request by General Willard G. Wyman, commander of the U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC) to develop a .223 caliber (5.56 mm) select-fire rifle weighing 6 lbs (2.7 kg) when loaded with a 20-round magazine.[citation needed]

Colt ArmaLite AR-15 Model 01 with 20-round magazine

An M16A1 with 30-round magazine

This request ultimately resulted in the development of a scaled-down version of the Armalite AR-10, called ArmaLite AR-15 rifle.[78][79][80] During testing it was found that a 5- to 7-man team armed with the ArmaLite AR-15s has the same firepower as 11-man team armed with M14s.[81] Also, soldiers armed with ArmaLite AR-15s could carry nearly three times more ammunition as those armed with M14s (649 rounds vs 220 rounds).[81] The ArmaLite AR-15, officially designated Rifle, caliber 5.56 mm, M16, was later adopted by U.S. infantry forces as the standard issue rifle.[10][5]

Here is a table comparing rifles based on a maximum ammunition load in box magazines of 10 kg (22 lb).

Rifle Cartridge Cartridge weight Weight of loaded magazine Max. 10 kilogram ammo load AK-47 (1949) 7.62×39mm 252 gr (16.3 g) 30 rd mag at 819 g (1.806 lb)[82][83] 12 mags at 9.83 kg (21.7 lb) for 360 rds[84] M14 (1959) 7.62×51mm NATO 393 gr (25.5 g) 20 rd mag at 750 g (1.65 lb) 13 mags at 9.75 kg (21.5 lb) for 280 rds[84] M16 (1962) .223 Remington 183 gr (11.9 g) 20 rd mag at 320 g (0.71 lb) 31 mags at 9.92 kg (21.9 lb) for 620 rds[84] AK-74 (1974) 5.45×39mm 162 gr (10.5 g) 30 rd mag at 545 g (1.202 lb)[83][85] 18 mags at 9.81 kg (21.6 lb) for 540 rds[84] M16A2 (1982) 5.56×45mm NATO 190 gr (12.3g) 30 rd mag at 490 g (1.08 lb) 20 mags at 9.80 kg (21.6 lb) for 600 rds[84]

5.56mm NATO versus 7.62mm NATO [ edit ]

Cartridge Model Cartridge size Cartridge weight Bullet weight Velocity Energy 5.56mm NATO M855 5.56mm (5.56 × 45 mm) Ammunition 5.56×45mm 12.31 g (190 gr) 4.02 g (62 gr) 922 m/s (3,025 ft/s) 1,709 J[86] 7.62mm NATO M80 7.62mm (7.62 × 51 mm) Ammunition 7.62×51mm 25.40 g (392 gr) 9.33 g (144 gr) 838 m/s (2,749 ft/s) 3,275 J

Hit probability refers to the ability of a soldier to concentrate on firing in spite of their weapon’s recoil and noise, which is noticeably different between the two cartridges. The 7.62 NATO has twice the impact energy of the 5.56 NATO, preferable if a target is protected by higher level armor, especially at “medium” range. If not, both rounds normally penetrate satisfactorily through enemies up to 600 meters, approximately. A 5.56 NATO round fired from a 20 in (510 mm) barrel has a flatter trajectory than a 7.62 NATO round fired from a barrel of equal length, while the 5.56 NATO fired from a 14.5 in (370 mm) barrel has the same trajectory as the 7.62 NATO from a 20 in barrel, as well as the same time of flight. A 7.62 NATO round reaches 50 percent of its velocity within 80 mm (3.1 in) of the barrel when fired, so decreasing the barrel length for close quarters combat results in increased muzzle pressure and greater noise and muzzle flash.[48][47]

Military cartridges [ edit ]

Images of U.S. 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition

Australia [ edit ]

Cartridge, Ball, F1 (1985-2010?): 5.56×45mm FN SS109 equivalent produced by Thales Australia, formerly Australian Defence Industries (ADI).

(1985-2010?): 5.56×45mm FN SS109 equivalent produced by Thales Australia, formerly Australian Defence Industries (ADI). Cartridge, Ball, F1A1 [Green tip] (2010–present): 5.56×45mm with optimized projectile having a modified boat tail length and meplat diameter, redesigned case thickness, new primer cup design, and AR2210V01 propellant. [87] [88] Unlike the F1 cartridge, the F1A1 headstamp has a dimple at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock. This is a hallmark of the automated SCAMP loading machinery used to make the new cartridges.

(2010–present): 5.56×45mm with optimized projectile having a modified boat tail length and meplat diameter, redesigned case thickness, new primer cup design, and AR2210V01 propellant. Unlike the F1 cartridge, the F1A1 headstamp has a dimple at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock. This is a hallmark of the automated SCAMP loading machinery used to make the new cartridges. Cartridge, Blank, F3 [Crimped tip] (1985-1994; 1998–Present): 5.56×45mm Blank cartridge produced by Thales Australia, formerly Australian Defence Industries (ADI). Due to low demand lots are made every three years.

Austria [edit]

Round, 5.56mm Ball, M193: M193 equivalent produced by Hirtenberger Patronen[89]

Belgium[ edit ]

Cartridge, Ball, SS109: 5.56×45mm 61-grain [3.95 g][90] Semi-Armor-Piercing cartridge w/. steel penetrator produced by Fabrique Nationale. Adopted in 1979 as the NATO standard.[12]

Canada[ edit ]

Cartridge, Ball, C77 : 5.56×45mm FN SS109 equivalent used in the C7, C8 and C9 type weapons. Made by General Dynamics Canada. [91]

: 5.56×45mm FN SS109 equivalent used in the C7, C8 and C9 type weapons. Made by General Dynamics Canada. Cartridge, Tracer, C78 : 5.56×45mm FN SS110 equivalent used in the C7, C8 and C9 type weapons. Made by General Dynamics Canada.

: 5.56×45mm FN SS110 equivalent used in the C7, C8 and C9 type weapons. Made by General Dynamics Canada. Cartridge, Blank, C79 [Crimped tip]: 5.56×45mm blank cartridge used in the C7, C8 and C9 type weapons. Also made by General Dynamics Canada.

France [ edit ]

Ammunition made by GIAT.

Type O ( Ordinaire , “Standard” or “Ball”): A Full-Metal-Jacketed lead-core bullet similar to the US M193. It was used with the FAMAS.

A Full-Metal-Jacketed lead-core bullet similar to the US M193. It was used with the FAMAS. Type T (Traçant, “Tracer”): A tracer bullet similar to the US M196.

Germany [edit]

Patrone AA59, 5.56×45mm, DM11, Weichkern (“Soft-core”, or Ball) [Green tip] : 5.56×45mm 4.1 g dual core ball cartridge w/steel core, similar to M855/SS109, produced by RUAG Ammotec. [92]

: 5.56×45mm 4.1 g dual core ball cartridge w/steel core, similar to M855/SS109, produced by RUAG Ammotec. Patrone, 5.56×45mm, DM11 A1, Weichkern [Green tip] : 5.56×45mm 4.0 g (62gr) dual core ball cartridge w/steel core, similar to M855/SS109, designed for and used by the German Bundeswehr with NATO approval (AC/225-125A), produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. [93]

: 5.56×45mm 4.0 g (62gr) dual core ball cartridge w/steel core, similar to M855/SS109, designed for and used by the German Bundeswehr with NATO approval (AC/225-125A), produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. Patrone, 5.56×45mm, DM18, Manöver (“Maneuver”) : Blanks with brass base, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. [93]

: Blanks with brass base, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. Patrone AA63, 5.56×45mm, DM21, Leuchtspur (Tracer) [Orange tip] : 5.56×45mm tracer complement to DM11, also produced by RUAG Ammotec.

