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Common uses: Tactical, Target, Varmint
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 62gr Hornady Hornady BLACK FMJ |
| Muzzle velocity | 3060 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 1289 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.274 |
| Case length | 45 mm |
| Overall length | 58 mm |
| Common twist rate | 1:7" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 3060 | 1289 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2709 | 1010 | 0 |
| 200 | 2384 | 782 | -3.3 |
| 300 | 2083 | 597 | -12.7 |
| 400 | 1805 | 448 | -30.2 |
| 500 | 1555 | 333 | -58.4 |
At 1,000 yards, 5.56×45mm NATO (62gr at 3060 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 50.3 MOA / 14.6 MIL, retaining 911 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2083 | Supersonic | -12.7 | 4.0 | 1.17 |
| 400 | 1805 | Supersonic | -30.2 | 7.2 | 2.10 |
| 500 | 1555 | Supersonic | -58.5 | 11.2 | 3.25 |
| 600 | 1339 | Transonic | -101.3 | 16.1 | 4.69 |
| 700 | 1169 | Transonic | -163.5 | 22.3 | 6.49 |
| 800 | 1052 | Subsonic | -251.2 | 30.0 | 8.72 |
| 900 | 972 | Subsonic | -370.3 | 39.3 | 11.43 |
| 1000 | 911 | Subsonic | -526.2 | 50.3 | 14.62 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
Small-game/varmint context — the deer- and elk-sized energy references aren't applicable to the cartridge's listed uses. When a downrange table is available, its retained-energy column can provide context; verify the exact load and follow local game regulations for legal methods.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The 5.56×45mm NATO is the dominant Western military service cartridge, valued for its light recoil, flat trajectory, and the ability to carry large quantities of ammunition for a given weight. The 62-grain M855/SS109 loading with its steel penetrator tip is the standard general-issue ball round, offering better performance against light barriers and at distance than the earlier 55-grain M193. Chambers cut to 5.56 NATO specifications run at higher pressure than commercial .223 Remington, so 5.56 ammunition should not be fired in rifles marked .223 only, though 5.56 chambers handle both. In civilian use it is popular for AR-15 platform shooting, target and training work, and varmint or predator hunting, while its terminal performance on larger game is limited and restricted or prohibited for big game in many jurisdictions. Its practical strengths are volume, controllability, and low cost rather than raw energy on target.
The 5.56×45mm NATO grew out of the small-caliber, high-velocity concept behind the .223 Remington, the round developed for the ArmaLite AR-15 (later adopted as the M16) and derived from .222 Remington-based experimental cartridges of the 1950s. The 62-grain loading shown here corresponds to the SS109 projectile developed by FN Herstal of Belgium, which carries a steel penetrator core to improve barrier performance and long-range stability. NATO standardized the SS109 in 1980 under STANAG 4172, and the United States adopted essentially the same design as the M855 in 1982, using the faster 1:7 rifling twist needed to stabilize the heavier bullet. It has since become the standard service rifle and light machine gun cartridge across NATO and much of the world.
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