FBI HWFE

Handgun Wounding Factors and Effectiveness
Special Agent Urey W Patrick
Firearms Training Unit FBI Academeny
Quantico, Virginia
July 14, 1989

Wound Ballistics Review - Journal of the International Wound Ballistics Association

Wound Ballistics Review - Journal of the International Wound Ballistics Association: "Wound Profile of the 5.7x28mm FN Cartridge (SS 190) Fired from the FN P90 Submachine Gun
Dean B. Dahlstrom, RCMP Forensic Laboratory, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Kramer D. Powley, RCMP Forensic Laboratory, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Cst. Gordon, Pope, Regina Police Service, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada"

8070.wpd

8070.wpd


PROPOSED COMPULSORY SPECIFICATION
FOR THE PROOFING OF COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION

Bibliography of Cartridge and Ammunition Books

Bibliography of Cartridge and Ammunition Books

WHETHER THE SECOND AMENDMENT SECURES AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT

WHETHER THE SECOND AMENDMENT SECURES AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT

FN FiveseveN Forums - Archives (This is can be a more useful view)

FN FiveseveN Forums

DEATH BY MURDER

DEATH BY MURDER

Les pr ces d'une arme d'une nouvelle g ration (Very good read.)

Le P90
Les prémices d'une arme d'une nouvelle génération
Le P90 est un pistolet mitrailleur (PM) fabriqué par la FN qui est né dans la seconde
moitié des années ‘80. A cette époque, les études de marketing ainsi que les informations
recueillies au sein des Armées de différents pays montraient que celles-ci avaient retiré de
leur équipement les PM (Vigneron, UZI, Sten,…). Une seconde observation est que les
soldats de seconde ligne (comme les artilleurs, les logisticiens, les transmissions
notamment) composent environ 2/3 des effectifs d’une armée. Pour cette catégorie de
militaire, l’utilisation de l'arme personnelle n’est pas de premier ordre ; elle est plus
encombrante qu'utile et, malgré cela, ils doivent toujours se déplacer avec.

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.

...

Wound ballistic simulation:

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.
...

Personal Defence Weapons

Personal Defence Weapons: "sabot"

PDWs or Personal Defence Weapons have become very trendy in military circles. What is worrying is that they are mainly being brought for roles for which they are totally inappropriate. The "stopping power" of the rounds used in these weapons is in many cases being grossly exaggerated and they have often been marketed as superior for close combat.

The term "PDW" seems to have come into vogue around the mid-80s with the marketing of Heckler & Koch's MP5K-PDW, a version of the MP5K with a side-folding stock. The MP5K-PDW (or possibly the stockless MP5K) was worn by some helicopter crews in Grenada. With a 15 round magazine the weapon fitted a thigh holster and a pouch on the other leg could take five 30 round magazines or four 30 round mags and a suppressor.

Around 1996 the meaning of PDW changed. Within NATO there was perceived a need for a compact defensive weapon to arm personnel who didn't or couldn't carry a full-size rifle but needed something more powerful than 9x19mm. It was felt Artillery, Signals, Transport and many other troops that did not perform assault missions needed self protection when performing normal tasks without burden of heavy weapon.

Part of the specification that was to emerge in NATO Document AC/255-D/1177 (2nd Revise) was that it should be able to defeat CRISAT body armour at ranges of up to 200m. CRISAT was defined as a 1.6mm titanium plate backed by 20 layers of Kevlar. Light weight, low recoil and controllability were desirable. Since it was to be a "weapon of desperation" it was deemed acceptable for the PDW to use rounds other than NATO standard 9x19mm and 5.56x45mm.
I refer to this new batch of weapons as "new-breed PDWs", although Sven Ortman more descriptively calls them "Small Calibre High Velocity" or SCHV-PDW.

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.


...

Bullets for Beginners

Bullets for Beginners

Bullets for Beginners
Guns are generally classified according to use, size, and tradition. This varies among the military services. The basic distinction is between small arms and artillery. Any gun below a 20-millimeter bore size is generally classified as a small arm. An alternative term gaining increasing currency is "light arms," to include individual and light support weapons.

...

Snipers Paradise

Snipers Paradise: "SLAP"

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.

...

Google Search: l191 sb193

Google Search: l191 sb193

Modern Warfare: Firearms 101 - Small Arms Ammunition || kuro5hin.org

Modern Warfare: Firearms 101 - Small Arms Ammunition || kuro5hin.org: "5.7"

Types of Ammunition
The two main kinds of ammunition are are the cartridge, and the shell.

A cartridge consists of a bullet, a shell casing (sometimes referred to as a casing or a shell, but not to be too confused with the shell), a charge, and a percussion cap (also known as the primer cap). The percussion cap is inserted into the base of the shell, and then a carefully measured quantity of charge is poured into the shell. Finally, the bullet is inserted into the open end of the shell casing, which is crimped onto the bullet.

...