: 5.56×45mm tracer complement to DM11, also produced by RUAG Ammotec. Patrone, 5.56×45mm, DM31, Hartkern (“Hard-core”, or Armor Piercing) : 5.56×45mm 4.0 g (62gr) armor piercing cartridge w/tungsten carbide core, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. [93]

: 5.56×45mm 4.0 g (62gr) armor piercing cartridge w/tungsten carbide core, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. Patrone, 5.56×45mm, DM38, Übung (“Practice”) : 5.56×45mm 0.5 g (7.70gr) plastic training cartridge, plastic case cartridge colored light blue with a light 7.7-grain plastic bullet designed for short ranges with a dangerous space under 400-metre, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. [93]

: 5.56×45mm 0.5 g (7.70gr) plastic training cartridge, plastic case cartridge colored light blue with a light 7.7-grain plastic bullet designed for short ranges with a dangerous space under 400-metre, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. Patrone, 5.56×45mm, DM41 A1, Weichkern : 5.56×45mm 4.0 g (62gr) FMJ cartridge, similar to M855/SS109 but without the steel penetrator tip, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. [93]

: 5.56×45mm 4.0 g (62gr) FMJ cartridge, similar to M855/SS109 but without the steel penetrator tip, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH. Patrone, 5.56×45mm, DM51: 5.56×45mm 3.6 g (55gr) deformation pure copper cartridge designed for high energy transfer to soft targets, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH.[93]

South Africa[ edit ]

Switzerland [edit]

5,6mm Gw Pat 90: The 63-grain 5.56×45mm Gewehrpatrone 90 / 5,6mm Gw Pat 90 (“5.6-mm Rifle Cartridge 90”) is the Swiss Army’s standard 5.56mm Ball round. It is optimized for use with the Sturmgewehr 90 service rifle, both which were adopted in 1987. The Sturmgewehr 90 rifled barrel has 6 right-hand grooves and a Swiss Army specification 254 mm (1:10 in) rifling twist rate. Originally the cartridge had a cupronickel-plated steel-jacketed bullet and Berdan primer, but it now has a tombac-jacketed bullet and lead-free Boxer primer. Since 1997 most components of the round are made in Switzerland.

United Kingdom[ edit ]

United States[edit]

Military ammunition was packed exclusively in 20-round cartons from 1963 to 1966. In late 1966 the 10-round stripper clip and magazine-charging adapter were introduced and ammunition began being packed in clips in bandoleers.

US Army [ edit ]

Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, M193 : 5.56×45mm 55-grain [3.56 g] ball cartridge. This was type-standardized and designated by the US Army in September, 1963.

: 5.56×45mm 55-grain [3.56 g] ball cartridge. This was type-standardized and designated by the US Army in September, 1963. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Grenade, M195 [Crimped tip with Red lacquer seal] : 5.56×45mm high-pressure grenade-launching blank.

: 5.56×45mm high-pressure grenade-launching blank. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Tracer, M196 [Red or Orange tip] : 5.56×45mm 54-grain [3.43 g] tracer cartridge.

: 5.56×45mm 54-grain [3.43 g] tracer cartridge. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, High Pressure Test (HPT), M197 [stannic-stained or nickel-plated case]: High-pressure Testing cartridge used when proofing weapons during manufacture, test, or repair.

[stannic-stained or nickel-plated case]: High-pressure Testing cartridge used when proofing weapons during manufacture, test, or repair. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Dummy, M199 [No primer, Fluted case] : 5.56×45mm inert cartridge with fluted indentations in the case. Used for loading and unloading drills during basic training.

: 5.56×45mm inert cartridge with fluted indentations in the case. Used for loading and unloading drills during basic training. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Blank, M200 [Crimped tip with Violet lacquer seal] : 5.56×45mm training blank cartridge.

: 5.56×45mm training blank cartridge. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, M202 : 5.56×45mm 58-grain FN SSX822 cartridge.

: 5.56×45mm 58-grain FN SSX822 cartridge. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Dummy, M232 [No primer, Black-anodized case and bullet] : 5.56×45mm inert cartridge. Used for testing rifle mechanisms.

: 5.56×45mm inert cartridge. Used for testing rifle mechanisms. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, XM287 : 5.56×45mm 68-grain ball cartridge produced by Industries Valcartier, Inc. An Improved version was also produced designated XM779 .

: 5.56×45mm 68-grain ball cartridge produced by Industries Valcartier, Inc. An Improved version was also produced designated . Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Tracer, XM288 : 5.56×45mm 68-grain tracer cartridge produced by Industries Valcartier, Inc. An Improved version was also produced designated XM780 .

: 5.56×45mm 68-grain tracer cartridge produced by Industries Valcartier, Inc. An Improved version was also produced designated . Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Grenade, M755 [Crimped tip with Yellow lacquer seal] : 5.56×45mm grenade launching blank specifically for the 64mm M234 launcher. The original white lacquer seal was discontinued due to excessive bore fouling. Its design is otherwise an exact duplicate of the M195 Grenade cartridge.

: 5.56×45mm grenade launching blank specifically for the 64mm M234 launcher. The original white lacquer seal was discontinued due to excessive bore fouling. Its design is otherwise an exact duplicate of the M195 Grenade cartridge. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, XM777 : 5.56×45mm ball cartridge. An attempt to create a 55-grain SS109-style Semi-Armor-Piercing round that weighed the same as the M193 and could use the same US-standard 1-in-12-inch rifling. It replaced the 6×45mm SAW round as the baseline cartridge for the Squad Automatic Weapon trials in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

: 5.56×45mm ball cartridge. An attempt to create a 55-grain SS109-style Semi-Armor-Piercing round that weighed the same as the M193 and could use the same US-standard 1-in-12-inch rifling. It replaced the 6×45mm SAW round as the baseline cartridge for the Squad Automatic Weapon trials in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Tracer, XM778 : 5.56×45mm tracer cartridge mated with the XM777 Semi-Armor-Piercing cartridge.

: 5.56×45mm tracer cartridge mated with the XM777 Semi-Armor-Piercing cartridge. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, M855 [Green tip] : 5.56×45mm 62-grain FN SS109-equivalent ball cartridge with a steel penetrator tip over a lead core in a full copper jacket.

: 5.56×45mm 62-grain FN SS109-equivalent ball cartridge with a steel penetrator tip over a lead core in a full copper jacket. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, M855LF Lead Free [Green tip] : 62-grain bullet with a steel penetrator tip over a tungsten-composite core in a full copper jacket. Primarily used during training in countries with strict lead disposal laws.

: 62-grain bullet with a steel penetrator tip over a tungsten-composite core in a full copper jacket. Primarily used during training in countries with strict lead disposal laws. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round [unpainted steel penetrator tip] (2010–Present): 62-grain bullet w/ a 19-grain steel penetrator tip over a copper alloy core in a partial copper jacket. [111]

(2010–Present): 62-grain bullet w/ a 19-grain steel penetrator tip over a copper alloy core in a partial copper jacket. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Tracer, M856 [Orange tip] : 5.56×45mm 63.7-grain FN L110 tracer cartridge. Provides red visible light and lacks a steel penetrator.

