Small Arms Review
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Guns & Parts
    • Suppressors
    • Optics & Thermals
    • Ammunition
    • Gear
    • News & Opinion
    • Columns
    • Museums & Factory Tours
    • ID Guides
    • Interviews
    • Event Coverage
    • Articles by Issue
      • Volume 1
        • V1N1 (Oct 1997)
        • V1N2 (Nov 1997)
        • V1N3 (Dec 1997)
        • V1N4 (Jan 1998)
        • V1N5 (Feb 1998)
        • V1N6 (Mar 1998)
        • V1N7 (Apr 1998)
        • V1N8 (May 1998)
        • V1N9 (Jun 1998)
        • V1N10 (Jul 1998)
        • V1N11 (Aug 1998)
        • V1N12 (Sep 1998)
      • Volume 2
        • V2N1 (Oct 1998)
        • V2N2 (Nov 1998)
        • V2N3 (Dec 1998)
        • V2N4 (Jan 1999)
        • V2N5 (Feb 1999)
        • V2N6 (Mar 1999)
        • V2N7 (Apr 1999)
        • V2N8 (May 1999)
        • V2N9 (Jun 1999)
        • V2N10 (Jul 1999)
        • V2N11 (Aug 1999)
        • V2N12 (Sep 1999)
      • Volume 3
        • V3N1 (Oct 1999)
        • V3N2 (Nov 1999)
        • V3N3 (Dec 1999)
        • V3N4 (Jan 2000)
        • V3N5 (Feb 2000)
        • V3N6 (Mar 2000)
        • V3N7 (Apr 2000)
        • V3N8 (May 2000)
        • V3N9 (Jun 2000)
        • V3N10 (Jul 2000)
        • V3N11 (Aug 2000)
        • V3N12 (Sep 2000)
      • Volume 4
        • V4N1 (Oct 2000)
        • V4N2 (Nov 2000)
        • V4N3 (Dec 2000)
        • V4N4 (Jan 2001)
        • V4N5 (Feb 2001)
        • V4N6 (Mar 2001)
        • V4N7 (Apr 2001)
        • V4N8 (May 2001)
        • V4N9 (Jun 2001)
        • V4N10 (Jul 2001)
        • V4N11 (Aug 2001)
        • V4N12 (Sep 2001)
      • Volume 5
        • V5N1 (Oct 2001)
        • V5N2 (Nov 2001)
        • V5N3 (Dec 2001)
        • V5N4 (Jan 2002)
        • V5N5 (Feb 2002)
        • V5N6 (Mar 2002)
        • V5N7 (Apr 2002)
        • V5N8 (May 2002)
        • V5N9 (Jun 2002)
        • V5N10 (Jul 2002)
        • V5N11 (Aug 2002)
        • V5N12 (Sep 2002)
      • Volume 6
        • V6N1 (Oct 2002)
        • V6N2 (Nov 2002)
        • V6N3 (Dec 2002)
        • V6N4 (Jan 2003)
        • V6N5 (Feb 2003)
        • V6N6 (Mar 2003)
        • V6N7 (Apr 2003)
        • V6N8 (May 2003)
        • V6N9 (Jun 2003)
        • V6N10 (Jul 2003)
        • V6N11 (Aug 2003)
        • V6N12 (Sep 2003)
      • Volume 7
        • V7N1 (Oct 2003)
        • V7N2 (Nov 2003)
        • V7N3 (Dec 2003)
        • V7N4 (Jan 2004)
        • V7N5 (Feb 2004)
        • V7N6 (Mar 2004)
        • V7N7 (Apr 2004)
        • V7N8 (May 2004)
        • V7N9 (Jun 2004)
        • V7N10 (Jul 2004)
        • V7N11 (Aug 2004)
        • V7N12 (Sep 2004)
      • Volume 8
        • V8N1 (Oct 2004)
        • V8N2 (Nov 2004)
        • V8N3 (Dec 2004)
        • V8N4 (Jan 2005)
        • V8N5 (Feb 2005)
        • V8N6 (Mar 2005)
        • V8N7 (Apr 2005)
        • V8N8 (May 2005)
        • V8N9 (Jun 2005)
        • V8N10 (Jul 2005)
        • V8N11 (Aug 2005)
        • V8N12 (Sep 2005)
      • Volume 9
        • V9N1 (Oct 2005)
        • V9N2 (Nov 2005)
        • V9N3 (Dec 2005)
        • V9N4 (Jan 2006)
        • V9N5 (Feb 2006)
        • V9N6 (Mar 2006)
        • V9N7 (Apr 2006)
        • V9N8 (May 2006)
        • V9N9 (Jun 2006)
        • V9N10 (Jul 2006)
        • V9N11 (Aug 2006)
        • V9N12 (Sep 2006)
      • Volume 10
        • V10N1 (Oct 2006)
        • V10N2 (Nov 2006)
        • V10N3 (Dec 2006)
        • V10N4 (Jan 2007)
        • V10N5 (Feb 2007)
        • V10N6 (Mar 2007)
