9×39mm

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9×39mm
9×39mm SP-6 (7N9) cartridges with blue-tip armor-piercing bullets
Type	Rifle, subsonic
Place of origin	Soviet Union
Production history
Designed	Began in 1940s, finished in 1980s
Specifications
Parent case	7.62×39mm
Case type	Rimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter	SP-5: 9.25 mm (0.364 in) SP-6: 9.26 mm (0.365 in)
Neck diameter	9.98 mm (0.393 in)
Shoulder diameter	10.36 mm (0.408 in)
Base diameter	11.35 mm (0.447 in)
Rim diameter	11.35 mm (0.447 in)
Rim thickness	1.50 mm (0.059 in)
Case length	SP-5: 38.76 mm (1.526 in) SP-6: 38.78 mm (1.527 in)
Overall length	56 mm (2.2 in)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 16.1 g (248 gr) SP5 290 m/s (950 ft/s) 677 J (499 ft⋅lbf) 18.0 g (278 gr) Wolf FMJ 327 m/s (1,073 ft/s) 964 J (711 ft⋅lbf) 16.2 g (250 gr) SP6 305 m/s (1,000 ft/s) 754 J (556 ft⋅lbf)
Test barrel length: 270 mm (10.5 in) Source(s): Russian military data, RifleShooter Magazine [1]

The 9×39mm is a Soviet rifle cartridge.^[2]

History and design[]

It is based on the Soviet 7.62×39mm round, but with the neck expanded to fit a 9.3mm bullet. Final design was completed by N. Zabelin, L. Dvoryaninova and Y. Frolov of the TsNIITochMash in the 1980s. The intent was to create a subsonic cartridge for suppressed firearms that had more power, range and penetration than 7.62 US subsonic round used in AKM type rifles at the time. The commercial Wolf Ammunition bullet weighs 276 grain, or 18 grams, a little more than double that of the normal 123 gr 7.62×39 mm round, and has only subsonic muzzle velocity. This reduced velocity does not produce a sonic boom, but also limits the muzzle energy and effective range of a weapon when compared to high velocity rounds normally used in (non-suppressed) rifles. The round has an optimistic effective lethal range of 400 to 530 meters and a maximum penetration of up to 10 mm of steel. Like the 5.45×39mm cartridge, 9×39mm SP-5 features an airpocket in the tip, which increases its tendency to yaw or "keyhole" upon impact, thus increasing soft tissue damage in human targets. The armor-piercing SP-6 cartridge is more effective against light armored, vehicle, or light barrier targets.^{[citation needed]}

Variants[]

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SP-5 (7N8) – The SP-5 (СП-5) (SP: Spetsialnyj Patron; "special cartridge") was developed by Nikolai Zabelin. It is a conventional lead core FMJ bullet, developed for accuracy.

SP-5UZ – The SP-5UZ (СП5-УЗ) is an SP-5 variant with an increased charge intended for a factory-specific strength testing of the weapons.

SP-6 (7N9) – The SP-6 (СП-6) was developed by Yuri Frolov. It has a hardened metal armor-piercing core. It can penetrate 2 mm (0.079 in) of steel at 500 meters or 6 mm (0.24 in) of steel, 2.8 mm (0.11 in) of titanium or 30 layers of Kevlar at 200 meters. At 100 meters it can penetrate 8 mm (0.31 in) of steel or GOST 3 rated body armor, while retaining enough power to inflict damage to a soft target behind it.^[3][4]

SP-6UCh – The SP-6Uch (СП-6Уч) is an SP-6 variant intended for training.

PAB-9 (7N12) – The SP-6's bullet is expensive to manufacture, so an attempt was made to make a lower-cost version of the cartridge. The PAB-9 (ПАБ-9) used a stamped rather than machined steel core. It sacrificed too much performance to be usable. As of 2011, its usage by Russian troops is prohibited.^[3]

SPP – The SPP (СПП) (SPP: Snaiperskiy, Povishennaya Probivaemost; "sniper – increased penetration") is a sniper round with increased penetration.

BP – The BP (БП) (BP: Broneboinaya Pulya; "armor-piercing bullet") is an armor-piercing round. Three modernizations of PAB-9 were created under the designation of BP to remedy its unusable performance.

Weapons[]

• 9A-91
• AK-9
• AS "Val"
• OTs-12 "Tiss"
• OTs-14-4A "Groza"
• SR-3, SR-3M "Vikhr"
• VSK-94
• VSS "Vintorez"
• AMB-17
• VSSM Vintorez

See also[]

• .300 Whisper
• 300 AAC Blackout (7.62×35mm)
• 12.7×55mm STs-130

References[]

Bibliography[]

• Jane's Infantry Weapons 1997–98^[1]

External links[]

Cartridges

• photo of cartridges
• photo of cartridges
• photo of bullets
• Modern Firearms - Special purpose small arms ammunition of USSR and Russia
• 9×39mm special cartridges