The fastest firing pistol. The fastest firing weapon. Fastest combat aircraft
Heckler & Koch MP5K. The MP5 family of submachine guns from Heckler & Koch has been wildly popular around the world since its introduction in 1966. MP5s are compact, lightweight, highly accurate, reliable and powerful. The MP5K modification from 1976 with a shortened barrel and an additional handle for holding the weapon is considered one of the most successful.
Ceska Zbrojovka Scorpion EV03- this submachine gun with a scary name, designed in Slovakia and manufactured in the Czech Republic, launched on the market in 2010, has already proven itself quite well. The CZ EV03 is not ideal for full-scale combat, but due to its lightness, accuracy and ease of handling, it is ideal for police and special forces.
Heckler & Koch UMP- another brainchild of the famous German company, developed in the second half of the 1990s as an addition to the MP5 family. UMP has a simpler design, but uses modern materials- mainly polymers that are resistant to corrosion and stress. This submachine gun is used by special police and army units in many countries.
M2 Browning- the legendary heavy machine gun of the John Browning system, developed back in 1933 and still in production today. The United States used it in almost all wars of the 20th and 21st centuries, and during World War II alone, more than 400 thousand copies of its infantry version were produced. It is so accurate that it can even be used as a sniper rifle.
M1919 Browning- an older Browning model, adopted after the First World War and lasted until the 1970s. The machine gun was operated mainly in the USA, and was also supplied under the military assistance program to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Japan and the USSR. With a rate of fire of up to 600 rounds per minute, it was one of the most powerful weapons of its time.
M60- one of the most famous American machine guns, developed in 1957. It was rightly criticized for being cumbersome and unreliable, but continued to be used for many decades. Its final modification, the M60E4, released in 1995, could fire 850 rounds smoothly in less than 2 minutes without any problems.
FN F2000- a modern Belgian assault rifle from FN Herstal, lightweight and durable, with a polymer body and a plastic handguard, featuring a futuristic design. Can be used by both right- and left-handed people without the slightest modification. It is operated by special forces of a dozen countries around the world.
M240E6. The M240, which entered service in 1977, is used both by the ground forces and for installation on small vessels. The M240E6 is a modernized version of it, constructed using titanium alloys and thus much stronger and lighter.
Kalashnikov assault rifle- perhaps the most famous representative of automatic weapons in the world, and certainly the most widespread. Since 1949, about 70 million copies of this legendary domestic machine gun of various modifications have been produced, which are used all over the world. The AK is incredibly reliable, simple and powerful.
Colt M4- American carbine, created on the basis of the M16A2, on this moment in service with all types of US troops. Additional equipment includes a silencer, optical and red dot sights, a laser designator and an M203 40 mm grenade launcher.
MOSCOW, September 24 – RIA Novosti, Andrey Kots. Rapid-fire weapons with a rotating block of barrels are an essential element of science fiction action films and computer games. Movies often feature beefy Rambos with six-barreled machine guns spraying lead on villains. Thanks to Hollywood, these “lawnmowers” have firmly established themselves as superweapons. At the same time, cannons and machine guns, working according to the scheme of the American inventor Richard Gatling, have long been in service with a number of countries. The destructive power of multi-barreled guns is truly amazing. RIA Novosti publishes a selection of the most formidable weapons with a rotating barrel block.
The Russian fleet has grown "Pantsir". Others won't have it for long"Pantsir-ME" reliably protects the ship within a radius of 20 kilometers (the height of the air defense dome is 15 kilometers) from all modern means air attack: cruise missiles, supersonic anti-ship missiles, air bombs and drones.The most famous
The American M134 Minigun rapid-fire machine gun is perhaps the most famous Gatling gun in existence. Action films about brave US Marines or military footage from the Middle East rarely do without this six-barreled machine of 7.62 mm caliber. Since the 1960s, American gunsmiths have managed to introduce it wherever possible. M134s are installed in the hatches of army Hummers, on guard towers, patrol boats, helicopters, armored personnel carriers, and fortifications. Still, six thousand rounds per minute is a serious argument in any critical situation.
