had when it was under development and testing.

The "M" (Model) designation is the number it

received when it was made standard-issue. Issued bullets before 1934 used the year of adoption as
their model number.

Armor-piercing, M1917: The M1917 was the first service-

issue armor-piercing rifle ammunition used by the US Army.
It had a steel core in a lead envelope with a partial cupro-
nickel jacket which had an exposed soft tip. The exposed
tip was designed to aid in the envelope peeling away on
impact to allow the core to strike the target. It had the
unintended effect of making the thin lead envelope an
expanding bullet. Since expanding bullets were seen as
violating the Hague Convention it did not see service in
World War I.
Armor-piercing, M1918: The M1918 was similar to the The five most common bullets used
armor-piercing M1917 round except it had a smooth in United States military loadings
cannelure near the case-mouth and had a full-metal- from left to right: M1903 bullet,
jacketed bullet. It replaced the AP M1917 round in service. M1906 ball, M1 ball, M2 ball, and
Armor-piercing, M1922 (1922–1934): This was a M2 armor-piercing (AP) bullet. Black
redesigned armor-piercing round with a heavier steel core. paint has chipped off the tip of AP
It was the first armor-piercing round to have a black-painted bullet during rough handling. The
bullet tip. cannelure indentation around each
Armor-piercing, M1 (1934–1939): This was a higher- bullet is where the leading edge of
velocity (3,180 fps) AP round that was under development the case would be crimped into the
throughout its service. It was replaced in 1939 by the AP bullet. The four spitzer bullets used
M2, a redesign of the AP M1922. in the .30-06 Springfield cartridge
Armor piercing, M2 (1939–1954): This cartridge is used case were loaded with a nearly
against lightly armored vehicles, protective shelters, and identical tangent ogive exposed for
personnel, and can be identified by its black bullet tip. reliable functioning in self-loading
Bullet is flat base, weight 163–168 grains. Defense against firearms, while the earlier M1903
the M2 projectile by name is one of the performance bullet is positioned to illustrate the
standards for Type IV body armor. [44] longer neck of the preceding .30-03
Armor-piercing incendiary, T15/M14 (1943–?) and cartridge.
M14A1 (?-1954): This cartridge may be substituted for the
M2 armor-piercing round and is normally employed against
flammable targets. The tip of the M14 bullet is colored with a blue tip over a black ring. The
M14A1 featured an improved core design and incendiary charge and had a silver-colored
aluminum-painted tip.
Ball, M1906 (1906–1925): This cartridge is used against personnel and unarmored targets and
can be identified by its silver-colored cupro-nickel alloy bullet jacket. The M1906 has a 9.7 g
(150-grain) projectile and flat base. Its jacket was found to quickly foul the bore.
Ball, M1 (1925–1937): The M1 has an 11.2 g (173-grain), 9-degree boat-tailed projectile
designed for aerodynamic efficiency. Though it had a lower initial velocity, velocity and energy
were greater at longer ranges due to its efficient shape. The harder bullet was made of seven
parts lead to one part antimony. The jacket material was changed to gilding metal (an alloy of
95% copper and 5% zinc) to reduce fouling.
Ball, M2 (1937–1954): With a 9.7 g (150-grain) bullet based on the profile of the M1906, this
cartridge incorporated the gilding-metal jacket of the M1 projectile combined with a slightly
heavier, pure-lead core. It had a higher muzzle velocity than either of the earlier cartridges.
Ball, M2 alternate (1943–1945): A wartime economy variant of the ball M2 that used a steel
full metal jacket coated with gilding metal to conserve copper and tin.
Blank, M1906: This cartridge is used to simulate rifle fire. It is derived from the M1903 blank,
but with a resized neck. It has a paper bullet that contains a tiny black powder charge to aid in
breaking it up.
Blank, M1909: This cartridge is used to simulate rifle fire. The cartridge is identified by having
no bullet, having a cannelure in the neck of the case, and the crimp is sealed by red lacquer.
This is still a current cartridge for ceremonial M1 Garands. Modern M1909 blanks are rose-
crimped, but they have the same designation.[45]
Dummy, M40: This cartridge is used for training. The
cartridge case has six longitudinal corrugations and there is
no primer.
This dummy cartridge uses a
Explosive, T99: Development of a cartridge that contained modified case bearing the
a small explosive charge that more effectively marked its
headstamp F A 4 09 indicating
impact. Often referred to as an "observation explosive"
manufacture at Frankford Arsenal in
cartridge, it was meant to designate line-of-sight targets for
April 1909. The case has been tin-
cannon. The T99 was never adopted.
plated, fluted with six longitudinal
Frangible, T44/M22 (April 1945): The bullet disintegrates indentations, and perforated three
upon striking a hard or armored target, leaving a pencil-like times in alternating indentations.
mark to indicate a hit during bomber aerial gunnery
