| 5.8×42mm | ||
|---|---|---|
DBP87 round |
||
| Type | Rifle | |
| Place of origin | People's Republic of China | |
| Service history | ||
| Used by | China | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Chinese Military | |
| Designed | 1979–1987 | |
| Produced | 1987–Present | |
| Variants | 5.8×42mm DBP-87 5.8×42mm DBP-95 5.8×42mm DBP-88 heavy round |
|
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | None | |
| Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |
| Case length | 42.2 mm (1.66 in) | |
| Overall length | 58 mm (2.3 in) | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 4.15 g (64.0 gr) FMJ | 930 m/s (3,100 ft/s) | 1,795 J (1,324 ft·lbf) |
| 5 g (77 gr) FMJ | 895 m/s (2,940 ft/s) | 2,003 J (1,477 ft·lbf) |
| Source(s): Anthony Williams [1][2] | ||
The 5.8×42mm / DBP87 ("Dàn (弹) Bùqiāng (步枪) Pŭtòng (普通), 1987"; literally "Standard Rifle Cartridge, 1987") is a rifle cartridge developed in the People's Republic of China. There is limited information on this cartridge, although the Chinese military claims that it is superior to the 5.56×45mm NATO and 5.45×39mm Soviet cartridges. Another variant called the 5.8×42mm “heavy round” was designed specifically for squad automatic weapons and sniper rifles. The 5.8×42mm “heavy round” cartridge has the same dimensions as the standard 5.8mm cartridge, but utilizes a longer streamlined bullet with a steel core for increased range and penetration.
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China started development of the 5.8×42mm / DBP87 in 1979 and finished in 1987. The 5.8×42mm / DBP87 was designed to replace the Soviet 7.62×39mm cartridge used by the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The Type 95 / QBZ-95 (Chinese: 轻武器,步枪,自动, 1995; Pinyin: Qīng wǔqì, Bùqiāng, Zìdòng, 1995; literally "Light weapon, Rifle, Automatic, 1995") 5.8 mm caliber assault rifle, firing the 5.8×42mm / DBP87 or the improved DBP95, is now the standard issue weapon in the PLA.
In June, 2004, an improved version of the 5.8x42mm cartridge entered development as the matching ammunition for the revised assault rifle, Type 95-1. Both designs were finalized in 2010 and production began the same year. This new cartridge is known as DBP10.
The 5.8×42mm / DBP-87/95 cartridge has a muzzle velocity of 930 m/s from a standard barrel (Type 95 / QBZ-95, 463 mm barrel length) and 940 to 960 m/s from the Type 95 SAW (557 mm barrel length), with a bullet weighing 4.15 grams. In order to save cost, several compromises have been made. In particular, the shell casing is made of steel, which is cheaper than brass. To reduce the chance of rust, the casing is covered in a thin layer of protective paint in dark brown. Steel is less flexible than brass and therefore does not fill the chamber cavity as well when fired, decreasing the performance. Furthermore, cheap but corrosive primer and propellant were chosen for DBP-87 initially. As China's military budget increased recently, the newer DBP-95 variant was loaded with a cleaner-burning propellant and a non-corrosive primer.[3]
The 5.8×42mm DBP-88 “heavy round” cartridge has a muzzle velocity of 970 m/s from the Type 95 LSW / Type 95 SAW / QBB-95 (557 mm barrel length) and 895 m/s from the Type 88 / QBU-88 (620 mm barrel length). It has an effective range of 800 m and can penetrate 3 mm steel plates at a distance of 1000 m. It is reported to have very good accuracy at 600 meters.[4][5]
A new match round has been designed for QBU-88 to improve the rifle's complained accuracy, though no official information has been given.
The People's Liberation Army claims that the 5.8×42mm DBP87 has better penetration than the 5.56×45mm NATO and the 5.45×39mm M74.
The newest version, DBP10, having been designed to match all currently serving 5.8mm caliber weapons, will replace all previous 5.8x42mm rounds. Major improvements include a streamlined shape, non-corrosive primer, a reduction in the diameter of the steel core, and a change to copper-based alloy for the jacket (previously copper-coated steel).