: 5.56×45mm 63.7-grain FN L110 tracer cartridge. Provides red visible light and lacks a steel penetrator. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Tracer, M856A1 [Red tip] : 5.56×45mm 56-grain Lead Free slug (LF) Tracer with similar ballistic performance to the M855A1 and improved 70 to 900 m (77 to 984 yd) visible trace to range consistency. [112] [113]

: 5.56×45mm 56-grain Lead Free slug (LF) Tracer with similar ballistic performance to the M855A1 and improved 70 to 900 m (77 to 984 yd) visible trace to range consistency. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Plastic, Practice, M862 [Brass primer, Aluminum case and Blue plastic projectile] : Short Range Training Ammo (SRTA) uses a light plastic bullet with a maximum range of just 250 meters. Because the M862 has less energy, the M2 training bolt must be used in the M16 Rifle / M4 Carbine for the weapon to cycle properly. The M2 training bolt and M862 cartridge case use a smaller-than-standard head diameter as a safety feature: this prevents standard ammunition from being able to be chambered or fired. The M862 SRTA is typically used for training on shooting ranges that are limited in size, such as near built-up or populated areas.

: (SRTA) uses a light plastic bullet with a maximum range of just 250 meters. Because the M862 has less energy, the M2 training bolt must be used in the M16 Rifle / M4 Carbine for the weapon to cycle properly. The M2 training bolt and M862 cartridge case use a smaller-than-standard head diameter as a safety feature: this prevents standard ammunition from being able to be chambered or fired. The M862 SRTA is typically used for training on shooting ranges that are limited in size, such as near built-up or populated areas. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Armor Piercing, M995 [Black tip] : 5.56×45mm 52-grain AP cartridge with a tungsten core.

: 5.56×45mm 52-grain AP cartridge with a tungsten core. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Tracer, XM996 [Crimson tip]: So-called “Dim Tracer” with reduced effect primarily for use with night vision devices.

US Air Force [ edit ]

Cartridge, Caliber 5.64 mm, Ball, MLU-26/P (Munition, Live, Unit #26 / Personnel use)[114] (Federal Stock Number (FSN): 1305-968-5892, DOD Identification Code (DODIC): A066; assigned 1 January 1962): Early USAF designation for a 55-grain 5.56×45mm FMJ Boat-Tailed ball cartridge produced by Remington-Union Metallic Cartridge Company. It was their designation for the commercial 55-grain .223 Remington M.C. (“Metallic-Cased”, or Full Metal Jacketed) cartridge, which the Air Force initially designated “5.64 mm” (.222 caliber) rather than 5.56 mm (.218 caliber). The first order in 1963 (headstamped RA 63 or REM-UMC 63) consisted of 8.5 million rounds and was procured for testing, training and unconventional warfare use with the XM16 rifle. The cartridges came packed unclipped in white 20-round commercial ammunition cartons, packed 35 cartons (700 rounds) per M2A1 ammo can, and shipped two M2A1 cans (1400 rounds in total) per wire-bound plywood crate. Until the Army’s adoption of the M193 Ball round, this was the only type of military 5.56mm ammunition available in the South-East Asia theater.

US Navy & US Marine Corps [ edit ]

Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Frangible, MK 255 MOD 0 [White Tip] : 5.56×45mm 62-grain Reduced Ricochet Limited Penetration (RRLP) round with copper/polymer composite core for training and operational use. [115]

: 5.56×45mm 62-grain (RRLP) round with copper/polymer composite core for training and operational use. Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Special Ball, Long Range, Mk 262 MOD 0/1 : 5.56×45mm 77-grain Open-Tipped Match/Hollow-Point Boat-Tail cartridge. MOD 0 features Sierra Matchking bullet, while MOD 1 features either Nosler or Sierra bullet.

: 5.56×45mm 77-grain Open-Tipped Match/Hollow-Point Boat-Tail cartridge. MOD 0 features Sierra Matchking bullet, while MOD 1 features either Nosler or Sierra bullet. Cartridge, 5.56×45mm, semi-jacketed Frangible, MK 311 MOD 0 : Reduced Ricochet Limited Penetration (R2LP) round, 50-grain frangible bullet intended for training. Produced by Western Cartridge Company (headstamp: WCC).

: round, 50-grain frangible bullet intended for training. Produced by Western Cartridge Company (headstamp: WCC). Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm Ball, Enhanced 5.56 mm Carbine, MK318 MOD 0: 5.56×45mm 62-grain Open-Tipped Match Boat-Tail cartridge. Optimized for use with 14-inch barreled weapons like the M4A1 Carbine and MK16 SCAR and designed to penetrate light barriers like windshields or car doors with no loss of accuracy or damage.[116][117] Now designated as Caliber 5.56 mm Ball, Carbine, Barrier.

In 1970, NATO decided to standardize a second rifle caliber. Tests were conducted from 1977 to 1980 using U.S. XM777 5.56 mm, Belgian SS109 5.56 mm, British 4.85×49mm, and German 4.7×33mm caseless. No weapon could be agreed upon, as many were prototypes, but the SS109 was found to be the best round and standardized on 28 October 1980. The SS109 was developed in the 1970s for the FN FNC rifle and the FN Minimi machine gun. To increase the range of the Minimi, the round was created to penetrate 3.5 mm of steel at 600 meters. The SS109 had a steel tip and lead rear and was not required to penetrate body armor. Barrels required at least a 1:9 in rifle twist, but needed a 1:7 in rifle twist to fire tracer ammunition.[48][47][52] The US designated the SS109 cartridge the M855 and first used it in the M16A2 rifle. The 62-grain round was heavier than the previous 55-grain M193. While the M855 had better armor penetrating ability, it is less likely to fragment after hitting a soft target. This lessens kinetic energy transfer to the target and reduces wounding capability.[118] The M855 is yaw dependent, meaning it depends on the angle upon which it hits the target. If at a good angle, the round turns as it enters soft tissue, breaking apart and transferring its energy to what it hits. If impacting at a bad angle, it could pass through and fail to transfer its full energy.[54] The SS109 was made to pierce steel helmets at long range from the Minimi, not improve terminal performance on soft tissue from rifles or carbines.[42] In Iraq, troops that engaged insurgents at less than 150 yards found that M855 rounds did not provide enough stopping power. In addition to not causing lethal effects with two or more rounds, they did not effectively penetrate vehicle windshields, even with many rounds fired at extremely close range.[119] In Afghanistan, troops found that M855 rounds also suffered at long ranges. Although 5.56 mm rifles have an effective range of 450–600 meters, the M855 bullet’s performance falls off sharply beyond 300 meters. The ranges are even shorter for short-barreled carbines. Half of small-arms attacks were launched from 300 to 900 meter ranges.[120] An M855 fired from an M4 Carbine has severely degraded performance beyond 150 meters.[42]

The maximum effective point target range of an M4 carbine with M855 rounds is 500 m (547 yd), with a maximum effective area target range of 600 m (656 yd). These mark the greatest distances the rounds can be expected to accurately hit the target, not the ranges that they have terminal effectiveness against them. Because the M855 is yaw dependent it requires instability in flight to deform upon hitting the target. It is the most stable in flight between 150–350 m (164–383 yd), potentially lessening its effectiveness if it strikes an enemy between those distances. In addition to this, tests have shown that 5.56 mm bullets fragment most reliably when traveling faster than 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s). From full-length 20 in (508 mm) rifle and machine gun barrels, rounds exhibit velocities above 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) out to 200 m (219 yd). An M855 fired from a shorter barreled M4 carbine exhibits a bullet velocity of 2,522 ft/s (769 m/s) at 150 m (164 yd) range. Even if it impacts at optimum speeds, 70 percent of 5.56 mm bullets will not begin to yaw until 4.7 in (120 mm) of tissue penetration. 15 percent more begin to yaw after that distance, so up to 85 percent of rounds that hit do not start to fragment until nearly 5 in of penetration. Against small statured or thin combatants, the M855 has little chance of yawing before passing through cleanly and leaving a wound cavity no bigger than the bullet itself. The factors of impact angle and velocity, instability distance, and penetration before yaw reduce the round’s predictable effectiveness considerably in combat situations.[121]

