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EVERY ORDER SHIPS FOR $10 OR LESS (continental US)
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If you’ve shopped for rifle ammo or reloading supplies, specifically for an AR-pattern rifle, you have no doubt noticed the wide variety of ammunition available. Ammunition with tips of various colors is a common sight in addition to standard brass projectiles. But what is green tipped ammo?
When selecting ammunition it is important to consider their intended purpose. Whether you intend to keep a minimum quantity on hand or stockpile a particular type of ammo with an eye toward civil unrest, it will be hard to decide without knowing. So what are green tipped bullets used for?
The most common type of ammo with green tips is going to be green tip 5.56. By 5.56 we mean 5.56x45 NATO, with the military designation m855. It came about as an enhancement of the standard M193 ammo. M193 fires a 55 grain brass jacketed lead core bullet.
What is green tip 5.56, and how does it differ from standard 55gr ammo? M855 ammunition utilizes a62-grain brass jacketed lead core bullet with a7 grain mild steel tip.It is then painted with green tips for easy identification. It was developed in the 1970s as an improvement over m193. It performs better in part due to a more than 10% increase in bullet weight and the addition of the stronger material at the tip.
This translates to better energy retention at longer ranges and more effective penetration at any range. Its muzzle energy is marginally higher, but what really boosts its performance is the higher bullet weight and stronger tip.
It’s a common misconception that green tip ammo is “armor piercing,” but that is not actually what it was designed to do.
What is green tip ammo used for then? It was designed to preserve as much of its energy as possible after going through various types of barriers, cover, or other obstacles.
Can it defeat body armor? Definitely, but then so can any ammunition that impacts a level of body armor that it was not designed to resist.
For example, if HG1 rated body armor, which is rated to withstand up to .357 magnum, is hit by a .44 magnum, the armor may not stop the bullet adequately enough to protect its wearer. Does that mean .44 magnum is armor piercing? Certainly not.
Since the m855 ammunition was designed for NATO, does the military use green tip ammo? Yes, and the 5.56 x 45mm NATO type ammo that uses military green tip bullets is now known as m855a1. It is the currently in use by the US Army, among other branches and units worldwide.
What about other uses? Are green tips good for hunting, for instance? Since this particular type of ammo was designed to go through materials andretain its energy without deforming, it is not suitable for hunting. Hunting ammo, like hollow point, is designed to transfer its energy into your target without going through it.
While GT ammo is great for target shooting if your range allows it, exercise caution when using green tip ammo on steel targets. The question is not “can you shoot green tip ammo at steel targets,” butshould you. Realistically, no, as it damages targets which causes fragments of bullets to ricochet unpredictably. It can also generate a spark when it hits a steel target, making it a less than desirable option for indoor or dry outdoor conditions.
As with hunting, green tip for home defense is not a good idea. It could go right through a wall or the home invader and injure your family or neighbors. It’s also not wise to use 5.56 green tip for self defense since you are responsible for every bullet leaving your firearms. Green-tip ammo should be probably be reserved for a SHTF situation, green tip ammo can be a valuable tool, offering enhanced barrier penetration to help defend against threats shielded by obstacles like car doors or walls.
How does green tip ammo work? Well, how does any ammo work? It propels a projectile at a target that it will penetrate if the material of the projectile is harder than the target and the projectile itself is impacting the target with enough force.
To that end, green tip ammo was designed to be able to perform best against targets behind barriers made of various materials that standard brass jacketed lead core bullets could not. It does so primarily with its 7 grain steel tip which also raises the total weight of the bullet to 62 grams.
More mass and a harder leading edge, or point, equals better performance in some instances. Does green tip ammo really work for its intended purpose? Absolutely, and it comes in a variety of interesting flavors.
There are several different types of green tip ammunition, ranging from simple improvements on the original m855 to bullets that actually are designed to be armor piercing.
It may seem like a lot of information to keep track of, but it’s important to know what the various types of green tip ammo does for shopping, usage, and possible stockpiling purposes. It would be a shame to rely on your rifle in a crisis only to find you don’t have the right ammunition.
Read on to get your facts straight and plan for every situation.
M855 is the standard green tip ammo that was first introduced without any improvements. M855 green tips will arguably be the most affordable and widely available.
The M855a1 designation improves on the original M855 round and was designed to replace the M855. M855a1 green tips are engineered with a copper core (instead of lead) and a hardened steel penetrator tip, designed to enhance its effectiveness against barriers while reducing environmental impact and supply chain vulnerabilities. It is not generally available for civilian use due to its armor-piercing classification.
The MK318 round is yet another improvement over the original M855 load. MK318 green tips offer improved barrier blindness and better terminal performance.
The M856 round is a tracer round. M856 green tips have a trace charge on the bottom of the bullet itself that ignites after firing.
The M995 round actuallyis an armor piercing round. M995 green tips utilize a copper jacketed 52 grain projectile with a tungsten carbide penetrator tip and an aluminum core.
At this point, I know what you’re thinking about some of the loadings listed above: is green tip ammo legal? The short answer is: it depends.
The state where you live has a lot to do with what is regulated and to what degree, including M855 ammo. Some jurisdictions have few restrictions on this type of ammo, in some you can buy it with a law enforcement or military ID, while others ban its purchase completely. Currently, the states of California, New Jersey, COnneticut, Illinois and Massiticutistis ban or regulate the purchase or ownership of any variant of M855. For the most part, standard M855 is commercially available, affordable and widely available across the United States.
So are green tips legal where you live? It will ultimately be up to you to research the legality of owning a given type of ammo.
Beyond ownership, the next question in your mind is probably “can I shoot green tip at the range?”
Most outdoor ranges with a large dirt berm as a backstop will have no problem with almost any type of ammo or caliber. Most indoor ranges do not allow it.
Why can’t you shoot green tip ammo at the range if it’s indoors? It has to do with the bullet capturing system they have. Whereas an outdoor range just has a big pile of dirt, indoor ranges have engineered backstops that will need more maintenance if they allow the use of this particular type of ammo.
So can civilians buy green tip ammo? If it’s legal for sale and ownership in your state, then the answer to the question “can I buy green tip 5.56 ammo” is a resounding yes.
It is notfederally regulated, which is why its legality varies from state to state. If your state allows it on the civilian market, then go for it.
If you’re asking yourself “is green tip armor piercing,” recall that that is not what it was designed to do.Somevariants can do so, however.
Does green tip ammo penetrate body armor under the right circumstances? Certainly, but only in the same way that any ammo can defeat armor that is not rated to withstand it.
That's why our Fortis III+ GT plate is so popular. It's all the protection you need, including green tip, without the extra weight of a level IV plate.
Are green tips armor piercing or not then? As is so often the case in the world of guns and ammo: it depends. Understanding body armor ratings is the first step toward both ammo selection and ammo protection.
The next step is making sure the ammo and body armor you select is high quality. While we can’t endorse a specific brand of ammo, when it comes to high quality, tested, rated body armor that’s made in America, we think you know where to go.
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