FN FiveseveN Forums - An Unconventional Sub-machine Gun

FN FiveseveN Forums - An Unconventional Sub-machine Gun: An Unconventional Sub-machine Gun

------------------


The radical 5.7mm FN P-90 sub-machine gun differs greatly from conventional sub-machine guns. The differences incorporated in the P-90 include: different magazine type, construction, layout, and feeding method; grip method; shell ejection; sighting method; and ammunition characteristics. At first glance, the most noticeable difference of the P-90 is the 50-round weather-resistant magazine, which lies horizontally on top of the gun. The bullets, which lie sideways in the magazine, are rotated ninety degrees at the magazine mouth before being fed into the barrel to be fired. Conventional sub-machine gun magazines are positioned vertically and protrude downwards several inches to nearly a foot, depending on the capacity of the particular weapon. This means that with conventional magazine layouts, one must choose either high capacity or maneuverability, whereas with the P-90's magazine layout, there is not a compromise. Conventional sub-machine gun magazines hold 30 rounds and protrude nearly a foot, but the P-90 magazine holds 50 rounds and does not protrude at all, and is surprisingly more reliable than other magazines. The P-90 is held by inserting the hands into thumb-holes at the front of the weapon; this makes it easier to fire with gloves, and because the firer's grip is at the front of the weapon and the magazine runs along nearly the entire weapon, the P-90's balance is optimal. Conventional sub-machine guns are gripped at the back of the weapon, and this makes them nearly impossible to hold with one hand, due to the majority of the weight being on the front end. The P-90's method of ejecting spent shells is also different. Whereas conventional sub-machine guns eject shells sharply outward through a port on the side of the weapon, the P-90 drops spent shells downwards through a port in the center of the weapon on the underside. Another way in which the P-90 contrasts with other guns is the sighting method; conventional sub-machine guns are sighted with iron sights, but the P-90 is sighted with a fog-resistant optical sight that illuminates in areas with poor lighting. The P-90 has very little recoil, enhancing accuracy and making it comfortable to fire fully automatic. Another benefit of the 5.7mm ammunition of the P-90, besides the absence of recoil and the ability to store an extremely large amount of bullets, is its ability to penetrate 48 layers of Kevlar-material body armor from a distance of 200 meters, and the average Kevlar vest contains 20 layers of material. The 9mm FMJ round, used in nearly all other sub-machine guns, will not penetrate even light Kevlar vests at close range. The differences incorporated in the P-90 can only be considered to be improvements, and make the P-90 a very formidable sub-machine gun.




--Written by DML, 29/09/04