5.56 Ballistics: Bullet Drop And Trajectory Chart

Analyzing 5.56 ballistics involves tracking projectile performance from the muzzle to the target. Variations in bullet weight, barrel length, and sight-in distance significantly alter energy retention and the overall 5.56 bullet trajectory.

5.56 Ballistics Chart

Bullet Weight	Bullet Type	Manufacturer and Load	Barrel Length	Muzzle Velocity	Velocity at 100 Yards	Velocity at 300 Yards	Muzzle Energy	Energy at 300 Yards	Trajectory at 200 Yards	Ballistic Coefficient
55 Grain	FMJBT	Federal XM193	20 in	3165 fps	2840 fps	2252 fps	1223 ft-lbs	619 ft-lbs	-2.8 in	0.243 (G1)
62 Grain	FMJBT	Winchester M855	20 in	3020 fps	2736 fps	2217 fps	1255 ft-lbs	676 ft-lbs	-3.1 in	0.304 (G1)
77 Grain	OTM	Black Hills Mk 262	18 in	2750 fps	2530 fps	2120 fps	1293 ft-lbs	768 ft-lbs	-4.2 in	0.373 (G1)

5.56 NATO Performance Overview

• Muzzle velocities range from 2750 fps for heavy 77-grain loads to 3165 fps for lighter 55-grain loads.
• The 55-grain XM193 loses 913 fps by 300 yards.
• Heavier 77-grain bullets retain 768 ft-lbs of energy at 300 yards, compared to 619 ft-lbs for 55-grain bullets.
• Trajectory drops range from 2.8 inches to 4.2 inches at 200 yards with a 100-yard zero.

5.56 Ballistics by Barrel Length

Barrel Length	Bullet Weight	Ammunition Load	Muzzle Velocity	Velocity at 100 Yards	Velocity at 300 Yards	Muzzle Energy	Energy at 200 Yards
10.3 in	62 Grain	Winchester M855 (Est.)	2550 fps	2280 fps	1792 fps	895 ft-lbs	566 ft-lbs
14.5 in	62 Grain	Winchester M855 (Est.)	2850 fps	2565 fps	2040 fps	1118 ft-lbs	725 ft-lbs
16.0 in	62 Grain	Winchester M855 (Est.)	2920 fps	2631 fps	2100 fps	1173 ft-lbs	765 ft-lbs
20.0 in	62 Grain	Winchester M855 (Test)	3020 fps	2736 fps	2217 fps	1255 ft-lbs	839 ft-lbs

Velocity and Barrel Length Effects

• Shorter barrels reduce powder burn time, lowering muzzle velocities.
• A 10.3-inch barrel loses roughly 470 fps compared to a standard 20-inch barrel using 62-grain ammunition.
• Muzzle energy drops significantly from 1255 ft-lbs in a 20-inch barrel to 895 ft-lbs in a 10.3-inch barrel.

5.56 62 Grain Ballistics Chart

Manufacturer and Load	Bullet Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Velocity at 200 Yards	Velocity at 400 Yards	Muzzle Energy	Energy at 200 Yds	Trajectory at 200 Yds	Ballistic Coefficient
Winchester M855 FMJ	62 Grain	3020 fps	2469 fps	1980 fps	1255 ft-lbs	839 ft-lbs	-3.1 in	0.304 (G1)
Federal Fusion MSR	62 Grain	2750 fps	2226 fps	1768 fps	1041 ft-lbs	682 ft-lbs	-4.3 in	0.310 (G1)

62-Grain Performance Data

• Muzzle velocities for 62-grain loads span from 2750 fps to 3020 fps based on the manufacturer.
• The Winchester M855 retains 839 ft-lbs at 200 yards, outperforming slower hunting loads.
• At 200 yards, these projectiles drop between 3.1 and 4.3 inches when zeroed at 100 yards.

5.56 77gr Ballistics Chart

Manufacturer and Load	Test Barrel	Muzzle Velocity	Velocity at 200 Yds	Velocity at 400 Yds	Muzzle Energy	Energy at 300 Yds	Trajectory at 200 Yds	Ballistic Coefficient
Black Hills Mk 262	18 in	2750 fps	2320 fps	1930 fps	1293 ft-lbs	768 ft-lbs	-4.2 in	0.373 (G1)
Federal Gold Medal	20 in	2720 fps	2299 fps	1915 fps	1265 ft-lbs	755 ft-lbs	-4.4 in	0.372 (G1)

77-Grain vs 62-Grain Comparison

• 77-grain loads launch roughly 250 fps slower than standard 62-grain military rounds.
• High ballistic coefficients (0.372) allow 77-grain bullets to retain energy better, yielding over 750 ft-lbs at 300 yards.
• The 5.56 trajectory requires slightly more elevation at 200 yards, dropping 4.2 to 4.4 inches.

5.56 Ammo Ballistics Chart

Manufacturer and Load	Bullet Weight	Bullet Type	Muzzle Velocity	Velocity at 300 Yds	Muzzle Energy	Energy at 300 Yds	Ballistic Coefficient
Federal XM193	55 Grain	FMJBT	3165 fps	2252 fps	1223 ft-lbs	619 ft-lbs	0.243
Winchester M855	62 Grain	FMJBT	3020 fps	2217 fps	1255 ft-lbs	676 ft-lbs	0.304
Black Hills Mk 262	77 Grain	OTM	2750 fps	2120 fps	1293 ft-lbs	768 ft-lbs	0.373

Key Ammunition Differences

• The 55-grain XM193 is the fastest but has the lowest retained energy at 300 yards.
• Match-grade 77-grain OTM bullets provide the highest energy downrange.
• Ballistic coefficients vary widely from 0.243 for basic FMJ to 0.373 for heavy match projectiles.

