5.8×42mm DBP87

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 5.8×42mm DBP10
Specifications
Parent case	None
Case type	Rimless, bottleneck[1]
Bullet diameter	6.00 mm (0.236 in)
Neck diameter	6.65 mm (0.262 in)
Shoulder diameter	9.35 mm (0.368 in)
Base diameter	10.40 mm (0.409 in)
Rim diameter	10.42 mm (0.410 in)
Rim thickness	1.42 mm (0.056 in)
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 gr) FMJ 950 m/s (3,100 ft/s) 1,873 J (1,381 ft·lbf) 5 g (77 gr) FMJ 870 m/s (2,900 ft/s) 1,892 J (1,395 ft·lbf)
Test barrel length: 557mm Source(s): Anthony Williams [2][3]

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 heavy steel core for increased range and penetration.

History

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.

The 5.8×42mm is an example of an international tendency towards relatively small sized, light weight, high velocity military service cartridges. Cartridges like the American 5.56×45mm NATO, Soviet 5.45×39mm and 5.8×42mm allow a soldier to carry more ammunition for the same weight compared to their larger and heavier predecessor cartridges and produce relatively low bolt thrust and free recoil impulse, favouring light weight arms design and automatic fire accuracy.^[2]

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.

Performance

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 LSW (557 mm barrel length), with a 64-grain bullet weighing 4.15 grams. In order to save cost, several compromises were made. In particular, the cartridge case is made of steel, which is cheaper than brass. To reduce the chance of rust, the case 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. A cleaner-burning propellant and a non-corrosive primer is used for the DBP-87.^[4]

The 5.8×42mm DBP-88 “heavy round” cartridge has a 70-grain bullet and a muzzle velocity of 870 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.^[5][6]

A new match round has been designed for QBU-88 to improve the rifle's complained accuracy, though no official information has been given.^{[citation needed]}

The People's Liberation Army claims that the 5.8×42mm is superior to the 5.56×45mm NATO SS109 and the 5.45×39mm M74. It has better armor penetration of 10 mm at 300 meters, a flatter trajectory, and more retained velocity and energy at range.^[2]

The newest DBP10 version is designed to match all currently serving 5.8 mm caliber weapons, and will replace all previous DBP87/95 and DBP88 5.8x42mm rounds. Major improvements include a streamlined shape, non-corrosive primer, a reduction in the diameter of the steel core, and a copper-coated steel case with a copper alloy bullet jacket. It has a cleaner burning propellant so as not to leave residue inside the weapon after firing, as well as a heavier 77-grain bullet for better penetration of armor and other hard substances. However, although testing of the previous DBP87/95 5.8 mm rounds showed that they were less likely to cause serious wounds, the issue was not addressed with the new DBP10 round.^[7][8][9]

Use

• Chinese Type 87 assault rifle
• Chinese Type 95 / QBZ-95 assault rifle
• Chinese Type 95B / QBZ-95B carbine
• Chinese Type 95 LSW / Type 95 SAW / QBB-95 light support weapon / squad automatic weapon^[5]
• Chinese Type 88 / QBU-88 sniper rifle
• Chinese Type 03 / QBZ-03 assault rifle
• Chinese Type 88 / QJY-88 light machine gun
• Chinese Carbine portion ZH-05^[10]

See also

• 5 mm caliber
• 6mm BR
• List of rifle cartridges

References

External links

• Photo of 5.8 × 42mm ammunition
• QBZ-95 assault rifle
• QBZ-95 5.8mm Automatic Weapons
• PLA Moves Its Assault Rifle To Next Level by David M. Fortier
• Speculations On Load Choice, Development by David M. Fortier