First post here, but question regarding m855 ammo

M855 is not very accurate ammo, it is really just designed to penetrate better than ball ammo

Probably close enough for what a soldier needs. But, depending on your goals, the slight differences may be relevant.

Each brand will have a slightly different velocity and POI from the same rifle.

If the difference is .5 inches on a rifle that makes 2.5" groups at 100yds and will be mostly shot under 300yds, do you care?
 
So, with imi, pmc x tac, lake city m855, will all of them hold the same zero as m855 ammo with a trijicon acog or will the zero differ between brands even though its all m855 ammo?
My experience will be that they all differ. Even different lots of the exact same brands will differ lot to lot. To me the question is how accurate do you need it to be?

My SR15 with a 16" barrel shooting Blackhills 77 on a not windy day and when I am doing my part is right at 1MOA at 100 yards. If I swap to some kind of M855 the group will open up buy 50 to 70%. (factory loads).
 
M855 is not very accurate ammo, it is really just designed to penetrate better than ball ammo

Probably close enough for what a soldier needs. But, depending on your goals, the slight differences may be relevant.

Each brand will have a slightly different velocity and POI from the same rifle.

If the difference is .5 inches on a rifle that makes 2.5" groups at 100yds and will be mostly shot under 300yds, do you care?
Nah this is my defensive rifle, if its good enough to hit man size targets out to 300 to 500 meters its good enough for me. Living in the hills is fun lol.
 
Nah this is my defensive rifle, if its good enough to hit man size targets out to 300 to 500 meters its good enough for me. Living in the hills is fun lol.
I would take IMI 77gr Razor core over M855 for that application by a wide margin. Better damage and a much better chance of hitting the target.
 
I would take IMI 77gr Razor core over M855 for that application by a wide margin. Better damage and a much better chance of hitting the target.
But, green tip, man, GREEN TIP.

Not being required to shoot mil issued ammunition, I would choose just about anything other than m855- for almost any application.

I tried my hand at making “Mexican Match” ammo with m855. All I did was pull the bullet, run the case through a bushing die to squeeze the neck down a couple of thou, and seat a different bullet from what I had on hand. And, what I had on hand was a smattering of “hand me downs” from my uncle’s passing. All groups at 10 shots, except for the last which show that m855 can make decent groups.

IMG_7087.jpeg
 
Let's keep perspective. Green tip for self defense? No, never.

If you need to defend against people wearing body armor, you are probably making poor choices in life.
Green tip is no better than any other 5.56 vs soft body armor, they all go through.

Green tip can't make it through hard armor and you are better off training for head shots with a more accurate round.

What defense situation requires or even justifies green tip.

For self defense I use ammo used by local police. If asked in court why, because they think it is appropriate for their officers to use in our environment.

Green Tip is a liability during the fight and in court.
 
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You might get lucky, and all of the various brands hold to the same POI.... otherwise, that is why you sights are adjustable.

That said, and as others have mentioned... M855 is not known for being very accurate.
 
Im not looking for absolute sub moa accuracy here. Imi razor core is too expensive per round in my opinion. M855 has always been priced cheaper than m193 every time i go to buy more ammo, and i havent found as reliable of ammo at a similar price to keep stock on.
You really are losing me, how much self defense ammo do you need that price is a leading factor?
 
Well green tip are better for zombies and space insects.
No no no. Because of their biology, the only reasonable shot on a zombie is to the brain. Zombie skulls have the consistency of a rotting cantaloupe. You need something with fast expansion, like a vmax, or a zmax. Green tips are terrible for zombies.

(TBT, the zmax bullet was essentially just an AMAX with a green tip, and the zmax loads were essentially Hornady match in a different box. I wish I had bought every box I saw.)
 
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Im not looking for absolute sub moa accuracy here. Imi razor core is too expensive per round in my opinion. M855 has always been priced cheaper than m193 every time i go to buy more ammo, and i havent found as reliable of ammo at a similar price to keep stock on.
You can buy PMC Bronze 55 grain FMJ for under .50 cents a round. You use these for practice. And stock them deep, for all manner of plinking around the farm. This stuff is available almost always.

For example:

PMC 223 Ammo

Then buy these for actual home defense for just under $1. a round. A 500 should do you, and last a good long time. This is what you defend your home and loved one's with. This stuff is barrier blind, and expands and stays together. It will also work well of game up to deer or pigs. This ammo can get hard to come by often, so buy it when you can.

For example:

Speer Gold dolt 223 Rem - Law Enforcement 55 GR SP 500 RDS FREE SHIPPING

Will they hit to the same point of impact? No, but they will be close enough, if you sight in with the Gold Dots for serious social work, and use Kentucky windage for the cheaper 55 grain stuff.

If you learn to reload, you can develop 55 gain hand loads for cheap FMJ and component Handloaded Gold Dots that hit to the same POI out to 200 yds or so. That's what I do with Hornady 62 grain FMJ's and 62 grain Speer Gold Dots.

IMHO and YMMV
 
For the unwashed and uninitiated, what are we looking at?
M855A1.
Online source, unknown reputation:

“The M855A1 is an upgraded version of the standard M855 round, featuring a hardened steel penetrator for superior barrier penetration and lethality. With its lead-free design, this ammunition offers environmental sustainability without compromising on performance…

WHY BUY M855A1?​

  1. Enhanced Performance: The M855A1 is an improved version of the standard M855 round. It features enhanced performance in terms of accuracy, lethality, and barrier penetration compared to M855.
  2. Steel Penetrator: One of the notable features of the round is the use of a hardened steel penetrator in the bullet’s core. This steel penetrator provides improved penetration through various types of barriers, including light armor and soft cover.
  3. Lead-Free Design: This round is designed to be environmentally friendly due to it’s lead-free projectile. This reduces the environmental impact of firing the ammunition and aligns with modern military efforts to reduce lead contamination on training ranges.
  4. Enhanced Terminal Performance: This round is designed to provide consistent and reliable terminal performance. Its construction and design allow for effective target engagement and incapacitation.
  5. Adoption: This round has been adopted by various branches of the United States military, including the Army, Marines, and Air Force.
  6. Scarcity: This round is incredibly difficult to source. Furthermore, this is a round that is not readily available in many stores due to restrictions the government has imposed on the manufacturers.“
Again, just the results of a search, no statement of accuracy both in facts and on the range.