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The caliber evaluation of different PDW cartridges.
 
 
5.7x28 TB / 4.6x30 B2F / 9x19 AP8.6 / 9x19 AP7 / 7.92 VBR-B Compact / 7.92 VBR-B
 
 
The calibre 5.7 x 28 mm.
 

As result of the complains of some special agents, which using the P90 at a daily base, “The P90 is a fine weapon but the bullets of the 5.7x28mm cartridge are a disaster, after we shoot in the tyre it takes several kilometres before the tyre is flat. In the mean time the criminals have the time to fire back at us and hit innocent bystanders!!!!". VBR-Belgium developed the 5.7x28 mm TB (Tyre Buster) for the P90 and the Five-Seven pistol. Later we sugested to use a 7.92 VBR-B bullet.

More info about our 5.7x28 mm project.

Picture : 5.7x28 mm TB (Tyre Buster) developed by VBR-BELGIUM.
 
               

  

              The 5.7 Tyre Buster bullet                                   Fragmentation by impact makes two exit holes.
 
The 5.7x28 mm TB (Tyre Buster) dispose about a special 2-part controlled fragmenting bullet, which is special developed to fragment by the impact at a tyre. This increases the time by which the tyre gets flat once hit by a 5.7 mm bullet. This 5.7 TB bullet is a type of 2F bullet, which also can be used as a defense bullet. Although the 5.7x28 mm caliber meets the NATO requirements to penetrate CRISAT body armor, the 5.7 mm bullet haze not yet established the trust as a general Personal Defense Weapon caliber.
 
 
The calibre 4.6x 30 mm.
 
Picture : 4.6x30 mm B2F developed by VBR-BELGIUM.
 
   
 
The 4.6 B2F bullet                                                Brass 2-part controlled Fragmentation.
 

The 4.6x30 mm B2F bullet is designed to give the 4.6 mm bullet a little bit more credibility as a men stopper. In the world of .45 hollow points, the 4.6 mm caliber haze no credibility at all. Also this 4.6x30mm caliber meets the NATO requirements to penetrate CRISAT body armor. The by origin British designed 4.6x30 mm cartridge supported by the German PDW is a serious competitor for the Belgian 5.7x28 mm PDW concept.

More info about our 4.6x30 mm project.

 
 
The NATO and the PDW trials.
 

Although, the 5.7x28 mm caliber haze a higher lethality then the 4.6x30 mm caliber, the Belgian Defense supported by some other nations haze suggested this 5.7 caliber for a NATO standardization, but the Germans haze blocked this selection in favor of there own 4.6 mm PDW. The results is that the whole NATO PDW concept is suspended for an indefinite period. This was also the right decision by NATO, because until now, nor the 5.7x28 mm, nor the 4.6x30 mm are able to gain the credibility as a general defense caliber. A Personal Defense Weapon caliber, which haze not the support of the men in the field should be not selected as a standard caliber! The future now for PDW ammunition is that the NATO trial is desconnected form a politic and economic lobby in the NATO council. The NATO member customer can buy the PDW in the caliber, which satisfy it most. The available off-the-self condition will be the detirmined factor.

As result, The Belgians use the P90 and the Five-Seven pistol in Afghanistan while a few kilometers ahead, the Germans use the MP7 PDW in the 4.6x30 mm caliber. The Americans have no intention to replace the 9x19 caliber and still using there M9 Beretta and MP5. A lot of Special Forces are still using there 1911 pistol and there USP Mark 23 in the .45 caliber. Homeland Defense still have a lot of .40 S&W pistols and the Secret Service uses the .357 SIG caliber....

 
 
 
The calibre 9x19 AP 8.6 mm
.
Picture : 9x19 AP 8.6 mm developed by VBR-BELGIUM.
 

                

            The 9x19 mm AP 8.6 cartrtidge.                            9 mm BAP      9mmAP8.6
 
 
The appearance of the 9x19 mm caliber penetrators is also one of the facts, which haze prevented the selection of a new small PDW caliber. The 9x19 mm caliber is widely spread among the NATO countries and this caliber haze also the credibility of the military and law enforcement agencies. The 9x19 AP 8.6 mm cartridge can defeat the current most coming types of body armor. The decision of NATO to preserve the 9x19 mm is the most logical at this time. Of course, the problems arise when CRISAT body armor gets involved. All full caliber penetrators perform poorly when titanium insert plates are involved. A solution to a general step over to the 9x19 +P+ loads is not yet acceptable because of the large ammount of old 9x19 mm pistols, which are in use by NATO and can not sustain the higher chamber pressure.
 
