Where Next For PDWs

Where Next For PDWs: "Where Next For PDWs?

© Anthony G Williams

This is an edited version of an article which first appeared in Jane's Defence Weekly on 15th February 2006"

THE SEARCH FOR HIGH VELOCITY

THE SEARCH FOR HIGH VELOCITY
THE SEARCH FOR HIGH VELOCITY
© Anthony G Williams
This is an amended version of an article which originally appeared in Guns Review International in instalments between May and September 1996
Since the introduction of smokeless ammunition powders and the high muzzle velocities which they made possible, there has been a constant search for improved ballistic performance for both civilian and military purposes. However, these searches have had different objectives which have led to different outcomes.

THE SEARCH FOR HIGH VELOCITY

THE SEARCH FOR HIGH VELOCITY

A

A 'PRIMER' ON CARTRIDGES


© Anthony G Williams

with thanks to Nelson H. Lawry for comments

Adapted from 'Rapid Fire: the Development of Automatic Cannon, Heavy Machine Guns and their Ammunition for Armies Navies and Air Forces', with additional information from 'Assault Rifle: the Development of the Military Rifle and its Ammunition since World War 2' .

The purpose of this article is to answer some of the questions which are always asked by people as they become interested in cartridges and want to learn about them. It consists of a basic guide to cartridges including their design, naming conventions and projectile types. The emphasis is on military cartridges, but some civilian terms and examples are included.

Having absorbed this article, the next stage should be to read the ones on Basic Ballistics and The Search for High Velocity. Many of the larger cartridges are illustrated in the Ammunition Photo Gallery and data are provided in the Ammunition Data Tables. Other terms which you don't recognise may be identified from the Glossary. All of these are on this website.

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ASSAULT RIFLES AND THEIR AMMUNITION:

ASSAULT RIFLES AND THEIR AMMUNITION:

ASSAULT RIFLES AND THEIR AMMUNITION:
HISTORY AND PROSPECTS
Revised 21/10/2006

© Anthony G Williams

Introduction
First, I need to define what I mean by an "assault rifle", as there are various definitions around. The one I use is:
"A military rifle, capable of controlled, fully-automatic fire from the shoulder, with an effective range of at least 300 metres".
This has some clear implications for the ammunition such weapons are chambered for. First, it excludes all weapons designed around pistol cartridges (i.e. sub-machine guns - SMGs) as they only generate around 500 joules muzzle energy and cannot meet the range requirement. Second, it excludes the traditional "full power" military rifle/MG cartridges such as the .303", the .30-06, the 7.92x57 and the 7.62x51 NATO (typically firing 10-12g bullets at 750-850 m/s, and developing around 3,000-4,000 joules), as these are so powerful that their recoil is uncontrollable in fully-automatic fire from the shoulder. Assault rifles therefore need to be designed around a cartridge intermediate in power between pistol and full-power rifle rounds; in practice, approximately in the 1,250-2,500j range depending on the calibre.
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Assault Rifle Ammunition Overview

Assault Rifle Ammunition Overview: "APFSDS"

Assault Rifles and Their Ammunition: History and Prospects

January 11, 2004

By Anthony G. Williams, author of “Cannon, Machine Guns, and Ammunition: A Website for Military Gun and Ammunition Enthusiasts,” (www.quarry.nildram.co.uk). Mr. Williams’ most recent book is called Assault Rifle. Reprinted by permission.

Introduction

First, I need to define what I mean by an “assault rifle,” as there are various definitions around. The one I use is: “A military rifle, capable of controlled, fully-automatic fire from the shoulder, with an effective range of at least 300 metres.”

This has some clear implications for the ammunition such weapons are chambered for. First, it excludes all weapons designed around pistol cartridges (i.e. sub-machine guns—SMGs) as they only generate around 500 joules muzzle energy and cannot meet the range requirement. Second, it excludes the traditional “full power” military rifle/MG cartridges such as the .303, the .30-06, the 7.92x57 and the 7.62x51 NATO (typically firing 10-12g bullets at 750-850 m/s, and developing around 3,000-4,000 joules), as these are so powerful that their recoil is uncontrollable in fully-automatic fire from the shoulder. Assault rifles therefore need to be designed around a cartridge intermediate in power between pistol and full-power rifle rounds; in practice, in the 1,250-2,500j range depending on the calibre.

...

Assault Rifle Ammunition History

Assault Rifle Ammunition History: "APFSDS"

Assault Rifles and Their Ammunition: History and Prospects

January 11, 2004

Anthony G. Williams, author of “Cannon, Machine Guns, and Ammunition: A Website for Military Gun and Ammunition Enthusiasts,” (www.quarry.nildram.co.uk). Reprinted by permission.

Introduction

First, I need to define what I mean by an “assault rifle,” as there are various definitions around. The one I use is: “A military rifle, capable of controlled, fully-automatic fire from the shoulder, with an effective range of at least 300 metres.”

This has some clear implications for the ammunition such weapons are chambered for. First, it excludes all weapons designed around pistol cartridges (i.e. sub-machine guns—SMGs) as they only generate around 500 joules muzzle energy and cannot meet the range requirement. Second, it excludes the traditional “full power” military rifle/MG cartridges such as the .303, the .30-06, the 7.92x57 and the 7.62x51 NATO (typically firing 10-12g bullets at 750-850 m/s, and developing around 3,000-4,000 joules), as these are so powerful that their recoil is uncontrollable in fully-automatic fire from the shoulder. Assault rifles therefore need to be designed around a cartridge intermediate in power between pistol and full-power rifle rounds; in practice, in the 1,250-2,500j range depending on the calibre.


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THE SEARCH FOR HIGH VELOCITY

THE SEARCH FOR HIGH VELOCITY: "SLAP"

THE SEARCH FOR HIGH VELOCITY

© Anthony G Williams

This is an amended version of an article which originally appeared in Guns Review International in instalments between May and September 1996

Since the introduction of smokeless ammunition powders and the high muzzle velocities which they made possible, there has been a constant search for improved ballistic performance for both civilian and military purposes. However, these searches have had different objectives which have led to different outcomes.

...

ASSAULT RIFLES AND THEIR AMMUNITION:

Lots of experiments over the years.

ASSAULT RIFLES AND THEIR AMMUNITION:

ASSAULT RIFLES AND THEIR AMMUNITION:
HISTORY AND PROSPECTS
Revised 21/10/2006

© Anthony G Williams

Introduction
First, I need to define what I mean by an "assault rifle", as there are various definitions around. The one I use is:
"A military rifle, capable of controlled, fully-automatic fire from the shoulder, with an effective range of at least 300 metres".
This has some clear implications for the ammunition such weapons are chambered for. First, it excludes all weapons designed around pistol cartridges (i.e. sub-machine guns - SMGs) as they only generate around 500 joules muzzle energy and cannot meet the range requirement. Second, it excludes the traditional "full power" military rifle/MG cartridges such as the .303", the .30-06, the 7.92x57 and the 7.62x51 NATO (typically firing 10-12g bullets at 750-850 m/s, and developing around 3,000-4,000 joules), as these are so powerful that their recoil is uncontrollable in fully-automatic fire from the shoulder. Assault rifles therefore need to be designed around a cartridge intermediate in power between pistol and full-power rifle rounds; in practice, approximately in the 1,250-2,500j range depending on the calibre.

...