Just went to their website and noticed, that they show two different types of NATO load.

#1
5.56mm BALL, NATO (TYPE SS109) - NATO QUALIFIED

IMI's 5.56mm NATO (Type SS109) cartridge has been manufactured by IMI Small Arms Ammunition since 1990 and was awarded the prestigious NATO Qualification certification with the design known as NATO DESIGN AC/225-126A.  

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
PARAMETERS CATALOG NO. 10-172-A
BULLET WEIGHT 62 GRAIN 4.01 GRAM
BULLET TYPE BALL
*MUZZLE VELOCITY
AT 78 FEET (24 METERS) 2985 FT/SEC 910 M/SEC
*MUZZLE ENERGY
AT 78 FEET (24 METERS) 1224 FT-LBS 1660 JOULES
PRESSURE:
MAXIMUM AVERAGE
MAXIMUM AVERAGE +3SD  
55000 PSI
61000 PSI

3870 KG/CM²
4280 KG/CM²

ACCURACY SDX;SDY;MAX
3 X 30 SHOTS 8.8" AT 660 YARDS

OR
7.9" AT 600 YARDS 22.5 CM AT 600 M

OR
20.0 CM AT 550 M
PENETRATION COMPLETE PENETRATION OF SAE 1010/1020
STEEL PLATE, 3.5 MM THICKNESS
PLACED AT A DISTANCE OF 625 YARDS
(570 METERS) FROM THE MUZZLE.  

* TESTED WITH BARREL LENGTH 20" ; RIFLING 1:7".

#2

BALL, M855, SB (SPECIAL BULLET), 62GR.

IMI's 5.56mm M855, SB (SPECIAL BULLET) cartridge, known as the "silver tip" cartridge, is being sold world-wide.  

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
PARAMETERS
(NOMINAL VALUE) CATALOG NO. 10-174-A
BULLET WEIGHT 62 GRAIN 4.01 GRAM
BULLET TYPE BALL
*MUZZLE VELOCITY
AT 78 FEET (24 METERS) 3000 FT/SEC 914 M/SEC
*MUZZLE ENERGY
AT 78 FEET (24 METERS) 1235 FT-LBS 1675 JOULES
PRESSURE:
MAXIMUM AVERAGE
MAXIMUM INDIVIDUAL  
55000 PSI
61000 PSI

3870 KG/CM²
4280 KG/CM²

ACCURACY      
3 X 30 SHOTS      
8" AT 600 YARDS
8" AT 600 YARDS 20 CM AT 550 M
20.0 CM AT 550 M
PENETRATION PENETRATION OF AISI 1010/1020
STEEL PLATE, 3.5 MM THICKNESS
PLACED AT A DISTANCE OF 550 YARDS
(500 METERS) FROM THE MUZZLE.  

* TESTED WITH BARREL LENGTH 20" ; RIFLING 1:7".

BULLET CORE TYPE: STEEL FREE, HIGH ANTIMONY LEAD ALLOY.
ALL OTHER DATA I.A.W MIL-C-62989B AND STANAG 4172

Anyone tried either, or both?
I hope that I can get the M855 somewhere.
Botach Maybe?

Anyone have any real life experiences with shooting M855? I see M193 stories everywhere.
I want to buy a case of M855, and am looking for input on if I should hold on to it for SHTF ammo, and/or enjoy a day at the range with it?

The silver tipped is M855 Match round.

Silver tipped is a match round (has an all-lead core).  Its more accurate than the M855 but since the bullet is a bit shorter its performance is different.

I really liked the silver tip for longer range plinking.

But the IMI site says "M855" silver tip.
M855 has the steel penetrator in it.

So SS109 = Regular Nato
  M855 ST = USGI SS109+ ??

I don't get why they call it M855 if it is a match round, and it is listed under their military ammo link.

What I really wanted to know.... is if I order IMI ammo that is M855, will I get the SS109 round or the M855 ST round????

I Just recieved an order of IMI from Wideners Reloading today.  The product description was IMI SS109.  Box was printed M855 and contained smaller boxes of thirty rounds, all labeled M855.  I have a picture, but I don't know how to post pics yet.  You can see it here:

http://earth.prohosting.com/pnelson/

Hope this helps.

Here's Stovepipe's pic![:D]

[img]http://earth.prohosting.com/~pnelson/ammobox.jpeg[/img]

thanks Yojimbo, how do I do that, I'm new to these forum thingies.

Thanks for the pic. That helps!

Those ones that I got are the M855 Ball with the green tip, not the grey tipped "Special Ball" on the website.  I paid $159.00 for 600, seems kind of expensive but everyone says that this is the best stuff.  I have yet to shoot any yet.

Would the IMI M855 silver tip be more "indoor range"friendly"? None of the indoor ranges around me will allow M855 green tips.

Forgot to show the actual product, here it is.

[img]earth.prohosting.com/~pnelson/bullets.jpg[/img]

ok what am I doing wrong here?  

You need to use "img" and "/img" instead of "url" and "/url".  

I believe Troy is correct on this one and the host site will not allow linking.  I just tried it and it doesn't work.

Wideners apparently needs some serious help with their website.  None of the pictures work, they have the barest of descriptions, and it's difficult to find anything.

I will agree with you on that.  They did offer prompt service and fast shipping.  I sent an email to them about the web site and I hope it helps.  Then again they may get lots of emails and don't care.

Just orderd 600 rounds of the M855 from them.
This fall I am going to do a real world test of M193 and M855. Using a Colt 20" 1/7.
Stay tuned!

Spooge Out!

It's nice to see that Widener's is now a stocking distributor (finally) for IMI--just got an email from them (actually, two) saying that the IMI ammo is in stock and good to go.

Just shot some of my IMI M855 from Wideners, good stuff.  Worth the money if you ask me.  Now if they could only fix that horrid website.