The most important element of small arms is the cartridge. Despite the fact that modern science in the field of armaments has made significant progress since the end of the last world war, changes in small arms systems have little affected the face of the legendary 9 × 19 Luger cartridge, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2012.
The origins of the cartridge
The world famous Parabellum pistol had an ancestor, a gunsmith's gun from Germany, Hugo Borchard. It was called K-93. Its standard ammunition was a 7.65 mm caliber bottle cartridge with a 9 mm cylinder diameter.
The gunsmiths considered the K-93 pistol to be successful. However, its manufacture was complicated, expensive and material-intensive. His ammunition was expensive and difficult to manufacture. Borchard and businessman Luger took action to improve this gun. In 1902 they created the legendary Parabellum. His cartridge was also converted: to increase power and reduce the cost of production, he cut off the “bottleneck”.
The cartridge for the pistol became known as 9 × 19 PARA. In service with the German Navy, the pistol and its ammunition were adopted in 1904. And in 1908 they armed the entire German army. Subsequently, "Parabellum" became so popular that it began to buy many countries around the world, including Russia.
The beginning of a long journey
The Luger2 9x19 cartridge was initially equipped with 2 types of bullets: with a flat top and a spherical top. The production of bullets with a flat tip was stopped in 1915. The variant with a bullet with a spherical tip was the most successful. It maintained the necessary and correct balance between the dimensions of the cartridge and the weapon under There are more than one hundred different types and models of small arms, where the 9x19 Luger cartridge is used.
In 1917, the sleeve and bullet began to be coated with a special water-repellent varnish. Since then, the standard 9 × 19 mm cartridge has remained virtually unchanged.
Its high ballistic performance, as well as ease of production, which was verified by numerous wars of the 20th century, made it the most widespread in the world.
Weapons and cartridge "Luger" 9x19 ("Parabellum") are recognized as the best products of short-barreled weapons intended for self-defense in the XX century. Shooting from a pistol "Luger" or "Parabellum" recorded the preservation of lethal force at a distance of 100-120 meters. The greatest efficiency was achieved at a distance of up to 50 meters. At a distance of 10 m, a cartridge bullet of 9 × 19 mm, when hit at an angle of 90 degrees, punched a steel helmet. A bullet pierced a pine board of 150 mm thick through and through at a distance of 50 meters. At this distance, the accuracy was about 50 mm.
In addition to the classic pistol cartridge, Germany produced several of their varieties. Possessing linear parameters 9 × 19 cartridge "Luger" (DWM 480 D) was designed to fire from a carbine "Parabellum". The carbine had an elongated barrel and a wooden butt. The DWM 480 D was the same size as the cartridge for DWM-480 C pistols, but the gas pressure of the cartridge for the carbine was 20% higher. Use them in pistols "Luger" was not allowed. These munitions were distinguished by markings. Moreover, the carbine cartridge was blackened with a sleeve.
World recognition
Since 1910, the Luger 9x19 cartridge has become widely distributed in European countries, including Russia. Before World War I, the Minister of War ordered Russian officers to purchase the Parabellum pistol at their own expense and use it as an official weapon. He replaced the Nagan revolver over time.
Ammunition characteristics
Standard cartridge features:
- caliber 9 millimeters;
- muzzle velocity from 410 to 435 meters per second;
- cartridge length 29.7 mm;
- sleeves 19.15 mm;
- the weight of the equipped cartridge from 7.2 to 12.5 grams;
- the bullet weighs from 5.8 to 10.2 grams.
Currently, a cartridge "Luger" 9 × 19 produce a lot of countries. Including make them in the Russian Federation. In the countries of NATO it is accepted that the "roundbell" is called live ammunition, and the name "Luger" is given to ammunition intended for the civilian market.
Options and Modifications
The name 9 × 19 mm PARA refers only to the geometry of the cartridge. More than 2000 modifications of ammunition of this type are known. Cartridge shells are made in steel, brass, bimetallic and plastic design. The bullet is also very diverse, including plastic. The standard bullet for general use has a lead core in a shell weighing from 7.5 to 8 grams. A bimetal or steel casing coated with a tampac (applying a bimetal coating, mainly with copper).
