New Cartridge Developments and Implications for Dismounted Infantry Soldiers

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The 855A1 can also be configured with different bases and heads for the AP and tracer, since 855A1 has a copper jacket, a copper slug base, and a steel penetrator head.

Hmm. Has this has actually been done, or are you just speculating? I ask because neither seems feasible to me.

The M855A1 penetrator has a relatively complex shape, whereas current AP rounds have tungsten carbide penetrators that are simple, pointed cylinders (due to the difficulty in machining that material).



As for a tracer bullet with the M855A1 penetrator, wouldn't the pressure from the burning propellant expel both penetrator and trace element out the front of the bullet jacket?

They also have a 7.62 LSAT with a larger case, but it is still smaller and much lighter than linked 7.62 NATO.

Yeah, it significantly shorter, but slightly fatter, than the 7.62 NATO round. There's a superb photo in post #184.