5.56x45mm NATO Trajectory Calculator
See how 5.56x45mm NATO stacks up in our full caliber comparison chart — energy, drop and recoil for every rifle caliber side by side.
The 5.56x45mm NATO with a 62-grain bullet at 3,165 fps produces a flat trajectory well-suited for intermediate range shooting. Zeroed at 100 yards, the bullet drops just 2.9 inches at 200 yards and 11.6 inches at 300 yards. This allows point-of-aim shooting on torso-sized targets to nearly 300 yards without holdover.
Energy retention follows the expected pattern for a lightweight, high-velocity projectile. The round leaves the muzzle with 1,379 ft-lbs, retains 1,085 ft-lbs at 100 yards, and drops to 649 ft-lbs at 300 yards. By 500 yards, velocity falls to 1,629 fps with 365 ft-lbs remaining. The light bullet sheds energy faster than heavier calibers, making shot placement more critical beyond 300 yards.
Wind drift becomes a factor at extended ranges due to the bullet's low sectional density. At 300 yards with a 10 mph crosswind, expect approximately 10-12 inches of drift. Shooters pushing this cartridge past 400 yards need solid wind-reading skills and should account for 27.7 inches of drop at 400 yards and 53.6 inches at 500 yards.
Compare up to 5 different loads. The current caliber (5.56x45mm NATO) is pre-selected for the first load.
5.56x45mm NATO Trajectory Chart
5.56x45mm NATO Ballistics Data
| Range (yd) | Elevation (in) | Elevation (MOA) | Elevation (MIL) | Windage (in) | Windage (MOA) | Windage (MIL) | Time (s) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3165.0 | 1379.42 |
| 25 | -0.76 | 2.89 | 0.842 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.024 | 3072.29 | 1299.78 |
| 50 | -0.26 | 0.5 | 0.144 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.049 | 2982.18 | 1224.66 |
| 75 | -0.0 | 0.0 | 0.001 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.075 | 2893.96 | 1153.27 |
| 100 | -0.01 | 0.01 | 0.002 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.101 | 2807.52 | 1085.41 |
| 125 | -0.28 | 0.22 | 0.063 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.128 | 2722.76 | 1020.86 |
| 150 | -0.85 | 0.54 | 0.158 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.156 | 2639.6 | 959.45 |
| 175 | -1.74 | 0.95 | 0.275 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.185 | 2557.93 | 901.0 |
| 200 | -2.95 | 1.41 | 0.409 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.215 | 2477.74 | 845.39 |
| 225 | -4.52 | 1.92 | 0.558 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.246 | 2398.95 | 792.48 |
| 250 | -6.46 | 2.47 | 0.718 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.277 | 2321.54 | 742.16 |
| 275 | -8.81 | 3.06 | 0.89 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.31 | 2245.53 | 694.36 |
| 300 | -11.59 | 3.69 | 1.073 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.344 | 2170.88 | 648.96 |
| 325 | -14.83 | 4.36 | 1.267 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.379 | 2097.65 | 605.92 |
| 350 | -18.57 | 5.06 | 1.473 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.416 | 2025.87 | 565.16 |
| 375 | -22.83 | 5.81 | 1.691 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.453 | 1955.56 | 526.61 |
| 400 | -27.66 | 6.6 | 1.92 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.492 | 1886.79 | 490.23 |
| 425 | -33.11 | 7.44 | 2.163 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.533 | 1819.62 | 455.94 |
| 450 | -39.2 | 8.32 | 2.419 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.575 | 1754.15 | 423.72 |
| 475 | -46.01 | 9.25 | 2.69 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.618 | 1690.48 | 393.52 |
| 500 | -53.57 | 10.23 | 2.976 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.664 | 1628.78 | 365.32 |
Take this table to the range
The 5.56x45mm NATO reference load above as a wallet-size DOPE card: the same zero, standard conditions, holds in MOA, a 10 mph wind column, and a blank column to write in what the rifle actually does.
Download it as it is, or customize the size (turret cap, armband, index card), the columns, the wind speeds and units.
Print at 100% (“Actual size”). Laminate it or use waterproof paper for the field.
