A visual picture collection showing a near-complete selection of all military assault rifle ammo rounds. Note: Scale varies from picture to picture. Many of these never made it past the experimental stages.
![Experimental US flechette rounds: 5.56x45 for scale, sectioned 5.6x44 XM216, XM216 (Springfield/Frankford, second generation), 5.6x44 XM144 (Springfield/Frankford, first generation), 5.6x53B XM110 (AAI first generation), 5.6x57B XM645 (AAI second generation) - all part of the SPIW programme; .330 Amron Aerojet, 9.53x76R (both multiple flechettes)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUERshGFpow/YSGgRb9u-PI/AAAAAAAASSA/ranchDTjIDYCfRX9t3U5wiwxyWQ3d46twCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h474/E700DDAB-8D96-4D6A-BE5B-ACF08B5B6C4D.jpeg) |
Experimental US flechette rounds: 5.56x45 for scale, sectioned 5.6x44 XM216, XM216 (Springfield/Frankford, second generation), 5.6x44 XM144 (Springfield/Frankford, first generation), 5.6x53B XM110 (AAI first generation), 5.6x57B XM645 (AAI second generation) - all part of the SPIW programme; .330 Amron Aerojet, 9.53x76R (both multiple flechettes) |
![.30-06, .30 T65 (7.62x48), .280/30 (7x43), 7x49 Medium, 7x51 Compromise, 7.62x51](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uwSB8sNjwow/YSGgmoJDojI/AAAAAAAASSk/v4UmGVRaUmMNcSCzAZTsoiJqVFpH_gtZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h550/6E68C2B1-C51D-452E-A3BF-E59895D6CD02.jpeg) |
.30-06, .30 T65 (7.62x48), .280/30 (7x43), 7x49 Medium, 7x51 Compromise, 7.62x51 |
![From left to right: 7.62x51 for scale, 6mm Lee, 5.2mm Mondragon, 5mm Sturtevant](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MxAbiWVfR08/YSGgrFLvvfI/AAAAAAAASTU/kko-xfzVQCgmHdaSV3c9AImzMFAJ3TRQACLcBGAsYHQ/w314-h400/D4A4E89C-819F-4117-9E9B-C9C60E26EBB0.jpeg) |
From left to right: 7.62x51 for scale, 6mm Lee, 5.2mm Mondragon, 5mm Sturtevant |
![The ACR rounds: Colt 5.56mm Duplex, AAI 5.56mm flechette, Steyr flechette, HK 4.7mm G11](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aOpiwQhC30M/YSGgqr9z9SI/AAAAAAAASTQ/0dVpTJX8fZAQvdJNRPO2v-RNoY1cqrfLwCLcBGAsYHQ/w366-h400/D2519C7A-C379-4440-8E4A-7112403E67F4.jpeg) |
The ACR rounds: Colt 5.56mm Duplex, AAI 5.56mm flechette, Steyr flechette, HK 4.7mm G11 |
![Special loadings of service rounds: 7.62x51 M198 Duplex, .30'06 triplex, 7.62x51 salvo-squeezebore, 7.62x51 SLAP (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator) APDS](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zSsbczUWMxU/YSGgozs99AI/AAAAAAAASTA/AJ0gdlDFUrYpIwZaUOlUZ_rCA2ho7506gCLcBGAsYHQ/w340-h400/A827D1FC-7D88-4172-8DC4-2AD3D281890A.jpeg) |
Special loadings of service rounds: 7.62x51 M198 Duplex, .30'06 triplex, 7.62x51 salvo-squeezebore, 7.62x51 SLAP (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator) APDS |
![From left to right: .276 Enfield 1910 (7x60); 6.5mm Arisaka Type 38 (6.5x50SR); .276 Pedersen (7x51); .270 British (6.8x46); .280/30 British (7x43); 6.25mm British prototype (6.25x43); 6.25mm British proposed (6.25x46); 6mm SAW (6x45); 7.62mm NATO (7.62x51); 5.56mm NATO (5.56x45); 6.8mm Remington SPC (6.8x43); 6.5mm Grendel (6.5x38); 7mm UIAC (7x46); 7.62mm M1891 Mosin Nagant (7.62x54R); 7.62mm M1943 AK (7.62x39); 5.45mm AK74 (5.45x39); 5.8mm Chinese (5.8x42)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1eDgih08HRo/YSGgo5o7FlI/AAAAAAAASS8/l4B0o1IY4soTaS2B_yojGOildA6lvCA-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h252/9915DC54-BBA7-4047-A3AA-1AE89629D088.jpeg) |
