Sniper pistol from the Czech Republic. 7.5 FK Field Pistol
The weapon immediately attracted attention and overgrown with rumors, and sometimes outright fantasies that did not correspond to reality. Let's try to get acquainted with this gun in more detail, and at the same time give it a more or less adequate assessment.
New ammunition for the gun 7.5 FK Field Pistol - cartridge 7,5x27
If to be consistent, then you need to start to get acquainted with the new weapon from the ammunition, since it is the cartridge that lays down the main characteristics and possible further development of the structure. In this case, the acquaintance must be started with the cartridge also because the ammunition is new, not previously used in another weapon.
The new ammunition, with the metric designation 7,5х27, is a bottle-shaped sleeve, with a millimeter 10,8 bottom diameter, and a long bullet deep in it, which, depending on the version, weighs from 6,17 to 6,67 gram. The powder charge of the new cartridge accelerates the bullet to 610 meters per second, that is, the kinetic energy of the missile projectile in the most "heavy" performance of more than 1200 Joule. At a distance of 100 meters, the speed of a bullet drops to 465 meters per second, respectively, its kinetic energy is already less - about 700 Joule, which many common rounds for pistols do not reach, even at the moment of departure from the barrel.
Another reason why acquaintance with a weapon should be started with ammunition is the accuracy of a pistol. No matter how unique and perfect the design of the weapon would be, it is impossible to achieve acceptable accuracy in it, without the appropriate ammunition, even at a distance of 100 meters. Looking ahead, you can immediately say that it is thanks to the cartridge that such unprecedented indicators of firing accuracy are achieved.
Work on the new ammunition was begun in the 2010 year, for five years the designers not only changed the shape of the liner, the powder composition, but also tested a variety of bullets. In the first place for designers was the high accuracy of the new ammunition, which explains the length of the bullet. With a short body, a bullet would just be unstable. But, in addition to accuracy, it was necessary to provide the new ammunition with armor-piercing qualities, while retaining the sufficient striking ability of the bullet. In other words, the designers have done a tremendous amount of work, although it took almost five years to do it.
Looking at the 7,5x28 ammunition, one cannot get rid of the thought of the external similarity of the new cartridge with our domestic 7,62x25. This similarity was instantly picked up by many, the fruit of an infinite number of not the most reasonable statements about apparent identity. In fact, the cartridges are completely different, both in their metric parameters and in other characteristics, and they have nothing in common.
Undoubtedly, the cartridge 7,62х25 - this is ammunition, which, as it is fashionable to say, ahead of its time. Even now, on the basis of the old cartridge for the TT, you can make quite a modern one that would be ideally suited for the same army pistol, but so far they are not doing this, at least such information is not publicly available.
Is it possible to make a cartridge, similar in its characteristics 7,5x27, based on the cartridge 7,62x25? Of course, it is possible, only for this it is necessary to change the liner to a more durable one, replace the bullet and the powder charge. From the old ammunition will only metric characteristics. Do not forget that under such ammunition will need and new weapons, as the old samples, firstly, the old, and secondly, will not be able to work with more powerful ammunition.
Well, to finally convince that the new Czech cartridge is not 7,62x25, the following characteristics of our ammunition can be cited. The diameter of the bottom of the liner is 9,84 millimeter, the height of the liner is 25,1 millimeter. A bullet can have a mass from 5,49 to 5,52 gram. The initial speed of a bullet when firing a TT pistol, from 420 to 500 meters per second. Accordingly, the kinetic energy of the bullet will be a maximum of about 700 Joule at the muzzle of the gun, while the same 700 Joule has a bullet 7,5х27, having covered a distance of 100 meters.
In other words, the comparison of the new Czech cartridge, and even more so the search for its roots in the domestic 7,62x25 munition, is at least incorrect. Czech ammunition is a completely new cartridge.
At the end, I would like to add the data on ballistics, but the manufacturer does not yet provide them.
Balanced automatic gun 7.5 FK Field Pistol
Another noteworthy misconception is the presence of balanced automation in the 7.5 FK Field Pistol. High rates of accuracy and accuracy of fire from weapons immediately led many to the idea that the gun itself was not at all simple. They added fuel to the fire and the statements of the manufacturer that the recoil of the weapon is less than that of the pistols using a sufficiently powerful cartridge .45АСР + Р. At the presentation, everybody asserted that the design of the weapon allows minimizing throwing up when firing. All this, together with the presence of a large tide under the barrel, gave rise to a wrong opinion about the design of the pistol.
Having put together “one plus one”, many made a completely logical and even reasonable conclusion about the design of the new 7.5 FK Field Pistol. The train of thought was right: the pistol is more accurate than other weapons of this class, the pistol is more stable when firing, the pistol has a small return - a balanced automatic system is used in the pistol.
Indeed, weapons with balanced automatics are more comfortable in firing and precise, but not always, by folding “one plus one”, you can get “two”. It all depends on the calculation system, and the 7.5 FK Field Pistol is exactly this case.
