 NATO cartridge that was developed by FN Herstal in the 1970s.){kind=link}
All you need to do is listen to the news for literally 15 minutes to know how badly falsehoods reign in reporting, specifically with respect to guns.
Let’s just look at some fake terms. Assault rifle. High-capacity clip. High caliber bullets. These are just a few of the atrocities committed by those who don’t know anything about guns.
So, let’s go a little further. You’ve heard of green tip 5.56, yes? It’s a relatively common round that is often used in the military and sold as surplus in secondary markets.
But it has often been maligned as “armor piercing.” So let’s get to the bottom of this.
What Green Tip 5.56 Is
Green tip 5.56 NATO ammo is a standardized (STANAG) NATO cartridge that was developed by FN Herstal in the 1970s.
It was developed to adjust the performance of the original 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge.
This one was changed to accept a slightly heavier bullet – 62 grains – with a steel tip inserted into the bullet.
This changes the center of mass, and hardens the nose of the bullet. Steel is harder and more stable than both the lead core of a bullet and its copper jacket, so it offers improved penetration characteristics.
Specifically, green tip 5.56 ammo was required to be able to penetrate a .135” thick steel plate at 800 meters.
As a result, it has been called armor piercing by those on the anti-gun side of things. Technically, yes, it can pierce some armor, and so, it is considered LAP, or “light armor piercing” by the military.
But let’s not forget that the original 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, loaded with nothing more than an FMJ bullet, was also required to penetrate a US M1 steel helmet through one side at 500 yards.
Does that make all full metal jacket 5.56 NATO bullets armor piercing?
We should hope not.
Does green tip 5.56 pierce armor? That depends on the armor, but conceivably. Even so, it wasn’t developed expressly for that purpose.
What Green Tip 5.56 Isn’t
Green tip 5.56, despite its ability to puncture thin steel plates within 1000 yards, is not a true armor piercing round in the same sense that tungsten tipped rounds are true armor piercing rounds.
It just happens to be able to do so. At the same time, there are some things you should know about it.
One, it is federally legal to own – but that doesn’t mean your state or city allows it.
Two, many ranges will not allow green tip 5.56 because of the damage it can incur to steel targets, as well as the risks of over penetration and ricochet it presents.
Three, do not get this ammo for hunting or defensive purposes. It’s terrible for that, as it is better suited for penetration than for energy transfer.
Here Cause You Want Ammo Online? Here’s Where to Get It
Alright, enough preaching. If you’re here because you’re looking for good deals on green tip 5.56 online, visit Bucking Horse Outpost. They have some, and carry many other lines of 5.56 and .223 as well.