Two Notable New Military Small Arms - Trends in Small Arms and Light Weapons Development: Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Dimensions

Two Notable New Military Small Arms - Trends in Small Arms and Light Weapons Development: Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Dimensions

Two Notable New Military Small Arms
As mentioned previously, two newly developed small arms (together with their ammunition) appear to offer unique enhanced effectiveness and/or lethality. These are the H&K G11 (firing 4.73 x 33 mm caseless ammunition) and the FN P 90 (firing the small caliber 5.7 x 28 mm ammunition). These bullpup-design small arms have characteristics that warrant a more detailed examination of their capabilities.

...

FNP 90.56 The characteristics of the FN 5.7 x 28 mm P 90 personal defence weapon system make it more properly akin to a sub-machine gun than an assault rifle. The weapon is ultra-modern, easy to maintain, very light, and reliable. It can be equipped with a laser target designator as well as a wide variety of day and night sights. It has a standard integrated optical sight with no magnification. Like the G 11, its most significant characteristic is its ammunition. The development of this cartridge reflects NATO concerns that the 9 x 19 mm ball ammunition used in most handguns and sub-machine guns possesses insufficient power for the battlefield of the 21st century, where various types of body armour will be commonplace. Designed to provide (according to FN literature) substantially more lethality than the 9 mm round it is designed to replace, it also weighs less that 50 per cent of the latter round. Thus, like the G-11 caseless, a soldier can carry many more cartridges than before. It should be noted that the maximum effective range of this weapon is listed as 200 metres, less than the 300 to 600 metres of most assault rifles and the 1,000 metres of other rifles, but better than any pistol and most sub-machine guns. Of further significance is the fact that a pistol (the five-seven, with a twenty round magazine) has also been developed for the same round.

The SS190 5.7 mm round (it is actually the same bore size as the NATO 5.56 mm round but has a much shorter cartridge case – 28 mm versus 45 mm) is made in full metal jacket (ball), tracer, subsonic and blank forms. It is advertised as capable of creating a larger wound cavity in Fackler gelatin (5 cm by 30 cm) than either the 9 mm jacketed round ( 3 cm with over penetration) or the 9 mm hollow point (4 cm by 40 cm variable penetration).57 Because it transfers most of its energy to the target, it is less likely to exit a target and strike something else. In comparison with the 9 mm FMJ round, it is also advertised as being less susceptible to ricochet and, with a shorter range lethality, less susceptible to creating casualties beyond the range of the intended target. These characteristics make it particularly attractive to military special operations units and police tactical units. In addition, the 5.7 x 28 mm round fired from a P 90 can penetrate 48 plies of kelvar body armour at 200 metres. The characteristics of the round when fired from the five-seven pistol are equivalent but with relative shorter ranges.

The P 90 and its ammunition is in production only in Belgium58 and is believed to be in the inventory of Saudi Arabia's Special Forces, together with some Far Eastern states. Several police forces in Europe are also armed with the P 90. It is priced at approximately US $950, with the price of ammunition at about 30 cents a round. It should be noted that this small arm is being actively marketed for police forces and internal security force organizations. While it generally appears to meet new NATO specifications for a replacement round for the 9 mm, its adaptation is far from assured. This is due in large part to the fact that many states still use the 9 mm and the replacement of these weapons solely for the purpose of standardization would be an expensive proposition (again, a similar problem as regards the G 11, 4.73 mm caseless ammunition).

From a SALW control perspective the ammunition is a matter for some concern (particularly from the law enforcement perspective) due to its ability to penetrate police protective gear. From a civilian stand point, if the wound ballistics are indeed more devastating than other rounds, then there may be a likelihood of more fatalities. Whether or not in a case such as Rwanda or even the Balkans there would have been more fatalities if such ammunition was in wide use is difficult to determine. While it would not be too difficult to legally ban the ammunition and the firearms capable of chambering such a round to civilians,59 this does not mitigate its effect and potential misuse by government authorities – be they law enforcement officials or military units. The requirements of police forces and the need to penetrate body armour (whether military or that worn by criminals) presents a conundrum for those who believe the round could cause unnecessary wound effects and concomitant suffering.

...

56 Paul Tweedale, the Canadian FN Herstal representative provided much of the information contained herein and was forthright in answering all questions. The author was permitted to handle and fire both the P 90 and the Five-seven pistol. Additional views and collateral information on the P 90 were obtained from: Jane's Infantry Weapons, p. 88, and from http://www.remtek.com/arms/fn/p90/index.htm.

57 Note that the 9 mm hollow point would be banned under the "rules of war" but the 5.7 mm jacketed ammunition would not – even though the wound ballistics would appear to be potentially more traumatic. Thus, if all police forces adopted this round they would be in compliance with the international rules of war. At least one senior police force official believes that the wounding capacity of the round is insufficient.

58 The simplicity of the P 90 and the fact that its ammunition is essentially a 5.56 mm bullet in a different casing suggests that both could easily be manufactured in any country currently capable of producing SALW and ammunition. FN Herstal have noted that "the SS190 can be manufactured on existing production lines".

59 The ammunition is banned for civilian use under the Criminal Code of Canada as of December 1998.