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There are a number of different types of construction for bullets. Most of the commercial ammo is basically lead with a copper jacket. Some defensive ammo uses a different alloy, such as soft aluminum(Silvertips) to aid expansion. None of the civilian ammo is for military use.

Military ammo must meet the Geneva Conventions on construction.

Full metal jacket.

Non-expanding.

This was in response to the use of 'dum-dum' bullets in parts of India and Africa by the Europeans. These were nothing more than large caliber, soft lead projectiles, which expand rapidly and caused horrible wounds.

Now, there are ways to enhance the bullet for the military and still meet the Geneva Convention. Some use a steel core to help penetration through armor and masonry. There is also a 'floating' core of dense materials (tungsten, depleted uranium) in a softer medium so the core goes further into the target.

The 62-gr bullet in the SS109 has a small steel penetrator, while the 55-grain bullet in the M855(most common issue) is mostly copper jacket with a small amount of lead.

The materials will probably go to Winchester, which has the military contract for 5.56 and 7.62 ammo.

"... The 62-gr bullet in the SS109 has a small steel penetrator, while the 55-grain bullet in the M855(most common issue) is mostly copper jacket with a small amount of lead."

I think I'd better correct this:

'SS109' isn't a cartridge, but is the NATO standard for a hardened 62gr projectile; SS109 is just the bullet.

M855 is a loaded cartridge that uses the SS109 NATO-spec projectile and is intended for 1x7" twist barrels. There is another type of M855 that's lead-free using a projectile made of a copper-nickel and tungsten alloy, but it's generally only used on marksmanship ranges if it's even used at all anymore.

The milspec cartridge with the 55-56gr projectile that has no penetrator component and is just a FMJ lead slug is M193. That's the old Vietnam round intended for the M16/M16A1.

I was told in Basic Training, that according to the Geneva Conventions, it is illegal to use .50-cal rounds on personnel, but only on equipment. Now, of course, canteens could be considered to be equipment...

I think it is totally ridiculous. All these rules make me angry, as though warfare is some sort of game like football. You're supposed to do what it takes to win. So what if my weapon inflicts ghastly injuries?