M855A1 [ edit ]

M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round and its environmentally friendly (lead-free) projectile

The M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR) was introduced in June 2010. It features a lead-free 62 grain (4.0 g) projectile with a solid copper core, and is tailored for use in rifles with shorter barrels such as the M4 carbine. It provides more consistent performance compared to the M855.[112]

Deployment [ edit ]

On 24 June 2010, the United States Army announced it began shipping its new 5.56 mm cartridge, the M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR), to active combat zones. During testing, the M855A1 performed better than M80 7.62×51mm NATO ball ammunition against certain types of targets (particularly hardened steel). However, this was due to the addition of the steel penetrator to the M855A1 projectile compared to the standard lead-alloy core of the M80 projectile and is not an accurate comparison between the two cartridges. The US Army Picatinny Arsenal stated that the new M855A1 offers improved hard target capability, more consistent performance at all distances, enhanced dependability, improved accuracy, reduced muzzle flash, and higher velocity compared to the SS109/M855 round. Further, the Army stated the new M855A1 ammunition is tailored for use in M4 carbines, but should also give enhanced performance in M16 rifles and M249 light machine guns. The new 62-grain (4 g) projectile used in the M855A1 round has a copper core with a 19-grain (1.2 g) steel “stacked-cone” penetrating tip. The M855A1 cartridge is sometimes referred to as “green ammo” because it fires a lead free projectile.[111][112][122][123][124][125] It is not necessarily more lethal than the SS109/M855, but performs more consistently every time it hits a soft target and retains its performance at longer distances. The EPR can penetrate a 3⁄8 in (9.5 mm) thick mild steel barrier from an M4 at 350 m (380 yd) and from an M16 at 400 m (440 yd). Compared to the SS109/M855 the M855A1 muzzle velocities are somewhat increased to 3,150 ft/s (960 m/s) (+37 ft/s (11 m/s)) for the M16 and 2,970 ft/s (910 m/s) (+54 ft/s (16 m/s)) for the M4 carbine.[126] Ballistics for both rounds are similar and do not require weapons to be re-zeroed, but if they are the EPR can be slightly more accurate. The steel-tip penetrator of the M855A1 is noticeably separated from the jacket of the bullet and can spin, but this is part of the design and does not affect performance. The M855A1 costs only 5 cents more per round than the M855.[127] The M855A1 bullet has a 1⁄8 in (3.2 mm) greater length than the SS109/M855.[128] Because steel and copper are less dense than lead, the bullet is lengthened inside the case to achieve the same weight as its predecessor.[10] The longer bullet and reverse-drawn jacket make it more stable and accurate in-flight. Its steel tip is exposed from the jacket and bronzed for corrosion resistance. The tip is serrated and larger than the M855’s steel tip. The M855A1’s bullet composition, better aerodynamics, and higher proof pressures give it an extended effective range for penetration and terminal performance.[129] While effectiveness at different ranges is increased, the M855A1 does not increase the effective ranges at which weapons are expected to hit their targets. The Enhanced Performance Round was made to nearly match the trajectory of the M855 to aid in training consistency—the SS109/M855 ballistic coefficient (G7 BC) of 0.151 was improved to 0.152 for the M855A1[130]—but the ranges to get desired effects are greatly extended.[131]

The United States Marine Corps purchased 1.8 million rounds in 2010, with plans to adopt the round to replace the interim MK318 SOST rounds used in Afghanistan when the M855A1 project was delayed.[132] The Marine Corps plans to adopt the M855A1 round in 2018; although testing revealed it caused “some durability issues” with the Marines’ M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, the weapon is still “operationally suitable” when firing the round.[133]

On a media day at Aberdeen Proving Ground on 4 May 2011, reports were given about the M855A1’s performance in the field since it was issued 11 months earlier. One primary advantage given by the round is its consistent performance against soft targets. While the older SS109/M855 was yaw-dependent, which means its effectiveness depends on its yaw angle when it hits a target, the M855A1 delivers the same effectiveness in a soft target no matter its yaw angle. The new SMP-842 propellant in the round burns quicker in the shorter M4 carbine barrel, ensuring less muzzle flash and greater muzzle velocity. The M855A1 was able to penetrate 3⁄8 inch (9.5 mm) of mild steel plate at 300 m (330 yd). The round even penetrated concrete masonry units, similar to cinder blocks, at 75 m (82 yd) from an M16 and at 50 m (55 yd) from an M4, which the M855 could not do at those ranges. Its accuracy is maintained and sometimes increased, as it was able to shoot a group 2 inches better at 600 m (660 yd). February 2011 was the first time the M855A1 was used more than the M855, and approximately 30 million M855A1 rounds have been fielded from June 2010 to May 2011.[134][135]

The M855A1 was put to the test at the 2012 National Rifle Association’s National High-Power Rifle Championship at Camp Perry, Ohio in August 2012. The shooter for the Army was Rob Harbison, a contractor supporting small caliber ammunition capability development at Fort Benning Georgia. This was a special event for the Project Manager for Maneuver Ammunition Systems and the Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence as it was an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the Enhanced Performance Round. With an M16 loaded with M855A1 ammo, Harbison fired a perfect 200 points in the Coast Guard Trophy Match, which is 20 shots fired from the sitting position at 200 yards, finishing 17th out of 365 competitors. He also scored a perfect 100 on the final string of ten shots during the Air Force Cup Trophy Match, fired at 600 yards from the prone position, which is 10 shots in a row within the 12-inch, 10-point ring at 600 yards with combat ammunition. Harbison was happy with the performance of the EPR, with his scores showing that the Army’s newest general purpose round is accurate enough to go toe-to-toe in the competition with the best ammo that can be bought or hand-loaded. Harbison even said, “I don’t think I could have scored any higher if I was using match-grade competition ammunition.”[136] The M855A1 was not fired from 1:7 in rifled barrels used in standard Army rifles, but special Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) match-grade 1:8 in rifled barrels, which produce more accurate results when firing 62-grain rounds.[128]

From fielding in June 2010 to September 2012, Alliant Techsystems delivered over 350 million M855A1 Enhanced Performance Rounds.[137]

Since its introduction, the M855A1 has been criticized for its St. Mark’s SMP842 propellant causing increased fouling of the gun barrel. Post-combat surveys have reported no issues with the EPR in combat. A series of tests found no significant difference in fouling between the old M855 and the M855A1. However, manufacturers have reported “severe degradation” to barrels of their rifles using the M855A1 in tests.[138] The Army attributes pressure and wear issues with the M855A1 to problems with the primer, which they claim to have addressed with a newly designed primer.[139] It uses a modified four-pronged primer anvil for more reliable powder ignition,[129] with a stab crimp rather than a circumferential crimp to better withstand the new load’s higher chamber pressure,[128] increased from 55,000 psi (379.2 MPa) to 62,000 psi (427.5 MPa).[65][140] During Army carbine testing, the round caused “accelerated bolt wear” from higher chamber pressure and increased bore temperatures. Special Operator testing saw cracks appear on locking lugs and bolts at cam pin holes on average at 6,000 rounds, but sometimes as few as 3,000 rounds during intense automatic firing. Firing several thousand rounds with such high chamber pressures can lead to degraded accuracy over time as parts wear out; these effects can be mitigated through a round counter to keep track of part service life. Weapons with barrel lengths shorter than the M4 firing the M855A1 also experience 50 percent higher pressures than a full-length M16 rifle barrel, which can cause port erosion that can boost the automatic fire rate, increasing the likelihood of jams.[128]

From June 2010 to June 2013, issuing of the M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round removed 1,994 metric tons of lead from the waste stream. 2.1 grams (32 gr) of lead are eliminated from each M855A1 projectile.[141]

Mk 262 [ edit ]

The Mk 262 is a match-quality round manufactured by Black Hills Ammunition made originally for the Special Purpose Rifle (SPR). It uses a 77-grain (5.0 g) Sierra MatchKing bullet that is more effective at longer ranges than the standard issue M855 round.

