Uniform ammunition in the fight against body armor - M885A1 EPR

Technology is advancing rapidly, unstoppable. This also leads to an arms race. Whenever someone believes they have the strongest weapon, a defense against it emerges.

This problem also affects US forces, as increasingly enemies they are fighting against are now wearing protective vests. The usual 5.56 millimeter ammunition is often unable to penetrate these vests. The Marines are currently testing a new ammunition called M885A1 Enhanced Performance Round, developed by the Army.The Army has already switched to this ammunition after successful tests. The main difference is that copper is used as the core instead of lead. A direct steel tip and other powder in the casing help penetrate protective vests more easily.This ammunition can be used in regular weapons that can fire 5.56 mm rounds, resulting in cost savings. The old M885, also known as "green ammo," was optimized for the M16. The new M885A1 is optimized for the short-barreled M4 model. It burns faster, generates more pressure, but also has less flash at the muzzle.

This is working well for the Army. The Marines are expected to use it too, as Congress desires a standardized ammunition. However, there are still issues with the H&K M27 IAR currently in use with the M885A1 ammunition. Allegedly, reliability and durability are compromised with the new ammunition.

If tests reveal that only the M27 is affected, a new rifle will likely be adopted. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds and if a standardized ammunition will indeed be implemented soon.