Hi folks,

Just received an ammo box containing 380 linked rounds of IMI made SS109.
The writing on the ammo box says:

380 cartridges 5.56mm/SS109
LINKED
LOT: 00203/C
CARTRIDGES FOR WEAPONS.   1.4S
INERT PROJECTILE         UN 0012
G.W.: 7.8 KG             N.W.: 4.5 KG
4A/Y15/S/ 01 /IL/IMI 94

The cartridges are headstamped:
IMI 01 or TZZ 01 with the NATO cross & circle.
I guess the ammo is made in 2001.
I made the magnet test on the bullets and confirm they have a steel insert meaning that they are SS109 bullets, they are also more pointed than the M193 but don't have the green paint on their tips.
Wondering why it says inert projectile on the box.

Can someone tell me if this ammo is good to shoot in an M4?
Also there's some kind of oil on them though not that much, do I need to remove the oil prior to shooting?

I got that box for $109, is that a reasonable price?

Thanks for your comments.
LRRPS.

Based on the headstamp, its good stuff.

I can't explain the lack of green-tip, although it may have something to do with it being linked.

Botach sells it for $7.00/30 rds (not on sale). You paid $8.60/30 rds, so it was high, but then again, you also paid for the links.

Specs listed on Botach site:

IMI 5.56mm 62gr M855 Green Tip
Bullet Weight   62 Grain
Bullet Type     Full Metal Jacket / Steel Core / Green Tip
Muzzle Velocity 3100 ft./Sec. - 16-Inch Bbl.
Muzzle Energy   1322 Ft./Lbs.
Quantity        30rds - Case 1200rds 40 Boxes, 30rds per box
Ship Weight     0.9lb. (Case 34 lbs.)
Price           $7.00

Thanks for the reply Neilfj, there were no tracers with these linked cartridges, so I'm gonna place 1 tracer for every 4 ball ammo, that way I can keep the 380 round belt intact in its metal box for display and shoot the 95 or something rounds which will be removed from the belt.

LRRPS.

IMHO...it sounds to me like they are reloads,you have a can dated 1994 with 2001 headstamps IMI AND TZZ.the oily residue may be case lube,the lack off green tip just means they aren't M855,could be SS109....I'd pull a bullet and weigh it,see if its 62 gr.

LONGHUNTER

Longhunter,

The oily residue is definately not case lube, it doesn't smell like it anyway.
There are no marks on the cases which indicates that they hit the deflector.
I have pulled some of the bullets and checked the case walls, they are shiny.
The lower parts of the bullets behind the cannelure are covered with a black tar look alike substance.
The crimping of the bullet is different from what you may see on a reloaded cartridge.
The bullets themselves weigh 62 grains each.
And finally the primers are coated with a thin violet waterproof sealant.

LRRPS

LRRPS

I have few boxes of TZZ95 marked ammo with NATO cross. Text in the box:

[b]30 CARTRIDGES
CALIBER 5.56 MM
BALL, M855

LOT: 00229/F

also couple of boxes from lot 00255/E

This ammo is made by IMI and cartridges does not have green tip but there is steel penetrator in the tip.

Where did you get that ammo? I´m very interested because this is high quality stuff.

MN

"Inert" means it isn't tracer or explosive.

From the [url=http://www.ammo-oracle.com/]ammo-oracle[/url]:

Q. Is all SS-109/M855 ammo marked with green bullet tips?

No.

Countries that previously issued 5.56mm rifles with a 1:12 barrel twist will mark their SS-109/M855 ammo with green bullet tips, to prevent the ammo from being accidentally fired in the older 1:12 rifles.  Also, countries that regularly supply other countries with older 1:12 rifles usually mark their bullets for the same reason.  Countries that didn't adopt 5.56mm rifles until the NATO SS-109 standard was adopted usually don't mark their ammo with green tips, as they don't have any old 1:12 rifles to be concerned with.  Note that many other countries that now use 5.56 weapons were still using 7.62mm rifles until recently and never used any other ammunition than the SS-109/M855 and L-110/M856, so they don't mark their bullets with green or orange paint unless they intend to sell it to countries who require these markings (the US, Germany, and Belgium, primarily).  They also typically refer to their rounds by the FN bullet name.

Also, some Bosnian M855 surplus was around, and it's tips were painted Black.
It caused some confusion, some folks thought it was true AP M995.