Available 5.56x45mm NATO Ammunition Ballistics
Zeroing the 5.56x45mm NATO
Every table in this section uses the same reference load as the calculator above, 62gr G1 .271 at 3,165 fps, with a 1.5" sight height over the bore, at standard conditions (59°F, sea level, no wind for drop; 10 mph crosswind for drift). Intermediate cartridges are usually shot from a flat-top rifle with the optic well above the bore, which is why AR zeros are argued about more than any others. Change the bullet, velocity or sight height in the calculator above to solve your own load.
At this page's 1.5" sight height a 50-yard zero crosses back at 147 yards, not 200. The familiar "50/200" AR zero depends on the 2.6" optic height of a flat-top rifle.
5.56x45mm NATO zero comparison
| 36-yd zero | 50-yd zero | 100-yd zero | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near zero | 36 yd | 50 yd | 76 yd |
| Far zero | 197 yd | 147 yd | 100 yd |
| Max ordinate | +1.5" | +0.5" | +0.0" |
| Max ordinate distance | 119 yd | 99 yd | 87 yd |
| Hold-dead-on window (8" vital zone, ±4") | 0–263 yd | 0–234 yd | 0–217 yd |
| Sight in at 100 yd | +1.4" (+1.3 MOA) | +0.5" (+0.5 MOA) | 0.0" (0.0 MOA) |
| Drop at 300 yd | -7.4" | -10.1" | -11.6" |
| Drop at 400 yd | -22.1" | -25.6" | -27.7" |
| Energy at 300 yd | 649 ft-lb | 649 ft-lb | 649 ft-lb |
How to read it: filled circles are the near and far zero, where the bullet's path crosses the line of sight;the triangle is the peak (max ordinate). The shaded band is the 8" vital zone, ±4" either side of the line of sight. The dashed line marks the edge of the hold-dead-on window. The chart is zoomed to where the zero matters; the tables below run to 500 yards.
Key terms
- Near zero
- Where the bullet first climbs up through the line of sight. It starts below the sight, because the sight sits above the barrel.
- Far zero
- Where it falls back down through the line of sight. A "200-yard zero" is the far zero; the near zero comes with it.
- Max ordinate
- The highest the bullet gets above the line of sight, between the two crossings. This is what makes a zero shoot high in the middle.
- Point blank range (MPBR)
- The zero that keeps the whole arc inside a vital zone for the longest distance, so you can aim at the centre and hold dead-on.
5.56x45mm NATO with a 36-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 36 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 62gr load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 36 yards, peaks +1.5" at 119 yards, crosses back down at 197 yards, and is -7.4" at 300 and -22.1" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,165 | 1,379 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.4" | -1.56 | -0.45 | 3,072 | 1,300 | 0.1 |
| 50 | +0.4" | +0.84 | +0.24 | 2,982 | 1,225 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +1.1" | +1.33 | +0.39 | 2,894 | 1,153 | 0.6 |
| 100 | +1.4" | +1.33 | +0.39 | 2,808 | 1,085 | 1.1 |
| 125 | +1.5" | +1.12 | +0.32 | 2,723 | 1,021 | 1.7 |
| 150 | +1.2" | +0.79 | +0.23 | 2,640 | 959 | 2.4 |
| 175 | +0.7" | +0.39 | +0.11 | 2,558 | 901 | 3.3 |
| 200 | -0.2" | -0.07 | -0.02 | 2,478 | 845 | 4.4 |
| 225 | -1.4" | -0.58 | -0.17 | 2,399 | 792 | 5.7 |
| 250 | -3.0" | -1.13 | -0.33 | 2,322 | 742 | 7.1 |
| 275 | -5.0" | -1.73 | -0.50 | 2,246 | 694 | 8.7 |
| 300 | -7.4" | -2.36 | -0.69 | 2,171 | 649 | 10.5 |
| 325 | -10.3" | -3.02 | -0.88 | 2,098 | 606 | 12.5 |
| 350 | -13.7" | -3.73 | -1.09 | 2,026 | 565 | 14.8 |
| 375 | -17.6" | -4.48 | -1.30 | 1,956 | 527 | 17.2 |
| 400 | -22.1" | -5.27 | -1.53 | 1,887 | 490 | 19.9 |
| 425 | -27.2" | -6.10 | -1.78 | 1,820 | 456 | 22.9 |
| 450 | -32.9" | -6.98 | -2.03 | 1,754 | 424 | 26.1 |
| 475 | -39.4" | -7.91 | -2.30 | 1,690 | 394 | 29.6 |
| 500 | -46.6" | -8.90 | -2.59 | 1,629 | 365 | 33.4 |
62gr G1 .271 at 3,165 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.
