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5.56 Ammo

5.56 ammo is one of the most common rifle ammos on the market also known as 5.56 NATO. With applications in target shooting, self-defense, and small varmint hunting 5.56 ammo is incredibly versatile for any 5.56 rifle you are shooting. At Fin Feather Fur Outfitters we offer a great selection of all 5.56 ammo for sale including 5.56 green tip at great prices and fast shipping on your orders.

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What Is 5.56 Ammo?

In 1957 the 5.56x45mm cartridge was invented by Eugene Stoner, to be the rifle ammo for his AR-15 platform rifle. In 1960s the United States military officially adopted the 5.56 ammo for the M16 rifle. 5.56 ammo is an intermediate-power rifle cartridge, notable for its light recoil, flat trajectory, and high velocity the 5.56x45mm NATO is also standard for many NATO militaries around the world.

5.56 ammo has a couple of key characteristics in its recoil, trajectory, velocity, and versatility. The 5.56 NATO has low recoil making it easier to take accurate follow up shots, and a great choice for beginning shooters, and experience shooters alike. The velocity and trajectory of 5.56 ammo set it apart, with a high muzzle velocity creating a flat trajectory making it a very accurate round. And finally the versatility of 5.56 ammo is seen through its effective uses in target plinking, hunting, home defense, and even competition shooting.

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Types of 5.56 Ammo

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The 5.56 ammo cartridge is so iconic because there are so many variations for different uses. Some of the most common are the standard ball M193, Green tip, enhanced performance rounds, and Frangible rounds. The M193 or FMJ round is the original Vietnam-era 5.56 ammunition that is still great today for general target shooting and training. 5.56 Green Tip is called the steel-penetrator tip, although by U.S. legal standards it is not considered “armor-piercing”. The enhanced performance rounds or ERP 5.56 ammunition has a copper body, is a steel penetrator, is lead-free, and is that standard issue for modern U.S. Military forces, therefore it is not easily available for the general public. The 5.56 Frangible rounds are a lead-free powder metal projectile that breaks apart on steel or hard surfaces making it a great choice for close-quarters ranges and shoot-house training as it reduces the risk of ricochets.

Most Common Uses For 5.56x45mm NATO Ammunition

With so many types of 5.56 ammo available, there are also many different applications that come with it. We commonly see people using 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition for self-defense, hunting, target shooting, and military or law enforcement applications. 5.56 as a self-defense round is great as it has high velocity, is an accurate shot, and has serious stopping power with some rounds that expand on impact reducing over-penetration, which is why so many people choose this ammo to defend themselves and their homes. When it comes to hunting, 5.56 ammo is great for hunting small game and varmint. Its speed and accuracy brings a deadly approach to hunting coyotes, prairie dogs, and even foxes. You should always check your local laws however, because in many states including out Ohio you cannot use 5.56 ammo to hunt deer. Once again, since the 5.56x45mm NATO is so accurate, and affordable, it is incredibly popular among target shooters, and competitive shooters, and with many 5.56 rifles being highly customizable it’s a great option for people to build a fun range toy. Finally, law enforcement and the military uses 5.56 NATO in their rifles like the M4 & M16 allowing for low recoil and accurate shots in their automatic rifles.

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Type of 5.56 Ammo Best Use Common Model / Example Average Box Price*
M193 – 55 gr FMJ General training / basic range ball ammo Winchester 55 gr FMJ M193 $24-30 for 50 rounds
M855 / SS109 – 62 gr Penetrator (“Green Tip”) Barrier penetration, standard NATO duty loads PMC 62 gr FMJ M855 $30-35 for 50 rounds
M855A1 EPR – 62 gr Enhanced Performance Modern military duty load, improved barrier / metal penetration Federal M855A1 (mil-spec) [civilian analogs vary] Highly restricted; civilian analogs often > $40 for 50 rounds
MK262 Mod 0/1 – 77 gr OTM Match Designated Marksman / long-range accuracy Black Hills 77 gr OTM 5.56 $70-80 for 50 rounds
MK318 Mod 0/1 SOST – 62 gr Barrier-Blind Law enforcement/military barrier-penetration with expansion Federal MK318 Mod 0 62 gr SOST $50 for 20 round box
Tracer Rounds (e.g., M856) – around 63 gr Fire-correction, training, night/low-light marking M856 Tracer 63 gr 5.56x45 NATO $40-$60+ per 20 rounds
Frangible Loads Steel-safe training, shoot-house, indoor ranges Various manufacturers 5.56 frangible 50-round boxes $30-40 for 50 rounds
Match Grade / Heavy Grain – 68 gr / 75 gr HPBT & 77 gr etc. Competition, precision shooting, long-range Hornady Superformance 75 gr HPBT 5.56 $35-$60+ for 20-50 rounds

Top 5.56 Nato Ammo Brands

  • Winchester 5.56 Ammunition :

    Winchester brings so many advantages as a top manufacturer of 5.56 ammo including military-grade manufacturing standards, consistency, wide availability, and proven reliability. These aspects can give you confidence that your 5.56 ammo will fire correctly, and consistently feel the same shot to shot. One of the other benefits being that if you like Winchester’s 5.56 ammo like the Winchester 5.56mm NATO 62GR FMJ Green Tip you will almost always be able to find it on shelves.

  • Hornady 5.56 Ammo :

    Hornady has an elite reputation for 5.56 ammo bringing precision engineering, purposeful bullet design, and exceptional quality control. When you buy a box of Hornady Black 5.56 NATO you know you are getting rounds that are high-performing, consistent shooting, and most importantly, accurate!

Common Questions About 5.56x45 Ammo

What’s the difference between 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington?

Although they look very similar externally, 5.56 NATO is loaded to a higher pressure than .223 Remington. The chamber of a 5.56 rifle has a longer throat than a .223 chamber, accommodating for the higher pressure rounds. Because of that pressure and chamber difference, firing 5.56 NATO in a rifle marked only “.223 Rem” can be unsafe. Conversely, shooting .223 Remington out of a 5.56 chambered rifle is generally considered safe, though you might sacrifice a little performance or accuracy.

How much does 5.56 ammo cost?

For the most part 5.56 FMJ ranges from around $0.50 – $1.50 per round, depending on brand and load. Boxes of 5.56 ammo can range anywhere from $25 - $80 or more … see above chart.

What is the effective range of 5.56 NATO?

There are a couple of factors to determine the “effective range” of 5.56 ammo, but in general you can hit targets anywhere up to 300 – 500 yards away, however you can expect the lethality of the shot to drop off once you pass 500 yards.

Buying 5.56 Ammo For Sale Online

With so many choices of 5.56 ammo for sale online, it can be difficult to choose what option is best for you. Luckily for you at Fin Feather Fur Outfitters, you have complete access to our firearm and ammo experts behind our gun counter. We pride ourselves on customer service, and helping you choose the 5.56 ammo you need, and is best for you, so ask us any questions you may have.

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