Mk 262

The Mk 262 (Mark 262) is a match quality 5.56x45mm NATO round manufactured by Black Hills Ammunition made originally for the Special Purpose Rifle (SPR). This round uses a convert|77|gr|sing=on bullet that is more effective at longer ranges than the standard issue M855 round. The bullet is 24% heavier than the SS109/M855 62-grain bullet used in 5.56 mm NATO.

The Mk 262 mod 0, was initially adopted for special forces units for use with the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle 5.56 mm sniper rifle. While some limited use has been made of the ammunition with the M4 Carbine, the Mk 262 round remains primarily in use with 5.56 mm sniper rifles and designated marksmans rifles. Despite numerous rumors and claims on the internet to the contrary, most units, even special operations units, continue to use standard M855 ammunition.Fact|date=October 2008

Two versions of the round have been procured to date. Initial production runs, designated Mark 262 Mod 0, lacked a cannelure. Subsequent production, designated Mk 262 Mod 1, added a cannelure to the bullet to improve seating in the cartridge case.

The round is derived from popular High Power competition loadings favored by competitors both civilian and military, Black Hills has not revealed the manufacturer of the powder or primers used in these rounds. It is presumed that the powder is "non-canister" and blended specifically for Black Hills for use in these rounds. However, experienced reloaders can easily duplicate this round using available components and judicious testing. Duplicate recipes abound on the web with most being nothing more than known loads for Service Rifle competition.

ee also

*5.56x45mm NATO
*.223 Remington cartridge.
*M16 rifle