Adept Armor Threat Assessment Series I: Standard-Issue Military Rifle Ammunition

When designing plates that are built to counter common military small-arms threats, it helps to have a reference guide which summarizes the various characteristics of those threats.

Below is the Adept survey of typical standard-issue small arms projectiles.  Field order is: 

Bullet weight | Core material | Core diameter | Core wt. | Core hardness | Typical MV in meters (standard barrel length) | Typical MV in feet per second | KE at muzzle | Figure-of-Merit (explained below) 

US, Europe, Canada, UK

 M193 Ball (5.56×45mm, US/NATO)
 55 gr | lead-antimony core, FMJ | – | – | 12HV | 990 m/s (20″) | 3,248 fps | 1,289 ft⋅lb | 2

 M855 / SS109 Ball (5.56×45, US/NATO)
 62 gr | steel tip + lead rear | 4.6 mm | 10 gr | 40–45 HRC | 915–950 m/s (20″) | 3,003–3,117 fps | 1,240–1,330 ft⋅lb | 3

 M855A1 EPR (5.56×45, US)
 62 gr | exposed hardened‑steel tip + copper slug (lead‑free) | 4.3 mm | 19 gr (steel) | 58–60 HRC | 905–960 m/s (14.5–20″) | 2,970–3,150 fps | 1,214–1,366 ft⋅lb | 5

AP45 (5.56×45, Nammo) (Note: Very rare!)
 69.4 gr | sub‑cal. WC‑Co penetrator + Al cup + Cu jacket | 3.9–4.0 mm | 41–43 gr | WC (70–75 HRC) | 900 m/s | 2,953 fps | 1,344 ft⋅lb | 7

Swiss P AP (5.56×45, Germany / RUAG)
 63 gr | sub‑cal. WC‑Co core + Cu jacket | 4.0 mm | 34–36 gr | WC (70–75 HRC) | 930–960 m/s (20″) | 3,051–3,150 fps | 1,303–1,389 ft⋅lb | 7

L31A1 EP Ball (5.56×45, UK / BAE)
62 gr | full‑length hardened‑steel core + Cu jacket (lead‑free) | 5.0 mm | 52 gr | 58–62 HRC | 900–950 m/s | 2,953–3,117 fps | 1,201–1,338 ft⋅lb | 7

M995 AP (5.56×45, US/NATO / Nammo)
 52 gr | sub‑cal. WC‑Co core + aluminum cup | 4.0 mm | 32 gr | WC (70–75 HRC) | 1,030 m/s (20″) | 3,379 fps | 1,319 ft⋅lb | 6.5

M80 Ball (7.62×51, US/NATO)
 147 gr | lead‑alloy core, FMJ | – | – | – | 850 m/s (22″) | 2,789 fps | 2,539 ft⋅lb | 2

M80A1 EPR (7.62×51, US)
 130 gr | hardened‑steel tip + copper slug (lead‑free) | 5.5 mm | 45 gr (steel) | 50–55 HRC | 847–915 m/s (16–22″) | 2,780–3,002 fps | 2,232–2,600 ft⋅lb | 5

Swiss P AP (7.62×51, RUAG)
 196 gr | WC‑Co + lead hybrid construction | 5.7 mm | 86 gr | WC (75 HRC) | 790–810 m/s (22″) | 2,592–2,657 fps | 2,925–3,075 ft⋅lb | 9
 
M61 AP (7.62×51, US)
 150.5 gr | hardened‑steel core + lead filler | – | 55 gr | 60–63 HRC | 855 m/s (22″) | 2,805 fps | 2,630 ft⋅lb | 5.5
 
M993 AP (7.62×51, US/NATO)
 128 gr | WC‑Co core + aluminum cup | 5.5 mm | 91 gr | WC (70–75 HRC) | 930 m/s (22″) | 3,051 fps | 2,647 ft⋅lb | 8.75
 
XM1186 GP (6.8×51, US; EPR‑type)
 135 gr | hardened‑steel penetrator + Cu slug; hybrid case | 5.5–6.0 mm | 30–40 gr (steel) | 58–62 HRC | 900–915 m/s (13–16″) | 2,953–3,002 fps | 2,613–2,702 ft⋅lb | 7
 
L2A2 / SS109 Ball (5.56×45, UK)
 62 gr | steel tip + lead | 4.6 mm | 10 gr | 40–45 HRC | 920–940 m/s | 3,018–3,084 fps | 1,254–1,309 ft⋅lb | 3

L59A1 “High Performance” Ball (7.62×51, UK)
 155 gr | hardened‑steel tip + lead core | 5–6 mm | 15–20 gr | 58–62 HRC | 838 m/s | 2,749 fps | 2,602 ft⋅lb | 5

