The Real Deal: How Exactly To Spot Genuine 550 Paracord

By Author: David McIntyre
Total Articles: 4
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The MIL-C-5040-H spec is a military standard for the production of 550 parachute cord. There should be 7 to 9 strands braided together, each composed of a 3-ply inner strand. The complete thickness of the twine should be 5/32 on an inch, or about 4 mm. The approximate compressed diameter is 1/8 of an inch. When elongated, the twine should elongate by no more than 30%.
Military conventional paracord has a small color range. The cords' outer colours are limited to black, white, coyote brown, foliage green, off white, olive drab, drab orange, drab red, royal blue, and silver. The outer twine is rolled with a flexible braided nylon. The feel is silky smooth. Thus, the whole period of the twine has less potential for acquiring kinks. The colours of the inner strands are restricted to one colored mark, and the rest are white. Colours outside of these military mark can be regarded as commercial-grade. Commercial 550 paracord is also slightly rougher in texture. Titan(TMark) Paracord is 100% in conformity with each of these military specifications for military standard 550 paracord. It's really long-lasting and lightweight. It's ...
... also guaranteed to be 100% bump- free and bulge -free. Unlike other types of ropes, Titan(TMark) Paracord is kink-free. Users are guaranteed the cords are just made in respect to military specifications. There's even a colored government contractor marker within the cords.
This implies the cords can withstand at least 550 pounds of static weight. This might seem like a ample quantity of weight in theory. In actual use, this characteristic is essential as your life may come to depend on this attribute alone. So, each of the 7 braids should support about 80 pounds, which means each of the 3 inner strands of each braid, when used singly, can hold at least 26 pounds. Commercial 550 paracord simply has 6 or 7 braids, with 2 strands per braid. The flexible outer sheath really fosters the weight bearing capacity of the whole parachute cord to up to 200 pounds. Rip-off 550 paracord may assert to have this quality, but beware. There's nothing better and safer to use than real, 100% military-grade, 550 paracord.
A final difference is the price difference between commercial paracord and real military grade. True 550 paracord is commonly around twice the price of commercial grade. This price difference, nonetheless, may one day be the difference between death and life. If you are using paracord for rescue or safety purposes, its best to stick with the sure-thing...military standard 550 paracord like that fabricated by Titan Paracord.

If you’d like to learn more about the many uses for 550 paracord, visit the Titan Paracord store at http://www.TitanParacord.com.