This 5.56×45 M855 ammunition by Winchester is a fine choice for any kind of target shooting with an AR-15, although it does offer something extra: the penetrator tip!

Beneath this round’s 62 grain FMJ’s green painted jacket sits a rigid steel insert. This hardens the bullet, thus enabling it to reliably penetrate 1/8” of steel (or 15 to 20” of soft tissue) at ranges up to around 670 yards. Under optimal conditions the penetrator bullet may yaw and break into two pieces as it pierces soft tissue, thus doubling the wound channels.

You wouldn’t waste this American-made ammo by firing it at regular old range targets, of course! Just take heed that penetrator tips will indeed attract a magnet, so some ranges ban them. This round’s heavier bullet ideally calls for a 1:9 or 1:8 twist barrel, but you can get along all right if you only have a 1:7.

The M855 bullet’s cannelure keeps it securely seated in its case until ignition. That case is brand new – if you notice it looks a little discolored around the tip, that is only because Winchester makes the brass suppler and more durable by annealing (aka heat-treating) it. Remove this ammo’s Boxer primers once they are spent and you can reload its cases.