 
The calibre 9x19 AP 7 mm.
 
Picture : 9x19 AP 7 mm developed by VBR-BELGIUM.
 
          
               The 9x19 AP 7 mm cartridge                              CRISAT penetration by the 7 mm penetrator
 
With the energy level of the 9x19 mm cartridge, an adequate performance at CRISAT body armor is only possible with a sub caliber penetrator. While the 5.7 mm penetrator haze a too high drill performance and a too low stopping power, the 5.7 mm diameter is not anymore considered as the successor of the 9 mm caliber. New combat experiences give the favor to a minimum bullet diameter of around the 7 mm. The 9x19 AP 7 mm is able to penetrate adequate CRISAT body armor and haze a higher credibility by his 7 mm penetrator. So, it seams that the 9x19 mm caliber will stay in NATO service for a little more longer time than was predicted.
 
 
Gelatine impact of a 9 AP 7 mm bullet.
 
While the content of the permanent wound cavity of the small caliber bullets 4.6 mm  and 5.7 mm receive a lot of critic, the wound cavity content of the 9 AP 7 bullet is huge compared to this of the 4.6 and the 5.7 mm bullet. This huge 9AP 7 mm wound cavity content can be also used for the .357 SIG caliber. The .357 SIG caliber is selected by the United States Secret Service and is a much better men stopper then the 5.7 caliber.
 
 
 
The performances of the new PDW designs are superior to this of standard pistols.
 
 

 

The VBR PDW in the 9x19 mm caliber / 7.92 VBR-B Compact

 
Although the PDW small caliber cartridges where not able to convince the defense world of there special suitable identities, the new PDW concept provides more advantages for military personal defense use then the standard military pistol. The VBR-PDW in the 9x19 mm caliber provides more useful fire power in a small package then the original small caliber PDWs. The lightweight armor piercing bullets perform well with the VBR-PDW, only the standard 125 grains FMJ NATO bullet causes a too heavy recoil impulse for a practical usability of the PDW. The general change of the NATO ammunition to a bullet with a weight under the 100 grains will cause problems with a lot of other weapons, which need the heavy recoil impulse for a good operation.
 
This brings us again to the conclusion that the 9x19 mm caliber is not suitable for a general PDW roll. A new PDW caliber is needed for a good adequate PDW performance.
 
 
    
One 7.92 VBR-B basic case and two cartridge dimensions.
 
 

 

7.92 VBR-B Compact  /  7.92 VBR-B

 
 
The calibre 7.92 VBR-B Short (Compact).
 

 

 

Picture 7.92 VBR-B Short developed by VBR-BELGIUM.
 
The 7.92 VBR-B Compact is a better substituut for the small caliber PDW cartridges especially because the impact hole is 7.92 mm. This is an important difference for Law Enforcement use.
 
More info about 7.92 VBR-B Compact cartridges identities
 
New experimental Glock 7.92 VBR-B Compact pistol!
 
  
 
The calibre 7.92 VBR-B.
 
 
Picture 7.92 VBR-B developed by VBR-BELGIUM.
 
 The 7.92 VBR-B is the basic design and uses bigger bullet dimensions and heavier bullet weights. The results is a higher efficiency compared to the 7.92 VBR-B Compact cartridges. The 7.92 VBR cartridge is designed to compete with other military defense cartridges.
 
More info about 7.92 VBR-B cartridges identities
 
New experimental Peters Stahl 7.92 VBR-B pistol!
 
P 7000 pistol of Q.S. Progretto Meccanica in the 7.92 VBR-B caliber

 

The new 7.92 VBR-B calibre is developed to be used at the two basic frames of the two most coming military calibres. The 9x19 mm frame platform and the .45 Auto frame platform. This is possible with one basic case an two different types of bullets. A short bullet type for the 7.92 VBR-B Compact cartridge, which limits the total lenght of the cartridge to 29.9 mm and a long bullet type which brings the total lenght of the cartridge to 32.1 mm.
 
The 7.92 VBR-B Comact with his cartridge lenght of 29.9 mm is suitable for the 9x19 mm frame platforms.
The 7.92 VBR-B with his cartridges lenght of 32.1 mm is suitable for the .45 Auto frame platforms.
 
 

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