Not for Boa Constrictor. Foreign cartridge 9×21
Abroad, the 9×21 cartridge is widespread mainly in countries where the use of the standard 9×19 (9 mm Luger) cartridge is legally prohibited in the civilian sector and, due to its size, allows the design of pistols designed to use the 9 mm Luger cartridge to be redesigned for it. The 9x21 cartridge, also called 9x21 mm IMI, was developed in the mid-1980s by Israel Military Industries. The reason for this initiative was that in some countries in the civilian sector the use of weapons chambered for the standard 9 mm Luger cartridge, which is in service with the armies of a number of countries, is legally prohibited. For example, this ban applies in Italy.
Error excluded On the one hand, the new cartridge was intended to replace the 9 mm Luger ammunition, popular throughout the world. On the other hand, the designers sought to ensure that its use would entail minimal modifications to weapons chambered for the 9 mm Luger cartridge. The 9x21 case is a 9 mm Luger cartridge case increased in length by 2 mm (from 19.15 mm to 21.15 mm). Moreover, the bottom was copied completely. The thickness of the case flange (R1) complies with the standards of the International Commission for the Testing of Handguns (Commission internationale permanente pour l'épreuve des armes à feu portatives - CIP) and for both cases is 9.96 mm.
Dimensions of the 9x21 cartridge from Geco
Due to the fact that, as a rule, when using wafer cartridges, their fixation is carried out by focusing the cut of the cartridge case neck into the ledge of the chamber, the 9x21 cartridge cannot be locked in the chamber for 9 mm Luger ammunition, since the latter is 2 mm shorter. In turn, the 9 mm Luger cartridge can be chambered for 9x21 ammunition, but it will go too deep into it, which will cause misfires due to the presence of a gap between the primer and the firing pin. Thus, we can say that with the advent of the 9×21 cartridge, a compromise solution was found related to the implementation of legislative acts of a number of countries on the withdrawal of 9 mm Luger ammunition from the civilian sector.
No big extra costs
From the point of view of manufacturers, when using the 9x21 cartridge, upgrading a weapon for 9 mm Luger ammunition should entail as little additional costs as possible. This was achieved by increasing the length of the sleeve as little as possible. In accordance with the tables of cartridge and chamber sizes of the International Commission for the Testing of Handguns, the length of the cartridge (L6) 9 mm Luger is 29.69 mm, while for the 9x21 ammunition it does not exceed 29.75 mm, that is, the difference in length is only 0.06 mm. Therefore, theoretically, the 9x21 cartridge can be used in almost all types of weapons (mainly pistols) chambered for 9 mm Luger ammunition.
Beretta 98 Fusion pistol caliber 9x21
In addition, in accordance with the standard of the International Commission for the Testing of Handguns, the maximum permissible pressure of powder gases for both cartridges is identical and amounts to 2350 bar. Thus, weapons chambered for 9 mm Luger and 9×21 cartridges have almost the same dimensions, and their mechanisms and components are subject to similar loads. Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that it is absolutely easy for manufacturers to convert weapons originally designed for use with 9 mm Luger ammunition for the 9×21 cartridge. The upgraded weapon can be supplied to countries where the use of the 9 mm Luger cartridge in the civilian sector is prohibited by law. Of course, in Western Europe, Italian gunsmiths are primarily interested in these innovations, and among them, the Beretta company is most interested. For example, the Beretta 92 model range chambered for the 9 mm Luger cartridge in the domestic market is adapted for 9x21 ammunition and, accordingly, is designated Beretta 98.
Same applications
Based on the above characteristics, the areas of application of the 9x21 cartridge coincide with the 9 mm Luger ammunition and range from sports shooting to self-defense. Also, the 9x21 cartridge can be used in hunting to finish off wounded animals in countries where this is allowed to be done with pistols.
Pistol CZ P-09 caliber 9x21
The athletes of the International Practical Shooting Confederation also paid attention to the 9×21 cartridge. They hope to improve their performance by betting that the 9x21 round is longer than the 9mm Luger. This has led to the fact that, at least when loaded with heavy bullets, its powder charge does not exceed the volume of serial 9 mm Luger ammunition. A slight increase in the volume of the powder charge can be achieved by equipping the cartridge case with light bullets. However, one should not forget about the maximum permissible value of powder gas pressure. In practice, when holding competitions by the International Practical Shooting Confederation, the 9×21 cartridge is not superior to the 9 mm Luger cartridge and is distributed only in those countries where the use of 9 mm Luger ammunition in the civilian sector is prohibited by law.
9x21 cartridges from PPU
And this is not surprising, since the ballistic characteristics of serial 9x21 and 9 mm Luger cartridges of the same equipment are similar. For example, according to RUAG, when fired from a pistol with a barrel length of 150 mm with a Geco 9×21 cartridge, equipped with a full-jacket bullet with a rounded head weighing 124 grams (8 g), its initial speed is 360 m/s. When firing from a pistol with a barrel length of 125 mm with a 9 mm Luger cartridge equipped with the same bullet, its initial speed is also 360 m/s. In this case, the muzzle energy of the bullet is 521 J.
