Simunition Simunition is a trademark for training ammunition produced by General Dynamics - Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada Inc . of Québec , Canada . Simunition encompasses many types of training rounds , the best - known being the FX Marking Cartridge . Simunition rounds are designed to be fired through police and military service weapons . Most Simunition cartridges ( FX , CQT and Securiblank ) require the installation of a drop - in conversion kit that does not permanently alter the weapon and can be easily removed . These kits ensure that normal service rounds cannot be fired during training and allow the use of the Simunition ammunition that work with reduced - pressure / reduced - velocity . History . SNC Technologies Inc . ( now known as General Dynamics - Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada Inc . ) created Simunition in the late 1980s with the goal of providing more realistic training to military and law enforcement agencies . Types . FX . FX marking cartridges are a line of training ammunition that can be fired through standard firearms . The cartridges come in 9mm , . 38 and 5 . 56mm calibers and fire a lead - free non - toxic reduced charge with reduced kinetic energy . To allow the weapon to cycle correctly , the top portion of the case is actually a plastic ( aluminum in CQT ) sabot that incorporates an inverted venturi , that upon firing springs outward , pushing the brass lower portion of the case against the bolt / slide , causing the weapon to cycle correctly in both auto and semi - auto mode . The projectile is filled with blue , green , red , white , detergent - based , water - soluble colored marking compound and non - marking , similar to a paintball . The projectile breaks upon impact , marking the target and allowing trainers to assess the accuracy and lethality of the hits . This system is used extensively in the United States Marine Corps where it is known as SESAMS ( Special Effect Small Arms Marking System ) . The 5 . 56mm FX marking cartridges have a velocity of approximately 198 m / second , as opposed to paintball guns which are generally limited to 91 m / second . CQT . CQT Close Quarters Target Ammunition are polymer projectiles that fire using the same reduced charge sabot system as FX for reduced velocity . The advantages of CQT rounds are reduced penetration , which allows for the use of lower - cost materials in training environments and allows for close - range indoor training ( see Kill House ) without the need for bullet - trap systems . CQT bullets are potentially lethal and should not be fired at personnel . Securiblank . Securiblank cartridges are blanks that can be fired through service weapons modified to fire Simunition . These blanks feature reduced pressures and noise levels for increased safety . Greenshield . Greenshield ammunition is a standard , lethal round designed to be used in indoor training ranges . The round is frangible ( meaning it fractures upon impact ) , lead - free , and non - toxic . These are full - energy , lethal rounds not to be fired at personnel . Greenshield cartridges do not require modification to the firing weapon . Short Stop . Short Stop training ammunition is designed for short - range training ranges where stray bullets and ricochets could be a concern . The ammunition is a full - velocity , lethal ammunition that is designed to shatter upon impact while retaining comparable recoil characteristics and accuracy out to 100 meters . This ammunition is available in a tracer variant that allows visual tracking of the round in daylight and night conditions . Short Stop ammunition does not require modification to the firing weapon . DragonFly . DragonFly is a 40×46mm training grenade designed to be fired from military grenade launchers such as the US M203 . The grenade is available in three weights ( light , medium , and heavy ) and comes with a reusable steel cartridge case . The round is made of inert black polymer and can be used in force - on - force training . The purpose of the DragonFly grenade is to reduce the risk of injury and the maintenance cost of a firing range by being less damaging to range infrastructure .