In fairness it should be noted that the designers themselves initially looked in the direction of a balanced automation system, but still at the design stage of the weapon. During the search for the optimal design, variants with removal of powder gases from the barrel bore were tested, where the powder gases not only set the bolt group in motion, but also pushed the balance bar under the barrel to balance the movement of the bolt group back. Such an automation system had to be abandoned due to the high cost of production, the complexity of maintenance and the overall low reliability of the system, even for small soils.
The automation system with a semi-free shutter with locking rollers and a variety of ways to transfer energy from the gate group to the balance bar was also considered. But this had to be abandoned for the same reasons.
Information on the development of new weapons in different ways was provided online, and by the time the finished product was presented, a description could be found of up to three options for various automation systems, confirmed by colorful pictures. Apparently this was the reason why in many weapon forums you can still meet people who are confident that a balanced automation system is used in the 7.5 FK Field Pistol. In fact, the design of weapons less exotic, but this will be slightly lower.
The appearance and ergonomics of the gun 7.5 FK Field Pistol
The appearance of the gun 7.5 FK Field Pistol is not quite normal. Separately, the tide stands out in the frame of the weapon under the barrel, which makes the already not very small gun visually even larger. Many compare this weapon with the "Desert Eagle". Undoubtedly, the dimensions and unusual appearance distinguish the 7.5 FK Field Pistol against the background of others, but the pistols have nothing in common with the design or appearance.
It is interesting that the gun is devoid of any sharp edges, which makes it less “brutal”, but more convenient to operate. Despite the fairly long ammunition, the designers tried to make the handle of the weapon as convenient as possible for a reliable grip, due to grooves under the index finger and tapering from above. To protect the hands from the housing-bolt in the process of shooting and increasing the area of support weapons there is a full-sized "beaver tail."
On the casing-gate there are small notches for a confident grip in both the front and rear parts. Separately, it is worth noting sights, which are represented entirely and front sight in the version of the company Brno, called "The Butterfly Sing". Rear sight can be replaced by another suitable for the seat. It can be removed altogether, and a collimator sight can be installed in its place.
It is impossible not to notice the magazine's eject button protruding from the weapon's frame. It can be rearranged to the side convenient for the shooter. Actually, this is the only element that makes the weapon comfortable for left-handers and right-handers. Too much height of the button above the surface of the pistol frame suggests that not all 7.5 FK Field Pistol holsters will be “friends”, accidental pressing the button to remove the magazine is not excluded. But if you need fast reloading, it is simply impossible to miss such a large element.
On the left side of the 7.5 FK Field Pistol, there are two more weapon control elements on the frame: the slide gate lever and the fuse switch. They are made with large parts that are likely to be comfortable even when using weapons in warm gloves, while all the sharp edges on them are smoothed, so that foreign objects cannot catch on them.
The safety bracket has a bend in its front part and notches. Most modern pistols can not boast of such a form of safety bracket, and yet not so long ago it was widespread.
The most important feature of the weapon, which immediately catches the eye when it is superficially studied, is the material from which the gun is made. The weapon is completely steel, except for the overlays on the handle. Apparently, the designers have not been able to introduce a plastic frame that would cope with the impact of the new powerful cartridge.
7.5 FK Field Pistol Pistol Design
As mentioned above, the pistol does not use any of the common schemes for balanced automation. Nevertheless, the design of the gun is quite interesting, although it seems familiar to many.
After going through all the possible options for automation systems, the designers stopped at the one that Browning offered, namely the automation system with a short stroke of the weapon. Of course, in the form that it was originally not used, it was slightly modified, although the essence remained the same.
The barrel of the 7.5 FK Field Pistol has, under the breech, a dovetail guide that is made at a slight angle relative to the cover-gate. In the frame of the weapon is installed liner, which remains stationary in the process of shooting and which takes place to mount the barrel on this guide. Adhesion of the barrel to the cover-shutter is provided by tides on the barrel and protrusions on the inner surface of the cover-shutter. It all works in the same way as the variants of automation systems with a swinging earring or with a figured notch at high tide under the barrel and a pin passing through it. When fired, the barrel remains engaged with the bolt and begins to move with it backward, sliding along the guide. Since the guide is not parallel to the casing-bolt, when moving backwards, the breech body of the barrel is reduced relative to the casing-bolt, coming out of the clutch. When the bolt group moves forward, it pushes the barrel, which again, sliding along the guide, enters into engagement with its projections against the inner surface of the housing-bolt.
As you can see, there is absolutely nothing new in the operation of the automation system, except that the implementation of the barrel offset relative to the housing-bolt is implemented in such a way as to ensure greater structural strength and accuracy of the weapon. There are quite legitimate questions why manufacturers talked about low recoil when shooting and compensating for the deviation of the weapon from the aiming point? Why do you need a massive tide under the barrel of a gun? The answers to these questions lie in the return spring.
More specifically, it is not the return spring that makes firing a pistol more comfortable, but a detail that is located in front of it. In the process of working on weapons, it was decided to abandon the balanced automation system not only because of its complexity and overall reduction in weapon reliability, but also because a simpler, though less effective way was found to “defeat” the negative moments when firing powerful ammunition.