From left to right: .276 Enfield 1910 (7x60); 6.5mm Arisaka Type 38 (6.5x50SR); .276 Pedersen (7x51); .270 British (6.8x46); .280/30 British (7x43); 6.25mm British prototype (6.25x43); 6.25mm British proposed (6.25x46); 6mm SAW (6x45); 7.62mm NATO (7.62x51); 5.56mm NATO (5.56x45); 6.8mm Remington SPC (6.8x43); 6.5mm Grendel (6.5x38); 7mm UIAC (7x46); 7.62mm M1891 Mosin Nagant (7.62x54R); 7.62mm M1943 AK (7.62x39); 5.45mm AK74 (5.45x39); 5.8mm Chinese (5.8x42)![Some early semi-automatic rifles, from top to bottom: 1918 .303 Farquhar Hill; 1909 Mondragon (7.92mm); 1917 MAT Mk 1917; 1929 Czech Brno Z.H.29 (photo taken at MoD Defence Academy, Shrivenham)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMUBHljjj84/YSGgnmKMBGI/AAAAAAAASS0/yUeuLBSnwh4fpF2Z7Kwaohuob69XeSY4gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h484/79692525-C107-4CDD-A000-5F777B9571EC.jpeg) | Above: some early semi-automatic rifles, from top to bottom: 1918 .303 Farquhar Hill; 1909 Mondragon (7.92mm); 1917 MAT Mk 1917; 1929 Czech Brno Z.H.29 (photo taken at MoD Defence Academy, Shrivenham) |
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![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3CI-TqXHwlY/YSGgmpmG8hI/AAAAAAAASSo/DEPm4ad6gH0rXlu4tnOVfDXUcJVlbHnbACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h328/09E66B3E-2FE8-49CE-A883-4084DE72321D.jpeg) |
Exotic ammo attempts: 5.56x45 with Monad bullet, 4.5mm Schirnecker, 9/4mm Kaltmann (development round, with part-metal case), 5.56mm Folded, 5.56mm Hughes Lockless, 5.56mm US caseless, 6mm Voere caseless, early HK G11 4.7x21 rounds, final G11 4.7x33 |
![WW2 and after: .30 M1 Carbine, 9x35 Lahti, 9x40 Lilja, 7.92x33 Kurz, 7.62x39 AK, 7.5x45 Czech, 7.62x45 Czech, 7x36 Madsen/Otterup, 7.65x38 French,7.5x43 French CRBA, 7.62x38 Swiss, 7.92x40 CETME](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zGmyGCEaU4k/YSGgoI4IzII/AAAAAAAASS4/MD1FkAM-qwIxBflMBY9ewKP7RM8H7IeRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h320/7C8BE4E0-33DE-4731-BE2D-AE09BF996329.jpeg) |
WW2 and after: .30 M1 Carbine, 9x35 Lahti, 9x40 Lilja, 7.92x33 Kurz, 7.62x39 AK, 7.5x45 Czech, 7.62x45 Czech, 7x36 Madsen/Otterup, 7.65x38 French,7.5x43 French CRBA, 7.62x38 Swiss, 7.92x40 CETME |
![Experimental cartridges under 6mm: FN 5.56x45 APDS, .12 US (3x47), 3.5x50 FN, 4.3x45 German, .17 US (4.3x46), 4.6x36 HK/CETME (with spoon-tip bullet), 4.85mm British, 5.56x38 FABRL, 5.6mm Eiger](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfUY6F2yGaw/YSGgreSU-5I/AAAAAAAASTY/qAPZXwCD9M8EPBpF_6IV1FjRgdArbkQ-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h394/DA2592B2-3442-46BE-B153-68CF444C432A.jpeg) |
Experimental cartridges under 6mm: FN 5.56x45 APDS, .12 US (3x47), 3.5x50 FN, 4.3x45 German, .17 US (4.3x46), 4.6x36 HK/CETME (with spoon-tip bullet), 4.85mm British, 5.56x38 FABRL, 5.6mm Eiger |
![Above: the full-power 7.9x57, 7.5x55, .30-06 and 7.62x51, shown next to the 7.62x39 and 5.56x45 which illustrate the most common FCAR and RCAR rounds respectively](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWWkSrqhw6E/YSGgphz4jBI/AAAAAAAASTE/03O9PMoimso5x4nFiFCxDl3boyp9hpniACLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h379/AE329B00-175A-4F62-95A2-E0176E320259.jpeg) |
Above: the full-power 7.9x57, 7.5x55, .30-06 and 7.62x51, shown next to the 7.62x39 and 5.56x45 which illustrate the most common FCAR and RCAR rounds respectively |