Contrary to stereotypes, Gatling weapons do not fire all barrels at the same time. In the M134, the cartridge is sent to the lower, cooled barrel, the shot is fired from above, the cartridge case is ejected — on right. Thus, the barrels fire one at a time and have time to reload and cool down while the remaining five are “working.” Such a scheme eliminates the main obstacle to an ultra-high rate of fire — weapon overheating. Most other machine guns with a rotating barrel block work in a similar way.
The M134's "big brother" is the M61 Vulcan 20mm six-barreled aircraft gun. For almost 60 years it has been installed on American combat aircraft, attack helicopters and ground landing gear. This system is capable of hitting both air and ground targets quite effectively. But, like the M134, today it is considered obsolete.
The fastest
Russian AK-630M-2 "Duet" installations are a modern modification of the Soviet six-barrel shipborne AK-630 systems. From predecessor new system It is distinguished primarily by the presence of two guns and complex electronic “stuffing”, which makes it possible to largely automate the process of targeting and tracking targets. One "Duet" is capable of unleashing a record ten thousand 30-mm shells per minute on the enemy. This is sufficient to destroy any air target at a distance of up to four kilometers and at altitudes of up to five kilometers - be it a supersonic aircraft, a drone or a cruise missile. And at close ranges, naval “six-barreled guns” are capable of severely damaging or even destroying a small warship. The AK-630 family complexes are the last and strongest line of defense of the naval squadron.
To date, AK-630M-2 are installed in the stern of five small missile ships of the Buyan-M project, as well as on the large landing ship Ivan Gren, which is due to enter service Northern Fleet in November this year. In addition, the Ministry of Defense plans to re-equip a number of other ships carrying older AK-630s with Duets.
The most armor-piercing
The pinnacle of development of weapons with a rotating barrel block can perhaps be called the American GAU-8 Avenger aircraft cannon - the main weapon of the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. The mass of the entire cannon installation with a cartridge supply system and a full drum of 30-mm shells is almost two tons, and the A-10, fueled and prepared for takeoff, weighs ten tons. The plane is actually built around this three-meter, seven-barreled monster. In fact, the cannon is the only reason why Thunderbolt II attack aircraft remain in service with the US Air Force - in terms of their flight performance and on-board equipment, they are significantly inferior to machines of the same class in other countries.
The GAU-8 fires up to 4,200 armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles with a depleted uranium core at a target per minute. Due to the colossal recoil and the danger of powder gases entering the air intakes, pilots usually fire short bursts of two to three seconds. This is enough to completely cover a column of a dozen heavy combat vehicles. The A-10 was conceived as an anti-tank aircraft; the specifics of its combat use involve attacking a target in the upper hemisphere, which is least protected by armor. In Afghanistan and Iraq, attack aircraft armed with GAU-8 demonstrated good results. However, in a war with an enemy with advanced air defense, the chances of these subsonic aircraft to survive are rapidly decreasing.
The most heaped
The YakB four-barrel aircraft machine gun of 12.7 mm caliber was created in the late 70s specifically for the Mi-24 attack helicopters, the latest at that time. Large-caliber Soviet Gatling guns underwent their baptism of fire in Afghanistan. Army aviation pilots immediately fell in love with the new machine guns for their exceptionally high density of fire and nicknamed the YakB-12.7 “metal cutter.” This weapon justified its nickname more than once: in August 1982, near Kandahar, one helicopter “cut” in half a bus leading a caravan of dushmans with a burst from a machine gun. The Afghan militants were lucky that the Mi-24 fired across the column, and not along it - with a maximum rate of fire of 5,500 rounds per minute, it could riddled the entire caravan in one go.
It is this machine gun that holds a unique and still unbroken record. On October 27, 1982, during an air battle, an Iraqi Mi-24 was able to shoot down an Iranian F-4 Phantom II fighter from a YakB-12.7. This is the only documented case in the history of world aviation when a helicopter was able to destroy a supersonic jet using an onboard machine gun. This was largely achieved thanks to the excellent accuracy of the weapon. However, the YakB-12.7 had some problems with reliability. The experience of Afghanistan has shown that the machine gun is quite capricious and susceptible to contamination. This drawback was eliminated in the modification YaBKYu-12.7, which was put into service in 1988.
