Gw Pat.90
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The Gw Pat.90 ammunition is the 5.56 mm standard small arms ammunition used by the Swiss military in its assault rifle, the SIG 550.
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[edit] History
The GP 90 5.6 mm was designed for the SIG 550 when it came into production in 1987, replacing the SIG 510. Previous experience of a change in standard rifle had proved that changing the distance of fire for the training ranges was more expensive than the design of a new ammunition; this prompted the design of a cartridge nominally capable at 300 metres. The Swiss refer to the round as 5.6mm, although it is interchangeable with the 5.56 x 45 mm NATO round.
[edit] Characteristics
- Weight 12.7 g
[edit] Production and usage
The cartridge was also designed to reduce pollution by controlling lead emissions. The ammunition is produced by RUAG Munition, a company of the RUAG technology group [1]. It is a steel jacketed projectile containing approximately 95% Pb, 2% Sb, 3% Cu, and designed for terminal ballistic instability such that wounding tends to maim and disable rather than kill while still complying with the Hague Conventions on the Customs of War.[citation needed]
The Gw Pat.90 is used both in the Swiss military and in sport shooting. The very high level of individual training in the Swiss militia (every single soldier bearing a weapon has to shoot for qualification once a year; see Gun politics in Switzerland) and the overall use of the Gw Pat.90 by the many Swiss citizens who shoot in competitions and for amusement has resulted in significant input on its usage. Over 1 billion cartridges have been produced as of 2005.
