Engineering:9×39mm

From HandWiki

The 9×39mm is a Soviet rifle cartridge.[1] The cartridge yields increased performance in shorter barrels and effective subsonic performance.

History and design

The 9×39 is based on the Soviet 7.62×39mm case but with the neck expanded to fit a 9.2mm bullet. The final design was completed by N. Zabelin, L. Dvoryaninova, and Y. Frolov of the TsNIITochMash in the 1980s. The intent was to create a more stealthy cartridge for suppressed firearms used by Spetsnaz and other special troops that had more power, range, and penetration than 7.62 US subsonic rounds tested at the time.


Commercial Wolf and Tula brand Ammunition that was being imported into the United States was subsequently banned on September 7, 2021 by then president Joseph Biden as part of sanctions against Russia for poisoning of Alexei Navalny.[2]

While the 9×39 is very popular in several European countries, many of which had previously been under the control of the USSR, it was only introduced in the United States in late 2018.

Since there are many users in the U.S. that had adopted the 9×39 round prior to the import ban, were forced to reload their own ammunition. However, there are multiple companies worldwide who make 9.3mm (.366") Mauser bullets which are suitable for reloading in the 9×39, including Hornady, Barnes, Nosler, Prvi Partizan, Lapua, and others.

Roswell Manufacturing has developed, tested, and is shipping what they are calling the 9x39US, though it has slightly different specs than the original 9x39 Russian.[3]

During development, Roswell Manufacturing identified significant inconsistencies in existing 9x39mm ammunition and tooling specifications, with some tooling even mislabeled. As a result, Roswell opted for a combination of standards.[4]

Variants

Cartridge SP-5(7N8) SP-5UZ SP-6(7N9) SP-6UCh PAB-9 SPP BP(7N12)
Type Sniper Test (increased charge) Armor-piercing Training Armor-piercing Sniper (increased penetration) Armor-piercing
Bullet weight [g] Up to 16.8 About 16 Up to 17.3
Muzzle velocity [m/s] 280–320 280–290 280–305 280–320 280–310
Muzzle energy [J] 658–860 678–886
Maximum penetration Up to 8 mm of steel Up to 8 mm of steel[5]

SP-5 (7N8) – The SP-5 (СП-5) (SP: Spetsialnyj Patron; "special cartridge") was developed by Nikolai Zabelin. It is a conventional lead core FMJ bullet, developed for accuracy.

SP-5UZ – The SP-5UZ (СП5-УЗ) is an SP-5 variant with an increased charge intended for a factory-specific strength testing of the weapons.

SP-6 (7N9) – The SP-6 (СП-6) was developed by Yuri Frolov. It has a hardened metal armor-piercing core. It can penetrate 2 mm (0.079 in) of steel at 500 meters or 6 mm (0.24 in) of steel, 2.8 mm (0.11 in) of titanium or 30 layers of Kevlar at 200 meters. At 100 meters it can penetrate 8 mm (0.31 in) of steel or GOST 3 rated body armor, while retaining enough power to inflict damage to a soft target behind it.[5][6]

SP-6UCh – The SP-6Uch (СП-6Уч) is an SP-6 variant intended for training.

PAB-9 (7N12) – The SP-6's bullet is expensive to manufacture, so an attempt was made to make a lower-cost version of the cartridge. The PAB-9 (ПАБ-9) used a stamped rather than machined steel core. It sacrificed too much performance to be usable. As of 2011, its usage by Russian troops is prohibited.[5]

SPP – The SPP (СПП) (SPP: Snaiperskiy, Povishennaya Probivaemost; "sniper – increased penetration") is a sniper round with increased penetration.

BP – The BP (БП) (BP: Broneboinaya Pulya; "armor-piercing bullet") is an armor-piercing round. Three modernizations of PAB-9 were created under the designation of BP to remedy its unusable performance.

There is at least one civilian load of this cartridge based on the SP-6 design. It is used by civilian 9×39mm firearms such as the (touted) civilian variant of RSh-9, MTs-570.[7]

Weapons

See also

References

Bibliography

  • Jane's Infantry Weapons 1997–98 (23rd ed.). Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. 1997. p. 458. ISBN 0-7106-1548-5. 

Template:Intermediate cartridges Template:7.62×39derivatives