In 1999, SOCOM requested Black Hills Ammunition to develop ammunition for the Mk 12 SPR that SOCOM was designing. For the rifle to be accurate out to 700 yards, Black Hills “militarized” a cartridge that used the Sierra 77 grain OTM (Open Tip Match) projectile; it switched from a .223 Remington to 5.56 mm case, increased pressure loading, crimped and sealed the primer, and added a flash retardant to the powder. The Mk 262 MOD 0 was adopted in 2002. Issues came up in development including reliability problems in different temperatures and when the weapon got dirty, and cycling issues in cold weather due to the slightly shorter barrel of the SPR compared to the full-length M16A2 barrel. The problems were addressed with a slower burning powder with a different pressure for use in the barrel, creating the Mk 262 MOD 1 in 2003. During the product improvement stage, the new propellant was found to be more sensitive to heat in weapon chambers during rapid firings, resulting in increased pressures and failure to extract. This was addressed with another powder blend with higher heat tolerance and improved brass. Also during the stage, Black Hills wanted the bullet to be given a cannelure, which had been previously rejected for fear it would affect accuracy. It was eventually added for effective crimping to ensure that the projectile would not move back into the case and cause a malfunction during auto-load feeding. Although the temperature sensitive powder and new bullet changed specifications, the designation remained as the MOD 1.[142]

According to US DoD sources, the Mk 262 round is capable of making kills at 700 meters. Ballistics tests found that the round caused “consistent initial yaw in soft tissue” between 3 and 4 in at ranges from 15 feet to 300 meters. Apparently it is superior to the standard M855 round when fired from an M4 or M16 rifle, increasing accuracy from 3–5 minutes of angle to 2 minute of angle. It possesses superior stopping power, and can allow for engagements to be extended to up to 700 meters when fired from an 18-inch barrel. It appears that this round can drastically improve the performance of any AR-15 weapon chambered to .223/5.56 mm. Superior accuracy, wounding capacity, stopping power and range have made this the preferred round of many special forces operators, and highly desirable as a replacement for the older, Belgian-designed 5.56×45mm SS109/M855 NATO round. In one engagement, a two-man special forces team reported 75 kills with 77 rounds.[143][144] The Mk 262 has a higher ballistic coefficient than the M855 of (G1)0.362 / (G7)0.181, meaning it loses less velocity at long-range.[130]

Mk318 [ edit ]

Following early engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq, U.S. Special Operations Forces reported that M855 ammunition used in M4A1 rifles was ineffective. In 2005, the Pentagon issued a formal request to the ammunition industry for “enhanced” ammunition. The only business that responded was the Federal Cartridge Company, owned by Alliant Techsystems. Working with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, the team created performance objectives for the new ammo: increased consistency from shot to shot regardless of temperature changes, accuracy out of an M4A1 better than 2 minute of angle (2 inches at 100 yards, 6.3 inches at 300 yards), increased stopping power after passing through “intermediate barriers” like walls and car windshields, increased performance and decreased muzzle flash out of shorter barrel FN SCAR rifles, and costs close to the M855. The first prototypes were delivered to the government in August 2007. Increased velocity and decreased muzzle flash were accomplished by the type of powder used. The design of the bullet was called the Open Tip Match Rear Penetrator (OTMRP). The front of it is an open tip backed up by a lead core, while the rear half is solid brass. When the bullet hits a hard barrier, the front half of the bullet crushes against the barrier, breaking it so the penetrating half of the bullet can go through and hit the target. With the lead section penetrating the target and the brass section following, it was referred to as a “barrier blind” bullet.[51][145]

Officially designated the Mk318 MOD 0 “Cartridge, Caliber 5.56mm Ball, Carbine, Barrier”, and called SOST (Special Operations Science and Technology) ammunition, the 62-grain bullet fragments consistently, even out of a 10.5 in barrel. The lead portion fragments in the first few inches of soft tissue, then the solid copper rear penetrates 18 in of tissue (shown though ballistic gelatin) while tumbling. Out of a 14″ in barrel, the Mk318 has a muzzle velocity of 2,925 ft/s (892 m/s).[51][145]

In February 2010, the U.S. Marine Corps adopted the Mk318 for use by infantry. To be fielded by an entire branch of the military, the round is classified as having an “open-tip” bullet, similar to the M118LR 7.62 NATO round. The SOST bullet uses a “reverse drawn” forming process. The base of the bullet is made first, the lead core is placed on top of it, and then the jacketing is pulled up around the lead core from bottom to tip. Conventional, and cheaper, bullets are made with the method of the jacket drawn from the nose to an exposed lead base. The reverse drawn technique leaves an open tip as a byproduct of the manufacturing process, and is not specifically designed for expansion or to affect terminal ballistics. The Pentagon legally cleared the rounds for Marine use in late January. The Marines fielded the Mk318 gradually and in small numbers. Initial studies showed that insurgents hit by it suffered larger exit wounds, although information was limited. SOST rounds were used alongside M855 rounds in situations where the SOST would be more effective.[51][145][146] In July 2010, the Marines purchased 1.8 million M855A1 Enhanced Performance Rounds, in addition to millions of Mk318 rounds in service, as part of its effort to replace its M855 ammo.[147] As of May 2015, Marine combat units still deployed with a mixture of both SOST and M855 rounds.[148]

As the issue of environmentally friendly ammo grew, the Marines looked to see if the Mk318’s lead could be replaced while still meeting specifications. They found that by replacing the lead with copper and slightly stretching the jacket around to crimp the nose even more, the bullet’s ballistic coefficient increased. To avoid visual confusion with the Mk 262 round, the bullet was entirely nickel-plated for a silver color; the enhanced silver-colored copper jacketed, open tip match, 62-grain projectile was named the Mk318 MOD 1.[149]

5.6mm Gewehr Patrone 90 [ edit ] [150] Ready ammunition of the Swiss Army. Soldiers equipped with the SIG 550 assault rifle used to be issued 50 rounds of ammunition in a sealed can, to be opened only upon alert and for use while en route to join their unit. This practice was stopped in 2007.

The 5.6mm Gewehr Patrone 90 or 5,6mm Gw Pat 90 (5.6 mm Rifle Cartridge 90), is the standard round used by the Swiss military in its rifle, the SIG SG 550. The cartridge is also known as the Cart 5,6mm 90 F (French: Cartouche pour Fusil / Italian: Cartuccia per Fucile) to the French- and Italian-speaking Swiss militiamen. The Swiss refer to the round as the 5.6 mm Gw Pat 90, although it is interchangeable with the 5.56×45mm NATO and .223 Remington round. The Gw Pat 90 round firing a 4.1 g (63 gr) FMJ bullet is optimized for use in 5.56 mm (.223 in) caliber barrels with a 254 mm (1:10 in) twist rate.

