1964 Olin 5.56mm ball m193?

[VKT1941]

I found this ammo at a pawn shop I collect old ammo is this something that is collectible? The headstamp reads WCC 64 I'll greatly appreciate any information that can be passed.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Is that the dirty shooting crap they sent out to the boys in Vietnam that fouled the new M16's then being introduced without cleaning gear? If so I guess it would be more collectable rather than plinking ammo. I don't remember the specific company that made that stuff, but the dates would be about right.

[steelbuttplate]

Wasn't '64 the first year of service for the M16 ?

[steelbuttplate]

That Olin ammo is ball powder, which was not part of the original design by Stoner, but required by the Army to achieve 3,250 fps muzzle and would continue burning into the gas chamber causing fouling there and in the firing chamber, and a 50% failure rate for the M-16. The black rifle was introduced in '64 was issued as the standard rifle for the Army in Southeast Asia in '66. A chrome chamber/barrel and new solvents for cleaning was their temporary fix after many men were KIA with jammed rifles and the ball powder was replaced in 1970.

[VKT1941]

Thank y'all for the information. I greatly appreciate all the insight into the ammo this is probably some the most historically relevant ammo that I've found.