Smaller-caliber bullets come under fire

[unhappycamper]

From left, 9mm, .45 ACP, M855 'Green Tip' and M80 bullets are seen next to a standard AAA battery.


Smaller-caliber bullets come under fire
By Richard Lardner - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday May 27, 2008 20:22:33 EDT

WASHINGTON — As Army Sgt. Joe Higgins patrolled the streets of Saba al-Bor, a tough town north of Baghdad, he was armed with bullets that had a lot more firepower than those of his 4th Infantry Division buddies.

As an Army sniper, Higgins was one of the select few toting an M14. The long-barreled rifle, an imposing weapon built for wars long past, spits out bullets larger and more deadly than the rounds that fit into the M4 carbines and M16 rifles that most soldiers carry.

“Having a heavy cartridge in an urban environment like that was definitely a good choice,” said Higgins, who did two tours in Iraq and left the service last year. “It just has more stopping power.”

Strange as it sounds, nearly seven years into the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bullets are a controversial subject for the U.S.

The smaller, steel-penetrating M855 rounds continue to be a weak spot in the American arsenal. They are not lethal enough to bring down an enemy decisively, and that puts troops at risk, according to Associated Press interviews.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_bullets_052708/