The hollow brass bullet retains a
practice. The bullet is identified by a green tip over a white
spring-loaded steel rod exposed in
ring.
the primer pocket with 1/8-inch of
Gallery practice M1919 / Guard M1: A reduced-charge possible forward movement when
Ball cartridge with a 140-grain wax-coated lead round- struck by the firing pin. This rod is
nosed bullet used for target shooting at indoor facilities or intended for the Hollifield Target
near built-up areas. It was later renamed the Guard M1 in
Practice Rod device -- a pointed rod
1933 and was used for guard and sentry duty at defense
within the barrel that would be
plants and military installations during World War II.
propelled out of the barrel when
Guard M1906 (1907–1918): A reduced-charge ball struck by the steel rod in the dummy
cartridge with a 150-grain FMJ pointed-nose bullet used for cartridge to prick a paper target held
guard and sentry duty in built-up areas. The cartridge was
just in front of the rifle.[46]
originally marked with six cannelures in the middle, but this
weakened the case and caused it to burst in a dirty rifle. It
was later marked by six dents or flutes on the shoulder of
the cartridge. Although production stopped in 1918, there were plenty of stocks of the oddball
round left until the 1920s.
High-pressure test, M1: The cartridge is used to proof test 30-06 rifles and machine guns
after manufacture, test, or repair. The cartridge is identified by stannic-stained (silvered)
cartridge case loaded to a pressure of 60,000–70,000 psi (413.7–482.6 MPa).[47]
Incendiary, M1917: Early incendiary cartridge, bullet had a large cavity in the nose to allow the
material to more easily shoot forward on impact. As a result, the M1917 had a tendency to
expand on impact. The M1917 had a blackened tip.
Incendiary, M1918: Variant of the M1917 with a normal bullet profile to comply with
international laws regarding open-tipped expanding bullets.
Incendiary, M1: This cartridge is used against unarmored, flammable targets. The tip of the
bullet is painted blue.
Match, M72: This cartridge is used in marksmanship competitions, and can be identified by the
word MATCH on the headstamp. Ammunition lots loaded for use in specific competitions have
been headstamped NM (National Match), IM (International Match), PM or P (Palma Match),
and I & P (International and Palma Matches).
Rifle Grenade blank, VB (?-1933): These cartridges were designed to launch the Viven-
Bessières rifle grenade. The VB rifle grenade was initiated when a Ball bullet passed through
it. The Rifle Grenade Blank had a wooden bullet so it could have a reduced danger space
when fired. It was used with inert Training/Practice grenades at training ranges that were near
built-up areas. It had a "VB" headstamp to indicate its use.
Rifle Grenade blank cartridges, M1 (1933–1945), M2 (1941), M3 (1941–1953), and M3E1
(1953–present): These cartridges are used in conjunction with the M7 series of rifle grenade
launchers to propel rifle grenades. Blank cartridges utilize a full-size brass case and carry only
a powder charge. M1, M2, and M3 blanks are sealed at the case-mouth with a red wad and the
 M3E1 is crimped.[48] The differences between the three cartridges have to do with the powder
charge and the range of grenade launchers. The M1 was a universal blank and rifle grenade
cartridge that replaced the specialized rifle grenade (RG), chemical rifle grenade (CRG), and
chemical warfare grenade (CWG) cartridges and was used with cup-discharger rifle grenade
launchers. The M2 was an experimental cartridge used as a testbed; it used a propellant
mixture of black powder and smokeless powder because it was feared that the smokeless
powder would not reliably ignite by itself. The M3 was designed to be used with the M1 series
(for the M1903 Springfield rifle), M2 series (for the M1917 Enfield rifle), and M7 series (for the
M1 Garand rifle) spigot grenade launchers and used a propellant that was a mixture of five
grains of FFFG black powder and 40 grains of IMR-4895 smokeless powder. The M3E1
featured an extended case neck, a rosepetal crimp, and a full smokeless powder loading and
was designed for use with the M7A3 spigot rifle grenade launcher and larger ENERGA rifle
grenade.[49][50] The grenade blanks were issued in double-rowed 10-round cartons, usually as
part of a set with the hermetically-sealed metal M13 grenade launcher assortment ammo can.
Tracer, M1: Tracer for observing fire, signaling, target designation, and incendiary purposes.
The M1 has a red tip.
Tracer, M2: Tracer for observing fire, signaling, target designation, and incendiary purposes.
Has a short burn time. The M2 originally had a white tip, but then switched to a red tip like the
M1. This was due to the similar purpose of both rounds.
Tracer, M2 alternate (1943–1945): A wartime economy variant of the tracer M2 that used a
steel full metal jacket coated with gilding metal. It was ballistically matched to the ball M2
alternate.
Tracer, T10/M25: Improved tracer over M1 & M2. Designed to be less intense in terms of
brightness than either the M1 or M2 tracers. The M25 had an orange tip.