 DM151 AP / Hartkern (7.62×51, Germany)
 151 gr | WC‑Co core, lead‑free | 5.0 mm | 70 gr | WC (75 HRC) | 825 m/s | 2,707 fps | 2,458 ft⋅lb | 9

 SS109 Ball (MEN/BAE/etc., 5.56×45, Europe/NATO)
 62 gr | steel tip + lead | 4.6 mm | 10 gr | 40–45 HRC | 920–940 m/s (20″) | 3,018–3,084 fps | 1,254–1,309 ft⋅lb | 3

 C77 Ball (SS109‑equiv., 5.56×45, Canada)
 62 gr | steel tip + lead | 4.6 mm | 10 gr | 40–45 HRC | 940 m/s | 3,084 fps | 1,309 ft⋅lb | 3

 C21 / NATO Ball (M80‑equiv., 7.62×51, Canada/NATO)
 146–147 gr | lead core, FMJ | – | – | – | 845 m/s (22″) | 2,772 fps | 2,492–2,508 ft⋅lb | 2

.338 AP (e.g., AP485/AP529, .338 Lapua Magnum, Finland/UK/NATO)
 248–300 gr | WC‑Co core (tungsten AP) | 7.0 mm | 120–200 gr | WC (70–75 HRC) | 840–905 m/s (26–27″) | 2,756–2,970 fps | 4,186–5,878 ft⋅lb | 10

Russia, Ukraine

 7N6 Ball (5.45×39, Russia)
 53 gr | mild‑steel core + air cavity/lead | 4.0 mm | 20–22 gr | 40–45 HRC | 880 m/s | 2,887 fps | 981 ft⋅lb | 3

7N10/7N10M “EP” Ball (5.45×39, Russia)
56 gr | hardened‑steel core (U12A) | 4.1 mm | 25 gr | 60 HRC | 880 m/s | 2,887 fps | 1,037 ft⋅lb | 5

7N22 AP (5.45×39, Russia)
 57 gr | hardened tool‑steel core | 4.0 mm | 27 gr | 60–65 HRC | 890 m/s | 2,920 fps | 1,080 ft⋅lb | 5.5
 
7N24 “Super‑AP” (5.45×39, Russia)
64 gr | WC‑Co core (1.8 g) | 4.0 mm | 28 gr | WC | 840 m/s | 2,755 fps | 1,080 ft⋅lb | 6

7N39 “Igolnik” AP (5.45×39, Russia)
63.3 gr | WC‑Co core (1.9 g) | 4.0 mm | 29 gr | WC | 850 m/s | 2,789 fps | 1,094 ft⋅lb | 7

57‑N‑231 “PS” Ball (7.62×39, Russia/North Korea/export)
122–123 gr | mild/heat‑treated steel slug + lead sheath | 5.6 mm | 55–60 gr | 35-45 HRC | 710–730 m/s (16″) | 2,329–2,395 fps | 1,471–1,567 ft⋅lb | 1

7N23 “BP” AP (7.62×39, Russia/North Korea)
122–123 gr | hardened‑steel core | 5.0 mm | 60 gr | 60 HRC | 710–730 m/s | 2,329–2,395 fps | 1,471–1,567 ft⋅lb | 5
 
LPS Light Ball / 57‑N‑323 (7.62×54R, Russia/export)
148–150 gr | steel core (mild) | – | – | – | 825–860 m/s | 2,707–2,822 fps | 2,408–2,653 ft⋅lb | 3
 
7N13 “BP” EP (7.62×54R, Russia)
145 gr | heat‑strengthened steel core | 6.5 mm | 70 gr | 55–60 HRC | 828 m/s | 2,717 fps | 2,378 ft⋅lb | 6

7N14 AP (sniper) (7.62×54R, Russia)
152–160 gr | hardened‑steel / special core | – | – | 60+ HRC | 840 m/s | 2,756 fps | 2,564–2,700 ft⋅lb | 6
 
B‑32 API (MG/sniper) (7.62×54R, Russia/Ukraine/export)
 166 gr | steel core + incendiary | – | – | 60 HRC | 790–810 m/s | 2,592–2,657 fps | 2,477–2,602 ft⋅lb | 5

China

DBP87/95 Ball (legacy, 5.8×42, China)
 64–67 gr | steel core + lead base | 3.8–4.0 mm | 20–24 gr | 50–55 HRC | 890–930 m/s (18″) | 2,920–3,051 fps | 1,211–1,385 ft⋅lb | 4

DBP10 Ball (current, 5.8×42, China)
71 gr | hardened‑steel core (lead‑free) | 3.8 mm | 25 gr | 55–60 HRC | 915 m/s (18″) | 3,002 fps | 1,421 ft⋅lb | 5

