5.8 x 42 mm DBP87
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| 5.8 x 42 mm | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | |
| Place of origin | China | |
| Service history | ||
| Used by | China | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Chinese Military | |
| Designed | 1979-1987 | |
| Produced | 1987-Present | |
| Variants | 5.8x42mm heavy round | |
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | None | |
| Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |
| Case length | 42.2 mm (1.66 in) | |
| Overall length | 58 mm (2.3 in) | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 64 gr (4.1 g) FMJ | 930 m/s (3,100 ft/s) | 1,800 J (1,300 ft·lbf) |
| Source: Anthony Williams [1] | ||
The 5.8 x 42 mm/ DBP87 ("Dan(弹) BuQiang(步枪) PuTong(普通),1987"), means standard rifle cartridge) rifle cartridge, was developed by the Chinese. There is limited official information about this cartridge, while the Chinese claim this round is superior to 5.56 x 45 mm NATO and the 5.45 x 39 mm M74 Soviet cartridge as used in AK-74. Another variant called 5.8 X 42mm “heavy round” was specially designed for the squad automatic weapons and sniper rifles. The 5.8 X 42mm “heavy round”has exactly the same size as the standard 5.8mm cartridge, but has a longer streamlined bullet with a steel core for longer range and better penetration.
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[edit] History
China started development of the 5.8 x 42 mm/ DBP87 in 1979, and finished in 1987, so it is called as DBP87. The 5.8 x 42 mm/ DBP87 was designed to replace the 7.62x39 cartridge used by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The Type 95/ QBZ-95 (Chinese: 轻武器,步枪,自动, 1995; Pinyin: Qīng Bùqiāng--Zìdòng, 1995; literally "Small weapon, Rifle, Automatic, 1995") 5.8mm caliber assault rifle, firing the 5.8 x 42 mm/ DBP87, is now the standard issue weapon in the PLA.
[edit] Performance
The 5.8 x 42 mm/ DBP87 cartridge has a muzzle velocity of 930 m/s from a standard barrel (Type 95/QBZ-95, 463mm barrel length), with a bullet weighing 4.26 grams. The 5.8 X 42mm “heavy round” cartridge has a muzzle velocity of 970 m/s from the Type 95 LSW/Type 95 SAW/ QBB-95 (557mm barrel length) and 895m/s from the Type 88/QBU-88 (620mm barrel length). It has an effective range of 800m and can penetrate 3mm steel plate at a distance of 1,000m.[citation needed] It is reported to have very good accuracy at 600 meters.[2]
The Chinese claim that the 5.8 x 42 mm/DBP87 has better penetration than the 5.56 x 45 mm NATO and the 5.45 x 39 mm M74. However, unlike the other two cartridges, the 5.8 x 42 mm/ DBP87 is not likely to yaw and then fragment after impact into soft tissue, giving it less stopping power.[2]
[edit] Use
- Chinese Type 87 / QBZ-87 Assault rifle
- Chinese Type 95 / QBZ-95 Assault rifle
- Chinese Type 95 LSW / Type 95 SAW/ QBB-95 Light support weapon / Squad automatic weapon [2]
- Chinese Type 95B / QBZ-95B Carbine
- Chinese Type 88 / QBU-88 Sniper rifle
- Chinese Type 03 / QBZ-03 Assault rifle
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "ASSAULT RIFLES AND THEIR AMMUNITION: HISTORY AND PROSPECTS" by Anthony G Williams
- ^ a b c "China's New 5.8x42mm Weapons Complex" by David M. Fortier, 2003
