What was the original loading for SKS?
- Thread starter vpsalin
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OP - I have no clue if Wikipedia is correct or not - I found this about the early Russian production - from that article, there were a number of variants made earlier than M43, so not real certain what you mean by "original". SKS was basically a Russian invention, so "original", I suppose, would be what they used??
"The original Soviet M43 bullets are 123 grain boat-tail bullets with a copper-plated steel jacket, a large steel core, and some lead between the core and the jacket. The cartridge itself consisted of a Berdan-primed, highly tapered (usually steel) case which seats the bullet and contains the powder charge. ..."
"The original Soviet M43 bullets are 123 grain boat-tail bullets with a copper-plated steel jacket, a large steel core, and some lead between the core and the jacket. The cartridge itself consisted of a Berdan-primed, highly tapered (usually steel) case which seats the bullet and contains the powder charge. ..."
- Location
- Western Manitoba
rumour - is briefly mentioned in Wikipedia article for SKS rifle or perhaps in the article about the 7.62x39 cartridge. That some Russian designers may have had access to German facilities...
- Location
- Western Manitoba
1st Hague Convention - 1899 or so...
Again, from Wikipedia - "Declaration concerning the Prohibition of the Use of Bullets which can Easily Expand or Change their Form inside the Human Body such as Bullets with a Hard Covering which does not Completely Cover the Core, or containing Indentations
This declaration states that, in any war between signatory powers, the parties will abstain from using "bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body." This directly banned soft-point bullets (which had a partial metal jacket and an exposed tip) and "cross-tipped" bullets (which had a cross-shaped incision in their tip to aid in expansion, nicknamed "Dum Dums" from the Dum Dum Arsenal in India). It was ratified by all major powers, except the United States.[14]"
Again, from Wikipedia - "Declaration concerning the Prohibition of the Use of Bullets which can Easily Expand or Change their Form inside the Human Body such as Bullets with a Hard Covering which does not Completely Cover the Core, or containing Indentations
This declaration states that, in any war between signatory powers, the parties will abstain from using "bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body." This directly banned soft-point bullets (which had a partial metal jacket and an exposed tip) and "cross-tipped" bullets (which had a cross-shaped incision in their tip to aid in expansion, nicknamed "Dum Dums" from the Dum Dum Arsenal in India). It was ratified by all major powers, except the United States.[14]"
BattleRife
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In the late 30s, an ammunition firm in Poland by the name of Polte experimented with intermediate cartridges made by taking standard rifle cartridges and reducing the midportion length of the case and bullet, making for shorter cartridges, lighter bullets and reduced velocities.
This information fell into the hands of the Germans with the invasion of Poland to start the war. The Russians also got the info, either because of friendly relations with the Poles pre-war or relatively open ties with the Germans early in the war.
Three years later, the Germans decided the idea was a good one and developed a cartridge using the Polte data as a starting point.
Once they were on the receiving end of this advance the Russians also learned to appreciate the concept. They too went back to the Polte data and started their own work.
So the mutual ancestor was the Polish prototypes. The only thing the Russians got directly from the Germans was some rather pointed proof that the idea had merit.
Rumors or not but I'd say yes it was. As soon as Germans started mass producing that ammo soviets started working on own intermediate rifle cartridge which looked similar to to 7.92 Kurz and had similar capabilities. If something is worth imitating and is effective, why not? Maybe slightly changed but general idea will be still there. Probably same reason they ripped off 7.63x25 Mauser pistol cartridge and used in pistols/SMGs for god knows how many years. Look at Browning original design. It's still being used in one shape/form or another. Not just firearms. It all over the place. Different ball game when it comes to AK/StG. Totally different design, go figure.
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