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Munitions / Small arms / 9x21mm Russian

9x21mm Russian

General Facts

  • TYPE
    Pistol cartridge

  • ORIGIN
    Russia

  • NICKNAMES
    9x21mm Gyurza (nickname)
    SP-10 (nickname, baseline round)
    7N28 (GRAU designation for SP-11)
    7N29 (GRAU designation for SP-10)
    7BTZ (GRAU designation for SP-13)

  • DESIGNED
    Late - 1980's - early 1990's

  • DESIGNER
    TsNIITochMash

  • PRODUCTION
    Mid 1990's - present

  • PRODUCERS
    Russia

  • QUANTITY
    Unknown

  • UNIT COST
    Unknown

  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Good armor piercing capability
    Good effective range
    Good lethality
    More expensive than 9x19mm ammunition
    Limited availability
    Strong recoil
    High pressure

Introduction

The 9x21mm Russian round is a modern pistol cartridge of Russian origin. Its development started in the 1980's in the Soviet Union under the Grach program. Three rounds resulted from this program. These are the very hot loaded 7N21 and 7N31 (aka PBP) 9x19mm rounds and a 9x21mm round that is also known as the SP-10. The Russian military shifted its attention in the mid 1990's towards the 9x19mm versions, but several government institutions adopted the 9x21mm round and it is slightly becomming a more common round in Russia. The Russian 9x21mm round should not be confused with the less powerful 9x21mm IMI round.

Design

The 9x21mm round is best described as a 9x19mm round with much hotter loading. It uses a straight rimless case with extractor groove. The case is longer than in the original 9x19mm round in order to hold more propellant. The hot load results in a higher kinetic energy, longer range and better armor piercing performance. The original SP-10 bullet developed in the Grach program is the most special in the 9x21mm lineup. It features a steel penetrator protruding from a metal jacket. Other 9x21mm rounds are more conventional.

Weapon systems

The original weapon system developed for the 9x21mm round was the high capacity Gyurza pistol. The Gyurza is also known as the P-9, SR-1 Vektor and SPS. To complement the Gyurza the SR-2 Veresk sub machine gun was developed several years later. These weapon systems are the only ones to use the 9x21mm round. Foreign weapons chambered for the 9x21mm IMI round cannot fire this Russian round due to differences in dimensions and much higher chamber pressure.

Performance

Compared to the standard 9x19mm round the 9x21mm round has a much better lethality, longer range and improved armor piercing capabilities. When compared to the very hot loaded Russian 7N21 and 7N31 9x19mm rounds the performance gap is smaller. The SP-10 armor piercing round is capable of penetrating 30 layers of Kevlar plus two 1.6 mm titanium plates at 50 meters. The maximum effective range of this round is about 200 meters.

Users

The 9x21mm round is a rather uncommon round that is only in use with units that use the Gyurza pistol or SR-2 sub machine gun.

Variants

9x21mm Russian

Four types of the 9x21mm round have been developed of which the SP-10 and SP-11 are most common:
SP-10: Original armor piercing round with military designation 7N29.
SP-11: Lower cost FMJ round with low ricochet bullet. Military designation 7N28.
SP-12: JHP round with increased effectiveness against unarmored targets.
SP-13: AP round similar to SP-10 but with tracer. Military designation 7BTZ.

TypeAP
DesignSteel penetrator in metal jacket
ColorRed case mouth, black tip
Total length32.8 mm
Total weight11 g
Bullet diameter9 mm
Bullet length?
Bullet weight6.7 g
Velocity410 m/s at muzzle
Penetration30 layers of Kevlar and two 1.2 mm titanium plates at 50 m
Precision?
Case typeStraight, rimless, centerfire
Case length20.8 mm
Case diameter?
Propellant?
Pressure?
Remarks-
TypeFMJ
DesignLead core low ricoshet bullet
ColorRed case mouth, plain bullet
Total length32.5 mm
Total weight11 g
Bullet diameter9 mm
Bullet length?
Bullet weight7.9 g
Velocity390 m/s at muzzle
Penetration?
Precision?
Case typeStraight, rimless, centerfire
Case length20.8 mm
Case diameter?
Propellant?
Pressure?
Remarks-
TypeJHP
Design?
Color?
Total length?
Total weight11 g
Bullet diameter9 mm
Bullet length?
Bullet weight?
Velocity?
Penetration?
Precision?
Case typeStraight, rimless, centerfire
Case length20.8 mm
Case diameter?
Propellant?
Pressure?
Remarks-
TypeAP-T
DesignSteel penetrator in metal jacket with tracer
Color?
Total length?
Total weight11 g
Bullet diameter9 mm
Bullet length?
Bullet weight7.2 g
Velocity395 m/s at muzzle
Penetration?
Precision?
Case typeStraight, rimless, centerfire
Case length20.8 mm
Case diameter?
Propellant?
Pressure?
RemarksTracer

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