What Is Green Tip Ammo? Deciphering The Difference Between Green Tip & Regular Ammo

What is green tip ammo? Green tip ammo, also known as M855, was originally produced for the military to penetrate steel and body armor more effectively.

Green tip ammo does not meet the qualifications to be considered an armor-piercing (AP) round. The ATF’s definition of AP ammo is “a full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.”

The projectile’s semi-steel core accounts for only about 20% of its total weight, whereas the jacket does not account for 25% of the bullet’s weight. However, it’s still capable of damaging backstops and steel targets, which is why so many shooting ranges do not allow it to be fired at their indoor ranges.

What Does “Green Tip Ammo” Mean?

“Green tip” ammunition is 5.56x45mm NATO loaded with 62 grain full metal jacket “penetrator” projectiles. This type of bullet has a predominantly lead core, with a 7 grain steel tip beneath the frontal section of its copper-alloy jacket. The tip of an M855 bullet is painted green, which makes M855 ammo easy to distinguish from M193 (i.e. 5.56x45 55 grain nonmagnetic FMJ) ammo.

While M855 green tip rounds were intended to penetrate steel sheet metal at 800 yards, such as what the steel helmets worn by the U.S. military during WWII were made of, they are not armor-piercing ammunition, which is why they are readily available on the civilian market.

What Is Green Tip Ammo Used For?

Green tip ammo was created in the 1970s to satisfy NATO ammo requirements. NATO wanted to improve the 5.56 round’s efficacy for combat by making its projectile more stable and more capable of penetrating body armor. The solution was to add a steel tip insert under the copper jacket, which increased the bullet weight by 7 grain. Adding steel to the bullet’s core also hardened it, thus enabling it to pierce sheet metal and penetrate soft tissue more effectively.

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Although it was intended for law enforcement and military use, American shooters have come to love this round since its inception.

Today, gun owners use green tip ammunition for various purposes. The most popular is target shooting. However, it’s banned from most indoor ranges because it can damage the range equipment, as well as create sparks that could cause fires. Since M855 ammo is magnetic, you’ll often see the range employees wave a magnet over your ammo to ensure none of it is M855.

Because it’s more likely to fully penetrate soft targets, it is a poor choice for self-defense. When used in a home defense situation, the steel tip projectile is very likely to punch through multiple walls of sheetrock and end up in your neighbor's house.

What Is the Difference Between Green Tip Ammo and Regular Ammo?

The difference between green tip ammo and “regular ammo” is the steel tip. The hard steel tip in green tip ammo means the bullet’s frontal surface is less likely to deform on impact, causing it to penetrate the target more effectively.

Green tip ammunition is not to be confused with black tip ammo, which has a tungsten core and is designed for piercing armor.

Green Tip Bullet Calibers

Green tip ammo is 5.56, which was originally designed for the AR-15 rifle and carbine. No other type of ammunition can satisfy the specifications for M855.

Green Tip 5.56 Ammo

Ammo.com carries some options for M855 ammo, which makes excellent ammunition to burn through a few magazines without emptying your pockets on expensive rounds. PMC X-TAC 62 Grain FMJ M855 ammunition is my go-to choice when shooting at an outdoor range that allows it. You can also purchase it in bulk to save even more!

Frequently Asked Questions

The team at Ammo.com has gathered and answered some of the most commonly asked questions regarding green tip ammo.

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What do ammo tip colors mean?

Ammo tip colors can mean various things: green tip and black tip generally mean armor piercing, red and pink tips usually mean tracer rounds, and blue tips typically mean incendiary rounds.

Is green-tipped ammo legal?

Yes, green-tipped ammo is legal in the United States. However, be sure to thoroughly look over your state’s gun laws and shooting range rules before purchasing and using it.

Will green tip ammo penetrate body armor?

Yes, green tip ammo will penetrate some body armor.

Is green tip the best ammo?

No, green tip is not the best ammo in most instances. However, it is often less expensive and available in bulk quantities, which makes it ideal for stocking up on.

Can civilians buy Green Tip Ammo?

Yes, civilians can buy green tip ammo.

How does green tip ammo perform compared to standard FMJ rounds?

Green tip ammo will penetrate more than standard FMJ rounds because it deforms less on impact. The actual ballistics of each round will depend on various factors such as barrel length, twist rate, and environmental conditions.

Parting Shots

Even though green tip ammo has been around for half a century, there are still many misconceptions about it. It makes good ammo to punch holes in paper when firing into a large dirt backstop; however, it does not make good home defense ammo because of its ability to over-penetrate various barriers.

If you’re looking for fun-to-fire 5.56 NATO ammo, then you might consider green tip ammo. If you’re looking for a self-defense round, I suggest finding a soft point or changing cartridges entirely.

Stay safe!

Written by

Wes Littlefield