PMC X-TAC 5.56 M855 62gr 1000 Round Case – Rugged Bulk Ammunition

Description

Buying by the thousand is how most AR-15 owners actually shop once they know what they like. The PMC X-TAC 5.56 M855 62gr 1000 Round Case is the loose-packed version of PMC military-specification load, without the cans and clips.

• What the M855 Designation Means
• PMC X-TAC 5.56 M855 62gr 1000 Round Case Specifications
• Honest Notes on Buying by the Case

What the M855 Designation Means

M855 is the NATO designation for the 62 grain 5.56 cartridge adopted in the early 1980s, replacing the earlier 55 grain M193. The identifying green paint on the tip is a marking convention rather than a material; the substantive difference is a hardened insert in the nose ahead of the lead core, which is why the round is classed as light armor piercing rather than plain ball.

In practice that construction gives better results against sheet steel, vehicle bodies and light cover, and it retains velocity better than the lighter round. The PMC X-TAC 5.56 M855 62gr 1000 Round Case leaves a 20 inch barrel at 3100 feet per second with 1323 foot-pounds, and is still moving 2157 feet per second at 300 yards.

PMC manufactures X-TAC in Korea to military specification. The 1000 round case is the loose-packed format: cartons rather than clips and cans, which brings the cost per round down and suits a shooter who loads magazines at home rather than on a firing line.

PMC X-TAC 5.56 M855 62gr 1000 Round Case Specifications

Barrel twist matters with a 62 grain bullet. A 1:9 twist stabilizes it adequately, and the 1:7 or 1:8 twist found on most modern AR-15s handles it comfortably. A 1:12 barrel, which appears on early AR-15s and some varmint uppers, will not, and the group sizes will tell you immediately.

Range rules matter too. Many indoor and commercial ranges prohibit ammunition with a steel insert because it damages steel target plates and increases ricochet risk. Confirm before you commit to a case of the PMC X-TAC 5.56 M855 62gr 1000 Round Case, because a thousand rounds you cannot shoot where you shoot is an expensive mistake.

Accuracy is service grade. Expect roughly 2 to 4 MOA from a typical carbine, which is entirely adequate for training and carbine work and is not match ammunition. Cases are boxer primed and reloadable if you save them.

• Cartridge: 5.56mm NATO
• Bullet weight: 62 grain
• Bullet type: M855, green tip
• Muzzle velocity: 3100 feet per second from a 20 inch barrel
• Muzzle energy: 1323 foot-pounds
• Ballistic coefficient: 0.304
• Sectional density: 0.177
• Case: brass, boxer primed
• Rounds per case: 1000
• Manufacturer item: 5.56K
• Series: PMC X-TAC
• UPC: 020741569010126

Honest Notes on Buying by the Case

Buy the PMC X-TAC 5.56 M855 62gr 1000 Round Case if you shoot an AR-15 in volume, your range permits it, and you want the barrier performance and downrange velocity the heavier bullet gives. The loose case is the cheapest way per round to buy this load.

Skip it if your range restricts steel-core ammunition. The 55 grain X-TAC in the same family is cheaper anyway and welcome everywhere.

Skip it for precision or hunting. This is service ammunition. Match loads in 68 or 77 grain are the answer for accuracy, and an expanding bullet is the answer for game.

Prefer clipped and canned? The PMC X-TAC 62gr 1680 round can pack ships on stripper clips in bandoleers. For the plain ball version, see the PMC X-TAC 5.56 55gr FMJBT can pack. PMC publishes complete X-TAC ballistic data on its own site.

MAG5 Firearms sells 5.56 by the box, the can and the pallet. If you are buying a case or more, ask about freight before you order.