Tungsten‑core AP (“DVC‑12”, 5.8×42, China)
84–85 gr | WC‑Co core (3.5 g) | 4.5 mm | 54 gr | WC | 880–900 m/s | 2,887–2,953 fps | 1,555–1,646 ft⋅lb | 7.5
 
.338 AP (8.6×70 mm, China)
Estimates/class-typical:
248–300 gr | WC‑Co penetrator (tungsten‑carbide) + copper jacket (assessed, AP‑type) | ~7.0 mm (bullet) | ~120–200 gr core (class‑typical) | WC (70-75 HRC equiv.; ~1200–1500 HV) | 2,756–2,970 ft/s (840–905 m/s) (26–27″) | 4,200–5,900 ft⋅lb | FoM: 10

Rest of World

 CBC M963 Ball (7.62×51, Brazil)
 144 gr | lead core, FMJ | – | – | – | 833 m/s (24″) | 2,733 fps | 2,389 ft⋅lb | 2
 
CBC “Perfurante” AP (7.62×51, Brazil)
 148 gr | hardened‑steel core | 6.5 mm | 65–70 gr | 58–62 HRC | 838 m/s (24″) | 2,749 fps | 2,483 ft⋅lb | 6
 
SS109‑equiv. Ball (5.56×45, CBC/SEDENA/INDUMIL; BR/MX/CO)
 62 gr | steel tip + lead | 4.6 mm | 10 gr | 40–45 HRC | 900–940 m/s | 2,953–3,084 fps | 1,201–1,309 ft⋅lb | 3
 
NATO Ball (M80‑equiv., 7.62×51, Mexico, Columbia)
 147 gr | lead core, FMJ | – | – | – | 830–850 m/s | 2,723–2,789 fps | 2,422–2,539 ft⋅lb | 2

PS Ball (Type 56/AK‑103, 7.62×39, Venezuela)
 122–123 gr | mild/heat‑treated steel core + lead | 5.6 mm | 55–60 gr | 35-45 HRC | 710–730 m/s | 2,329–2,395 fps | 1,471–1,567 ft⋅lb | 1
 
7N23 “BP” AP (if issued, 7.62×39, Venezuela)
 122–123 gr | hardened‑steel core | 5.0 mm | 60 gr | 60 HRC | 710–730 m/s | 2,329–2,395 fps | 1,471–1,567 ft⋅lb | 5

Type 89/20 (SS109‑equiv. Ball, 5.56×45, Japan)
62 gr | steel tip + lead | 4.6 mm | 10 gr | 40–45 HRC | 900–940 m/s | 2,953–3,084 fps | 1,201–1,309 ft⋅lb | 3

M80-equivalent NATO Ball (MG use, 7.62×51, Japan)
 147 gr | lead core, FMJ | – | – | – | 830–850 m/s | 2,723–2,789 fps | 2,422–2,539 ft⋅lb | 2
 
SS109‑equiv. Ball (Poongsan, 5.56×45, South Korea)
 62 gr | steel tip + lead | 4.6 mm | 10 gr | 40–45 HRC | 900–940 m/s | 2,953–3,084 fps | 1,201–1,309 ft⋅lb | 3

M80-equivalent NATO Ball (K12 MG, 7.62×51, South Korea)
 147 gr | lead core, FMJ | – | – | – | 830–850 m/s | 2,723–2,789 fps | 2,422–2,539 ft⋅lb | 2
 

The Figure of Merit –

The numeral at the end of each projectile’s line is a general estimate of their ability to penetrate hard armor.  This was derived via calibrating to a well-documented 5.56mm dataset in 500HB steel at 900 m/s and extended by conservative physics-based scaling to other rounds.  It’s a rough guideline and is not intended to be authoritative, but simply to indicate how these bullets compare in general terms.  Without such a heuristic, many people default to kinetic energy, but KE alone is a very poor measure.

Notes on Armor Plate Design –

By a wide margin the most common military standard-issue small-arms threats outside Russia and China are M855/SS109-type 5.56mm, M80-type 7.62mm, and 7.62x39mm MSC.  The M855/SS109 type is particularly ubiquitous.  In itself, this makes a pretty good case for the military relevance of the NIJ 0101.07 RF2 specification.

But if China and Russia are considered, RF2 plates seem woefully inadequate.  The standard “ball” rounds 7N10/7N10M and DBP10 – to say nothing of 7N39 and DVC-12 – are considerably tougher threats than M855, and would likely penetrate light RF2 plates even at a significant standoff.  Our modeling suggests that building a plate to stop DBP10 requires a ceramic (SiC-TiB2 or B4C) thickness of roughly 6mm – not terribly far from what an RF3 plate would minimally require.  And DVC-12, in particular, appears to require something beyond the average Level IV/RF3 plate.

From a Western perspective, the optimal plate for war is a lightweight RF3 that can also reliably handle threats like 7N39 and DVC-12.  Something is in the works.