![The photo shows the 5.56x45 M855A1, 6.5x38 Grendel, 6.8x43 Remington SPC and 7.62x51 M80, with their bullets. Note the bullets beside the 5.56mm: the new M855A1 (with an exposed steel tip) has the lead core element replaced by copper, resulting in a significant increase in length to achieve the same weight as the SS109 next to it. The other bullets are all lead-cored; note the much more aerodynamic proportions of the 6.5mm compared with the others (especially the rather stubby 6.8mm)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N0Ts2nqUyYA/YSGgsU8PWgI/AAAAAAAASTg/HYzdYZEcNBI6ZINj26MRFmZ0kRJwGDZzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h456/E93ADEA0-3413-4259-AB9E-A1211883DF8D.jpeg) |
The photo shows the 5.56x45 M855A1, 6.5x38 Grendel, 6.8x43 Remington SPC and 7.62x51 M80, with their bullets. Note the bullets beside the 5.56mm: the new M855A1 (with an exposed steel tip) has the lead core element replaced by copper, resulting in a significant increase in length to achieve the same weight as the SS109 next to it. The other bullets are all lead-cored; note the much more aerodynamic proportions of the 6.5mm compared with the others (especially the rather stubby 6.8mm) |
![SCHV rounds: .22 APG, .22/30 Homologous (5.56x51), .25/30 Homologous (6.35x51), .27/30 Homologous (6.86x51), .224 Winchester E2, .25 Win FA-T 116 (6.35x48), .25 Win Duplex FA-T 127 (6.35x53), 5.56x45 M855, 5.45x39 AK74, 5.8x42 Chinese](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pD0fm5n-vc8/YSGgqKXoofI/AAAAAAAASTM/gl92_GUQ21AGFvvnpFCnCAcgyOD_ydLeACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h310/C7408DF8-C1A4-4BFB-9E8A-08C8DF9AADB6.jpeg) |
SCHV rounds: .22 APG, .22/30 Homologous (5.56x51), .25/30 Homologous (6.35x51), .27/30 Homologous (6.86x51), .224 Winchester E2, .25 Win FA-T 116 (6.35x48), .25 Win Duplex FA-T 127 (6.35x53), 5.56x45 M855, 5.45x39 AK74, 5.8x42 Chinese |
![.30 Pedersen (7.65x20), .30 Mauser (7.63x25), 9x19 Parabellum, 9x25 Mauser, .45 Auto, .45 Remington-Thompson, 5.7x28 FN, 4.6x30 HK, 5.8x21 DAP-92.](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vWU6xTFB3Iw/YSGgpkgDisI/AAAAAAAASTI/dFtwNwRGdaE8VRtrST1AvcdoMHNm7Do3gCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h254/C37B8251-A741-4559-A435-BA6C8FDCD1CD.jpeg) |
.30 Pedersen (7.65x20), .30 Mauser (7.63x25), 9x19 Parabellum, 9x25 Mauser, .45 Auto, .45 Remington-Thompson, 5.7x28 FN, 4.6x30 HK, 5.8x21 DAP-92. |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O8hcMpv2GFY/YSGmWlzAxDI/AAAAAAAASUQ/uNsqphQ6Tz84WGeZ20mX5GHLMd2vsuT-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h270/P1030499w.jpg) |
Some experiments since the 1970s: 5.56x45 for scale, 6.5x43 German, 6.25x43 British, 6x45 SAW, 6x50 SAW aluminium-cased, 6x49 Russian Unified, 6.45x48 Swiss GP80 |
![The photo above shows the .276 Pedersen, .270 British, 7x43 British, 7.62x51 NATO, 7x46 UIAC, and 6.5x38 Grendel](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXl-25ArNZU/YSGrm_iT7pI/AAAAAAAASUY/DblBgZ3u_AkU0Uyx460pjUB5SMs--rIAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w320-h289/P1030277w.jpg) |
The photo above shows the .276 Pedersen, .270 British, 7x43 British, 7.62x51 NATO, 7x46 UIAC, and 6.5x38 Grendel |
![6.5x52 Italian, 6.5x50SR Japanese Type 30, 7.65x32 Mannlicher, .351 Winchester SL, .345 Machine Rifle, 8mm Ribeyrolles (replica)](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FoOecrHjO6g/YSGlHlCUDUI/AAAAAAAASUE/ERvwicUBSbUFpSJBTHPzQuiRQaAM8ZpZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h364/P1030493w.jpg) |
6.5x52 Italian, 6.5x50SR Japanese Type 30, 7.65x32 Mannlicher, .351 Winchester SL, .345 Machine Rifle, 8mm Ribeyrolles (replica) |
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s_j_aeCE0Sk/YSGilUTcMYI/AAAAAAAAST4/ENDyFoZK_mM_MN1TmMg2ev9ke7-1lfKpgCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h344/LSAT5.56%25267.62.jpg) |
LSAT 5.56mm and 7.62mm, next to the 5.56x45 and 7.62x51 (image courtesy of Textron) |