Monday 25 May 2015

Soviet Explosive Ordnance - 7.62mm Projectiles (Part 1)

 

7.62mm Ammunition - x25 (Tokarev), x38R (Nagant), x54R

Here we have an extensive look at Russian Small Arms munitions.  Curiously, the manual omits any information pertaining to the 7.62x39.  Maybe they weren't able to acquire any?

7.62mm Revolver Cartridge "Nagant", Type R


This rimmed cartridge was introduced in the year 1895, along with the weapon in which it is used (the limited standard Soviet 7.62mm Nagant revolver M1895). 

 
The unique feature of the cartridge is that the case completely incloses the bullet.  This ammunition was never manufactured in the United States, although firms throughout Europe produced it at one time or another.  The degree of stricture given to the case mouth varies considerably in rounds of different manufacture.  This variation gives a different appearance to the rounds.

 
The bullet core is constructed of the same lead and antimony alloy which is used in rifle bullet cores.  The jacket is of steel, clad with gilding metal.  The bullet is flat-nosed, in order to produce a greater wounding effect.  The propellant consists of smokeless powder selected to obtain a velocity of 935 feet per second at a distance of 30 feet from the muzzle.

Characteristics
Caliber: 7.62 (Cal. .30)
Weight of cartridge: 12.8g (197 gr)
Weight of case: 4.83g (75 gr)
Weight of bullet: 7g (108 gr)
Weight of propellant: 0.89 (14 gr)
Length of cartridge: 38.5mm (1.51 in)
Length of case: 38.5mm (1.51 in)
Length of bullet: 16.5mm (0.65 in)

Packaging
 


These cartridges are usually arranged in groups of 14 witht he heads alternately in opposite directions, wrapped with paper and fastened with a string or tape.  In each zinc-coated, hermetically sealed container are placed 78 such packages, a total of 1,092 cartridges.

 
The wooden box, with two of the hermetically sealed metal containers, holds a total of 2,184 cartridges.  The ends of the wooden packing box are painted purple for identification.

7.62mm Pistol Cartridge, Type P


 
 
This standard Soviet military pistol and submachine gun cartridge is used in the 7.62mm TT pistol M1933 and in all Soviet submachine guns.  It is almost identical to, and is interchangeable with, the German 7.63mm Mauser automatic pistol cartridge.  The basic tactical function of this cartridge is short-range fire against personnel.

 
This cartridge became popular during World War 2 because of the ease with which troops could be taught to use and maintain submachine guns, and because of the factors which made it possible to mass-produce these weapons for large-scale issue.

 
The gilding-metal-clad, steel-jacketed bullet of this cartridge is staked to the rimless, bottle-necked case in three places.  The lead alloy core of the bullet is made from the same material as the core of the light bullet for rifles.

Characteristics
Caliber: 7.62mm (Cal. .30)
Weight of cartridge: 11.2g (170 gr)
Weight of case: 5g (76 gr)
Weight of bullet: 5.6g (86 gr)
Weight of propellant: 0.52g (8 gr)
Length of cartridge: 34.85mm (1.36 in)
Length of case: 24.6mm (0.97 in)
Length of bullet: 14mm (0.55 in)

Packaging


The 7.62mm pistol and submachine gun cartridges are packed 70 to a cardboard box or tar-paper package, with 16 cardboard boxes to a hermetically sealed galvanized-metal container.  Two of these metal containers are packed in a wooden packing box, making a total of 2,240 cartridges.  These wooden packing boxes also have been reported to contain 2,304 cartridges.

It is believed that the difference in the total number of cartridges packed in the wooden box may vary with the manufacturer or the type of packing.  The ends of the wooden packing boxes for this cartridge are believe to be painted black.

 
7.62mm Pistol Cartridge with Armor-Piercing Incendiary Bullet, Type P-41



This P-41 cartridge is identical in external appearance to the 7.62mm pistol cartridge Type P, except for the color markings.  The bullet has an armor-piercing core, however, as well as an incendiary composition inside the nose section of the jacket.  This cartridge possibly can be fire in the 7.62mm TT pistol M1933, but it was designed for use in the submachine guns, to be fire against fuel containers, motorcycles, and unarmored cars.

This cartridge has about the same effective range as the 7.62mm pistol cartridge Type P.  The identifiying feature of this cartridge is the red and black bullet tip.


