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Rifle cartridge From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 12.7×108mm cartridge is a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and anti-materiel rifle cartridge used by the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries, including Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and many others. It was invented in 1934 to create a cartridge like the German 13.2mm TuF anti-tank rifle round and the American .50 Browning Machine Gun round (12.7×99mm NATO).
12.7×108mm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Type | Heavy machine gun Anti-materiel rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of origin | Soviet Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Service history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In service | 1935–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Used by | Soviet Union and successor states | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wars | Winter War World War II Korean War Portuguese Colonial War Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Cambodian–Vietnamese War Six-Day War War of Attrition The Troubles Yom Kippur War Soviet–Afghan War Iran–Iraq War Gulf War Chechen War Iraq War War in Afghanistan Libyan Civil War Syrian Civil War Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Russo-Ukrainian War Israel-Hamas War | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bullet diameter | 12.98 mm (0.511 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Neck diameter | 13.95 mm (0.549 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Shoulder diameter | 18.90 mm (0.744 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Base diameter | 21.75 mm (0.856 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim diameter | 21.70 mm (0.854 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rim thickness | 1.90 mm (0.075 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case length | 108 mm (4.3 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Overall length | 147.50 mm (5.807 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Case capacity | 22.72 cm3 (350.6 gr H2O) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Primer type | Berdan | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum pressure | 360 MPa (52,000 psi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Test barrel length: 1000 mm |
It is used in the same roles as the NATO .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) cartridge. The two differ in bullet shape and weight, and the casing of the 12.7 × 108 mm is slightly longer, and its larger case capacity allows it to hold slightly more of a different type of powder. The 12.7 × 108 mm can be used to engage a wide variety of targets on the battlefield, and will destroy unarmored vehicles, penetrate lightly armored vehicles and damage external ancillary equipment (i.e.: searchlights, radar, transmitters, vision blocks, engine compartment covers) on heavily armored vehicles such as tanks.[1] It will also ignite gasoline and—since 2019—diesel fuel (experimental "Avers" AP/I round).[2][3]
The 12.7 × 108 mm has 22.72 ml (350 grains) H2O cartridge case capacity.
12.7 × 108 mm maximum cartridge dimensions.[citation needed] All sizes in millimeters (mm).
Americans define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 ≈ 18.16 degrees.
According to guidelines the 12.7 × 108 mm case can handle up to 360 MPa (52,213 psi) piezo pressure. In C.I.P. regulated countries every rifle cartridge combo has to be proofed at 125% of this maximum CIP pressure to certify for sale to consumers.
Note that some WW2 bullets share designations with ones for 14.5×114mm.
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