Submachine guns: a new design and design tricks
Submachine gun: yesterday, today, tomorrow. In the past, we talked about the fundamental possibility of creating new submachine guns for a completely unusual cartridge, and the bullet in this cartridge was completely unusual. But as long as such exoticism is hardly worth counting on. Therefore, the creators of new submachine guns today are going in two ways: the first is a new design that facilitates the use of weapons, and the second - the original inner filling. There is a third, the most banal, but also having the right to exist.
And it was that at the end of 1988, the French firm GIAT decided to take part in the creation of the PDW submachine gun, in which the newly developed cartridges 5,7x25 mm, its own design, were to be used. These cartridges were an analogue of the Belgian small caliber cartridges 5,7x28 mm, which were used in Р90.
The engineers who had to develop it proceeded from the fact that it would have to shoot at a distance of no more than 50-100 meters, but his bullets should be pierced with body armor. And this was achieved: at a distance of 100 m the bullet of this cartridge pierced a steel sheet with a thickness of 3,5 mm. They decided to place the shop in a pistol grip in order to reduce the weight of the weapon to the limit. It was believed that without cartridges it should not be heavier than 1500 grams.
The design was chosen the most simple: free shutter. But the design of the new model turned out clearly unusual. Firstly, it was completely flat, which facilitated the hidden wearing of this PP. Secondly, its dimensions were small: the length of the entire 300 mm, and the width - of the total 30. And that “zest” of its design became two handles at once. One in front and the other in the back! This was done for ease of retention and quick pointing of the weapon at the target when it suddenly appears, and that it would be convenient to shoot from the hip and on the go. On two handles there were two triggers at once: one for automatic firing, the other for firing single shots.
PP received the name GIAT ADR, but remained a prototype. He looked very strange. A second sample was made, not so surprising, with just one trigger and a fire interpreter.
The magazine on the 20 cartridges, as on the first sample, was in the rear pistol grip. Firing range up to 100 meters without changes in sight. The rate of fire ranged from 300 to 1000 shots per minute. Since he was shot in seconds, a round multi-cartridge magazine was envisaged. In the front handle there was a slot for a spare store, which was convenient. The only inconvenient thing was that the shells were extracted upwards right in front of the shooter’s face.
As a result, this PP was never adopted, but ... served as a definite step forward.
Two pens helped to better hold the weapon, but did not compensate for the return and tossing of the barrel. Meanwhile, the requirements for accuracy of firing from submachine guns continuously increased, which led to the emergence of such an unusual weapon, which is the "Vector" - a submachine gun, the company "Transformational Defense Industries". It used a semi-free-bolt system of the original design, which, after a shot, directs the entire bolt group at a large angle downwards. This system is called Kriss Super V.
From the designers of this PP, it was necessary to ensure high accuracy when firing bursts of powerful .45 ACP cartridges. In addition, it was necessary to reduce the size of the submachine gun and its weight. It was decided to use the patents of the French designer Renault Kerba, who invented the original slide, rolling back at an angle, and creating a new model based on it. The first sample appeared in 2005 year and immediately attracted the attention of specialists. It was noted that the use of the KRISS Super V system during firing by the burst made the barrel to be raised very insignificant, which guaranteed the accuracy of automatic fire from such a large-caliber PP. It turned out that "Vector" is therefore significantly better than the German 11,43-mm UMP45.
The main thing here, of course, is the Reno Curra Gate. He invented a shutter, on which there is a counterweight on the back, and when he moves back after a shot, this counterweight goes down almost vertically, for which there is a special nest behind the neck of the store. That is, its rollback is carried out in such a way that the friction force slows it down, while the counterweight itself shifts down and compresses the return spring. The control handle is located higher than the handles of other PPs. In particular, the trigger is located on the axis of the barrel, and also on the axis of the barrel is the top of the butt plate. If so, then the point of emphasis in the shoulder and the recoil momentum vector are combined. All these tricks make it possible to have a fairly smooth and controlled return, as well as to almost completely eliminate the barrel toss, which would only aggravate the high rate of fire. At the same time, the design of this submachine gun itself is very unusual, and as many say - “it hurts their eyes.”
Speaking about the prospects of this type of shutter, we can say that gunsmiths do not aspire to copy the “Vector” despite all its advantages. However, you can offer another shutter, its practical equivalent, but more familiar in appearance. The shutter is small, light, has a small gear in the upper part. Above the closure there is a massive metal block with serrated cutting inside, so that the wheel is recessed inside this block and protected from contamination. The spring is located above the barrel in front. When fired, the bolt goes backwards, and the block goes forward, the center of gravity changes and the barrel is thrown upwards not so active anymore. However, this is nothing more than an assumption, but how it will look in the metal and whether “it” will work ... should be considered by the experts.
