Army To Switch To “Green” 7.62x51mm NATO Round

[Nimaro]

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2013/07/23/army-switch-green-7-62x51mm-nato/

The Army plan on switching to the leadless M80A1 7.62x51mm in 2014, after having gone “green” with the 5.56mm M855A1 EPR (Enhanced Performance Round) which they switch to from the M855 in 2010.

“The EPR replaces the lead slug with a copper slug,” said Lt. Col. Phil Clark, Product Manager Small Caliber Ammunition in the Program Executive Officer Ammunition.

“This makes the projectile environmentally friendly, while still giving Soldiers the performance capabilities they need on the battlefield. So far we have eliminated 1,994 metric tons of lead from 5.56 ammunition production.”

The round’s new bullet design features a copper jacket and exposed hardened steel penetrator. The switch has prompted a number of significant performance enhancements over the M855A1′s predecessor which was fielded in the early 1980s.

Similar improvements are expected from the 7.62 version.

Good thing the gov is looking for good ways to save money because that sounds cheap...

 

[AKguy1985]

well, we the taxpayer are footing the bill.

 

[WessonOil]

They also plan on shooting less people, to make this a safer place for humans to live.

 

[uncle money bags]

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2013/07/23/army-switch-green-7-62x51mm-nato/




Good thing the gov is looking for good ways to save money because that sounds cheap...

It is cheap, in a way that only a misguided government bureaucracy could define cheap.

Im not sure on the numbers for the 7.62 round, but the 5.56 round costs twice as much as the standard 855.
Load pressure has been upped to create a "flatter trajectory",resulting in an estimated halving of barrel life expectancy on top of accelerated parts wear.
All of this for a less effective round in the name of reducing lead.