[RoosterRedux]

I like green tips (though I don't have any at the moment...lost em in that boating accident) because they are "Lake City" and while not pretty they are dependable (brass goes through an annealing process).

Contrary to popular opinion, green tip ammo is not armor piercing but it does do well against some metal (penetrates further than most).

[marktwain]

Contrary to popular opinion, green tip ammo is not armor piercing but it does do well against some metal (penetrates further than most). There is a steel tip in front of the lead core.

As I recall, the ammunition was produced because someone was concerned about the ability of the 5.56 to penetrate a helmet at 400 yards. The M855 and SS109 will do it; the M193 will not do it reliably. Of course, it depends on the helmet and the angle; but I think pre-kevlar steel helmets with the fiberglass liner were used in the tests...