The “combat” version of the SMG “Vector” is intended for military, various law enforcement agencies and law enforcement agencies. It has a short barrel with a length of 140 mm, while the civilian version of the Vector CRB / SO has a barrel with a length of 406 mm (this is required by US law), and a muffler simulator is put on top of it for aesthetics. Queues he can not shoot. But where the law allows it, it is quite possible to buy the "Vector" in the civilian version of the SBR / SO, which has a short stem. All options "Vector" have Picatinny rail, both above the receiver and under the barrel, so that it can "catch" and collimator, and various optical sights, and more - a tactical flashlight, laser pointer and an additional front handle. Shops of two types: short, on 17 cartridges, the same as in the gun "Glock 21", and long, on 30.
The third way is also associated with the design, as well as with the gradual improvement of technological methods and the emergence of new materials. Its essence is to create a completely banal in design pistol-machine guns, a completely normal design, but ... extremely simple and cheap, designed for the most discerning buyer. One of them was the Intratex TEC-DC9 (or simply TEC-9), developed by George Kellgren in Sweden again in the 1980-ies of the last century, and which, by analogy with the Scorpion, is considered a self-loading pistol.
TEC-9 has become particularly popular among the underworld, as it is easy to remake for automatic fire. In addition, using it, it is not a pity to throw it away, which cannot be said about expensive PP samples. It was TEC-9 in Dylan Klebold who used the massacre at Columbine school in Colorado in 1999.
This submachine gun has a traditional free gate, and the fire from it is conducted from a closed gate, which has a positive effect on accuracy, and the trigger on it is of a shock type. The cylinder-shaped shutter moves in a tube-shaped receiver, which is integral with the barrel cover with perforations applied to it. The bolt handle is on the left, and is a fuse: with it, the bolt and the drummer are blocked. Details such as a pistol grip, made integral with the trigger guard and the neck of the magazine, are made of plastic. Sights are very simple, and simply welded to the receiver.
Box-type stores of three types: on the 10, 20 or 32 cartridge. Both long and very impractical, albeit “cool” in appearance, shops containing 50 cartridges were produced. However, production of the AB-10 model with an 50 magazine for cartridges was stopped in the 2001 year. The caliber, in fact, is standard for Western European software - 9-mm, cartridges - the most common 9 × 19-mm “Parabellum”. Only a little longer than ADR: 317 vs. 300 mm.
To be continued ...
Late prototype ADR, side view
The first path - the original design
And it was that at the end of 1988, the French firm GIAT decided to take part in the creation of the PDW submachine gun, in which the newly developed cartridges 5,7x25 mm, its own design, were to be used. These cartridges were an analogue of the Belgian small caliber cartridges 5,7x28 mm, which were used in Р90.
The engineers who had to develop it proceeded from the fact that it would have to shoot at a distance of no more than 50-100 meters, but his bullets should be pierced with body armor. And this was achieved: at a distance of 100 m the bullet of this cartridge pierced a steel sheet with a thickness of 3,5 mm. They decided to place the shop in a pistol grip in order to reduce the weight of the weapon to the limit. It was believed that without cartridges it should not be heavier than 1500 grams.
Late prototype ADR and FAMAS rifle
The design was chosen the most simple: free shutter. But the design of the new model turned out clearly unusual. Firstly, it was completely flat, which facilitated the hidden wearing of this PP. Secondly, its dimensions were small: the length of the entire 300 mm, and the width - of the total 30. And that “zest” of its design became two handles at once. One in front and the other in the back! This was done for ease of retention and quick pointing of the weapon at the target when it suddenly appears, and that it would be convenient to shoot from the hip and on the go. On two handles there were two triggers at once: one for automatic firing, the other for firing single shots.
Late prototype ADR, top view
PP received the name GIAT ADR, but remained a prototype. He looked very strange. A second sample was made, not so surprising, with just one trigger and a fire interpreter.
ADR, front view. Plastic store downstairs
The magazine on the 20 cartridges, as on the first sample, was in the rear pistol grip. Firing range up to 100 meters without changes in sight. The rate of fire ranged from 300 to 1000 shots per minute. Since he was shot in seconds, a round multi-cartridge magazine was envisaged. In the front handle there was a slot for a spare store, which was convenient. The only inconvenient thing was that the shells were extracted upwards right in front of the shooter’s face.
As a result, this PP was never adopted, but ... served as a definite step forward.
Path Two - Changes in Design
Two pens helped to better hold the weapon, but did not compensate for the return and tossing of the barrel. Meanwhile, the requirements for accuracy of firing from submachine guns continuously increased, which led to the emergence of such an unusual weapon, which is the "Vector" - a submachine gun, the company "Transformational Defense Industries". It used a semi-free-bolt system of the original design, which, after a shot, directs the entire bolt group at a large angle downwards. This system is called Kriss Super V.