Unfortunately, humanity is constantly trying to improve its weapons, to make them more modern and powerful. We offer an overview of the most dangerous weapons in the world, which have been tested and proven destructive force on practice. Pistols and machine guns are toys for big boys. True, they are not fun, since by pressing the trigger once, you can take someone's life.
The 9mm Uzi submachine gun is on par with larger submachine guns, but is easy to use in combat thanks to its small size. You can easily pack this weapon into a suitcase and transport it across the border; it fits perfectly on a tray with a lid. Despite its compact size, it is very powerful weapon. It is difficult to find an assault rifle with the same functionality, mobility and high rate of fire.
The M1911 pistol very often took part in dismantling mafia structures and was considered the most dangerous and popular weapon among bandits. For more than 50 years it has been a tool of terrorism and crime. The pistol is equipped with accessories such as a flashlight and a small optical sight. Often a 45-caliber pistol is used to carry out assassin orders. It shoots almost silently.
The 45mm MG4 light machine gun is one of the most dangerous weapons ever produced by man, ranking alongside the Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle. It is characterized by a high rate of fire and functionality. A special stand allows you to install a machine gun for convenient shooting anywhere. It can be installed on armored personnel carriers and fired from any vehicle. The damage this machine gun causes can be compared to that left after using a bazooka. The machine gun fires 770 bullets per minute.
Throughout history, this machine gun has claimed the lives of more than several hundred thousand people around the world. The AK-47 is a very powerful weapon, has a recognizable shape, its mere presence causes tension. The machine gun fires 600 bullets per minute.
It is in service with the army and detachments special purposes. Due to its light weight and ergonomic characteristics, the pistol has gained wide popularity among specialists. Despite its compact size, it is reliable, accurate, powerful and functional.
The new HK416 A5 machine gun does not repeat the mistakes of its “parents”. Among the new products is a winter-type trigger, which allows you to shoot with gloves, and the rate of fire does not decrease, and fingerprints do not remain on the weapon. It is equipped with a night vision scope and fires with high accuracy.
This is one of the most dangerous pistols in the world, its bullets can tear everything into thousands of pieces. Every time a shot is fired, the victim has no chance to escape. This is a powerful and dangerous pistol, capable of causing damage incompatible with life in close combat.
If you remember all the movies about cowboys, it becomes clear that the most popular during showdowns in the Wild West would be Colt 45-caliber revolvers. Modern models have not lost their former glory. This is a high quality and very powerful weapon used by the police, as well as for hunting and sport shooting.
This rifle is a phantom assassin's dream, as it can be easily camouflaged and hits with precision and power. It can be considered as a weapon of the future. The rifle can be used both for routine combat missions and for missions of special importance and secrecy. The power of the shot is such that it is compared to the explosion of a grenade.
The Tracking Point rifle is considered the most dangerous small arms on the planet. The technologies used in its creation made it a rifle of the future in the truest sense of the word. The cost is $22,000, so a common person will not be able to purchase it. It is equipped with a laser sight and a computer that automatically monitors the victim and decides when to fire a successful shot. The computer calculates the shot time, range, and effectiveness based on various parameters, taking into account the wind force. The computer operates on WI-FI, records video, and records all information. It is not surprising that you can make calls from a rifle.
When designers come up with their “brainchildren”, they cannot even imagine that their
Most common rifle: M16
Country: USA
Developed: 1959
Weight: 2.88–3.4 kg (depending on modification)
Length: 986–1006mm
Caliber: 5.56 mm
Rate of fire: 700–900 rounds/min
Initial bullet speed: 948 m/s
The rifle was developed by the American company Armalite, in 1959 the Colt company began its production, in 1961 the US military department purchased an experimental batch of rifles, and in 1964 it entered service with the US Army. To this day, the M16 remains the main weapon of the American infantry. It underwent its first serious baptism of fire in Vietnam, and was subsequently used in all armed conflicts involving the United States. This is a 5.56mm automatic rifle; its automation is based on the use of the energy of powder gases. Today there are more than 20 modifications and varieties of the rifle, and it is produced not only in the USA, but also in Canada, South Korea, China, Iran, Germany.
