If I were pressed to go into "urban" combat...

[Sentryduty]

55 grain FMJ has a poor reputation for defeating light barriers.

True, however the current issue 62 grain steel core round works acceptably in that duty if given the right consideration. Lightweight and velocity with a hard core is how barrier penetration is done.

As part of a firepower demonstration during various parts of my career it was common to chop down various barriers with service weapons, and the 5.56mm worked much better than many sources would give it credit for. Common cinderblock walls for example are not cover, they are concealment. A C9 (M249) will cut a man sized mousehole through one of these walls in a a very short time.

This video is representative but does get the point across, the cinder block wall is sand filled for additional protection, but notice the debris coming out the back side of the wall isn't just sparkles and pixie dust.

Jump to 1 minute 47 second for 5.56mm


The barrier penetration properties is the main reason why I would not consider a 5.56mm rifle for a "home defense" concept, unless fired in the basement, any stray rounds would shoot through the wood and sheet rock construction of my home and would almost certainly enter a neighbor dwelling

http://www.theboxotruth.com/the-box-...l-box-o-truth/

Lessons learned:

Sheetrock (drywall) doesn’t slow any round down much. If you shoot in the house, walls will not stop any serious round.
Twelve pine boards will not stop a .223 round.
Shooting stuff is fun.

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