Federal XM193 M193 Ball 5.56

Product Description

Federal XM193 5.56 NATO 55-Grain M193 Ball Ammunition

Federal XM193 is the 55-grain full metal jacket boat-tail load built to the military M193 ball specification, and it is what most AR-15 owners shoot for practice, drills and general range work. Federal loads it with brass cases, Boxer primers and non-corrosive powder, with the primer crimped and sealed the way military ammunition is. It is clean, consistent, reloadable brass, and it is the cheapest honest 5.56 you can put through a rifle.

Federal publishes a muzzle velocity of about 3,165 fps from a 20-inch test barrel. Out of the 16-inch barrels most people actually shoot, expect somewhat less. That velocity is the whole point of the M193 load: 5.56 does its work through speed, which is also why very short barrels give up real performance with this cartridge.

XM193 vs M193 vs M855: what the labels mean

The XM prefix is Federal’s own designation. XM193 is loaded to the same M193 specification as the contract ammunition, but the lot has not gone through the full military lot-acceptance testing process, so Federal sells it commercially at a lower price. Same components, same spec, same plant. Shooters have run it by the case for decades.

M193 is not the same thing as M855, the 62-grain green-tip load with the steel penetrator tip. M193 is lighter and faster and is the better all-around practice round; M855 penetrates barriers better and is what you want for steel-core work. We stock the Lake City M855 green tip in bulk 1,000-round cases if that is the load you are after.

Specifications

What to shoot it in

Any rifle chambered in 5.56 NATO or .223 Wylde will run XM193 correctly. A rifle marked .223 Remington only should not be fed 5.56 NATO: the 5.56 chamber has a longer leade, and firing 5.56 in a tight .223 chamber raises pressure. Check the barrel marking, and if you are unsure, call us and we will look it up with you. If you are still choosing between calibers, our 5.56 vs .300 Blackout comparison covers the trade-offs, and the best AR-15 for beginners guide walks through a first rifle.

One honest note from behind the counter: XM193 is range and training ammunition. It is FMJ, so it is not a defensive load. If the rifle guards your house, practice with XM193 and load it with a quality expanding or fragmenting round. Our home defense AR-15 setup guide explains why.

Buying 5.56 Ammo from Western Sport

Western Sport is a licensed FFL and SOT dealer in Roanoke, Texas, north of Fort Worth, serving the DFW area since 2007. Ammunition ships direct to your door in most states, no FFL transfer needed, and local customers can pick up at the counter. Browse the rest of our ammunition inventory or call 817-393-4000 for case pricing.

Additional information