M855A1

Enhanced Performance Round (EPR)

Distribution Statement A:
Approved for Public Release; Distribution is
unlimited. Other requests shall be referred to the
Office of the Project Manager for Maneuver
Ammunition Systems, ATTN: SFAE-AMO-MAS-SETI,
Picatinny, NJ 07806-5000
M855A1
Requirement Status:
Deliver an Environmentally Friendly Completed Low Rate Initial Production
Cartridge with the same or better (LRIP)
performance Completed Production Qualification
Optimized for M4 Weapon System Testing (PQT)
Armys Replacement for M855 Shipping to Theater
M855
From To Most Tested Small
This This Caliber Round Ever,
(Lead) M855A1 Over 1M Rounds!
(Copper)

Summary of Benefits Key Future Events:

Environmental impact lead free projectile
Eliminates ~ 2,000 tons of lead from production Moving rounds from Kuwait into Afghanistan
Allows use of training ranges with restrictions (1.1M)
Removes lead hazard from mfg environment
Additional rounds arriving in Kuwait late July
Performance Benefits
Consistent performance: not yaw dependant STRATCOM implementation
Significantly improved performance at Getting info to Soldiers
extended ranges Correcting misperceptions
Improved propellant reduced flash Sharing info with Allies
Trajectory Match - No Soldier training difference
Improved accuracy
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 2
History of the Lead Free Program
Why Green?
- Montreal Protocols, Executive Order (1993),
EPA 17 List, AEC Study
- Some training ranges becoming lead restricted
- Armys policy on environmental stewardship
- Expected tightening of future environmental
restrictions
- Public awareness of environmental concerns
- Cost of removing hazardous materials from
installations

Greening Efforts
- 5.56mm ball and tracer
- 7.72mm ball and tracer
- Green Primer across calibers

Resulted in the M855A1 Enhance Performance Round

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 3
M855A1 EPR Benefits

Performance Benefits
- Dramatically improves hard target performance
- Provides consistent effects against soft targets, CQB
performance
- Match like accuracy VERY ACCURATE
- No weight increase, improved propellant, reduced flash
- Trajectory Matchno Soldier training transfer difference
- Significant performance improvements in a 5.56mm
- Soft target performance similar to 7.62mm ball
- Hard target performance far better than 7.62mm ball
- Extremely effective against ALL target sets ( a true, general
purpose round)
Environmental Impact
- Lead free projectile
- Eliminates ~ 2,000 tons of lead from production
- Allows use of training ranges with restrictions
- Removes lead hazard from mfg environment
M855A1
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 4
Comparison of M855A1 and M855
M855A1 M855
M855 remains a
Target
Soft

Consistent Effects G R VERY capable, all

purpose round!
Car Window G G
Car Door G G
Barriers

3/8 Steel G Y
Concrete Masonry Unit Y R
Soft Body Armor (24 layer Kevlar) G G
Wind Drift G G
Accuracy

Ranging Error G G
MOA G Y M855A1 Enhanced
Dispersion G G Performance Round
Trajectory Match with M856 (Trace) G G
Velocity G Y
Propellant

Temperature Coefficient Y Y Chart colors are for

comparison only,
both rounds meet their
Flash Suppression G R respective requirements.

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 5
M855A1 Intermediate Barrier Performance

Car Door Penetrator

M855A1

Cu Slug

Windshield
Penetrator Penetrator
M855A1
Cu Slug

Cu Slug

M855A1 Hits the Target Behind Barriers With the Penetrator and/or Slug
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 6
M855A1 Penetration
3/8 Mild Steel
385m

M855A1

M80, 7.62mm
cant penetrate
at these ranges Shot with the M4

Kevlar Fabric

M855A1
M855A1 was tested out to
1000m and was never stopped.

M855A1 WILL Penetrate Some Body Armor Designed to Stop 7.62mm Ball

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 7
M855A1 Hard Target Performance

Results are for M4

Battle Barrier M855
Surrogate (3/8 steel) M855A1

Concrete Masonry M855

Unit M855A1

(meters) 0 150 300 450 600

Results are for M16

Battle Barrier M855
Surrogate (3/8 steel) M855A1

Concrete Masonry M855

Unit M855A1
M855A1 has Significantly Improved Hard Target Performance
(meters) 0 150 300 450 600

M855A1 has Significantly Improved Hard Target Performance

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 8
EPR Accuracy

Accuracy testing shows that on

average, 95% of rounds will hit 600 Yards
within a eight by eight inch 8
target at a range of 600 yards
8

While ammunition
accuracy is important,
nothing replaces good
marksmanship training.

Shot Placement is still the most important factor!

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 9
M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round
STRATCOM
What all Soldiers need to know when using this round
Bronze Colored Tip
Dramatically improves hard target performance
Provides dependable, consistent effects against soft
targets and CQB performance (no more Thru and Thrus)
Significantly improves performance at extended ranges
Match like accuracy VERY ACCURATE Noticeable Gap
Beneath
Penetrator
No weight increase, flash reduced, increased velocity
Extremely effective against a wide variety of targets
(a true all purpose small caliber round)
Not yet approved for use with the GREM
Not yet approved for the M249 (Emergency use only
with magazine)
A noticeable gap below the penetrator or spinning
tips are normal and do not impede performance in any way M855A1 EPR

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 10
Take-a-ways
M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR)
Environmentally friendly cartridge that performs significantly better
than any other military 5.56mm cartridge
Represents a significant performance improvement in a 5.56mm bullet
Hard target performance (steel) far better than 7.62mm ball
Soft target performance similar to 7.62mm ball
A true general purpose round optimized to a wide array of targets
Significantly improved hard target performance at longer distances
Provides consistent performance against soft targets (Yaw sensitivity)
Uses a lead free projectile (unlike M855)
Eliminates ~ 2,000 Tons of Lead from Production/Environment Yearly
Allows Use of Training Ranges with Lead Restrictions
Planned to replace M855 for the Army
Fielding in summer 2010

Continuing to Provide Improved Capabilities for our Warfighters!

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:
Distribution unlimited-Approved
for Public Release 11