Bullet Identification

[LBussy]

I have some surplus/pulldown bullets I purchased some time back. They are 62gn, 0.904" in length, and have a steel core. Here's a couple pics.

In case it's not apparent, these have a slight boat tail and an open back exposing what looks like lead.

I am guessing these are from M855 ammo despite not having green tips.

I have Accurate 2520 on-hand. Western powders lists a 5.56x45 load for this with the 62gn M855/MIL bullet at 24.89gn start, 27.5gn max, 2.260 COL. Does this seem reasonable? Are my guesses at the provenance of these bullets probable?

 

[RC20]

It sure has shades of military bullets I have seen.

I would dig into Sierra or Hornady book and see what the loads are for that style bullet that they both should list.

That is a pretty narrow range powder/load so I would wnat to be cautions on what

 

[Mobuck]

"I am guessing these are from M855 ammo despite not having green tips."

Some foreign made M855(ish) bullets don't have green paint OR the paint may have been removed during tumbling of pulled bullets. My suggestion is treat as typical 855 type bullets but be very conservative until you're sure how they work.

 

[LBussy]

I would dig into Sierra or Hornady book and see what the loads are for that style bullet that they both should list.

I don't have either unfortunately.

Some foreign made M855(ish) bullets don't have green paint OR the paint may have been removed during tumbling of pulled bullets. My suggestion is treat as typical 855 type bullets but be very conservative until you're sure how they work.

My approach, absent a dissenting idea, would be to go for the start load (24.9 gn) and see how that works. I have no need to break any particular speed records nor will these be long range rounds. I'll probably just kill some paper at 100 yard ranges for fun.

 

[rodfac]

My approach, absent a dissenting idea, would be to go for the start load (24.9 gn) and see how that works.

Good plan that...green tips in my possession are good for 2.5" gps, with issue iron sights from my Colt HBAR with a 1/7 twist. 748 is a good powder for that bullet. Rod

 

[hdwhit]

LBussy asked:
Does this seem reasonable?

Yes. It is for all intents and purposes an M855 bullet, so use corresponding load data.

Are my guesses at the provenance of these bullets probable?

No way to tell.

• They could be bullets made at a facility operated on behalf of the U.S. military that had to pull down the cartridges these came from because they didn't meet some specification.
• It could be U.S. manufacture on behalf of another nation's military that were rejected for some reason.
• These could be bullets of foreign manufacture intended for some other nation's armed forces.
• Or it could just be that they were pulled down from commercial rounds.

About all we can say for sure is that it is the size, weight, and overall general configuration of an M855 or equivalent bullet.

 

[LBussy]

Well, it looks like my plans haven't peaked anyone's warning systems so that's what I'll do.

Yes these will only ever be fore plinking since I don't have a way of knowing for sure what they are, or of getting more of them.