5.56x45 Versions

Australia

• F1 - Ball (1985-2010?): FN SS109 equivalent produced by Thales Australia, formerly Australian Defence Industries (ADI).
• F1A1 - Ball [Green tip] (2010–present): Optimized projectile having a modified boat tail length and meplat diameter, redesigned case thickness, new primer cup design, and AR2210V01 propellant. Unlike the F1 cartridge, the F1A1 headstamp has a dimple at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock. This is a hallmark of the automated SCAMP loading machinery used to make the new cartridges.
• F3 - Blank [Crimped tip] (1985-1994; 1998–Present): Blank cartridge produced by Thales Australia, formerly Australian Defence Industries (ADI). Due to low demand lots are made every three years.

Belgium

• Ball, SS109: 61-grain Semi-Armor-Piercing cartridge with a steel penetrator produced by Fabrique Nationale. Adopted in 1979 as the NATO standard.

Canada

• Ball, C77: FN SS109 equivalent used in the C7, C8 and C9 type weapons. Made by General Dynamics Canada.
• Blank, C79 [Crimped tip]: Blank cartridge used in the C7, C8 and C9 type weapons. Also made by General Dynamics Canada.

France

Ammunition made by GIAT.

• Type O (Ordinaire, "Standard" or "Ball"): A Full-Metal-Jacketed lead-core bullet similar to the US M193. It was used with the FAMAS.
• Type T (Traçant, "Tracer"): A tracer bullet similar to the US M196.

Germany

AA59

• DM11, Weichkern ("Soft-core", or Ball) [Green tip]: Dual core ball cartridge w/steel core, similar to M855/SS109, produced by RUAG Ammotec.
• DM11 A1, Weichkern [Green tip]: 62gr Dual core ball cartridge with steel core, similar to M855/SS109, designed for and used by the German Bundeswehr with NATO approval (AC/225-125A), produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH.
• DM18, Manöver ("Maneuver"): Blanks with brass base, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH.

AA63

• DM21 - [Orange tip]: Tracer complement to DM11, also produced by RUAG Ammotec.
• DM31 - 62gr armor piercing cartridge w/tungsten carbide core, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH.
• DM38 - 7.7gr plastic training cartridge, plastic case cartridge colored light blue with an light 7.7gr plastic bullet designed for short ranges with a dangerous space under 400-metre, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH.
• DM41 A1 - 62gr FMJ cartridge, similar to M855/SS109, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH.
• DM51 - 55gr deformation pure copper cartridge designed for high energy transfer to soft targets, produced by Metallwerk Elisenhütte GmbH.

South Africa

• M1A3 - 55-grain FMJ Ball round based on the M193 cartridge. It is used with the R4/5/6 series assault rifles.

Switzerland

• Pat 90 - The 63-grain 5.56×45mm Gewehrpatrone 90 is the Swiss Army's standard 5.56mm Ball round. It is optimized for use with the Sturmgewehr 90 service rifle, both which were adopted in 1987. Originally the cartridge had a cupro-nickel jacketed bullet and Berdan primer, but it now has a tombac jacketed bullet and lead-free Boxer primer. Since 1997 most components of the round are made in

Switzerland.

United Kingdom

• L2A1 - M193 equivalent produced by Radway Green.
• L2A2 - FN SS109 equivalent produced by Radway Green.
• L1A1 [Red tip] - Tracer complement to L2A1, produced by Radway Green.
• L1A2 [Red tip] - Tracer complement to L2A2, produced by Radway Green.
• L1A1 & L1A2 [crimped tip] - Blank training round, produced by Radway Green.
• L1A1 [chromed body] - Inert training round, produced by Radway Green.

United States

Military ammunition was packed exclusively in 20-round cartons from 1963 to 1966. In late 1966 the stripper clip and magazine-charging adapter were introduced and ammunition began being packed in clips in bandoleers.