The most famous machine gun: Maxim machine gun
Country: Great Britain (modification – Russia)
Developed: 1883 (modification – 1910)
Weight: 64.3 kg (44.23 – machine with shield)
Length: 1067 mm
Caliber: 7.62 mm
Rate of fire: 600 rds/min
Initial bullet speed: 740 m/s
It is difficult to say that “Maxim” is included in the list of the best riflemen of the past 100 years, because the Anglo-American inventor Hiram Maxim received the first patents for individual elements of the new weapon in the summer of 1883, and in October 1884 he demonstrated the first working model. But one of the most famous varieties of “Maxim” appeared in 1910, which allows it to “fit” into the century.
The principle of operation of the Maxim is simple and is based on the use of barrel recoil. Powder gases from the shot throw the barrel back and activate the reloading mechanism: the cartridge is removed from the belt and goes into the breech, while the bolt is cocked. The canvas belt held 450 rounds of ammunition, and the machine gun's rate of fire reached 600 rounds per minute. True, the powerful weapon was not flawless. Firstly, the barrel overheated greatly and required constant changes of water in the cooling casing. Another drawback was the complexity of the mechanism: the machine gun jammed due to various problems with reloading.
In Russia, production of the machine gun began in 1904 at the Tula plant. The most famous Russian modification of the Maxim was the 7.62 mm heavy machine gun of the 1910 model (the original caliber of the machine gun was .303 British or 7.69 mm in metric system). In the same year, the designer, Colonel Alexander Sokolov, designed a wheeled machine gun for a machine gun - it was this machine that gave the weapon a classic look. The machine greatly simplified the issues of marching and moving a heavy machine gun from position to position.
But the total weight of the machine gun with the machine was still large - more than 60 kg, and this does not count the supply of cartridges, water for cooling, etc. Therefore, by the 1930s, the formidable weapon was rapidly becoming obsolete. The Soviet-style machine gun experienced its last modernization in 1941 and was produced in Tula and Izhevsk until the very end of World War II; it was replaced by a 7.62-mm Goryunov machine gun.
"Maxim" had many modifications: Finnish M/32-33, English "Vickers", German MG-08, 12.7 mm (large caliber) for the British Navy, etc.
The most legendary weapon of the Second World War: 7.62 mm Shpagin submachine gun
Country: USSR
Designed: 1941
Curb weight: 5.3 kg with drum
magazine, 4.15 kg with sector magazine
Length: 863 mm
Caliber: 7.62 mm
Rate of fire: 900 rds/min
Sighting range: 200–300 m
The predecessor of the Kalashnikov assault rifle in service with the Soviet army was the Shpagin system submachine gun (PPSh). Created to replace the Degtyarev submachine gun, the PPSh was primarily designed to simplify production as much as possible and entered service in 1941. And although the Sudaev model 1942 design (PPS) is often considered the best submachine gun of World War II, it was the PPSh that became an integral part of the image of the Soviet soldier as the only mass-produced automatic weapon of the Soviet army in the first year of the war.
Fastest firing weapon: Metal Storm MK5
Country: Australia
Developed: 2004
Number of barrels: 36
Caliber: 9 mm
Estimated rate of fire: 1,080,000 rounds/min
Theoretical maximum rate of fire: 1,620,000 rounds/min
The ultra-high-speed weapon of the Australian company Metal Storm Limited is unlikely to ever go into mass production, but it cannot be ignored. The founder of the company, James Michael O'Dwyer, invented and patented a rapid fire system, the theoretical rate of fire of which reaches 1,000,000 rounds/min. The Metal Storm machine gun has no moving mechanical parts, each barrel simultaneously holds several cartridges, and shots are fired via an electronic pulse. The critical problem that the developers faced was the impossibility of supplying such a number of cartridges in a timely manner. Therefore, the rate of fire shown in tests is calculated, and the functionality of the “iron storm” is nullified when used in real combat. However, the company is developing in various directions and is using Metal Storm technologies in weapons that have a more realistic chance of being included in the series.
