550 Parachute Cord aka Paracord
About paracord
Paracord is also called 550-parachute cord, or just plain 550 cord. The 550 in its name comes from the cords breaking strength, this means that the paracord can take up to 550 pounds of weight before it breaks. U.S paracord is generally considered a cut above the British Cord.
Unlike most brands of paracord, the Government Issue and mil-spec 550 cord is made to strict specification.
When buying 550 parachute cord for your survival kit make sure it is Government issue or of mil-spec, anything else is of little use for anything other than clothes lines. The lesser quality 550-parachute cord may have fewer inner strands in the sheath or core, it may be manufactured from materials other than nylon, or may be constructed of bulk fibres rather than individual yarns.
550 cord is durable and versatile, the nylon construction means it will not rot or mildew so paracord is considered a good all weather cord, making it popular with survivalists, campers, backpackers, outdoor folk and hunters to name a few. It should be noted that 550 cord is designed to stretch (making it bad for a ridge-lines), sucks up water, stretches more when wet (making it bad for tarps), and can be a pain to un-tangle.
Para cord comes in different colours as well as types. Some typical colours available are black, white, digital camo, woodland camo, desert camo, dark Brown, neon Green, foliage Green, olive Green, tan or sand, electric blue, coyote Brown, orange, and neon yellow also now in glow in the dark.
When purchasing 550-parachute cord remember to make sure it is Government Issue or mil-spec. There are many different imitations of 550 cord on the market that claims to be paracord because of its similar apparel. Always check to make sure your getting the real-deal and not some cheaper style that try to pass off as 550 parachute cord.
550 parachute cord specifications:
Mil-spec or Government Issue 550-parachute cord is a kern mantle rope known as Mil-C-5040 Type III. It is approximately 1/8 inch in diameter and is rated for 550 lbs. The exterior sheath of the cord is braided from 32 strands that optimise strength, durability, and flexibility. Inside the sheath there is a core made up from seven or eight two-ply yarns.
The nylon yarn in the manufacture of the cord is bright, high-tenacity, light resistant and heat-resistant polyamide. It has a melting point of 244 degrees Celsius. The nylon cord looses no more than 15 percent of its original breaking strength after exposure to heat and light.
The outer woven nylon sheath of the 550 cord is rated at roughly 300 pounds; the 14 inner strings have a rating of approximately 17.5 pounds each. These 14 inner strings are woven tightly together in pairs making each of the 7 yarns have a rating of 35 pounds.
How to use 550 cord
Here are a few uses for both the inner strands of 550-parachute cord, and the 550 cord itself. Of course you are only limited by your imagination with what you can do with paracord, but here are some common uses of 550-parachute cord for you to think about. Remember to melt and crimp the ends of your 550 cord to prevent fraying, but be careful when burning nylon because melted nylon drips
Uses of Paracord (whole):
bootlaces
thread with beads for a pace counter
guy lines
handle making
knife/ hammer/ axe grips
shelter making
key flail
restraints
lanyards
survival bracelet
ridge linee for tarps/ bashers
improvised MOLLE fixing
binding
trail marking
spear making
para cord braiding
wrist band
anchor line
lashing things together
hat band
mag pull
trip wire
camouflage
hanging chair
rappelling (not recommended | rope ladder
net
whip
ghillie suit
camo netting and leaves a nasty burn on anything it touches.
raft making
dog lead
water bottle holder
improvised belt repairs
trap making
hammock
clothes line
tent divider
hangman's noose
tie downs
zipper pulls
splint |
550 parachute cord notes.
Despite paracord being so popular with military personal and civilians alike, it does have its drawbacks. Its lightweight makes it easy to carry, but makes it difficult to throw long distances, such as over a branch, or throwing a line to someone in the water. In these instances you will need some sort of weight on the end.
Planning on using paracord for rappelling? Don't! It is far too dangerous and should only ever be used in this way as a last resort. Paracord is far too thin and nowhere near strong enough for rappelling. The cord may take your weight, but if you slip even a small amount you will increase the strain on the cord and it will snap. It should only ever be used this way as a last resort in an emergency, as it is a very risky thing to do.
For rope with a greater strength rating you may need Kevlar, vectran, or vectra fibre polymer rope, these are extremely tough with a high tensile strength, but a lot heavier and less flexible than 550 cord. You will have to decide what cord/ rope you want based on your survival needs.