Shooting from Vector, 2010
From the designers of this PP, it was necessary to ensure high accuracy when firing bursts of powerful .45 ACP cartridges. In addition, it was necessary to reduce the size of the submachine gun and its weight. It was decided to use the patents of the French designer Renault Kerba, who invented the original slide, rolling back at an angle, and creating a new model based on it. The first sample appeared in 2005 year and immediately attracted the attention of specialists. It was noted that the use of the KRISS Super V system during firing by the burst made the barrel to be raised very insignificant, which guaranteed the accuracy of automatic fire from such a large-caliber PP. It turned out that "Vector" is therefore significantly better than the German 11,43-mm UMP45.
"Vector" with folded butt
"Vector" with folded butt
The main thing here, of course, is the Reno Curra Gate. He invented a shutter, on which there is a counterweight on the back, and when he moves back after a shot, this counterweight goes down almost vertically, for which there is a special nest behind the neck of the store. That is, its rollback is carried out in such a way that the friction force slows it down, while the counterweight itself shifts down and compresses the return spring. The control handle is located higher than the handles of other PPs. In particular, the trigger is located on the axis of the barrel, and also on the axis of the barrel is the top of the butt plate. If so, then the point of emphasis in the shoulder and the recoil momentum vector are combined. All these tricks make it possible to have a fairly smooth and controlled return, as well as to almost completely eliminate the barrel toss, which would only aggravate the high rate of fire. At the same time, the design of this submachine gun itself is very unusual, and as many say - “it hurts their eyes.”
"Vector". Plastic parts
Speaking about the prospects of this type of shutter, we can say that gunsmiths do not aspire to copy the “Vector” despite all its advantages. However, you can offer another shutter, its practical equivalent, but more familiar in appearance. The shutter is small, light, has a small gear in the upper part. Above the closure there is a massive metal block with serrated cutting inside, so that the wheel is recessed inside this block and protected from contamination. The spring is located above the barrel in front. When fired, the bolt goes backwards, and the block goes forward, the center of gravity changes and the barrel is thrown upwards not so active anymore. However, this is nothing more than an assumption, but how it will look in the metal and whether “it” will work ... should be considered by the experts.
The scheme of action of the shutter in the submachine gun "Vector".
The “combat” version of the SMG “Vector” is intended for military, various law enforcement agencies and law enforcement agencies. It has a short barrel with a length of 140 mm, while the civilian version of the Vector CRB / SO has a barrel with a length of 406 mm (this is required by US law), and a muffler simulator is put on top of it for aesthetics. Queues he can not shoot. But where the law allows it, it is quite possible to buy the "Vector" in the civilian version of the SBR / SO, which has a short stem. All options "Vector" have Picatinny rail, both above the receiver and under the barrel, so that it can "catch" and collimator, and various optical sights, and more - a tactical flashlight, laser pointer and an additional front handle. Shops of two types: short, on 17 cartridges, the same as in the gun "Glock 21", and long, on 30.
Intratex TEC-DC9 with 30 magazine cartridges.
The third way is easier and cheaper
The third way is also associated with the design, as well as with the gradual improvement of technological methods and the emergence of new materials. Its essence is to create a completely banal in design pistol-machine guns, a completely normal design, but ... extremely simple and cheap, designed for the most discerning buyer. One of them was the Intratex TEC-DC9 (or simply TEC-9), developed by George Kellgren in Sweden again in the 1980-ies of the last century, and which, by analogy with the Scorpion, is considered a self-loading pistol.
Intratex TEC-DC9 from the manual.
TEC-9 has become particularly popular among the underworld, as it is easy to remake for automatic fire. In addition, using it, it is not a pity to throw it away, which cannot be said about expensive PP samples. It was TEC-9 in Dylan Klebold who used the massacre at Columbine school in Colorado in 1999.
Dylan Klebold at Columbine School. Photo from camcorder
This submachine gun has a traditional free gate, and the fire from it is conducted from a closed gate, which has a positive effect on accuracy, and the trigger on it is of a shock type. The cylinder-shaped shutter moves in a tube-shaped receiver, which is integral with the barrel cover with perforations applied to it. The bolt handle is on the left, and is a fuse: with it, the bolt and the drummer are blocked. Details such as a pistol grip, made integral with the trigger guard and the neck of the magazine, are made of plastic. Sights are very simple, and simply welded to the receiver.
Intratex options
Box-type stores of three types: on the 10, 20 or 32 cartridge. Both long and very impractical, albeit “cool” in appearance, shops containing 50 cartridges were produced. However, production of the AB-10 model with an 50 magazine for cartridges was stopped in the 2001 year. The caliber, in fact, is standard for Western European software - 9-mm, cartridges - the most common 9 × 19-mm “Parabellum”. Only a little longer than ADR: 317 vs. 300 mm.
Intratex TEC-DC9: plastic and metal ...
To be continued ...
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