PMC X-TAC 420-Round Can Review: Green Tip in a Can

A can of green tip is only a bargain if you can shoot it where you shoot. Work through the gates in order and the decision gets easy.

Four gates, in order

Plenty of ammunition reviews tell you what a load is. For this one it is more useful to tell you what has to be true before you buy it. PMC X-TAC 5.56 NATO 62 grain green tip in a 420-round can passes through four gates, and if you fail the first one, nothing after it matters.

What the listing says

The Ammunition Depot page describes the product as 21 boxes of 20 rounds, 420 rounds in all, packed in an M19A1 can. It describes the bullet as a 62 grain M855-pattern round with a lead core and a hardened steel penetrator under a full metal jacket, loaded in newly made, reloadable brass. The listing positions it for range training, hunting and storage, and it states no range warnings of its own.

Read that last point carefully. A listing that mentions hunting is not a statement that the load is legal for hunting where you hunt. Many jurisdictions restrict or prohibit particular bullet constructions for game, so check your state wildlife agency's current rules before you take any steel-core load afield.

Gate 1: your range

The green-painted tip identifies a bullet with a steel penetrator inside the jacket. That steel is the reason for the load's reputation, and also the reason many ranges refuse it. Typical objections are practical: steel can damage steel targets and backstops, and it can produce sparks. Policies vary from range to range, and some ranges ban the ammunition entirely while others allow it only on certain lanes. A few ranges accept it only on a case-by-case basis.

Do not guess. Ask the range for its ammunition policy in writing or read it on their website, and search the policy for terms such as "steel core," "armor-piercing," "green tip," "M855" and "SS109." If you shoot on public land or private property, look up the rules that apply there too. Our guide to green tip legality goes into the legal side, which is distinct from range policy, and it is date-sensitive, so read the current version.

If the range says no, you can stop here. M193-type ammunition is an alternative at many ranges, and our Lake City M193 case review covers that option.

Gate 2: your rifle

5.56 NATO is intended for rifles chambered in 5.56 NATO or in compatible hybrids such as .223 Wylde. A rifle marked .223 Remington only is not necessarily rated for it. SAAMI's interchangeability guidance warns that cartridges built to military standards can have dimensions nearly identical to their commercial cousins while running at higher pressures, and says to use them only in firearms marked and chambered for that specific cartridge. Barrel marking trumps what you remember about the rifle, so read it.

Twist rate is a second consideration. Heavier bullets are generally associated with faster twist rates, and 62 grain M855-pattern bullets are generally designed around the barrels used in service rifles. If your rifle has a slow twist, accuracy at distance may suffer. The manufacturer's specifications are the place to check your barrel's twist rate, and our M193 versus M855 comparison covers how the two loads differ in use.

Gate 3: your law and your supplier

Ammunition rules differ by state and locality. A small number of jurisdictions regulate ammunition sales or shipments, and a few have purchase or documentation requirements. Federal and state treatment of steel-core 5.56 has been debated and reviewed over the years, so do not rely on memory. Check your state attorney general or state police website, and read the current federal guidance from the ATF. When in doubt, ask a firearms attorney or the retailer's customer service about whether they ship to your address. We are not offering legal advice here.

Gate 4: your use

Only now should you ask what the load is for. X-TAC green tip is a full metal jacket practice and training round. It is not a hunting load, and it is not the precision option. For most shooters it works best as:

• Volume practice and drills on a rifle that has already proved reliable.
• A second ammunition type alongside M193 for comparing point of impact at your standard distances.
• Stocking up in a format that stores itself.

The can as a selling point

The 420-round can is the genuine differentiator here. Most 5.56 bulk is shipped in cardboard, and storing it properly means buying or finding a separate container. A can that arrives with the ammunition in it solves that. The listing describes it as heavy-duty cold-rolled steel with a waterproof seal and a stackable design, though it gives no interior dimensions and does not name the gasket material. Whether it matters to you depends on a few things:

A can is a convenience, not a security device. Lock ammunition away from anyone who should not have access, whatever its packaging.

Doing the per-round math

For a product like this, the arithmetic has three steps:

1. Delivered total divided by 420 gives the per-round figure for the can.
2. Delivered total divided by rounds gives the per-round figure for the comparison products, whatever their packaging.
3. Subtract the value you place on the can. If you would have bought a similar container anyway, the difference is the real cost of the ammunition.

Because ammunition is heavy, shipping can change the result; see free-shipping thresholds on heavy ammo for how to spot it. We do not print prices; check current price on the Ammunition Depot listing.

Who this suits, and who should look elsewhere

A good match: an outdoor shooter with a 5.56 NATO or Wylde-chambered rifle, access to a range that permits steel-core ammunition, and a wish to store a block of ammunition in a ready-made container.

A poor match:

• Anyone who shoots mainly at indoor ranges, which commonly restrict steel-core ammunition.
• Anyone with a .223-only barrel.
• Anyone who needs the lowest cost per round for high-volume plinking. Compare against non-penetrator M193 and brass-cased alternatives first.
• Anyone living where regulations or carriers restrict delivery of this product. Check before you order.

What we would do in your place

Call the range, read the barrel, check the law and then price the can. If all four gates open, buy one can, shoot a couple of magazines for function and accuracy, and decide whether a second can makes sense. A can of 420 is already a meaningful purchase; the point of the gates is to make sure you are buying something you can actually use.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.