4.6×30mm
4.6x30mm, 5.7x28mm, .30 M1 Carbine.jpg
From left to right: 4.6×30mm (hollow point), 5.7×28mm, .30 Carbine.
TypePersonal defense weapon
Place of originGermany
Service history
In service2001–present
Used bySee Heckler & Koch MP7 Users
WarsAfghanistan War
Production history
ManufacturerHeckler & Koch
VariantsSee Variations
Specifications
Case typeRimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter4.65 mm (0.183 in)
Neck diameter5.31 mm (0.209 in)
Shoulder diameter7.75 mm (0.305 in)
Base diameter8.02 mm (0.316 in)
Rim diameter8.00 mm (0.315 in)
Rim thickness1.10 mm (0.043 in)
Case length30.50 mm (1.201 in)
Overall length38.50 mm (1.516 in)
Rifling twist160 mm (1 in 6.3 in)
Primer typeBoxer small rifle
Maximum pressure400.00 MPa (58,015 psi)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
1.7 g (26 gr) Copper-plated steel bullet AP ("combat steel") 725 m/s (2,380 ft/s) 447 J (330 ft⋅lbf)
2.0 g (31 gr) Copper-plated steel bullet AP (DM11, "ultimate combat") 720.0 m/s (2,362 ft/s) 518 J (382 ft⋅lbf)
2.0 g (31 gr) Copper-plated steel bullet AP (DM31) 680 m/s (2,200 ft/s) 462 J (341 ft⋅lbf)
2.7 g (42 gr) FMJ 600 m/s (2,000 ft/s) 486 J (358 ft⋅lbf)
2.0 g (31 gr) Copper-plated steel bullet AP (CPS Black Tip") 735 m/s (2,410 ft/s) 540 J (400 ft⋅lbf)
Test barrel length: 180 mm
Source(s): HK USA HK USA Modern Firearms, Pistol / SMG ammunation Heckler & Koch Products

The HK 4.6×30mm (designated as the 4,6 × 30 by the C.I.P.) cartridge is a type of ammunition primarily used in the Heckler & Koch MP7 Personal defense weapon (PDW). 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 4.6×30mm cartridge was introduced in 1999. It was designed as a competitor to FN Herstal's 5.7×28mm cartridge.

Overview

Compared to standard intermediate cartridges one can carry more 4.6×30mm ammunition due to the lighter weight and relative small dimensions of the cartridge. 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. CRISAT testing shows that because of the smaller diameter and high projectile velocity of the round, body armor penetration is higher than that of traditional handgun projectiles.

The 4.6×30mm cartridge has been claimed to have low terminal effectiveness, especially by those who disagree with the "energy dump" theory of wound ballistics, such as Martin Fackler.[ citation needed ] 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. Slow motion videos show that the 4.6 mm bullet yaws at impact on soft tissue. This is because the center of mass of the bullet is behind the geometric center, causing the back to come forward at impact, and therefore tumbling through soft tissue, creating much greater damage, according to the "energy dump" theory. However, due to bullet shape and mass, the percentage of transferred kinetic energy is relatively low when compared to other pistol cartridges, such as the 9x19mm.[ citation needed ]

A series of tests performed by NATO in the United Kingdom and France indicated that 5.7×28mm was the superior cartridge. The results of the NATO tests were analyzed by a group of experts from France, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and the group's conclusion was that the 5.7×28mm was "undoubtedly" the more efficient cartridge.

Among other points, the NATO group cited superior effectiveness (27% greater) for the 5.7×28mm against unprotected targets and equal effectiveness against protected targets. It also cited less sensitivity to extreme temperatures for the 5.7×28mm and cited a greater potential risk of barrel erosion with the 4.6×30mm. In addition, the group pointed out that 5.7×28mm is close to the 5.56×45mm NATO by its design and manufacture process, allowing it to be manufactured on existing production lines. The group also pointed out that 5.7×28mm weapons are more mature than 4.6×30mm weapons, and the 5.7×28mm FN Five-seven pistol was already in production at that time, while the 4.6×30mm Heckler & Koch UCP pistol was still only an early concept. However, the German delegation and others rejected the NATO recommendation that 5.7×28mm be standardized, and as a result, the standardization process was indefinitely halted.

Cartridge dimensions

The 4.6×30mm has 0.87 ml (13.4 grains) H2O cartridge case capacity.

4,6 x 30.jpg

4.6×30mm maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions; all sizes in millimeters (mm).

Americans define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 ≈ 22 degrees. The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 160 mm (1 in 6.3 in), 6 grooves, Ø lands = 4.52 mm, Ø grooves = 4.65 mm, land width = 1.21 mm and the primer type is small rifle.

In C.I.P. (Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives) regulated countries every rimless rifle cartridge combo has to be proofed at 125% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers. This means that 4.6×30mm chambered arms in C.I.P.-regulated countries are currently (2018) proof tested at 500.00 MPa (72,519 psi) PE piezo pressure.

The Belgian 5.7×28mm cartridge introduced in 1993 is probably the closest currently available ballistic twin of the 4.6×30mm.

The 4.6×30mm ammunition is produced by RUAG Ammotec, Fiocchi and BAE Systems, it seems RUAG has the widest product range.

Variations

2.7 g full metal jacket 4.6×30mm

The ball 4.6×30mm cartridge weighs 7 g and is loaded with a 2.7 g full metal jacket projectile with a PbSb – alloy core and a steel copper-plated jacket that achieves 600 m/s (2,000 ft/s) muzzle velocity. The cartridge is designed for the MP7. This ammunition is optimized for energy transfer in soft targets and offers good precision. The muzzle velocity V0 and V100 indicate a G1 ballistic coefficient of approximately 0.171 to 0.187. At the stated effective range of 200 m the 2.7 g Ball projectile will be travelling at approximately Mach 1.36 (463 m/s) under ICAO Standard Atmosphere conditions at sea level (air density ρ = 1.225 kg/m3).

Ball cartridge technical data:

  • Temperature range: between -54 °C and +52 °C
  • Velocity/energy at 0 m: 600 m/s / 486 Joules
  • Velocity/energy at 100 m: 463 m/s / 320 Joules
  • Ballistic coefficient C 1: 0.171 - 0.187 (ICAO)/(Army Metro)
  • Mean chamber pressure: max. 400 MPa
  • Penetration in gelatine bare at 25 m: < 35 cm
  • Accuracy at 100 m: Ø 8 cm
  • Effective range:~300 m (984 ft) (HK claims that the FMJ round has more retained energy than the "Combat Steel" due to the FMJ's heavier projectile.)

Others

VBR produces a 4.6×30mm two-part controlled fragmenting projectile that is claimed to increase the content of the permanent wound cavity and double the chance to hit a vital organ. Heckler & Koch claims that the CPS Black Tip ammunition made by Fiocchi has a muzzle energy of approximately 525 J that would be comparable to 9×19mm rounds.

Weapons

  • Heckler & Koch MP7
  • Heckler & Koch UCP
  • ST Kinetics CPW
  • TVGK
  • VBR-CQBW

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article HK 4.6×30mm, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.