Most popular pistol: Colt M1911
Country: USA
Designed: 1911
Weight: 1.075 kg
Length: 216 mm
Caliber: 45
Initial bullet speed: 253 m/s
Sighting range: 50 m
One of the most popular pistols in the world is the M1911 designed by John Browning and chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge (11.43 x 23 mm). This weapon was in service with the US Army from 1911 to 1990, and the pistol has not undergone any modernization since 1926. Despite the name of the developer, the pistol was produced by Colt factories and entered the market precisely as the “Colt M1911”. Its main advantage was its design simplicity and fault tolerance. The pistol was in service in more than 40 countries around the world and is extremely popular to this day.
The most multi-shot gas pistol: Reck Miami 92 F
Country: Germany
Weight without cartridges: 1.14 kg
Length: 215 mm
Caliber: 8, 9, 15 mm
Food: magazine for 11 (for the 9 mm version), 18, 20, 24, 28 rounds
RECK Miami 92F is a gas pistol manufactured by the German company Umarex, which is an exact copy of the classic Beretta 92 pistol. RECK gas pistols come in 8 and 9 mm calibers. The 9mm version has a completely ordinary magazine with a capacity of 11 rounds, but 8mm RECK Miami magazines can hold from 18 to 28 (!) rounds, depending on the modification. Apart from prototypes, oddities and a 40-round magazine for the Mauser, the RECK Miami 92F has no competitors in the field of multi-charging.
Fastest-firing production weapon: M134 Minigun
Country: USA
Designed: 1962
Weight: 24–30 kg (machine gun body with electric motor and power mechanism)
Length: 801 mm
Caliber: 7.62 mm (0.308)
Rate of fire: from 300 to 6000 rounds/min (effective –
3000–4000)
Initial bullet speed: 869 m/s
Of course, prototypes can be much faster-firing, but among production weapons, the aircraft machine guns of the M134 Minigun series are considered to be among the record holders for this indicator. These 7.62 mm six-barreled machine guns operate in a Gatling design and are capable of firing up to 6,000 rounds per minute. A new cartridge is fed into the upper (cooled) barrel, and the shot is fired from below. The rotation of the barrels is provided by an electric drive. The M134 received its baptism of fire in the Vietnam War. By the way, contrary to misconceptions, in “Predator” and “Terminator” it is not this machine gun that is used, but its younger brother, the XM214 Microgun, which did not go into production.
The most officer's pistol: Mauser C96
Country: Germany
Designed: 1896
Weight without cartridges: 1.13 kg
Length: 288 mm
Cartridge: 7.63 x 25 mm, 9 mm x 25 mm, etc.
Initial bullet speed: 425 m/s
Sighting range: 150–200 m without stock
The Mauser C96 evokes in us a strong association with a man in a leather jacket and the abbreviation Cheka. This model began to be produced in Germany in 1896; the pistol stood out for its excellent accuracy, high effective firing range, and “survivability”; Its main disadvantages were bulkiness and serious mass. What is surprising is that the Mauser was not officially in service with any army in the world (maximum partial local use), while more than a million copies were produced, and officers different countries preferred it as a personal weapon to all competitors.
The most famous repeating rifle: M1 Garand
Country: USA
Developed: 1936
Weight: 4.31–5.3 kg (depending on modification)
Length: 1104 mm
Caliber: 7.62 mm
Initial bullet speed: 853 m/s
Effective firing range: 400 m
The American M1 Garand rifle is the first self-loading rifle adopted as the main infantry weapon. It took a long time to implement: in 1929, designer John Garand built the first prototype, but it only reached serial production and service in 1936; Numerous modifications did not give the desired effect, and the new weapon constantly failed. Only the M1 generation, which was modified and put into production in 1941, gained popularity. It is still used as a sporting weapon to this day.
