Australian designations --> 7.62 & 5.56?

[Tænxer]

Hi guys,

could any of you aussies help me with what you call the standard 7.62 (US: M80)and 5.56 (US: M855) nato ball ammo down under?


thanks a lot

+t

[Spets06]

I believe that we have our own round for the F88 the 5.56mm is the SS109

[kamarian]

I think the 7.62 round was the F1 at one stage.

[lcpltac]

In 7.62 there was F1 F4 ball, trace etc (from memory F4 was a heavier projectile inteded for use in GPMG, F1 in SLR)
In 5.56 there is also F1

No idea why they're called the same thing.

[thatguy96]

This is likely because of a system like the British and American Army and Navy systems. In all three of these systems, the designation must be complete, with its full name, and for every specific category there is a seperate sequence.

Examples would be Rifle, Self-Loading, 7.62mm, L1A1; Rifle, 5.56mm, M16; Rifle, 5.56mm, Mk 4 Mod 0. It is very likely that the two rounds are something like Cartridge, Ball, 7.62mm, F1 and Cartridge, Ball, 5.56mm, F1.

[Con-man]

I believe that we have our own round for the F88 the 5.56mm is the SS109

Bingo! Thats what we use for the Aus Steyr.

[lcpltac]

SS109 is a NATO designation for the Belgian FN designed 62 gn 5.56 x 45mm round that replaced the older 55gn M193 the US used.
US designation is M855 and Oztralian designation is F1 for the newer round.
They are all practically (there are some minor differences) the same round but you wouldn't call the F1 an SS109.