The most important element of small arms is the cartridge. Despite the fact that modern weapons science has advanced significantly since the end of the last world war, changes in small arms systems have little affected the appearance of the legendary 9x19 Luger cartridge, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2012.
The origins of the cartridge
The world-famous Parabellum pistol had an ancestor, the pistol of the German gunsmith Hugo Borchard. It was called K-93. Its standard ammunition was a 7.65mm bottle-shaped round with a 9mm bore.
The gunsmiths considered the K-93 pistol successful. However, its manufacture was complex, expensive and material-intensive. His ammunition was expensive and difficult to manufacture. Borchard and the merchant Luger took steps to improve this pistol. In 1902 they created the legendary Parabellum. His cartridge was also converted: forincrease in power and reduce the cost of production, he cut off the "bottleneck".
The pistol cartridge became known as 9×19 PARA. The pistol and its ammunition were adopted by the German Navy in 1904. And in 1908, they armed the entire German army. Subsequently, Parabellum became so popular that many countries around the world, including Russia, began to buy it.
The start of a long journey
Initially, the Luger2 9x19 cartridge was loaded with 2 types of bullets: with a flat top and with a spherical top. In 1915, the production of bullets with a flat tip was stopped. There are more than a hundred different types and models of small arms that use the Luger 9x19 cartridge.
In 1917, the cartridge case and the bullet began to be coated with a special water-repellent varnish. Since that time, the standard 9×19mm cartridge has remained virtually unchanged.
Its high ballistic performance, as well as ease of production, which was tested by numerous wars of the 20th century, led to the fact that it became the most common in the world.
Weapon and cartridge "Luger" 9x19 ("Parabellum") are recognized as the best products of short-barreled weapons designed for self-defense in the 20th century. Shooting from a Luger or Parabellum pistol fixed the preservation of lethal forceat a distance of up to 100-120 meters. The greatest efficiency was achieved at a distance of up to 50 meters. At a distance of 10 m, a 9 × 19 mm cartridge bullet, when hit at an angle of 90 degrees, pierced a steel helmet. A pine board 150 mm thick was pierced through by a bullet 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 varieties of them. The Luger cartridge (DWM 480 D) with linear parameters 9 × 19 was designed for firing from the Parabellum carbine. The carbine had an elongated barrel and a wooden stock. The DWM 480 D had the same dimensions as the DWM-480 C pistol cartridge, but the gas pressure of the carbine cartridge was 20% higher. They were not allowed to be used in Luger pistols. These ammunition were distinguished by markings. Moreover, the carbine cartridge was with a blackened sleeve.
Global recognition
Since 1910, the Luger 9x19 cartridge has become widely distributed in European countries, including Russia. Before the First World War, the Minister of War, by his order, allowed Russian officers to purchase a Parabellum pistol at their own expense, to use it as a service weapon. He eventually replaced the Nagant revolver.
Ammunition specifications
Standard cartridge specifications:
- caliber 9 mm;
- muzzle velocity from 410 to 435 meters per second;
- lengthcartridge 29.7 mm;
- shells 19, 15 mm;
- loaded cartridge weight from 7.2 to 12.5 grams;
- bullet weighs between 5.8 and 10.2 grams.
Currently, the Luger 9×19 cartridge is produced by a lot of countries. Including they are made in the Russian Federation. In NATO countries, it is customary that "Parabellum" is called live ammunition, and the name "Luger" is assigned to ammunition intended for the civilian market.
Variants and modifications
The name 9x19mm PARA refers only to cartridge geometry. More than 2000 modifications of this type of ammunition are known. Cartridge cases are made in steel, brass, bimetallic and plastic versions. The bullet is also very diverse, including plastic. A standard bullet for general use has a jacketed lead core weighing 7.5 to 8 grams. Bimetal or steel sheath clad with tampak (bimetal plating, mainly containing copper).
Bullets chambered for 9×19 "Luger" are made in various shapes, as well as from a variety of materials. Ammunition is used to solve very unusual problems. So, 9×19 mm police bullets made in Finland are a lead bladder, empty inside. Having hit a person, the bullet is crushed, hitting the target with a painful shock, does not cause bodily harm.
There are also other modifications of 9×19 mm cartridges aimed at guaranteed hitting a live target. So, armor-piercing bullets, in which the core is hardened steel and it is made like a screw,not only pierce the bulletproof vest, but also screw into it, penetrating very deeply.
There are a lot of varieties of 9×19 cartridges in terms of their classification. Usually they are distinguished based on muzzle energy indicators.
In the European market, 450 joules is the standard reading. Cartridges of 550 joules and above are classified as strong, designed to equip military units. Cartridges with muzzle energy below 400 joules are weak ammunition, which is used by specials. tasks.
In the US market, 300-400 joules is considered the standard muzzle energy. These ammunition are designated 9×19 "Luger". The same cartridges that give energy above 450 joules are classified as special-purpose ammunition. Designate them 9×19 "Parabellum".
History of a patron in World War II
The 9x19 Luger cartridge was used by all warring countries in World War II.
Naturally, it was most actively used by Germany. He was the main cartridge of the MP-18, MP-28, MP-34, MP-35, MP-38, MP-40 submachine guns.
Experiencing a lack of lead at cartridge factories in Germany, they began to make an iron core, only sheathed with lead. The bullet had a black jacket. In wartime, they began to produce a jacketless version of the bullet, its color was dark gray. It was obtained by sintering iron powder at high temperatures into a solid material.
Germany also produced special 9x19 cartridges, namely:
- Beschusspatrone 08 - with an enhanced charge of gunpowder, and its power was 75% more.
- Kampfstoffpatrone 08 - the bullets were poisoned. SS units have been supplied with them since 1944. How much ammunition of this type was fired has not been established.
- Nahpatrone 08 - designed for silenced weapons. The powder charge was smaller, but the bullet differed from the standard weight in a big way.
- Pistolenpatrone 08 fur Tropen - This type is designed for use in tropical climates. He had a thermo-protective cartridge case mask in order to prevent the powder from heating up.
- Sprengpatrone 08 - an explosive cartridge, an azoimide ball was pressed into the bullet.
Luger cartridges in modern Russia
The cartridge 9×19 has found application in the modern Russian army. In March 2003, the armed forces and law enforcement agencies received new pistols to replace obsolete PMs:
- 9mm PY pistol (Yarygin pistol) chambered for 9×19.
- 9 mm pistol GSh-18 pistol (Gryazev and Shipunov). Designed for 9×19 pistol cartridge. Ammunition for a pistol of our own design.
Russian carbines
Russian manufacturers produce only one carbine chambered for 9x19 "Luger". It is called "Vepr-Luger", the factory GDP index is 132. This weapon is manufactured by the Vyatka plant "Hammer".
From the world famous carbine"Luger" domestic differs in almost everything. From the prototype, he inherited only the bolt box. There is no venting mechanism. The chamber is reloaded and assembled by a freely swinging bolt. The barrel length reaches 420 mm.
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 Ammunition Plant. These ammunition at a distance of 25 m have a transverse dispersion of 85 mm. The cartridge pressure is 2350 bar. Bullet weighing 9.4 g. Muzzle velocity 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.
