How prevalent was 5.56 green tip ammo before the pandemic?

I mostly shoot steel with my 223/556 rifles and I don't like the dimples that green tips make on my steel so I tend to stay away from it.

I prefer M193 over M855. In my experience, M193 groups a lot better. Although, M193 is shot through 1:12 while M855 through 1:7, so I don't know how they would truly compare.

Can you guys explain the difference between those rounds?
What does the green tip do?

TIA

Thank you!

quote:

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855 has a steel core penetrator

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Not a steel core but a steel slug pushed into the tip of the bullet ahead of a lead slug. It's also mild steel and not hardened like the steel tip on the 855A1 that is replacing it. M855 was designed for the M249 SAW shortly after it was fielded, it was never intended to be the main combat issued ammo for riflemen. The multi-component design makes it relatively inconsistent in terminal performance, not an issue for a belt-fed machine gun but it is for individual marksmanship with a rifle. The steel tip only makes it a better penetrator at longer ranges, the shear-plugging effect of M193 and other conventional bullets works better at shorter distances. M855A1 works better at all ranges because the solid copper slug behind the steel arrowhead penetrator acts like a hammer and pushes it through rather than overtaking it immediately. I would still pickup M855 if priced reasonably, once the Army decides to no longer manufacture it and only focus on M855A1 production then it might dry up entirely except for imports. M855A1 may never get the nod for civilian sales as it meets the technical definition for AP ammo in rifles unless it gets a sporting purpose exemption.