Usually in pistols, the bulk of the housing-bolt is located above the barrel of the weapon, which, combined with the location of the barrel above the pistol grip, creates a lever when fired, which is why the pistol tosses up. This explains the desire of gunsmiths to “plant” the barrel of a pistol as low as possible in order to reduce the shoulder of this lever. The designers of Brno, in addition to the low planting of the trunk, introduced another feature into the design, namely, they changed the balance of the housing-bolt. So, before the return spring there is a massive part, which by its weight shifts the center of gravity of the casing-bolt, thereby reducing even further the throwing of the pistol when firing. That is, in the design of a weapon, there is indeed a detail that can be called a balance bar, but it does not compensate for the recoil of the weapon with its mass, but moving in the same direction as the housing-bolt changes the recoil force vector. The total mass of moving parts in the process of shooting "stretches" the moment of impact, which makes it significantly more comfortable, although there is no question of any compensation.
Such a solution may not be as effective as a balanced automation system, but the simplest and reliable, and most importantly, can be implemented in pistols of similar designs without additional changes in the weapon.
Single-action pistol trigger.
Characteristics of the gun 7.5 FK Field Pistol
Weapons for their weight came out really heavy, whole 1300 grams, which is explained by the considerable size and material of which the gun is made. The total length of a 240 pistol millimeters, with a barrel length of 152 millimeters. The height is 136 millimeters. The weapon turned out to be relatively thin for its size and weight, the entire 25,5 millimeters, which visually makes it lighter than it really is. It feeds a pistol from a two-row magazine with a capacity of 15 cartridges.
Positive and negative qualities of the gun 7.5 FK Field Pistol
The main advantage of the new weapon is its accuracy. But here there are some nuances. From a pistol, you can really confidently fall at a distance of 100 meters into a circle with a diameter of 10 centimeters. Even more, from a pistol I managed to lay 5 shots at such a distance in a circle with a diameter of 3,8 centimeters. The only question is where to get an arrow for this weapon? All these fantastic indicators of accuracy were shown on the arms, clamped in the machine. That is, we are talking about the potential possibility of such accurate shooting, and not about its implementation. Yes, the designers tried to minimize the impact of recoil on the weapon, but in the hands of the shooter the gun still does not remain fixed. Of course, the weapon turned out to be more accurate in comparison with modern popular models of pistols and in many respects this is due to the ammunition, not the pistol, but only a few will be able to fully unleash the potential of the weapon. Realizing this, the designers have developed a folding butt for a pistol that is attached to the handle of the weapon.
If the main positive point in the design of the gun 7.5 FK Field Pistol is only one, then there are a lot more negative ones. The main drawback of a weapon is its weight, whatever one may say, but 1300 grams for a modern pistol is too much, but since this is not about weapons that are planned to be worn daily, then you can close your eyes to weight and dimensions.
The second main drawback can be called the very high cost of weapons, as well as the price of ammunition, as well as their small distribution. In order to unlock the potential of the gun will have to train a lot and for a long time, which will lead to high costs of ammunition. Without a proper level of training, the shooter will not be able to show all its capabilities, which means it will not differ much from many others.
Well, if you find fault, then for many the lack of the ability to adapt a left-handed pistol, single-action firing mechanism and so on can play a decisive role, but these are not shortcomings, but personal preferences of individual shooters.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to identify a niche for this new gun. Obviously, the 7.5 FK Field Pistol will never become a service weapon, unless it changes and changes ammunition, as they are now very reluctant to replace the cartridge currently in service, especially for weapons that are not the primary ones.
The appearance of the gun hints at its sportiness and this is probably the only niche that is really free for this weapon. But here the question of the cost of ammunition and their small distribution arises. The fact that the athletes cartridges leave hundreds for training does not surprise anyone. Shooting sports in itself is not the cheapest sport, and special attention is paid to the cost of ammunition. In addition, the new cartridge will need to somehow certify, so while this niche is still inaccessible to the new weapon.
At the moment, the only reasonable use of the new pistol is entertaining shooting and hunting. True, it should be noted here that far from everywhere hunting with short-barreled weapons is popular, and entertaining shooting will still require a large amount of ammunition.
You can often find the opinion that this gun is ideal for weapons in the special forces. The opinion is, at least, strange, since I personally didn’t have a chance to meet someone who wanted to carry with him a precise, but heavy piece of iron in the form of a pistol. In addition to accuracy, the weapon can not boast of any unique parameters that others do not have, specially designed for specific tasks, pistols. So if in the army this gun can be met, it is only thanks to the assistance of non-military officials.
In general, the 7.5 FK Field Pistol pistol, although it is of interest, but in the form in which it is now, the weapon simply cannot find a place for itself. In sum, with the unallocated and expensive patron, the weapon will more likely remain exotic than the actual specimen in demand.
- Mark Poddubny
- fkbrno.com
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