How Deadly Is 5.56 At Close Range?

Garand Thumb delivers a raw, science-backed ballistic breakdown of 5.56×45mm NATO lethality at close range in this high-production gel test video, using ultra slow-motion Phantom high-speed footage to capture every detail of wound ballistics from point-blank out to 125 yards.

Testing three AR-15 platforms — the 10.3-inch Mk18 CQBR, 11.5-inch URGI, and 16-inch Aero Precision — with M855 green tip and premium 68-grain Hornady boat-tail hollow points, Mike exposes exactly how 5.56 performs in real-world scenarios: rapid yaw cycles, fragmentation thresholds around 2,500-2,700 fps, explosive temporary cavities, permanent wound channels from fragments, velocity retention differences across barrel lengths, and why shorter barrels still dominate inside 125 yards despite common myths.

Watch as M855 penetrates, destabilizes, and dumps energy with massive compression waves, while hollow points expand violently on impact, petal out, and create multiple devastating fragment paths for rapid incapacitation. This no-BS analysis debunks internet theories on 5.56 "ice pick" wounds, short barrel ineffectiveness, and velocity loss, proving the round's devastating potential for military, law enforcement, home defense, and tactical applications when barriers aren't involved.

Essential viewing for AR-15 owners, military veterans, tactical shooters, ballistic enthusiasts, gun collectors, 2A advocates, and anyone seeking evidence-based insights on 5.56 terminal performance, NATO cartridge wounding effects, modern rifle ballistics, Mk18 capabilities, and why barrel length matters less than you think at combat distances.

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