Previously, we looked at the incredible damage and penetration caused by the US Army’s new M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR), thanks to a video published by William of the Wound Channel. What happens, though, when that kind of performance is scaled up to .30 cal size and fired from a .308 Winchester? William has us covered there, too:

In the video, you can see the excellent design of the EPR-type projectile at work: Immediate and reliable disruption coupled with large fragments that give good penetration together create as ideal a wound channel for general purpose military use as is possible with current technology. A great deal of work went into creating the best possible projectile design; you can read more about the history of that effort at these two links.

M80A1 uses a lighter 130gr projectile than its nought mark 147gr predecessor, M80. The construction of the new projectile is the same as the 5.56mm M855A1, with a copper “slug”, hardened steel penetrator, and both wrapped in a gilding metal jacket.

During filming of this video, William was just working up loads to figure out which would best replicate the Army’s M80A1, which he believed to produce 2,950 ft/s muzzle velocity. In fact, according to PEO Soldier’s 2013 Ammunition Portfolio, M80A1 produces 3,050 ft/s at 78 ft from a 24.8″ M240 barrel, which would mean roughly 3,050-3,060 ft/s at the muzzle from a 22″ barreled weapon, such as an M14. William told TFB that high speed footage of M80A1 in partnership with Aimed Research is in the works, so stay tuned!