Commonwealth
The .30-06 (or "caliber .30") cartridge was adopted in 1940 during the beginnings of the Lend-
Lease program in anticipation of using American weapons in front-line service. The British used
American-made ammunition during the war, which was designated as cartridge S.A, .30 to avoid
confusing it with their own .303 British service round. It was used after the war as belted
machinegun ammunition by the Royal Armored Corps and was not declared obsolete until
October, 1993. The "z" after the numeral indicates that it used a nitrocellulose propellant rather
than cordite. Marks of ammunition were originally designated with Roman numerals (i.e., .303
Ball Mark VII), but were replaced with Arabic numerals by 1945 (i.e., .303 Ball MK 7).

Cartridge S.A, .30 ball MK Iz: This was the War Ministry's designation for the 172-grain .30-06
Ball M1 round. It was not accepted for use in service, as the American military had already
marked it as limited standard.
Cartridge S.A, .30 ball MK IIz: This was the War Ministry's designation for the 150-grain .30-
06 Ball M2 round. Lend-Lease ammo made for the British government had no mark
designation and was headstamped .300z.
Cartridge S.A, .30 ball MK 3z: This was the designation for an experimental round designed
in 1945 for Royal Navy use that was based on the .30-06 ball M2. It was not adopted for
service.
Cartridge S.A, .30 ball MK 4z: This is a boat-tailed cartridge with a 150-grain full metal
jacketed bullet. It is marked with a purple annulus. It was normally packed in 20-round cartons.
However, Commonwealth countries that used the M1 Garand (like Pakistan) bundled it in 16-
round cartons that contained two preloaded 8-round Mannlicher-style en-bloc clips.
Cartridge S.A, .30 ball MK 5z: This was made under contract by Fabrique Nationale in the
1970s.
Cartridge S.A, tracer .30 inch G Mark 1z: This is a boat-tailed cartridge with a 150-grain full
metal jacketed bullet and a Berdan primer. It is marked with a red annulus and has a