5.56x45mm NATO with a 50-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 50 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 62gr load crosses the line of sight on the way up at 50 yards, peaks +0.5" at 99 yards, crosses back down at 147 yards, and is -10.1" at 300 and -25.6" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,165 | 1,379 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.6" | -2.41 | -0.70 | 3,072 | 1,300 | 0.1 |
| 50 | 0.0" | -0.01 | 0.00 | 2,982 | 1,225 | 0.3 |
| 75 | +0.4" | +0.48 | +0.14 | 2,894 | 1,153 | 0.6 |
| 100 | +0.5" | +0.48 | +0.14 | 2,808 | 1,085 | 1.1 |
| 125 | +0.4" | +0.27 | +0.08 | 2,723 | 1,021 | 1.7 |
| 150 | -0.1" | -0.06 | -0.02 | 2,640 | 959 | 2.4 |
| 175 | -0.8" | -0.46 | -0.13 | 2,558 | 901 | 3.3 |
| 200 | -1.9" | -0.92 | -0.27 | 2,478 | 845 | 4.4 |
| 225 | -3.4" | -1.43 | -0.42 | 2,399 | 792 | 5.7 |
| 250 | -5.2" | -1.98 | -0.58 | 2,322 | 742 | 7.1 |
| 275 | -7.4" | -2.57 | -0.75 | 2,246 | 694 | 8.7 |
| 300 | -10.1" | -3.20 | -0.93 | 2,171 | 649 | 10.5 |
| 325 | -13.2" | -3.87 | -1.13 | 2,098 | 606 | 12.5 |
| 350 | -16.8" | -4.58 | -1.33 | 2,026 | 565 | 14.8 |
| 375 | -20.9" | -5.33 | -1.55 | 1,956 | 527 | 17.2 |
| 400 | -25.6" | -6.12 | -1.78 | 1,887 | 490 | 19.9 |
| 425 | -30.9" | -6.95 | -2.02 | 1,820 | 456 | 22.9 |
| 450 | -36.9" | -7.83 | -2.28 | 1,754 | 424 | 26.1 |
| 475 | -43.6" | -8.76 | -2.55 | 1,690 | 394 | 29.6 |
| 500 | -51.0" | -9.74 | -2.83 | 1,629 | 365 | 33.4 |
62gr G1 .271 at 3,165 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.
5.56x45mm NATO with a 100-Yard Zero
Zeroed at 100 yards with a 1.5" sight height, the 62gr load first crosses the line of sight at 76 yards, peaks +0.0" at 87 yards, returns to zero at 100, and is -11.6" at 300 and -27.7" at 400 yards.
| Range (yd) | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) | Drop (MIL) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Wind drift, 10 mph (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | -1.5" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,165 | 1,379 | 0.0 |
| 25 | -0.8" | -2.89 | -0.84 | 3,072 | 1,300 | 0.1 |
| 50 | -0.3" | -0.50 | -0.14 | 2,982 | 1,225 | 0.3 |
| 75 | 0.0" | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,894 | 1,153 | 0.6 |
| 100 | 0.0" | -0.01 | 0.00 | 2,808 | 1,085 | 1.1 |
| 125 | -0.3" | -0.22 | -0.06 | 2,723 | 1,021 | 1.7 |
| 150 | -0.9" | -0.54 | -0.16 | 2,640 | 959 | 2.4 |
| 175 | -1.7" | -0.95 | -0.28 | 2,558 | 901 | 3.3 |
| 200 | -3.0" | -1.41 | -0.41 | 2,478 | 845 | 4.4 |
| 225 | -4.5" | -1.92 | -0.56 | 2,399 | 792 | 5.7 |
| 250 | -6.5" | -2.47 | -0.72 | 2,322 | 742 | 7.1 |
| 275 | -8.8" | -3.06 | -0.89 | 2,246 | 694 | 8.7 |
| 300 | -11.6" | -3.69 | -1.07 | 2,171 | 649 | 10.5 |
| 325 | -14.8" | -4.36 | -1.27 | 2,098 | 606 | 12.5 |
| 350 | -18.6" | -5.06 | -1.47 | 2,026 | 565 | 14.8 |
| 375 | -22.8" | -5.81 | -1.69 | 1,956 | 527 | 17.2 |
| 400 | -27.7" | -6.60 | -1.92 | 1,887 | 490 | 19.9 |
| 425 | -33.1" | -7.44 | -2.16 | 1,820 | 456 | 22.9 |
| 450 | -39.2" | -8.32 | -2.42 | 1,754 | 424 | 26.1 |
| 475 | -46.0" | -9.25 | -2.69 | 1,690 | 394 | 29.6 |
| 500 | -53.6" | -10.23 | -2.98 | 1,629 | 365 | 33.4 |
62gr G1 .271 at 3,165 fps, 1.5" sight height over bore, standard conditions (59°F, sea level), 10 mph full-value crosswind. Positive drop is above the line of sight.
