9 x 39 mm
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 9 x 39 mm cartridge is a subsonic rifle round used in Russian firearms. It was based on the 7.62 x 39 cartridge, but with the neck opened up to accommodate a 9 mm bullet. The intent was to create a cartridge suitable for snipers. The bullet is heavy, approximately 16 grams, double that of the 7.62x39, and is subsonic, avoiding the sound of a sonic boom. However, the low velocity limits the effective range.
There are 3 versions of the 9 x 39 mm cartridge: the SP-5, the SP-6, and the PAB-9. The SP-5 was developed by Nikolai Zabelin. It is a conventional lead bullet, but developed for accuracy. The SP-6 was developed by Yuri Folov. It has a dense metal core, designed to be armor piercing. It can penetrate 2 mm of steel at 500 meters or 6 mm of steel, 1.2 mm of titanium, or 30 layers of Kevlar at 200 meters. The SP-6 bullet is expensive, so an attempt was made to make a lower-cost version, the PAB-9, but it sacrificed too much performance to be usable.
The weapons that use the 9 x 39 mm cartridge include the AS Val assault rifle, the VSS Vintorez sniper rifle, the SR-3 Vikhr assault rifle, the VSK-94 sniper rifle, the 9A-91 assault rifle, and the OC-14 Groza assault rifle.
[edit] References
- Jane's Infantry Weapons 1997-98, 23rd edition, Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 458. ISBN 0-7106-1548-5.
[edit] External links
Modern Firearms - Special Purpose Cartridges of USSR and Russia
 |
This Russian military article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