US Army

• M193 - 55-grain ball cartridge. This was type-standardized and designated by the US Army in September, 1963.
• M195 [Crimped tip with Red lacquer seal] - High-pressure grenade-launching blank.
• M196 [Red or Orange tip] - 54-grain tracer cartridge.
• M197 [stannic-stained or nickel-plated case] - High-pressure Testing cartridge used when proofing weapons during manufacture, test, or repair.
• M199 [No primer, Fluted case] - Inert cartridge with fluted indentations in the case. Used for loading and unloading drills during basic training.
• M200 [Crimped tip with Violet lacquer seal] - 5.56×45mm training blank cartridge.
• M202 - 58-grain FN SSX822 cartridge.
• M232 [No primer, Black-anodized case and bullet] - Inert cartridge. Used for testing rifle mechanisms.
• XM287 - 68-grain ball cartridge produced by Industries Valcartier, Inc. An Improved version was also produced designated XM779.
• XM288 - 68-grain tracer cartridge produced by Industries Valcartier, Inc. An Improved version was also produced designated XM780.
• M755 [Crimped tip with Yellow lacquer seal] - Grenade launching blank specifically for the 64mm M234 launcher. The original white lacquer seal was discontinued due to excessive bore fouling.
• XM777 - Ball cartridge. An attempt to create a 55-grain SS109-style Semi-Armor-Piercing round that weighed the same as the M193 and could use the same US-standard 1-in-12-inch rifling. It replaced the 6×45mm SAW round as the baseline cartridge for the Squad Automatic Weapon trials in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
• XM778 - Tracer cartridge mated with the XM777 Semi-Armor-Piercing cartridge.
• M855 [Green tip] - 62-grain FN SS109-equivalent ball cartridge with a steel penetrator tip over a lead core in a full copper jacket.
• M855LF Lead Free [Green tip] - 62-grain bullet with a steel penetrator tip over a tungsten-composite core in a full copper jacket. Primarily used during training in countries with strict lead disposal laws.
• M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round [unpainted steel penetrator tip] (2010–Present): 62-grain bullet w/ a 19-grain steel penetrator tip over a copper alloy core in a partial copper jacket.
• M856 [Orange tip] - 63.7-grain FN L110 tracer cartridge. Provides red visible light and lacks a steel penetrator.
• M856A1 [Red tip] - 56-grain Lead Free slug (LF) Tracer with similar ballistic performance to the M855A1 and improved 70 to 900 m (77 to 984 yd) visible trace to range consistency.
• M862 [Brass primer, Aluminum case and Blue plastic projectile] - Short Range Training Ammo (SRTA) has a smaller charge than standard ball, reducing its aimed range to 250 meters, and fires a plastic bullet. The M2 training bolt must be used in the M16 Rifle / M4 Carbine when using SRTA for the weapon to cycle properly due to its lower power. It is used during training on shooting ranges near built-up or populated areas.
• M995 [Black tip] - 52-grain AP cartridge with a tungsten core.
• XM996 [Crimson tip] - So-called "Dim Tracer" with reduced effect primarily for use with night vision devices.

US Air Force

• MLU-26/P (Munition, Live, Unit #26 / Personnel use) - Early USAF designation for a 55-grain FMJ Boat-Tailed ball cartridge produced by Remington-Union Metallic Cartridge Company. It was their designation for the commercial 55-grain .223 Remington M.C. ("Metallic-Cased", or Full Metal Jacketed) which the Air Force initially designated "5.64 mm" (.222 caliber) rather than 5.56 mm (.218 caliber). The first order in 1963 (headstamp RA 63 or REM-UMC 63) consisted of 8.5 million rounds and was procured for testing, training and unconventional warfare use with the XM16 rifle. The cartridges came packed unclipped in white 20-round commercial ammunition cartons, packed 35 cartons (700 rounds) per M2A1 ammo can, and shipped 2 M2A1 cans (1400 rounds) per wire-bound plywood crate. Until the Army's adoption of the M193 Ball round, this was the only type of military 5.56mm ammunition available in the South-East Asia theater.

US Navy & US Marine Corps

• MK 255 Mod 0 [White Tip] - 62-grain Reduced Ricochet Limited Penetration (RRLP) round with copper/polymer composite core for training and operational use.
• Mk 262 Mod 0/1 - 77-grain Open-Tipped Match/Hollow-Point Boat-Tail cartridge. Mod 0 features Sierra Matchking bullet, while Mod 1 features either Nosler or Sierra bullet.
• MK 311 Mod 0 - Reduced Ricochet Limited Penetration (R2LP) round, 50-grain frangible bullet intended for training. Produced by Western Cartridge Company (headstamp: WCC).
• MK318 MOD 0: 62-grain Open-Tipped Match Boat-Tail cartridge. Optimized for use with 14-inch barreled weapons like the M4A1 Carbine and MK16 SCAR and designed to penetrate light barriers like windshields or car doors with no loss of accuracy or damage. Now designated as Caliber 5.56 mm Ball, Carbine, Barrier.