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Posted: 5/12/2006 6:05:39 AM EDT
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Due to the increasing number of posts about Radway Green, I thought I might try to collate all the information in one place for you:- The ammo Oracle is Out of Date - It refers to RG as underpowered, this can be attributed to the Pre 1986 ammuntion which was cleared for L85 use only. It was never optimised for the AR15 / M16. It does not hold true to the current surplus ammuntion for sale in the USA. *PLEASE UPDATE THE ORACLE* THE UK 5.56MM AMMUNITION IS A BALLISTIC MATCH FOR THE 5.56MM: M855, BALL ROUND THIS AMMUNITION WAS RELEASED FOR FULL USE IN THE M16A2 RIFLE AND M249 SQUAD AUTOMATIC WEAPON (SAW) AND IS ACCEPTABLE FOR USE IN WEAPON ZEROING AND QUALIFICATION FOR THE M16A2 AND THE M249. UK 5.56MM CONFIGURATIONS WAS COMPARED AGAINST THE CORRESPONDING US 5.56MM CONFIGURATION FOR PERFORMANCE, SAFETY, AND RELIABILITY BY THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AT ARDEC TO ASSURE INTERCHANGEABILITY. Brit ammo meets STANAG 4172 This is ALL L2A2 marked rounds 61.7gr +/- 1.7gr 3025 fps +/- 40fps (20" Barrel measured at 25M) Accuracy >4 moa Penetration:- 10 gauge SAE 1010 or 1020 steel plate at 570M / 623 Yards RG L2A2 BALL Chamber pressure = 4,000 bar MAX Port pressure = 880 bar MIN Tested 1998 LOT L2A2 62gr SS109 BALL = 3100 fps 50F 500' 20" 1:7 AR15 RG Ammuntion Time Line:-  L-R 1986 L2A1 Ball (No NATO marking) 1989 L2A2 Ball (Current surplus) 2003 L2A2 Ball (Current Issue) These show the Ball, Ball+NATO Std and Ball+NATO+Interop markings. The cross in circle is for ammunition designed to NATO standards, not necessarily NATO qualified. NATO interoperability marking "Cloverleaf", on the packaging relates to the ability of the tactical packaging to be used by other NATO nations, i.e.., the bandoliers, chargers, magazines, belts, boxes, or whatever else the rounds are packed in. Interoperability does not mean the same as interchangeable. -Interoperability means that the ammunition will work the guns (may be at a different cyclic rate, and probably with a different point of impact). -Interchangeable means that they not only function the gun correctly, but that the rounds will also hit where the gun is aimed, without re-zeroing. Notes for the geeks:- 5.56mm Ball L1A2 & L2A2 have some minor construction differences in the bullets, as it was feared that the earlier version could break in two when penetrating a soft target. L15A1 Ball has the same bullet as the L2A2 but is loaded with a spherical propellant, better suited to operating M16 & Minimi, as well as some other 'foreign' guns. L1A2 & L2A2 have a chopped tubular propellant (NNN 241B) optimised for our SA80 series weapons. The L85 & L86 A2 variants are not so propellant sensitive as the earlier A1 variants. The latest 5.56mm Ball L17A1 has an improved chopped tubular propellant and a different cap composition. This round shows better ballistics at temperatures below 0ºC without any detriment at higher temperatures, bullet is the same as the L2A2 & L15A1. It also works in just about everything. Cut Tubular (NNN 241B) from Muiden Chemie International (Dutch), is loosely akin to the old Nobel Rifle No.2 & No.3 propellants, it is also double based. Probably Alliant (Hercules) Reloder 11, Hodgdon H335, Vectan SP7, Vihtavouri N133, or Winchester 748 are the nearest burning rates available in commercial powders. This loading develops low chamber and port pressures to match the dwell time of the British service rifle, longer than the AR15, which requires a shorter sharper punch of gas pressure. Therefore it potentially feels less 'powerfull' to the shooter.......... It has since been found that RG works potentially better in M4's than A2's due to the gas port pressure difference. If your gas system is less than top notch, you may have problems. RG is also very dirty in the AR system. However if you have a piston conversion, this is probably the best surplus stuff to use! Your current supply of RG is in the form of ex-war stock BDR, in some cases minus the tracer due to your import laws. 900 rds ball in 150 rd BDRS or 720 rds with the 180 tracers removed! The UK 'generally' keeps its 1st line ammunition for approximately 12 years then disposes of it regardless of condition, good or bad. RG and RORG have been used as headstamps at various times post 1994. It means nothing to the compostition of the round, just which machine it was manufactured on. |
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Good show. Thanks for all the info mate! eta ~> having the info you've kindly posted put up into the RG review thread (cut and past into first post, if possible) could be appropriate/beneficial (mods can't have too many tacked threads on any forum - clutter factor). |
Yup. I have handguns with about the same chamber pressure also. Rifles are 50-65 or in the vicinity, and handguns range from 14K to about 60K. |
From the DuPont website: Oleum "Oleum" is the term used to describe fuming sulfuric acids. Oleum is made in various strengths and consists of SO3 dissolved in 100% H2SO4. Thus, 20% oleum contains 20% SO3 and 80% H2SO4 by weight. Oleum is normally turbid and off-white in appearance. Depending on strength, the vapor pressure is such that SO3 fumes escape and combine with moisture in the air to form sulfuric acid mist particles that are visible and can create clouds of dense white fumes. Is THAT the oleum you use?  ETA- thank you, ACR26 |
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