The Gw Pat 90 was designed for the SIG SG 550 when it came into production in 1987, replacing the SIG SG 510. Previous experience of a change in standard rifle had proved that changing the distance of fire for the training ranges was more expensive than the design of a new ammunition; this prompted the design of a cartridge nominally capable at 300 meters. The cartridge was also designed to reduce pollution by controlling lead emissions.[151] The bullet was originally clad with a nickel alloy jacket, however, this was found to cause excessive barrel wear, so in 1998 the nickel jackets were replaced with tombac jackets. In addition, in 1999 a copper plug was added to the base of the bullet to address environmental concerns.[151]

The ammunition is currently (2009) produced by RUAG Ammotec, a subsidiary of the RUAG group.[152] The ammunition is manufactured in three variations: the standard FMJ round, the tracer round, and a blank round.

The FMJ cartridge has a Copper-Zinc alloy case and uses a double base propellant. The bullet is a 4.1 g (63 gr) tombac jacketed FMJ projectile with a G1 ballistic coefficient of 0.331 (ICAO) / 0.337 (Army Metro). The projectile contains approximately 95% Pb, 2% Sb, 3% Cu, and was designed for terminal ballistic instability. The required accuracy for Gw Pat 90 ammunition out of factory test barrels is 63 mm (0.72 MOA) for 10 rounds (100% radius measurement method) out to 300 m. The Gw Pat 90 cartridge dimensions are in accordance with the civilian C.I.P. standards for the .223 Remington C.I.P. chambering.[153]

The Gw Pat 90 is used both in the Swiss military and in sport shooting. The very high level of individual training in the Swiss militia (every single soldier bearing a weapon has to shoot in order to maintain his ability once a year; see Gun laws in Switzerland) and the overall use of the Gw Pat 90 by the many Swiss citizens who shoot in competitions and for amusement has resulted in significant input on its usage. Over 1 billion cartridges had been produced as of 2005 .

See also[edit]

References[ edit ]

Further reading[edit]

grains and grams.

Today the grain is most commonly used to measure the mass of bullets and gunpowder. It can refer to a single grain of gunpowder – but as a weight, this can also vary depending on the type of powder.

When reloading

When reloading, the charge weight, which is the amount of propellant placed in the empty case before the bullet is inserted, is commonly measured and expressed in grams.

For example

For example, a standard 308 load may require a 168-grain projectile with 42 grains of powder, seated on an overall cartridge length of 2.8 inches. So as you can see, the grain as a measure relates to both the amount of powder and the weight of the projectile (bullet) used.

In factory ammo

When talking about pellets with factory ammunition, it is very likely that the packaging refers solely to the weight of the bullet used. For example, in 9mm pistol ammunition you can often find 115, 124 and 147 weights. This means that a heavier weight (and generally larger) projectile will be used as you go up. Simply put, bullet weight affects how a bullet flies and what happens when it hits a target. Heavier bullets travel slower, but also have more momentum and are less affected by things like wind or branches. However, a smaller, lighter ball will get there faster and flatter, but can be blown around more.

While the amount of powder often varies a little, this isn’t often stated on the packaging. It is primarily bullet weight that you are referring to when talking about front grain and factory loading.

How accurate do I have to be?

This is an often hotly contested issue. Although the general consensus seems to be that 0.1 grains is fine for most, although many benchrest and competition shooters want to go to 0.01.

A few things to remember here – first, resolution on a number of scales does not mean accuracy. What it displays on the screen/scale and what it also measures can be two different things. Second, you need to have everything else related to your shooting, which means your technique, your gun, and your environment are pretty well short-circuited before you’re likely to notice a huge difference between 0.1 and 0.2 grains of powder.

In fact, test systems like OCW try to find load weights that are resilient to fluctuations.

weight or volume?

Also remember that the combustion of gunpowder is also affected by the volume of the case in which it is ignited. Even if you perfectly match the amount of grain in a load, two different sized cartridges will affect the end result. Therefore, people sort shells and projectiles by weight (and internal volume).

The author of Architect of Victory (WI354), Steve Wood, famous for Arcane Scenario, recently wrote an article for his blog (decorated with photos from his WI article – which we kindly let him ; ) entitled “Why play you still Black Powder? ‘ Read the article below and let us know what you think.

Read more on Steve’s blog at – http://arcanesceneryandmodels.co.uk/blog/

I was planning to write an updated guide to batch painting British Napoleonic figures based on my latest project, the 28th North Gloucestershire Regiment. I even went as far as making some step-by-step videos that I hope to post. However, rather than going straight into the painting, I thought I would give my project some context and background first. I’ve been stimulated by the number of questions that keep popping up on the social media feeds and forums I subscribe to, as well as everything else, and I hope that the series of posts will be useful for those new to the hobby.

I think veterans of the hobby forget how difficult and daunting it is for newcomers to delve into this odd hobby of collecting and painting Napoleonic figures or any other era in history. There is so much material out there, and while the internet makes this material easy to access, there is a lot of conflicting advice and some very open views that can be counterproductive. I hope the following helps, although I’m aware I’m just adding my own candid views to the mix!

To be clear, I have decided to paint and collect 28mm wargame figures to use mainly for “playing” wargames with my friends using the black powder rules. So before you even buy a pack of figures, you need to decide what scale figures you’re going to use and what rules you’re going to use. A good place to start would be to talk to the people you want to play wargames with and see what rulesets they use.

Why black powder?

When I first got back to the historical side of the hobby after a long time playing sci-fi games, I was looking for a set of rules that I could easily learn and play. I actually started with Sharp Practice version one. This had two attractions. First of all, you don’t need that many characters to start playing. In fact, I started with just 24 Victrix figures. Most importantly there were a couple of guys at the local club playing Sharp drills and they helped explain the rules and provided some extra figures when I needed them. Also, the rules had a certain charm, humor, and playability that made for a great game every time.

However, as my army grew, I looked for something that would allow me to raise a brigade or division. At that time, black powder was released randomly. It was and still is one of the best looking rulebooks out there. It was also easy to read and obviously designed for the joy of play rather than simply trying to recreate every drill tactic and nuance of the Napoleonic era. In fact, it’s not even a ruleset set specifically in the Napoleonic era, but rather a general guide to playing wargames throughout the “gunpowder” era. Brilliant! I would only have to learn a basic set of rules and I could play AWI or fight Zulus a hundred years later. Even better, it was co-written by Rick Priestly and Jervis Johnson, and these two know more than a thing or two about not only how to write a rule book, but how to strike the right note.

We play a game!

In a recent blog I mentioned attending a demonstration game on a Napoleonic Day in Bingham of all places. Most visitors were “non-wargamers” and were fascinated by the sight of so many model soldiers on the table. The game was very loosely based on the Battle of Quatre Bras and most of the characters were representative of the combatants present during the battle. That’s about as close as I’ve gotten to a historical battle. Most of the games I play take place at the White Hart Pub at a reasonably sized table covered with a battle mat with a few scenery pieces placed on top. Occasionally we create a scenario, with a river crossing or a delayed deployment of troops being the two easiest, but rarely is the game based on a real battle.

Back to the demo game. Visitors were curious to know what we were doing. We replied: “We are playing a game with Napoleonic soldiers who are the characters”. I don’t think they believed us. They wanted it to be more serious. Some of them finally got it. This was a group of friends enjoying each other’s company while playing with toy soldiers in a historical context. That’s all it has to be. If you want competitive tournament play, there are much better rules out there. If you want to recreate the smallest details of what actually happened in a battle, you might be better off joining a reenactment group. This way you can really trudge through the fields and mud. The good news is you won’t get shot…

However, the Black Powder rules offer you a great introduction to historical wargaming, with simple rules to learn and an emphasis on enjoying the game.

