5.56 ballistics chart

5.56 ballistics by load type

This 5.56 ballistics chart covers the three loads you'll actually encounter: M193 (cheap range ammo), M855 (green tip), and 77gr OTM (precision match). If you're new to rifles, the key numbers are velocity (speed in feet per second), energy (hitting power in foot-pounds), drop (how far the bullet falls below your aim point at distance), and wind drift (how far a crosswind pushes the bullet sideways).

All data below uses factory ammunition from a 16" carbine barrel (1:7 twist) unless noted. Real-world velocities vary by barrel length, lot, and temperature. Trajectory is zeroed at 50/200 yards — the standard AR-15 battlesight zero, meaning the bullet crosses your line of sight at 50 yards on the way up and again at 200 yards on the way down.

Quick takeaway: Inside 300 yards, all three loads perform similarly. Past 400 yards, the 77gr OTM dominates — it drops less, drifts less in wind, and hits harder. For range training, buy whichever M193 or M855 is cheapest. For precision work, invest in 77gr match ammo.

M193 — 55gr FMJ

The original 5.56 NATO load. Light, fast, and widely available.

M193 is at its best inside 200 yards where velocity is high enough for reliable fragmentation in soft tissue (~2,700 fps threshold). Past 300 yards, accuracy and terminal effectiveness both degrade — M193's low ballistic coefficient (BC ~0.243) means it sheds velocity quickly.

M855 — 62gr FMJ w/ steel penetrator

The current NATO standard. Slightly heavier with a steel-tipped penetrator.

M855 is marginally slower at the muzzle than M193 (the 7-grain weight increase isn't fully offset by the charge). Trajectory is very similar. The steel penetrator was designed to penetrate the Soviet steel helmet at 600 meters — it doesn't meaningfully improve terminal performance on soft tissue and can actually reduce it by penciling through without fragmenting.

77gr OTM (Mk262 / Sierra MatchKing)

The precision and special operations load. Heavy-for-caliber with a high BC.

The 77gr OTM's high BC (0.372 vs 0.243 for M193) means it retains velocity far better at range. At 600 yards, it arrives with 518 ft-lbs — nearly double M193's 282 ft-lbs. Wind drift is 31% less. This is why Mk262 became the preferred round for designated marksmen and is the basis for most precision AR-15 loads.

Requires 1:8 or faster twist to stabilize (most modern ARs are 1:7).

20" barrel vs 16" barrel

The original M16 used a 20" barrel. The M4 carbine uses 14.5". Most civilian AR-15s use 16" (the legal minimum without an NFA tax stamp). Barrel length significantly affects 5.56 velocity.

5.56 NATO was designed for a 20" barrel. Every inch you cut costs roughly 25–30 fps. The biggest practical impact is on M193's fragmentation threshold — from a 10.3" barrel, M193 drops below the ~2,700 fps fragmentation velocity by 50–75 yards. From a 20" barrel, it stays above that threshold past 150 yards.

For precision shooting, the 20" barrel gives 77gr OTM a 150 fps advantage that extends its effective range and improves long-range energy retention.

Bullet drop comparison — all three loads

Zeroed at 50/200 yards from a 16" barrel:

Inside 300 yards, all three loads are within 1" of each other. Differences become meaningful at 400+ yards where the 77gr OTM's higher BC pays off. At 600 yards the OTM drops 9" less than M193 and 13" less than M855.

Wind drift comparison

10 mph full-value crosswind, 16" barrel:

Wind is where the 77gr OTM dominates. At 600 yards, it drifts nearly a foot less than M193. For precision shooting or hunting at range, this is the largest practical advantage of heavier bullets.

Energy retention comparison

At 600 yards, the 77gr OTM retains 40% of its muzzle energy. M193 retains only 25%. This energy retention is why heavier OTM bullets are preferred for any application past 300 yards.

Which load to buy

• Range training: M193 or M855 — whichever is cheaper. Neither offers a meaningful accuracy or training advantage over the other at typical range distances (25–100 yards).
• Home defense: See Best ammo for AR-15 — purpose-built defensive loads outperform both M193 and M855 for this role.
• Precision / competition: 77gr OTM (Federal Gold Medal Match, Black Hills Mk262 clone) or similar high-BC loads.
• General purpose: M193 remains the best value. It's effective inside 300 yards, widely available, and cheapest per round.

For a deeper look at all 5.56 bullet types: 5.56 ammo types explained

Related articles

• Best ammo for AR-15 — Picks by use case
• 5.56 ammo types explained — M193, M855, OTM, and more
• 5.56 vs .223 Remington — Chamber compatibility
• 7.62x39 vs 5.56 NATO — AK vs AR caliber comparison
• .300 Blackout ballistics — Supersonic and subsonic data
• .300 Blackout vs 5.56 — AR-15 caliber comparison

Related caliber pages

• 5.56 NATO ammo prices — Current pricing across all retailers
• Cheapest 5.56 NATO right now — Lowest observed prices
• 5.56 NATO price history — 30-day pricing trends
• 5.56 FMJ — Range ammo options and pricing
• .223 Remington ammo prices — Current pricing

Search 5.56 ammo → | Search .223 ammo →

Sources

• Federal Premium Ballistics Calculator — Velocity and trajectory data
• Hornady Ballistic Calculator — BC and wind drift reference
• Bryan Litz, Applied Ballistics for Long-Range Shooting — BC measurements and trajectory modeling
• DocGKR / M4Carbine.net Terminal Ballistics — Fragmentation and terminal performance data