New Cartridge Developments and Implications for Dismounted Infantry Soldiers

[stanc]

Contrary to the fad of and fans for lethality via fragmentation for the past, oh, ten years, the latest U.S. military cartridges, M855A1 and Mk318, are largely non-fragmenting designs.

I'm afraid you're in error, John. M855A1 is a fragmenting design. It yaws, then breaks apart into three or more fragments -- steel penetrator, copper slug, and jacket (which may tear into two or more pieces).

As for Mk318, it expands similar to a Barnes TSX, and the four "petals" may break off, thereby creating up to six fragments, as the non-bonded lead core typically separates from the solid base.