Maximum Point Blank Range for the 5.56x45mm NATO
Maximum point blank range (MPBR) is the zero that keeps the bullet inside a vital zone, never more than half its height above or below the line of sight (an 8" zone is ±4"), for as far as possible. Zero at the distance in the table and you can hold dead-on from the muzzle to the far edge of the window.
| Vital zone | Zero at | Hold dead-on from | To (MPBR) | Max ordinate | Near / far zero | CSV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8" (whitetail, pronghorn) | 276 yd | 0 yd | 321 yd | +4.0" at 157 yd | 25 / 276 yd | Download |
| 10" (elk, moose) | 299 yd | 0 yd | 348 yd | +5.0" at 169 yd | 22 / 299 yd | Download |
MPBR assumes a centred hold, a level shot and no wind; it is a ceiling, not a licence to skip ranging. The far edge of the window is where the bullet has already fallen half the vital zone.
Which Zero Should You Use for the 5.56x45mm NATO?
Start with the rifle, not the cartridge. The tables above are solved with the sight line 1.5" over the bore, which describes a bolt gun, a low-mounted optic or an AR with the sights on a low riser. At that height a 50-yard zero comes back through the line of sight at 147 yards, and the 36-yard zero at 197. Neither is the "50/200" or "36/300" zero shooters trade on forums, because those figures assume the 2.6" optic height of a flat-top AR-15.
With 1.5" of sight height the honest general-purpose choice is a 100-yard zero. The bullet never climbs more than a few hundredths of an inch above the line of sight, stays inside an 8" vital zone to 217 yards, and is 11.6" low at 300, an easy hold on a torso-sized target. If you want one zero that stretches the hold-dead-on window without dialing, the 36-yard zero trades 1.5" of peak height at 119 yards for a window that runs to 263 yards.
Hunting deer-sized game with this 62gr load, the maximum-point-blank-range zero is the one to set: zero at 276 yards (about 4" high at 155) and hold on the centre of an 8" zone out to 321 yards. Past that the 62gr bullet is shedding energy quickly and you should be ranging and dialing, not holding over. If your rifle is a flat-top AR with a standard-height optic, use the AR zero comparison pages instead; every number changes with the taller sight line.
Guidance reviewed 2026-09-13.
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5.56x45mm NATO Ballistics Comparisons
Stock Up On 5.56x45mm NATO Ammo for the Range
| PRODUCT | DEALER | QUANTITY | PRICE | SHIPPING | TOTAL PRICE | PRICE/RD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentry Ammo | 1000 | $419.99 | $33.29 | $453.28 |
$0.45
1000 Rounds
|
|
| Sentry Ammo | 1000 | $429.49 | $30.29 | $459.78 |
$0.46
1000 Rounds
|
|
| Fast Ammo | 1000 | $527.67 | $0.00 | $527.67 |
$0.53
1000 Rounds
|
|
| Lucky Gunner | 1000 | $520.00 | $21.27 | $541.27 |
$0.54
1000 Rounds
|
|
| Fast Ammo | 1000 | $553.02 | $0.00 | $553.02 |
$0.55
1000 Rounds
|