Most common weapon: Kalashnikov assault rifle
Country: USSR
Developed: 1974 (modification of AK-74)
Curb weight: 3.5–5.9 kg
Length: 940 mm (without bayonet)
Caliber: 5.45 mm
Rate of fire: about 600 rds/min
Sighting range: 1000 m
The Kalashnikov assault rifle, the most widely used small arms in the world, has gained extraordinary popularity due to its reliability and ease of maintenance and has been produced in quantities of more than 100 million copies. There are several dozen of its modifications; in the original version (AK-47) it had a caliber of 7.62 mm, but the AK-74 modification uses a 5.45 mm cartridge, and in the “hundredth” series variants it also uses a 5.56 mm cartridge. In addition to the USSR, the machine gun was produced in Bulgaria, Hungary, the GDR, China, Poland, North Korea, Yugoslavia, and it was used in almost all countries of the world and in almost all armed conflicts of the second half of the 20th century.
7.62 mm PK light machine gun
with a machine gun box with a capacity of 200 rounds.
Rate of fire - 650 rounds/min;
- 250 rounds/min
Rate of fire is one of the most important characteristics of the combat properties of a weapon, directly related to the actual shooting.
The rate of fire is determined by the number of shots fired from a given type of weapon per unit of time (usually per minute). The rate of fire, or theoretical rate of fire, and the practical, or combat, rate of fire and fire mode are used as characteristics of the weapon's rate of fire.
The theoretical rate of fire - the rate of fire - is a characteristic of the weapon itself, its adaptability to rapid loading for the next shot.
Practical rate of fire is a characteristic of the entire “ammunition-weapon” complex, since it takes into account the time for aiming, changing empty magazines with loaded ones, etc.
The desire to increase the rate of fire is associated with the need to hit a target that often fires back from a weapon that does not provide a 100% hit with a single shot (launch), in shortest time. In addition, the target may be within the range of a particular weapon for an extremely limited time. For example, a modern air battle on a collision course can last a fraction of a second. The more shells fired during this time, the higher the probability of hitting the enemy.
Rate of fire
The rate of fire is a characteristic of the rate of fire of an automatic weapon. It is determined by the number of shots that can be fired from an automatic weapon with continuous automatic fire. The rate of fire is completely determined by the time between two consecutive shots in a burst, called the automatic cycle time.
Thus, the rate of fire characterizes the highest rate of fire of a weapon, which is ensured by its technical capabilities, mainly by the design and operating conditions of the automation system. It does not take into account those available in real conditions breaks in shooting between separate bursts, necessary to transfer fire from one target to another; for loading weapons when changing a magazine or tape; for aiming, etc.
Selecting the rate of fire for various types automatic weapons are produced based on their tactical purpose, as well as on the conditions for ensuring reliable operation of automatic weapons.
The optimal tempo value is the tempo that ensures both the highest accuracy of shooting at targets typical for a given weapon, and reliable operation of the weapon’s automation. When determining the optimal tempo from the point of view of actual shooting, one should take into account the effect of tempo on the probability of hitting moving targets, the influence of tempo on the magnitude of the combat rate of fire and bullet dispersion, as well as ensuring the required burst length when firing.
It is known that when shooting at moving targets, the probability of a hit increases with an increase in the rate of fire. In view of this, in the designs of automatic weapons intended for firing at fast-moving targets, they strive to increase the tempo as much as possible.
9mm automatic pistol APS.
Rate of fire - 600 rounds/min;
practical rate of fire
When shooting at moving living targets (such as a running shooter), which have a relatively low movement speed, the influence of tempo in the presence of existing shooting errors is small.
An increase in the rate of fire leads to a slight increase in the combat rate of fire, however, due to the short cycle time compared to the periods of time spent when shooting in real conditions, its change does not have a very large impact on the combat rate of fire. More significant is the influence of tempo on the dispersion of bullets when firing, which depends on the design features of the weapon and its stability when firing. This influence is usually greater, the less stable the position of the weapon when firing. Therefore, for models of manual automatic weapons that have relatively poor stability when firing, changing the tempo can be useful to reduce dispersion.