9x21 cartridges from Geco
Basically, 9x21 cartridges of various equipment are mass-produced by the Italian company Fiocchi. Its production program includes all possible alternative loads to the 9 mm Luger cartridge. 9x21 ammunition is also present in the RUAG product range. These are two variants of equipment from the Geco line: the aforementioned full-jacketed bullet weighing 124 g, as well as a semi-jacketed bullet (copper jacket) with a round head weighing 124 g (8 g). Magtech produces one option for loading the 9x21 cartridge - a full-jacketed bullet weighing 124 grams (8 g), and the Serbian company PPU produces two options: full-jacket and lead bullets weighing 124 grams (8 g).
9x21 cartridges from Magtech
Hassle-free ammunition loading
Compared to the 9 mm Luger cartridge, no characteristic problems were noted when loading 9×21 cartridges. The author used a machine from the RCBS company, which consists of three carbide dies and is universal for loading 9 mm Luger, 9x21 and 9x23 cartridges. You will also need a #16 RCBS case holder. For those who plan to use their own ammunition from the very beginning, it is recommended to use factory unprimed cases from Fiocchi, PPU and Starline. There is a large selection of 9.02 mm (.355") bullets on the market that are used in the popular 9 mm Luger cartridge. The weight of the bullets ranges from 90 g (5.8 g) to 154 g (10.0 g). When equipped with bullets weighing more than 140 grams (9.1 g), only bullets with a flat head are used, which is due to the need to maintain the overall length of the cartridge with a sufficient volume of powder charge. The bullet weight of a standard 9x21 cartridge is 124 gr (8 g).
The gunpowder used for the 9x19 cartridge is suitable for loading the 9x21 cartridge.
To form the propellant charge, gunpowder used to equip 9 mm Luger ammunition is used. A simple transfer of the loading characteristics of the 9 mm Luger cartridge to the 9×21 ammunition is impossible due to the discrepancy in the length of their cartridge cases and the different position of the bullet with the same overall length of the cartridge. When loading 9x21 cartridges, the author used Rottweil P804 and Vihtavuori 3N37 gunpowder, which have proven themselves in 9 mm Luger ammunition. To reliably ignite the powder charge, it is enough to install a standard “small pistol” primer. Here the author also used proven CCI 500 capsules. Since we chose 9x21 cartridges of our own equipment, for testing them the editors of DWJ magazine made an exception and opted for a little-known weapon - the Top Gun semi-automatic pistol, which the Italian manufacturer Delta AR srl launched in mass production in the late 1990s. This model is currently no longer available.
Italian Top Gun 9x21 pistol, used in the editorial test of 9x21 cartridges
The Top Gun pistol has a frame made of a high-strength light metal alloy. Its characteristic feature is the trigger guard curved at the lower front part. However, the peculiarity of the Top Gun model lies in its bolt with an original design of the locking system. This is a roller shutter in which the locking is carried out using two rollers included in the counter grooves on the inside of the shutter. This design was first used in the Czech Model 52 service pistol and has been known since the 1950s.
conclusions
Despite the fact that the 9x21 ammunition case is 2 mm longer than the 9 mm Luger cartridge, their ballistic characteristics are almost identical. This is explained by the fact that, according to the size tables of cartridges and PMK chambers, both cartridges have approximately the same overall length. Thus, when equipped with similar bullets, the 9x21 cartridge case does not provide a significant increase in the volume of the powder charge, which is most clearly manifested when using heavy bullets. When loaded with shorter, lighter bullets, the 9x21 case offers a slight advantage. In general, the use of the 9x21 cartridge makes sense only in those countries where the use of 9 mm Luger ammunition in the civilian sector is prohibited by law, such as in Italy. Therefore, many manufacturers of weapons chambered for 9 mm Luger alternatively produce similar modernized models for 9x21 ammunition.
Hans J. Heigel, translation by Victor Nazarov
Special pistol cartridges of 9x21 mm caliber. Launch into series
The nine-millimeter caliber self-loading pistol “Boa Constrictor” is assembled entirely from Russian components. The interdepartmental commission deciding on the approval of the Boa pistol for mass production completed its work, and the pistol received the letter “O1”. Its magazine capacity is 18 rounds - ten more than the Makarov pistol.
“Boa constrictor” pistols chambered for 9x21 mm caliber by TsNIITOCHMASH JSC/ Photo: armory-online.ru
The first of the developments is a cartridge with increased penetration, capable of penetrating body armor of the second protection class, including fabric, at a significantly greater range than its analogues. The new ammunition also provides high lethality and is one of the most powerful nine-millimeter calibers in the world.
The second new product is a cartridge with a reduced bullet speed. An innovative feature of the bullet design of the created cartridge was the cutting edge on the front end of the core, formed by two flat edges, and increased mass. This together made it possible to maintain the kinetic energy of the bullet at a level sufficient to penetrate body armor of the second class of protection. At the same time, the bullet speed of the new cartridge is significantly lower than that of the prototypes, which makes it possible to ensure the lowest possible sound level of the shot and flamelessness.
To fire from the "Boa" you can use all types of ammunition of 9 by 21 millimeter caliber - with a regular bullet, tracer, armor-piercing, increased stopping power, with reduced penetration, increased penetration and with subsonic bullet speed.
The Boa constrictor pistol is recognized as Russian know-how. Experts noted two significant differences in the pistol.
The first difference is the design features of the barrel, which guarantee the impossibility of moving the bolt back and completely eliminate the movement of the trigger rod and the rotation of the trigger associated with the rod in the “locked” position. The second difference lies in the frame, made in the form of a U-shaped stamped structure.
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Tags: Small arms 9x21 caliber cartridge Submachine gun Russia Rostec Boa constrictor
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