Bullets under the cartridge 9 × 19 "Luger" are made in various forms, as well as from a variety of materials. Ammunition is used to solve very unusual problems. So, police bullets made in Finland 9 × 19 mm are a lead bubble, empty inside. Once in a person, the bullet collapses, hitting the target with a pain shock, does not cause bodily harm.
There are other modifications of cartridges 9 × 19 mm, aimed at guaranteed defeat of a living target. So, armor-piercing bullets, in which the core is hardened steel and made as a screw, not only pierce the bulletproof vest, but also screw into it, penetrating very deeply.
There are a lot of types of cartridges 9 × 19 in terms of their classification. Usually they are distinguished based on muzzle energy indicators.
In the European market, a reading of 450 joules is considered standard. Cartridges of 550 joules and higher are classified as strong, designed to equip military units. Ammunition with a muzzle energy below 400 joules is a weak ammunition that specials decide. tasks.
In the US market, 300-400 joules are considered the standard for muzzle energy. These ammunition has the designation 9 × 19 "Luger". The same cartridges that give energy above 450 joules are classified as special-purpose ammunition. Designate them 9 × 19 "Parabellum".
The history of the cartridge in World War II
Cartridge 9x19 "Luger" in the Second World War was used by all the warring countries.
Naturally, it was most actively used by Germany. He was the main patron of the submachine guns MP-18, MP-28, MP-34, MP-35, MP-38, MP-40.
Lacking lead in cartridge factories in Germany, the core began to be made of iron, only coated with lead. The bullet had a black shell. In wartime, they began to produce a shellless version of the bullet, its color was dark gray. It was obtained by sintering iron powder at high temperatures into a solid material.
Germany produced special 9x19 cartridges, namely:
- Beschusspatrone 08 - with an increased charge of gunpowder, and its power was 75% more.
- Kampfstoffpatrone 08 - bullets were poisoned. They were supplied with units of the SS since 1944. How many ammunition of this type was released is not established.
- Nahpatrone 08 - designed for weapons with a silencer. The powder charge was less, however, the bullet differed from the standard weight in a larger direction.
- Pistolenpatrone 08 fur Tropen - This type is intended for use in tropical climates. He had a thermo-protective sleeve mask to prevent the heating of gunpowder.
- Sprengpatrone 08 - explosive cartridge, a ball of azoimide was pressed into the bullet.
Cartridges "Luger" in modern Russia
The 9 × 19 cartridge was also used in the modern Russian army. In March 2003, the armed forces and law enforcement agencies received new pistols instead of obsolete PM:
- 9-mm pistol PYA (Yarygin pistol) chambered for 9 × 19.
- 9 mm pistol GSh-18 pistol (Gryazev and Shipunova). Designed for 9 × 19 pistol cartridge. Ammunition for a pistol of its own design designers.
Russian carbines
Russian manufacturers produce only one carbine chambered for 9x19 Luger. It is called "Vepr-Luger", the factory GDP index is 132. The Vyatka factory "Hammer" makes these weapons.
From the world-famous rifle "Luger" domestic differs in almost everything. From the prototype, he inherited only the slide box. There is no gas vent mechanism. The chamber is recharged and is assembled by a freely swinging shutter. The barrel reaches 420 mm in length.
According to the technical data of the carbine, "Vepr-Luger" is intended for hunting at short distances. The main objects are small predators and rodents. The manufacturer recommends equipping the carbine with 9 × 19 Luger cartridges, which are manufactured at the Barnaul cartridge factory. For these munitions at a distance of 25 m, the lateral dispersion is 85 mm. The cartridge pressure is 2350 bar. Bullet weighing 9.4 g. The initial speed of 325 meters per second.
However, the Novosibirsk cartridge plant, which produces similar cartridges, offers a much smaller dispersion radius: only 32 mm at a distance of 25 m.