General Discussion

sir pball

(5,341 posts)

41. Just to be pedantic and picky, it was developed for the M249

Fri Feb 27, 2015, 09:57 PM

Feb 2015

The lightweight 5.56-caliber "squad automatic weapon" belt-fed machine gun that was adopted by NATO in the 80s. Long story short, the old 5.56 ammo the US used didn't have the range or penetrating power NATO needed so the Belgians actually invented the SS109 bullet to satisfy the requirements. After that, we standardized on it for assault rifles as well since it would be a logistical nightmare to try and have two separate rounds in common use.

Anyway, that being said, I'm not overly troubled by this proposal - there's plenty of traditional 62-grain ammo available that's just as dangerous to wearers of soft body armor (it simply doesn't stop rifles of any caliber); I think the outcry is mostly just the "Tactical Teddys" getting all bent that they can't get "real" military ammo. On the other hand, the SS109 bullet doesn't meet the ATF's own definition of AP since it's got quite a large lead slug behind the steel tip. Just on that basis, I don't see a court challenge ending well, assuming the proposal even passes.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

59 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Obama to ban the ammo used in AR15's [View all] glasshouses Feb 2015 OP

A good & reasonable start, Mr President misterhighwasted Feb 2015 #1

"Can be used in handguns"? NYC_SKP Feb 2015 #2

The way I read it is madokie Feb 2015 #3

Earlier stories seemed concerned only with the alleged armor piercing aspect. NYC_SKP Feb 2015 #6

You can buy single shots as well Mnpaul Feb 2015 #42

Do you mean it would go through the drawbar of a trailer hitch, solid iron? NYC_SKP Feb 2015 #47

The part where the ball attaches - yes Mnpaul Feb 2015 #49

Indeed, any rifle with even ordinary ammo will go through several walls and a kid or two. NYC_SKP Feb 2015 #50

Those pistols have been around for a long time. razorman Mar 2015 #59

The AR-15 can be built into a legal handgun. Travis_0004 Feb 2015 #12

Are not some models sold as handguns directly from the manufactures ? glasshouses Feb 2015 #15

Yes Travis_0004 Feb 2015 #16

A very illegal handgun. mybuddy Feb 2015 #55

They are carbines. The action is far too large to engage the cartridge. Drahthaardogs Feb 2015 #53

No, they are not carbines dumbcat Feb 2015 #56

Not really. They are banning just one of many available bullets. hack89 Feb 2015 #4

Its a small start for mankind.. misterhighwasted Feb 2015 #5

It is a meaningless gesture hack89 Feb 2015 #7

But it's the standard they're using. Savannahmann Feb 2015 #24

The law is specific to armor piercing ammo with materials and construction. hack89 Feb 2015 #25

I've read this and I still don't know the real difference Blue_Tires Feb 2015 #29

Military 5.56mm is based on the civilian.223 hack89 Feb 2015 #32

If the ammo was gasoline sarisataka Feb 2015 #43

Gun republicans not liking this one. Kingofalldems Feb 2015 #8

Snopes... TeeYiYi Feb 2015 #9

Good idea libodem Feb 2015 #10

.223 is a small round. Travis_0004 Feb 2015 #14

except for the 17 caliber ones madokie Feb 2015 #30

In many state it is illegal to hunt with that round hack89 Feb 2015 #26

From the reading by Remington arms it was developed for the M16 automatic rifle as a military round glasshouses Feb 2015 #36

A typical 30 caliber deer hunting round has 3 times the power hack89 Feb 2015 #39

Relevance? Travis_0004 Feb 2015 #40

Just to be pedantic and picky, it was developed for the M249 sir pball Feb 2015 #41

Thanks for the post, interesting Duckhunter935 Feb 2015 #45

Pres Obama was not involved in the process. lpbk2713 Feb 2015 #11

as usual fox 'news' has it wrong. spanone Feb 2015 #13

I found a nice Luckovich 'toon that seems fitting... Electric Monk Feb 2015 #20

As a kid growing up back in the 50s madokie Feb 2015 #31

agreed. spanone Feb 2015 #38

Good news is there's still dozens of great projectiles to choose from. ileus Feb 2015 #17

There are already a few threads on this in the Gungeon. Please continue there when this gets locked. Electric Monk Feb 2015 #18

Wont matter there are other rounds to choose from. dilby Feb 2015 #19

The way I understand it these bullets have a steel core inside glasshouses Feb 2015 #21

Most rifle rounds will go through bullet proof vests steel core or not. dilby Feb 2015 #22

Obama should do everything in his power to stick it to these assholes day and night alcibiades_mystery Feb 2015 #23

I'm all for that madokie Feb 2015 #33

"It is only logical." Illogical and painfully simplistic to suggest that Obama can "ban" anything. Fred Sanders Feb 2015 #27

As I heard it, gun lovers are all hot about some surplus ammunition that's about to hit the market. hunter Feb 2015 #28

There you go, now he is coming for your guns liberal N proud Feb 2015 #34

Stupid proposal, terrible news interpretation. X_Digger Feb 2015 #35

Of course you forgot to say all the gun nuts will get pissy because he banned anything. nt Logical Feb 2015 #44

Well, at this point, nothing has been banned at all. n/t X_Digger Feb 2015 #46

Snopes.com calls bs on this headline Kaleva Feb 2015 #37

I think pistols that shoot .30 carbine ( M1 ammo) have been around for decades. indie9197 Feb 2015 #48

The M1 fires what is essentially a handgun cartridge. Kaleva Feb 2015 #51

Will not penetrate body armor mybuddy Feb 2015 #52

Incorrect. krispos42 Feb 2015 #54

What I find odd about this, is B2G Feb 2015 #57

This pointless pandering is just causing a ton of ammo to be sold LittleBlue Feb 2015 #58