Characteristics
Caliber: 7.62mm (Cal. .30)
Weight of cartridge: 10.3g (158 gr)
Weight of case: 5g (76 gr)
Weight of bullet: 4.83g (74 gr)
Weight of propellant: 0.54g (8 gr)
Length of cartridge: 34.85mm (1.36 in)
Length of case: 24.6mm (0.97 in)
Length of bullet: 14mm (0.55 in)

  

Packaging
 
 
 


These 7.62mm pistol and submachine gun cartridges are packed 70 to a cardboard box or tar-paper package, with 16 cardboard boxes to a hermetically sealed galvanized-metal container. Two of these metal containers are packed in a wooden packing box, making a total of 2,240 cartridges.  Since the  wooden packing boxes also have been reported to contain 2,304 cartridges, it is believed that the number of rounds per box may at times vary with the manufacturing plant.

 
A black and red stripe on the side of the box, along with the stenciled Russian marking П-41 (P-41) immediately following the caliber size, identifies this cartridge.
 
 


7.62mm Cartridge with Light Bullet M1908, Type L


 
This cartridge was primarily designed for the Soviet rifles and carbines, but may also be used in all Soviet machine guns of this caliber.  It is intended for antipersonnel effect.  The round would probably be more accurately described as the 7.62mm cartridge with light bullet M1908/30, Type L.

 
Prior to 1930 the jacket of the bullet for this cartridge was cupro-nickel; since that date, a steel jacket clad with gilding metal has been used.  The steel-jacketed bullet has a core constructed of a lead and antimony material, and an internal cone is formed in the core at the base of the bullet; this is to create more favorable conditions for obturation.  The cartridge cases are manufactured of either brass or steel, although steel cases seem to predominate.


 
Characteristics
Caliber: 7.62mm (Cal. .30)
Weight of cartridge: 24g (330 gr) [Approximate]
Weight of case (Brass): 9.5g (147 gr)
Weight of case (Steel): 8.7g (134 gr)
Weight of bullet: 9.6g (148 gr)
Weight of propellant: 3.1g (48 gr)
Length of cartridge: 76.8mm (3.02 in)
Length of case: 53.7mm (2.11 in)
Length of bullet: 28.6mm (1.12 in)

 
Packaging


 
This cartridge is often packed in 5-round clips for rifles, 3 such clips to a cardboard box, and 20 cardboard boxes to a galvanized-metal container.  The metal container is hermetically sealed and is marked with the cartridge information as shown in the above illustration.  Two metal containers are packed in a wooden box, making a total of 600 cartridges.

 
The wooden box is marked on the side with the Russian words В ОБОЙМАХ (in clips), in addition to the other cartridge information.  Cartridges also may be found wrapped in 10-round paper packages and packed 880 cartridges per wooden box, for machine guns.  The Russian letter Л (L), following the caliber size, identifies this cartridge.


7.62mm Dummy Cartridge


 
 
This round is used for checking the feeding operation and the general functioning of Soviet 7.62mm weapons.  It is used both in the factories and in military units. 

 
The construction of this cartridge is the same as that for the service cartridge, except that it does not contain a propellant.  A ballast is used to bring its weight up to that of the service cartridge.  The round is nickled plated for identification purposes.

Characteristics
 
Caliber: 7.62mm (Cal. .30)
Weight of cartridge: 24g (330 gr) [Approximate]
Weight of case (Brass): 9.5g (147 gr)
Weight of case (Steel): 8.7g (134 gr)
Weight of bullet: ?g (? gr)
Length of cartridge: 76.8mm (3.02 in)
Length of case: 53.7mm (2.11 in)
Length of bullet: ?mm (? in)

 
Packaging
 
 
No information is available.



7.62mm Blank Cartridge



The Soviet 7.62mm black cartridge is used in tactical exercises and for firing salutes.  This cartridge was also used to launch rifle grenades, specifically the VPG-S-41 rifle grenade.  However, there are no known standard rifle grenades in use by the Soviet Army at present.
 
 
Characteristics

Caliber: 7.62mm (Cal. .30)
Weight of cartridge: 10g (154 gr) [Approximate]
Weight of case (Brass): 9.5g (147 gr)
Weight of case (Steel): 8.7g (134 gr)
Weight of propellant: 0.5g (8 gr)
Length of cartridge: 54mm (2.10 in)
Length of case: 53mm (2.08 in)

Packaging

No information is available.


Next Time: More variants of the 7.62x54R cartridge


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