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Tungsten cored 12.7x99mm?
- Thread starter EODGUY
- Start date
12.7 x 99mm C44
I looked through Janes and the only ammunition they list of Russia is 12.7 x 108mm.
Quoted from Janes "This cartridge was originally developed for the Degtyarev DK heavy machine gun in the late 1920s. It is the Russian equivalent to the US .50 Browning (12.7 99), with a virtually identical performance, its larger case not providing any energy benefits due to its lower chamber pressure. Commencing operation in the 1930s, it was used for the Degtyarev DShK series of guns and, during the Second World War, also in the UB (Universal Berezin) aircraft machine gun. It has remained in use to the present day, being widely distributed, and more modern machine guns have been developed for it."
Canada does use a 12.7 x 99mm cartridge with a tungsten penetrator that is designated Cartridge Cal .50 AP-T C44. The core is tungsten carbide weighing 46 grams .
I looked through Janes and the only ammunition they list of Russia is 12.7 x 108mm.
Quoted from Janes "This cartridge was originally developed for the Degtyarev DK heavy machine gun in the late 1920s. It is the Russian equivalent to the US .50 Browning (12.7 99), with a virtually identical performance, its larger case not providing any energy benefits due to its lower chamber pressure. Commencing operation in the 1930s, it was used for the Degtyarev DShK series of guns and, during the Second World War, also in the UB (Universal Berezin) aircraft machine gun. It has remained in use to the present day, being widely distributed, and more modern machine guns have been developed for it."
Canada does use a 12.7 x 99mm cartridge with a tungsten penetrator that is designated Cartridge Cal .50 AP-T C44. The core is tungsten carbide weighing 46 grams .
Last edited:
Tony Williams
Well-Known Member
I'm not aware of any Russian production of .50 BMG (their main cartridge plants only advertise Russian calibres).
OTOH, China makes all of the major Western military ammo types. I need to update Jane's Ammunition Handbook (I managed to get hold of some Chinese catalogues at Eurosatory) since China offers various .50 BMG including APDS.
OTOH, China makes all of the major Western military ammo types. I need to update Jane's Ammunition Handbook (I managed to get hold of some Chinese catalogues at Eurosatory) since China offers various .50 BMG including APDS.
Russia is actually making a tungsten carbide cored 12.7x108 but is not related to your question.
Yours here, when designated C44, is actually a Canadian 12.7x99 BMG. In Canada only restricted to war time use as I have been told but Denmark for example is spraying them on it's ranges.
Yours here, when designated C44, is actually a Canadian 12.7x99 BMG. In Canada only restricted to war time use as I have been told but Denmark for example is spraying them on it's ranges.