NATO Small Arms Ammunition
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NATO Small Arms Ammunition is firearms ammunition used within NATO.
Some of these loads include:
- .22 LR cartridge: The smallest round in common use within NATO countries. Used in training and cadet forces. Not an operational round.
- 9x19mm cartridge: A low velocity round used in pistols and sub-machine guns.
- 5.56x45mm cartridge; The most used round in NATO Armed Forces. A relatively new round introduced in the 1960's with the M-16, itself the second most produced assault rifle after the Kalashnikov AK 47.
- 7.62x51mm cartridge "Full Metal Jacket": An older far more powerful assault rife - Light/medium/general purpose machine gun round. Was largely replaced with the 5.56 during the 1980s/90s for infantry use, but still the most common round for medium and GP machine guns and for all sniper and long range use.
- 0.5 cal (12.7x99mm) cartridge. The largest small arms round commonly used in NATO Armed Forces. Used in the M2 Browning heavy machine gun and similar weapons.