Anno 2003.

In the past, the possibilities to maintain the 9x19 NATO caliber and replace the M882 Ball by an armor piercing bullet are not investigated to all his extensions. The declaration of the Belgian Army that NATO can not take a count with a new technology, which maybe or maybe not will ever be manufactured, was a narrow-minded vision. Especially for the 9x19 mm caliber, which is the spine of NATO’s personal defense ammunition. An extensive investigation should have been conducted to examine the possibilities of all new armor piercing technologies.

Anno 2008.

A few important modification are don to make our ammunition more acceptable for the Geneva Convention. The failing to make of the 5.7x28 mm cartridge the new standard NATO cartridge must certainly correct the attitude of the Belgian Army for a more objective approach to the possibilities of the 9x19 mm caliber. By the internet, the existence of our ammunition technology can not be ignored and the judgment of our performances is no longer dependable of the opinion of our national delegation. The objective of this open-source is to achieve an evaluation by all interested NATO delegations. This is the only possibility to insure an objective approach to the possibilities of the 9x19 AP ammunition.

The Belgian Ministry of Defense and our national delegation.

The election of a new Belgian Minister of Defense can have a positive influence on the objectivity of our national delegation within SG/1. The Walloon 5.7x28 mm defense system is suggested to SG/1 under supervision of a Walloon Minister of Belgian Defense. I suppose that the new Flemish Minister of Belgian Defense will approach our national delegation within SG/1 to take also a count with a Flemish ammunition. This will set our national delegation within SG/1 back on the right track and will open new possibilities for the preservation of the 9x19 mm caliber.

 Introduction of a new possibel STANAG 4090 / VBR-AP.

The preservation of the 9x19 NATO caliber and the replacement of the M882 Ball by an armor piercing bullet will have as consequences that the STANAG 4090 must be modified for 9x19 mm Armor Piercing ammunition. The objective of this page is to be a guideline for a new MOPI and STANAG for the 9x19 NATO caliber.

> Conducted once for each ammunition design (and link if applicable) to confirm compliance with STANAG & MOPI)

The STANAG 4090 & MOPI exists already for the 9x19 NATO caliber. If the 9x19 NATO caliber must comply with the CRISAT demands, the STANAG 4090 & MOPI must be adapted for the use of armor piercing bullets.

 

> The submitting NATO nation shall have declared the ammunition design safe and suitable for use by their armed forces and have already procured or produced the ammunition.

The VBR-Belgium 9x19 AP 6.3 cartridges will be presented to the Belgium Proof House of firearms.

As soon we find a new entry-point, we can present our 9x19 AP 6.3 mm cartridge to the Belgian Army. We can not present our cartridges to the persons which have reject us 5 years ago.

The Belgian national delegation has not yet procured this ammunition, but you can not say that this  ammunition is not been produced in small numbers. (not yet for sell)

 

> A NATO design number identifies the qualified design and then the submitting NATO nation is granted authority to apply the NATO Symbol of Interchangeability to the outer pack of all ammunition. 

It is even not yet investigated by the Belgian delegation. We can not have a NATO design number. The interchangeability will depend on the feeding requirements of the weapon. This must be specified. Old-fashion feeding style without a proper feeding ramp will cause feeding problems. Go to technical identities of the 9x19AP6.3 cartridge.

 

> It is NOT possible for manufactures or non-NATO nations to submit ammunition for NATO QA testing.

VBR-Belgium is a Belgian company and Belgium is a NATO nation, but as a manufacture we can not present our 9x19AP6.3 mm cartridge for NATO QA testing.

 

> Interior Ballistics.

- Chamber & Port Pressure / Velocity / Action Time

Concerning chamber pressure. The 9x19 mm calibre has the advantage that it is already in use by military and law enforcement agencies. There exists already different classifications concerning chamber pressure. To provide these different agencies we can load our ammunition to different chamber pressures. Standard C.I.P. 9x19 , 9x19 +P and even 9x19 +P+.

Theoretically we can load the 9x19 AP 6.3 cartridge to a pressure of 2850 bar / 40546 Psi. This pressure falls within the STANAG 4090.

 

Concerning Velocity. The STANAG 4090 must be adapted for the use of lighter bullet weights. These lighter bullet weights achieve a higher velocity then what is currently specified in the STANAG 4090.

Out a 120 mm barrel achieves the 80 grains 9AP6.3 bullet a velocity of max. 481 m/sec / 1578 fps. The bullet energy is at that time 599 Joule (chamber pressure 2850 bar).

 

Concerning Action time. This will change according the bullet weight and the velocity.

 

> Exterior Ballistics.

- Precision / Trace / Trajectory Match / Penetration.

The trajectory Match of the STANAG 4090 is determined by the use the M882 bullet (112 grains). This bullet is heavier, slower and has a more bowed trajectory. The trajectory match for a modified STANAG 4090 must be adapted for light weight bullets of 80 grains.

 

Concerning penetration. If we look to the penetration performances of our 9x19 AP 6.3 mm cartridge, the penetration performances must be complete renewed. The CRISAT demands can play a further roll, but as we also mentioned in our VBR - FBI - CRISAT test protocol, penetration must be determine at different target set-ups and not only by one test.

Link to VBR-FBI-CRISAT test protocol

 

> Manufacturing Quality.

- Waterproof / Bullet Extraction / Residual Stress.

 This can stay according the current STANAG 4090.

> Energetic Materials.

Propellant & Primer Analysis / Primer Sensitivity.

 This can stay according the current STANAG 4090.

> Weapon Function.

The use of a sharp exposed steel core asks higher technical demands of the weapon then the know ogival and round-nose bullets. The feed under the right angle out the magazine in to the feeding ramp and in the chamber is important for a good weapon function. We have no feeding problems with the modern pistols with a double stack magazine. (FN Browning Hi Power, Glock,…) Pistols with a single stack magazine doesn’t always feed the cartridge under the right angle. This can cause feeding problems.

Link to tested weapons.

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