The rate of fire should also provide the ability for a given weapon to fire with the most advantageous burst length. In this regard, an increase in the rate of fire, for example, over 700 - 800 rounds per minute, makes it difficult to fire in short bursts, which are usually set for manual automatic weapons. On the other hand, as the rate of fire decreases, the maximum burst length that can be fired in a short period of time decreases, corresponding to the time the target appears on the battlefield, as well as the time allotted for shooting, taking into account the enemy’s return fire. This circumstance is important for such types of weapons as, for example, heavy machine guns, where increasing the burst length significantly increases the probability of hitting the target, which is why increasing the burst length is often used to increase the reliability of the hit.
Reducing the maximum burst length that can be fired in a limited time has a particularly noticeable effect on reducing the probability of defeat when shooting at group targets using the method of uniformly dispersing bullets along the front.
Most modern models of small automatic weapons have a rate of fire of the order of 500 - 700 rounds per minute, which is considered acceptable from the point of view of the combat use of these weapons. However, these speed limits were largely determined by the requirement to ensure the reliability of the automation mechanisms.
At a lower rate of fire, the speed and kinetic energy of the moving parts of the automation are insufficient to ensure trouble-free operation of the automation, especially under unfavorable operating conditions (dust, grease, dry parts, etc.).
The use of a higher rate worsens the reliability of the weapon and significantly reduces the survivability of its parts. The most advantageous rate of fire, from the point of view of ensuring the reliability of the weapon, sometimes does not correspond to the desired rate under the conditions of combat use. To obtain an optimal rate that ensures maximum shooting efficiency, some types of automatic weapons use special retarding and accelerating mechanisms.
Practical rate of fire
Practical rate of fire refers to the rate of fire that can be achieved when firing from a given type of weapon while maintaining its inherent accuracy and taking into account the type of fire and the time spent on aiming, loading the weapon and transferring fire from one target to another.
Practical rate of fire is the main characteristic of the rate of fire of both automatic and non-automatic weapons. It has a direct impact on the reality of shooting, determining the number of targets fired per unit of time. Practical rate of fire is of particular importance when shooting during the most critical and intense periods of combat, for example during attacks and counterattacks. Increasing the practical (combat) rate of fire is the main means of ensuring a high density of fire on the battlefield, determined by the number of bullets per linear meter of the front.
The practical rate of fire depends on the following technical (design) characteristics of the weapon: aiming time; weapon loading time; magazine or tape containers; the cycle time of the automation, the degree of training of the shooter and shooting conditions.
Aiming time (in seconds) depends on the properties of the weapon, ensuring speed and ease of operation with the sight, guidance mechanisms and trigger, as well as from the shooter’s training and external conditions (the nature of the target, its visibility, etc.). In general, the amount of aiming time is determined by the time it takes to install the sight, the time it takes to point the weapon, taking into account the transfer of fire from one target to another, and the time it takes to trigger the trigger when opening fire.
9-mm pistol "Parabellum" R.17 (artillery model)
with a 32-round Leer magazine.
Practical rate of fire - 64 rounds/min
Aiming time can vary widely even for weapons of similar design. So, for example, for hand weapons it can be from 1.5 to 3 seconds, for heavy machine guns from 5 to 10 seconds - when performing only horizontal aiming, when the targets are on the same line, and up to 20 - 30 seconds - when performing horizontal and vertical aiming.
The loading time of a weapon (in seconds) depends on the properties of the weapon, which determine the speed of loading the weapon when changing a magazine or belt (in automatic weapons), or filling the magazine with cartridges and reloading (in non-automatic weapons), as well as on the training of the shooter and his position when shooting. Approximate loading times for magazine-fed weapons are 3 - 5 seconds; with belt feed 5 - 8 sec.
The magazine or belt capacity is a constant value for each specific sample weapons. As the power capacity increases, the loading time per shot decreases, which helps to increase the practical rate of fire.
The size of the power capacity for various types of weapons is established based on their combat purpose.
The cycle time of the automation, as already mentioned, is directly related to the rate of fire, which for each specific type of weapon is a very specific value.
