Some of the best M855 that I have fired was produced by IMI. Here's a short evaluation of that ammuntition.





IMI M855 is loaded with a 62 grain FMJ bullet with a cannelure and has a steel penetrator. The ammunition is charged with "ball powder". The primers are sealed and crimped in placed. The bullet is also crimped in place and the case mouth is sealed with an asphalt sealant. It is easily distinguished from IMI M193 by the green painted bullet tip.






Chronograph data was obtained using an Oehler 35P with "proof screen" technology. All velocities listed are muzzle velocities as calculated from instrumental velocities using Oehler's Ballistic Explorer software program. All strings of fire consisted of 10 shots each.








Accuracy testing was performed using a free-floated 20" Colt HBAR. The barrel has a 1:7" twist, NATO chamber and is chrome lined. Accuracy testing was done from a distance of 100 yards shooting from a bench-rest. A 10-shot control-group was fired using 55 grain Sierra BlitzKings and had an extreme spread of 1.17". Three 10-shot groups of the IMI M855 were fired in a row with the following extreme spreads:

2.14"
3.01"
1.71"

for a 10-shot average of 2.29". The best 10-shot group is pictured below.






The three 10-shot groups were overlayed on each other using RSI Shooting Lab to form a 30-shot composite group. The mean radius for this composite group was 0.69".

Great report. Thanks

Another great report from Molon.  Thanks!

...

Mine is   TZZ 00

Where can you find this ammunition for sale?

Molon, as always, your report ROCKS! Many thanks.
ladders1901,

The ONLY place I've seen any IMI M855 for sale in the last couple years has been on the EE.

If you really want some it won't hurt so bad if you pick up some vaseline before you grab your ankles.



I do have 4k of the IMI 55 grain .223 if someone out there w/IMI M855 without a 5.56 chamber wants to trade


Sorry, it was the perfect time to ask...

Botach used to sell it by the 1200 round case.

I bought a single box of it for ~$9.00 at a gun show years ago and though I was paying too much. Little did I know where the price and availability of this ammo would be today.

Molon-
Great report. I agree, some of my best shootin' ammo has been the IMI M193 & M855 as well. Great stuff, too bad it's so hard to get and way overpriced when you find it.

...and I hear Unicorns are pretty too.  

Know where I can get one?

ditto...didnt know anyone was still selling IMI. I only have a very small amt left myself and that was purchased a LONG time ago.

Ditto.  The first headstamp is from the 00256/A lot.  I've also had other lots with the second headstamp pictured.

Molon-

Here's a sidebar request to your excellent IMI M855 report.

Do you have any range report info on the Cor-Bon 69-gr and 77-gr SMK .223 loads? They certainly look like 5.56mm loads and the 77-gr has the appearance of looking very close to MK262. Check this out:

According to your posted chrono field tests with a 20" barrel, the black hills .223 75-OTM loads will chrono at 2670-2700 fps. The 5.56mm MK 262 77-gr SMK will chrono at a faster 2830 fps.

Looking at Cor-Bon's website, they post the following info:

223 REM 69 GR HPBT 3000-FPS 1379-FTLBS 20" barrel with 1-in-9 twist

223 REM 77 GR HPBT 2800-FPS 1341-FTLBS 20' barrel with 1-in-9 twist

With the general lack of availablity of many of the known 5.56mm/77-gr SMK loads, it's nice to see that this stuff is actually available directly from the manufacturer at relatively reasonable (for now) prices. It would very cool and informative to read one of your reports on this ammo to see if the round is accurate and as fast as they say. If I were them, I would comp you some just to get the word out there.

That Cor-Bon 69-gr and 77-gr SMK ammo looks like some really hot and nasty 5.56mm loads and probably just the thing for SHTF deals.

Let me know what you think.

here is some high end M855, click HERE

Good range report, too bad it's next to impossible to get that anymore. I have shot it years ago and was very impressed.

I have some IMI M855 in sealed plastic packs I ordered from Sportsman's guide about 10 years ago or so. My "rainy day" ammo! I don't touch it and have never even opened the plastic covering. In an ammo can, in my safe (which has a dehumidifier rod in use). That shit'll last for years!

Check the ammunition tabs on the two main gun auction sites from time to time.  Every so often you will find somebody unloading their IMI/Samson 5.56 but be prepared to pay....and be prepared to bid against me.  

IMI/Samson 9mm is another thing for some odd reason.  It never shows up any more.  Black tip Samson is perfect for carbines, SBRs and FA UZI weapons for which it was designed.

Good range report and yes, it is the finest ammo out there.  Unfortunately because of the price it is becoming collectable rather than shootable.

What does a full case of this bring in today's market.

I would guess at least $650.  WCC sells for about that.

Try this!   http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=670936   2850 FPS!!  77gr SMK

Resurrecting an old thread -

I can get 750 rounds of IMI M855 for $550, maybe less. It is old though, from 1995 with lot #'s in the low 230's.

I was thinking about either that or finding a case of Partizan 75 grain.

What do you think is better for SHTF ammo for my Colt 6920?

Thanks.

PRIV 75 gr ammunition.

I have about 2,500 rounds of  IMI M855 put away.  For M855 ammunition, it's good stuff.  But I prefer the 75 gr stuff to M855.  YMMV