4.6x30mm
1253236
221273905
2008-06-23T20:25:06Z
76.111.241.141
/* Development */
{{Infobox Firearm Cartridge
|name=4.6x30mm
|image=<!-- Commented out: [[Image:HK 46x30mm Ammunition.jpg|300px|{{deletable image-caption|1=Monday, 30 June 2008}}]] -->
|caption=The 4.6x30mm cartridge.
|origin={{flag|Germany}}
|type=Pistol
<!-- Service history -->
|service=
|used_by=
|wars=
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=
[[Heckler & Koch]]
|design_date=
|manufacturer=
|production_date=
|number=
|variants=
<!-- Specifications -->
|is_SI_specs=
|parent=
|case_type=Rimless, bottleneck
|bullet=.177
|neck=.200
|shoulder=.320
|base=
|rim_dia=.340
|rim_thick=
|case_length=1.420
|length=
|rifling=
|primer=
<!-- Ballistic performance -->
|is_SI_ballistics=
|bw1=24.7
|btype1=
|vel1=2378
|en1=312
|bw2=
|btype2=
|vel2=
|en2=420
|bw3=
|btype3=
|vel3=
|en3=
|bw4=
|btype4=
|vel4=
|en4=
|bw5=
|btype5=
|vel5=
|en5=
|test_barrel_length=
|balsrc= HKPro <ref name="hkpro">[http://www.hkpro.com/pdw.htm hkpro.com]</ref>
}}
The '''4.6x30mm''' cartridge is a type of ammunition used in the [[Heckler & Koch|H&K]] [[MP7]] [[Personal defense weapon|PDW]] and by the [[Heckler & Koch|H&K]] [[Heckler & Koch UCP|UCP]] pistol. It is designed to minimize weight and recoil while increasing penetration of body armor. It features a bottlenecked case and a pointed, steel-core, brass-jacketed bullet.
==Development==
The round was designed as a competitor to the [[5.7x28mm]] round developed by [[Fabrique Nationale]]. In head-to-head comparison of the two rounds, 4.6x30mm fired out of the MP7 is slower and offers slightly shorter range and reduced terminal ballistics than the 5.7x28mm fired out of the P90.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}{{Dubious|date=March 2008}} SS195LF, with a {{convert|28|gr|sing=on}} projectile, fired out of the P90 can achieve muzzle velocities of approximately {{convert|2500|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
==Performance==
The 4.6x30mm cartridge and the 5.7 x 28 have been criticized for having low terminal effectiveness. This claim comes especially from those who disagree with the "energy dump" theory of wound ballistics such as Dr. [[Martin Fackler]] and Dr. Gary Roberts. Kinetic energy manifests itself in human tissue in temporary stretching of tissue, which most tissue except for liver and neural tissue is able to withstand with little ill effect. Dr. Fackler and Dr. Roberts claim that the combination of permanent wound cavity and frequently insufficient penetration (the FBI recommends a minimum of {{convert|12|in|mm}} of penetration in ballistic gelatin) make these PDW cartridges terrible terminal performers. Slow motion videos show that the 4.6 mm bullet yaws at impact on soft tissue. This is because the mass centre of the bullet is behind the geometrical center causing the back to come forward at impact and therefore tumbling through soft tissue creating much larger damage [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crisat&search=Search].
Due to the lighter weight of the bullet one can carry more ammunition and therefore increasing the fire power. Also, due to the lighter weight of the bullet, aiming in rapid fire is much easier as recoil depends much on the weight of the bullet. And because of the lesser diameter penetration power to armor is much higher as the crisat test proves.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crisat&search=Search YouTube video]</ref>
The latest version ("Ultimate Combat") uses a 2g steel projectile at the same velocity, giving it a moderate edge in penetration over the 5.7x28mm cartridge. Terminal effectiveness is comparable to the 5.7 mm cartridge due to the increase in energy delivery.
==Comparison==
<!-- work in progres, convert comparison to a table
{| class="wikitable"
! Cartridge || Penetration<br> ballistic gelatin at 50 m<ref>Penetration test is 20 % [[ballistic gelatin]] block 300 mm long</ref> || Energy transfer<br>body armor at 50 m<ref>Energy transfer through body armor made of 1.6 mm [[titanium]] + 20 layers of [[Kevlar]]</ref> || Energy transfer<br>body armor at 100 m || Muzzle Energy
|-
| || - || - || -
|}
-->
* Penetration of a [[ballistic gelatin]] block at 50 m (20 % gelatin block 300 mm long) - '''280 mm (11 in)'''
* Energy transfer through [[body armor]] at 50 m (1.6 mm [[titanium]] + 20 layers of [[Kevlar]]) - '''220 J'''
* Energy transfer through body armor at 100 m (1.6 mm titanium + 20 layers of Kevlar) - '''115 J'''
The same tests were performed on the [[5.7x28mm]] round:
* Penetration of a ballistic gelatin block at 50 m (20 % gelatin block 300 mm long) - '''230 mm'''
* Energy transfer through body armor at 50 m (1.6 mm titanium + 20 layers of Kevlar) - '''180 J'''
* Energy transfer through body armor at 100 m (1.6 mm titanium + 20 layers of Kevlar) - '''65 J'''
<ref name="hkpro"/>
Muzzle Energies Compared:
Original 4.6 mm: 420 Joule, 310 ft·lbf (fired from MP7)
Standard 5.7 mm: 513 Joule, 379 ft·lbf (fired from P90)
2g Steel 4.6 mm: 525 Joule, 388 ft·lbf (fired from MP7)
==Weapons==
*[[Heckler & Koch MP7]]
*[[Heckler & Koch UCP]]
==See also==
*[[List of rifle cartridges]]
*[[6.5x25mm]]
*[[4 mm caliber]]
==References==
* "[http://www.stevespages.com/jpg/cd46x33hecklerandkoch.jpg 4.6x36mm Heckler & Koch cartridge dimensions]"
<references />
==External links==
*[http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg141-e.htm UCP overview on world.guns.ru]
*[http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg49-e.htm MP7 PDW overview on world.guns.ru]
*[http://www.hkpro.com/pdw.htm PDW and 4.6 ammo overview on hkpro.com]
[[Category:Pistol and rifle cartridges]]
[[de:4,6 × 30 mm]]
[[fr:4,6x30mm]]
[[no:4,6 x 30 mm]]