5.56 Bullet Drop Chart

Distance	Bullet Drop (Absolute)	Remaining Velocity	Remaining Energy	Notes
Muzzle	0.0 in	3020 fps	1255 ft-lbs	Line of departure
100 Yards	-3.0 in	2736 fps	1030 ft-lbs	Drop from bore axis
200 Yards	-13.4 in	2469 fps	839 ft-lbs	Drop from bore axis
300 Yards	-33.6 in	2217 fps	676 ft-lbs	Drop from bore axis
400 Yards	-66.5 in	1980 fps	540 ft-lbs	Drop from bore axis

Gravity Drop Analysis

• Values represent Winchester M855 (62-grain) fired from a 20-inch barrel, measuring absolute gravity drop without a sight offset.
• At 200 yards, the bullet falls 13.4 inches from the bore axis.
• By 400 yards, the absolute drop extends to 66.5 inches.

5.56 Ballistics Chart 100 Yard Zero

Distance	Trajectory (Line of Sight)	Velocity	Energy
Muzzle	-2.6 in	3020 fps	1255 ft-lbs
100 Yards	0.0 in	2736 fps	1030 ft-lbs
200 Yards	-4.2 in	2469 fps	839 ft-lbs
300 Yards	-18.1 in	2217 fps	676 ft-lbs

100-Yard Zero Trajectory

• Based on 62-grain M855 from a 20-inch barrel using a 2.6-inch optic height.
• The trajectory begins 2.6 inches low at the muzzle and intersects the crosshairs at 100 yards.
• At 300 yards, the shooter must hold over by 18.1 inches.

5.56 Trajectory Chart

Distance	Trajectory (1.5″ Height)	Trajectory (2.6″ Height)	Velocity
Muzzle	-1.5 in	-2.6 in	3165 fps
100 Yards	0.0 in	0.0 in	2840 fps
200 Yards	-3.2 in	-2.8 in	2536 fps
300 Yards	-12.1 in	-11.4 in	2252 fps

Trajectory and Sight Height

• Comparing Federal XM193 (55-grain) with iron sights (1.5 inches) versus a taller optic mount (2.6 inches) with a 100-yard zero.
• At 200 yards, the taller mount yields a slightly flatter holdover of 2.8 inches compared to 3.2 inches.

Factors That Affect 5.56 Ballistics

Shorter barrels reduce the powder burn time, causing lower muzzle velocities and reducing effective range.

Bullet weight impacts speed and drag. Light 55-grain bullets are fast but lose energy quickly, while heavy 77-grain bullets resist wind and retain downrange energy.

A higher ballistic coefficient means the bullet cuts through the air more efficiently, resulting in a flatter 5.56 trajectory.

While 5.56 NATO and .223 Remington share dimensions, 5.56 NATO is loaded to higher pressures and requires a specific chamber specification.

Optic height and sight-in distance dictate the bullet’s arc relative to your crosshairs.

Environmental conditions like wind push the bullet laterally, while high temperatures and altitude reduce air density, resulting in less drag.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the effective ballistic range of 5.56 NATO?

Standard military ammunition is effective up to 300 yards from a 20-inch barrel, while heavy match loads can reach 600 yards.

2. How far does a 5.56 bullet drop at 100 yards?

A 62-grain bullet drops roughly 3 inches from the bore axis due to gravity, but strikes exactly on target if zeroed at 100 yards.

3. How much does a 5.56 bullet drop at 200 yards?

With a 100-yard zero and modern optic height, a 62-grain bullet drops about 4.2 inches at 200 yards.

4. What is the trajectory of a 5.56 round with a 100-yard zero?

It starts 2.6 inches low at the muzzle, hits precisely at 100 yards, drops about 4 inches at 200 yards, and drops roughly 18 inches at 300 yards.

5. How does barrel length affect 5.56 ballistics?

A 10.3-inch barrel can lose nearly 500 fps compared to a 20-inch barrel, reducing energy and increasing drop at distance.

6. What is the difference between 62-grain and 77-grain 5.56 ammunition?

62-grain rounds are lighter and faster, while 77-grain rounds are heavier, slower at the muzzle, but retain more energy downrange.

7. What is the muzzle velocity of 5.56 NATO?

A 55-grain bullet reaches over 3160 fps from a 20-inch barrel, while a 77-grain bullet typically launches around 2750 fps.

8. How much energy does a 5.56 bullet retain at 300 yards?

A 55-grain load retains about 619 ft-lbs, whereas a 77-grain match load retains around 768 ft-lbs.

9. Is 5.56 NATO the same as .223 Remington?

No, 5.56 NATO is loaded to higher pressures and features a different chamber throat design than .223 Remington.

10. Which factors have the greatest effect on 5.56 bullet drop?

Muzzle velocity, distance, and ballistic coefficient have the largest impact on how quickly the projectile falls.