The length of the burst can vary over a very wide range, ranging from two to three shots and up to a number of shots equal to the weapon’s power capacity. The choice of one or another burst length depends on the type of weapon and the nature of the combat mission it performs.
Specific burst length values for various types of weapons are selected depending on the nature of the target; its size; visibility and range; and also on the design of the weapon; its stability when shooting; power capacity and permissible fire mode. As the firing range increases and the visibility and size of the target decreases, the burst length usually increases to increase the reliability of hitting the target.
Thus, among the considered main factors that determine the value of the practical rate of fire, only cycle time and power capacity have a constant significance for a given type of weapon. The remaining factors can take on different meanings, determining different values of the practical rate of fire that the weapon will have under certain shooting conditions. Among them, the most significant influence on the value of the practical rate of fire is the length of the burst.
Changing the rate of fire in the range from 300 to 1000 rounds per minute has a slight effect on the practical rate of fire, especially with increased aiming time and loading time.
Increasing the power capacity is a much more effective means of increasing the practical rate of fire, including at large values of aiming time and loading time.
The cases considered do not cover the entire variety of factors influencing the value of the practical rate of fire. The latter, for example, can be noticeably reduced due to delays in shooting caused by insufficient reliability of the weapon mechanisms, as well as due to breaks in shooting necessary to change the barrel (in weapons with an interchangeable barrel).
The Shooting Manuals (NSM) and Service Manuals usually provide specific values for the practical rate of fire, sometimes called the combat rate of fire. It must be borne in mind that the practical rate of fire indicated in the Manuals and Service Manuals is established on the basis of experimental firing under the most favorable conditions, corresponding to the minimum values of aiming time and loading time. Therefore, it should be considered as the limiting value of the combat rate of fire, which in reality will be lower than the noted values due to the influence of the combat situation, the permissible fire regime and other reasons that cannot be taken into account.
Fire mode
The fire mode refers to the rate of fire of a weapon obtained when performing a given fire task, based on established type fire (single, short or long bursts, continuous) and firing time. For each type of weapon there is a maximum fire regime, determined by the technical capabilities of the weapon related to ensuring the failure-free operation of its mechanisms, maintaining the strength and survivability of parts and safe handling when firing.
11.43 mm Thompson M.1928A1 submachine gun.
Rate of fire - 600 - 725 rounds/min;
practical rate of fire
- single fire - 40 rounds/min,
- automatic - 90 rounds/min
Prolonged shooting at a high rate of fire can lead to excessive heating of the barrel, which sharply reduces its survivability, deteriorates shooting accuracy and creates the danger of spontaneous ignition of the cartridge charge in the chamber. The latter circumstance reduces the safety of handling weapons; in this case, an accidental shot can occur when the barrel is not closed (for example, when eliminating delays in shooting when the moving parts of the automation are on the sear).
In view of this, it is necessary to pay Special attention for timely cooling of the barrel during firing, especially in automatic weapons capable of conducting continuous fire and fire in long bursts for a long time (single, mounted and heavy machine guns). In these weapons, to ensure a high rate of fire, which is required during certain periods of combat, the barrels are usually made more massive, which protects them from excessively rapid heating. In addition, this weapon is equipped with spare barrels, allowing the heated barrel to be replaced in a short period of time during firing.
To obtain the required fire regime, along with barrel cooling, it is necessary to periodically clean and lubricate small arms parts in order to eliminate delays in the operation of its mechanisms and ensure the necessary survivability.
Thus, the maximum fire mode limits the increase in the rate of fire above a certain norm, at which the normal operation of the weapon may be disrupted.
Since for each specific type of small arms the main influence on the rate of fire is the length of the burst, the latter should be set taking into account not only ensuring maximum shooting efficiency, but also maintaining a normal fire regime. Specific values for this burst length are usually indicated in the Shooting Manuals and Service Manuals, which also provide standards for the maximum number of shots before cooling or replacing the heated barrel.
Sergey Monetchikov
Photo by Vladimir Nikolaychuk
and from the author's archive
Brother 10-2008
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