Next question…

Once you’ve decided on a ruleset, some decisions are made for you. What scale do I use? Black powder is rated at 28mm but will work with most scales including 1/72 or 15mm. I like 28mm scale. There is a fantastic range and selection of figures in 28mm, both plastic and metal. If you prefer something else, do it. Again, I suspect you’ll need to consult with your existing or potential gaming buddies. If they’re already using 20mm figures, it makes sense to join them. But I don’t think you’ll go far wrong with 28mm.

Bases is a tricky subject – but guidance is in the rules and I’ll share my advice later in this series of articles.

So how many figures do you need in a unit? Again, the answer lies in the established rules. A normal unit is 24 digits, but that’s not as rigid as you might think. We often use half size units to play big games at smaller tables. The only important thing is that there should be some parity with your opponent. I’ll share my thoughts on this in a later blog when I get into bases.

The really BIG question!

Which army will you build? To a certain extent, this is the most difficult decision you will have to make. Do you collect British, French, Austrian, Russian, Prussian or any of the myriad other Napoleonic states involved in the conflict? This decision is made even more difficult by the fact that you then have to choose a campaign period. In my opinion it doesn’t matter as far as wargaming goes. We like to play games where Pennisular Brits fight Waterloo Prussians. We even had a Mexican unit on the table!

It’s a tough decision because once you commit, you’re going to paint an army, and that’s going to be a long-term project. To be fair, there’s no reason you can’t have a Pick & Mix army with one unit from each nation. However, when it comes to researching and gathering an army, I think having a common thread will help. You also don’t have to choose the “best” army. During many years of the Napoleonic era, the French were on the rise and were able to defeat all who came. At the other end of the scale, the Spanish Army, while powerful in its day, doesn’t enjoy the same reputation in combat – it does have some nice uniforms though! The beauty of black powder is that the rules don’t matter. There are some optional rules that allow you to give the army certain qualities, but nothing prevents you from playing a “vanilla” rules game where Spanish troops face, say, Russians on equal terms. Not realistic? It does not bother me. As I keep saying, war gaming is the social side of the hobby. It’s a chance to bring these lovingly painted troops to the table and see if the dice are friendly enough to let you win a battle.

Finally

If you want to start collecting and painting troops for wargames in the Napoleonic era, I recommend starting with the Black Powder ruleset. This is what my wargaming army is based on, and whenever I start painting a new unit I keep these rules in mind. It means I’m clear on how many characters I need to build a unit, how I’m supposed to build them, and what they’re going to do in the game. Next week I will explain how I research, how I paint my characters. Regardless of which rule set you choose, I hope you enjoy playing with your friends as much as I do!

Incidentally, the images used in this blog were provided by Wargames Illustrated. The figures are from my own collection and will appear in issue 345 on the Wellington and Napoleonic Era theme. Which leads me to an afterthought. I’m a huge Wargames Illustrated fan (and was long before they accepted my article) – if you’re thinking of getting into the hobby go and pick up a copy of the magazine! It’s a great way to get an overview of the hobby and I still think the physical magazine is better than browsing through the internet!

Marin le Bourgeoys created the flintlock mechanism between 1610 and 1615 while serving as valet de chambre (a job title similar to a footman but with greater potential for advancement) for King Henry IV. Pulling the trigger on Bourgeoys’ creation released the hammer, which contained a sharpened piece of flint that struck a piece of steel called Frizzen, flicking it back and creating a shower of sparks that ignited a small pan of powder.

Copyright Oleg Volk

which then went through a tiny hole in the barrel and ignited a larger charge of gunpowder, the explosion of which shot the lead bullet down the barrel and onto its target. Here was the original Rube Goldberg machine – but as it was slightly less bulky and inconsistent in firing than its predecessors (doglock, matchlock, wheellock mechanisms) and therefore more deadly, it was soon adopted for guns of the 17th and 18th centuries. century, first in muskets and then in rifles. In America, the most famous forms of these were known as Kentucky or Pennsylvania long rifles and were used to accurately kill small game and later British soldiers and officers during the American Revolutionary War. In the mid-19th century a caplock system rendered the flintlock obsolete, although it persisted among the less equipped; In the first year of the American Civil War, Tennessee had over 2,000 flintlock rifles in service.

Today, the M249 Squad’s automatic weapon can fire 1,000 rounds per minute, and the M40 sniper rifle can hit targets at a half-mile range. Even a standard hunting rifle firing .30-06 rounds can hit targets up to 500 yards away. And yet the weapon of le Bourgeoys lives on. It’s not because the flintlock rifle competes with modern guns. Hunters and enthusiasts who continue to use flintlock rifles admire them as intricate machines and works of art; They use them to gain access to the special, longer hunting seasons that most states offer, during which the forests are much less crowded than during the normal hunting season and the game faces less pressure from hunters; They appreciate the challenge of killing an animal with such a weapon, just as American and European hunters did hundreds of years earlier.

This challenge is no exaggeration. To use a flintlock rifle effectively requires mastering two initially clumsy and tedious operations: loading and firing. It’s not about ripping open powder cartridges with your teeth and banging home a ramrod like you are in The Patriot. To become a skilled flintlock hunter, you’ll need to spend time at the shooting range, learn not to flinch when explosions go off near your nose, and hone your ammo and powder combination.

Black Powder Safety

1. Do not smoke near the black powder or your gun.

2. Mark your ramrod to show where it will sit on the muzzle when the gun is loaded. So you can be sure that your load is properly seated; You can also check that the weapon isn’t already loaded.

3. Only use black powder or Pyrodex, not smokeless black powder, which can damage the gun.

4. If the rifle does not fire, hold it pointed down to prepare for a pendant fire or delayed discharge.

5. Thoroughly clean the rifle after each shot. Black powder causes severe corrosion and deposits that can damage the rifle or, worse, cause a blockage or explosion.

1 Gather your ammo. The ammunition for a flintlock rifle is not a self-contained cartridge like a modern gun. There are three separate main parts here: fine-grained gunpowder for the initial explosion in the “flash pan”, coarser gunpowder for the main explosion in the barrel of the rifle, and the bullet, either a round lead bullet or a conical-shaped bullet like a Minie ball. However, the type of powder (coarseness ranges from “F” or very coarse to “FFFF” or very fine), the amount of powder and the bullet used depend on the caliber and twist ratio of the rifle barrel fired is typically between 85 and 100 grains, or 0.19 and 0.23 ounces. Testing different combinations of powder and bullet types on a shooting range is the best way to tune a loadout for accuracy.

2 Load the quick cartridge. Soldiers in the 18th century used paper “cartridges” that contained both powder and bullets for easy loading. Today, plastic “fast loaders” do much the same thing: the plastic tube contains the bullet, main charge, and flash pan powder. The ball or sphere is stuck at the bottom and faces up; The main powder charge (in the number of grains you chose) is poured into the top, and the finer Flash Pan powder comes in a small side container that can be poured into the pan separately. Capped, the Speedloader keeps all three elements in one place for easy loading and keeping the powder dry. (Note: If you’re using bullets instead of conical bullets, you’ll also need cloth patches.)

3 Fill the barrel with powder. After ensuring proper safety standards (knowing what’s behind your target and using an appropriate backstop), you’re ready to load the gun. The main powder charge in the barrel goes first. Its explosion will propel the bullet through the rifled barrel and onto the target. Lay the stock of the rifle on the ground in front of you, with the barrel pointing toward the sky. Keeping your head and face away from the end of the barrel, open your speedloader tube and pour the main powder charge into the barrel’s muzzle.

