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IMI Systems has brought its small caliber ammunition to America’s crowded commercial market. To win the hearts, minds and wallets of American shooters, the Israeli government-owned weapons, ammunition and military technology maker is highlighting IMI ammo’s battle-tested accuracy and reliability.
“Israeli Defense Force (IDF) troops depend on IMI ammunition to defend their lives and their country,” Israel Shmilovitz, IMI Systems VP and Managing director of Small Caliber Ammunition Division. “There is no margin for error. Our ammunition has to be completely reliable and extremely accurate.”
IMI produces a wide range of small caliber ammunition available for civilians and can be found from selected retail networks in the US. However, the new round, 5.56APM (Armor Piercing Match) was designed for both the IDF and for export to law enforcement, special forces and military use. While this round is not available to civilians, Eldad Sayada, Director of Marketing and Business Development for Small Caliber Ammunition Division, points to IMI’s 5.56mm new Armor Piercing Match (APM) ammunition as an example of the company’s expertise and commitment to quality which could be a replacement to the 7.62 and outperform the standard NATO M855.
The military wanted a 5.56 cartridge that offered soldiers better accuracy and armor penetration than the heavier 7.62 M80 round. That’s what IMI gave them: a 73-grain, 5.56 APM cartridge, that’s 30 percent more accurate than a 7.62 M80 at 550m (1804 feet).”
With this development, IMI provides increased firepower and lethal capabilities to combat soldiers using a standard 5.56mm assault rifle similar to the M16 and the Tavor that are both in operational use in the IDF, as well as capabilities which have thus far been attributed to the larger & heavier 7.62 mm caliber. This is in addition to the significant advantage of the soldier carrying less weight thereby increasing mobility and agility.
The new Ball round also reflects the desire and need of the IDF’s and armies around the world to reduce the “armaments and warfare economy” as it is priced below the 7.62 Ball round and is of reasonable cost to the customer.
IMI compared the penetration of 7.62mm, 5.56mm M855 ammunition and 5.56mm APM on bulletproof vests, sandbags and concrete. And the results revealed the APM round’s superiority as an anti-material round compared to ball ammo in both calibers. And here are the all-important results for armor plate penetration.
IMI 5.56 APM ammo: better accuracy, better penetration (at longer distances) and lighter weight than 7.62 M80. What’s not to love? This is a must have round!
The round has significant advantages for military and law enforcement applications, and at a highly competitive cost/performance ratio which is why IMI’s Israeli factories are busy producing millions of 5.56 APM rounds for both soldiers and law enforcement officers. Small caliber ammunition division; military quality.
IMI also manufactures high-quality, high-performance, dependable pistol and rifle ammunition for consumers. TTAG will be exploring IMI’s product line in future articles, product reviews and ammo tests. For now, Shmilovitz wants law enforcement and special forces to know that there’s a new choice for premium ammunition at an affordable price. “The Israeli military can’t afford to compromise on ammunition,” Mr. Shmilovitz concluded. “If you want the best reliability and performance money can buy, neither should you.”
Click here to contact IMI’s small caliber ammunition division.