4 Load the barrel with the bullet. Next, align the barrel of the quick loader with the muzzle of the rifle. If using a conical bullet or minie ball, make sure the correct end is facing up so it’s pointing at the target once seated in the barrel. If using a bullet rather than a conical bullet, place a patch of cloth over the muzzle of the barrel before loading the bullet on it. This patch “seals” some of the space around the round ball to ensure it gains spin as it travels down the rifled barrel. Push the bullet down the barrel with a “starter rod,” a short rod with a wooden ball on the end. Once it is secure in the muzzle, switch to the longer ramrod and squeeze the bullet until it is firmly seated on the powder charge at the end of the barrel. Tap it lightly to make sure it’s snug – most ramrods have markings that should line up with the end of the barrel when the bullet is fully seated at the other end of the barrel. The powder and bullet are now ready to be fired.

5 Prime the pan. The powder in the pan first ignites when a shooter pulls the trigger and lets the flint fall in a shower of sparks onto the frizzen – which in turn will hopefully travel through a small pinhole to ignite the main charge in the rifle’s barrel. To load the pan, lift the frizzen to an open position and set the hammer to halfway. Fine black powder should be poured into the pan until it is almost full. Using a small metal pick, make sure the pinhole is clear from the pan to the barrel, then close the battery.

6 Secure at half tail. With the battery closed and the hammer half cocked, the flint should be firmly against the battery. Double check that your flint is in good condition with no cracks or chips. Some shooters prefer to place a small cloth or rag between the flint and battery at this point to ensure there are no accidental sparks. This is how the rifle is carried while hunting – be sure to hold the rifle carefully and check frequently to see if the powder in the pan has fallen out or gotten wet. Without them, you can’t shoot if a deer appears broadside 20 yards away.

7 Full hammer and aim. When shouldering the rifle, use your thumb to pull the hammer back to the full firing position. Most flintlock rifles have standard “iron” sights. As with any other weapon, you aim by lining up the center post between the two rear sight posts and then centering on your target. (The effective range is typically around 200 yards.)

8 Press the shutter button. Again, this is like firing any other type of gun: Exhale slowly, hold your breath, and then gently — rather than jerk or pull — pull the trigger straight back.

9 Follow through. After all that preparation, this is easily the hardest part of firing a flintlock. The normal human reaction is to flinch at explosions that occur inches from his face. You have to fight against that. Several things must happen between pulling the trigger and firing the bullet: the flint sparkles against the battery, the pan in the powder ignites, and then the main charge in the barrel. This can last up to 1.5 seconds and involves a smaller and then a larger BOOM, during which an accurate shooter must keep his aim absolutely still. This takes a lot of practice: you have to anticipate the explosions without reacting to them. So it’s time to hit the range.

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Substitute for black powder

Pyrodex, a modern black powder substitute for muzzleloading rifles, in size FFG (RS).

A black powder substitute is a substitute for black powder used in muzzleloading and cartridge firearms. Black powder substitutes offer a number of advantages over black powder, most notably reduced sensitivity as an explosive and increased efficiency as a propellant powder.

Types [ edit ]

Hodgdon’s Pyrodex was the first widely used substitute on the market. Pyrodex is less sensitive to ignition than black powder and uses the same shipping and storage guidelines as smokeless powder. Pyrodex is more energetic per unit mass than black powder but is less dense and can be substituted for black powder in a 1:1 volume ratio in many applications.[1] Pyrodex is similar in composition to black powder, consisting primarily of charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate, but also contains graphite and potassium perchlorate, as well as other trade secret ingredients. Originally available as a loose powder in two grades, RS (rifle/shotgun) equals FFG black powder and P (pistol) equals FFFg black powder, Pyrodex is now available in Select and solid pellet variants. While Pyrodex offers improved safety and increased efficiency (in terms of shots per pound of powder) over black powder, the pollution level is similar; Pyrodex is corrosive and corrosive. Therefore, when using Pyrodex, the same cleaning scheme used for black powder contamination must be applied.

Hodgdon also makes Triple Seven, one of the family of sulphur-free black powder substitutes. Triple Seven and Black Mag3 are more energetic than black powder by mass and can generate higher velocities and pressures. Triple Seven is a volumetric replacement for black powder but produces higher velocity. To match the velocities of a traditional black powder charge, it is recommended to reduce the charge by 15%.[2] The carbon-based fuel burned here, which still burns carbon, is from the sugar family, not charcoal.

The Western Powders Company introduced Blackhorn 209 in 2008. Like many other black powder substitutes, it is made as a volumetric substitute for black powder. It is delivered in “black powder measures” for muzzleloader applications. Blackhorn 209 is essentially non-corrosive, low fouling, very stable in gas production, but not hygroscopic.[3]

Measurement [ edit ]

The grain is the traditional measure of bullet, black powder, and smokeless powder weight in English-speaking countries. It is the unit measured by the scales used in handloading; usually bullets are measured in 1-grain increments, gunpowder in 0.1-grain increments.[4] There are 7,000 grains in a pound.

Pyrodex and most other black powder substitutes are formulated as the volume-for-volume equivalent of black powder, not the mass-for-mass (weight-for-weight) equivalent. Pyrodex is measured by volumetric measurement techniques, not in grains on a scale, due to the difference in density of Pyrodex compared to black powder. For example, to measure a “60 grain equivalent” of Hodgdon’s Pyrodex suitable for use in a muzzle-loading rifle, one uses a volumetric measure that produces a volume of Pyrodex equal to the volume of a mass of 60 grains of black powder. Because Pyrodex is less dense than black powder, a measurement by weight on a scale of 60 mass grains of Pyrodex would indicate almost a 30 percent overload.

Volume equivalence is an advantage when loading muzzle-loading firearms, which are traditionally loaded with volumetric measurements. This becomes a problem when handloading black powder cartridges using a black powder substitute instead of black powder, as it is common practice to measure by weight when loading cartridges (there are published conversion tables).

Disadvantages [edit]

The increased safety of black powder substitutes is often accompanied by reduced ignition sensitivity. Flintlocks in particular require very delicate, fine-grained powder for use in the flash pan, and black powder tends to work more reliably as a substitute in these and traditional caplock pistols. Modern in-line muzzleloaders offer more powerful ignition than traditional designs, and this helps increase reliability with the less flame-sensitive substitutes. Additionally, magnum primers are often recommended for use with black powder substitutes for both inline and traditional caplock pistols in place of the #11 primers traditionally used with black powder in these pistols for the best ignition reliability.

When used for recovery system ejection charges in high-power rockets, black powder substitutes require a higher degree of confinement to ensure complete combustion and the generation of sufficient ejection pressure. This can be accomplished by wrapping 2-3 layers of electrical tape over the ejection charge canister prior to installation.

legality [edit]

United States[edit]

Due to property insurance and federal transportation regulations, black powder substitutes may also be transported and stored in interstate commerce within the United States using smokeless powder regulations instead of the much more restrictive black powder regulations. Because of this, black powder substitutes are becoming more widely available than traditional black powder, which has largely disappeared from most retail shelves.

United Kingdom[ edit ]

Unlike black powder, Pyrodex does not require a license to purchase or store it.[5] Additionally, Pyrodex does not require a Competent Authority (RCA) transfer document.[6] Black powder must be stored in a wooden box built to certain precise specifications, but Pyrodex can be stored like any other modern propellant.