        • V10N7 (Apr 2007)
        • V10N8 (May 2007)
        • V10N9 (Jun 2007)
        • V10N10 (Jul 2007)
        • V10N11 (Aug 2007)
        • V10N12 (Sep 2007)
      • Volume 11
        • V11N1 (Oct 2007)
        • V11N2 (Nov 2007)
        • V11N3 (Dec 2007)
        • V11N4 (Jan 2008)
        • V11N5 (Feb 2008)
        • V11N6 (Mar 2008)
        • V11N7 (Apr 2008)
        • V11N8 (May 2008)
        • V11N9 (Jun 2008)
        • V11N10 (Jul 2008)
        • V11N11 (Aug 2008)
        • V11N12 (Sep 2008)
      • Volume 12
        • V12N1 (Oct 2008)
        • V12N2 (Nov 2008)
        • V12N3 (Dec 2008)
        • V12N4 (Jan 2009)
        • V12N5 (Feb 2009)
        • V12N6 (Mar 2009)
        • V12N7 (Apr 2009)
        • V12N8 (May 2009)
        • V12N9 (Jun 2009)
        • V12N10 (Jul 2009)
        • V12N11 (Aug 2009)
        • V12N12 (Sep 2009)
      • Volume 13
        • V13N1 (Oct 2009)
        • V13N2 (Nov 2009)
        • V13N3 (Dec 2009)
        • V13N4 (Jan 2010)
        • V13N5 (Feb 2010)
        • V13N6 (Mar 2010)
        • V13N7 (Apr 2010)
        • V13N8 (May 2010)
        • V13N9 (Jun 2010)
        • V13N10 (Jul 2010)
        • V13N11 (Aug 2010)
        • V13N12 (Sep 2010)
      • Volume 14
        • V14N1 (Oct 2010)
        • V14N2 (Nov 2010)
        • V14N3 (Dec 2010)
          • Ammunition
        • V14N4 (Jan 2011)
        • V14N5 (Feb 2011)
        • V14N6 (Mar 2011)
        • V14N7 (Apr 2011)
        • V14N8 (May 2011)
        • V14N9 (Jun 2011)
        • V14N10 (Jul 2011)
        • V14N11 (Aug 2011)
        • V14N12 (Sep 2011)
      • Volume 15
        • V15N1 (Oct 2011)
        • V15N2 (Nov 2011)
        • V15N4 (Jan 2012)
        • V15N5 (Feb 2012)
      • Volume 16
        • V16N1 (1st Quarter 2012)
        • V16N2 (2nd Quarter 2012)
        • V16N3 (3rd Quarter 2012)
        • V16N4 (4th Quarter 2012)
      • Volume 17
        • V17N1 (1st Quarter 2013)
        • V17N2 (2nd Quarter 2013)
        • V17N3 (3rd Quarter 2013)
        • V17N4 (4th Quarter 2013)
      • Volume 18
        • V18N1 (Jan Feb 2014)
        • V18N2 (Mar Apr 2014)
        • V18N3 (May Jun 2014)
        • V18N4 (Jul Aug 2014)
        • V18N5 (Sep Oct 2014)
        • V18N6 (Nov Dec 2014)
      • Volume 19
        • V19N1 (Jan 2015)
        • V19N2 (Feb Mar 2015)
        • V19N3 (Apr 2015)
        • V19N4 (May 2015)
        • V19N5 (Jun 2015)
        • V19N6 (Jul 2015)
        • V19N7 (Aug Sep 2015)
        • V19N8 (Oct 2015)
        • V19N9 (Nov 2015)
        • V19N10 (Dec 2015)
      • Volume 20
        • V20N1 (Jan 2016)
        • V20N2 (Feb Mar 2016)
        • V20N3 (Apr 2016)
        • V20N4 (May 2016)
        • V20N5 (Jun 2016)
        • V20N6 (Jul 2016)
        • V20N7 (Aug Sep 2016)
        • V20N8 (Oct 2016)
        • V20N9 (Nov 2016)
        • V20N10 (Dec 2016)
      • Volume 21
        • V21N1 (Jan 2017)
        • V21N2 (Feb Mar 2017)
        • V21N3 (Apr 2017)
        • V21N4 (May 2017)
        • V21N5 (Jun 2017)
        • V21N6 (Jul 2017)
        • V21N7 (Aug Sep 2017)
        • V21N8 (Oct 2017)
        • V21N9 (Nov 2017)
        • V21N10 (Dec 2017)
      • Volume 22
        • V22N1 (Jan 2018)
        • V22N2 (Feb 2018)
        • V22N3 (March 2018)
        • V22N4 (Apr 2018)
        • V22N5 (May 2018)
        • V22N6 (Jun Jul 2018)
        • V22N7 (Aug Sep 2018)
        • V22N8 (Oct 2018)
        • V22N9 (Nov 2018)
        • V22N10 (Dec 2018)
      • Volume 23
        • V23N1 (Jan 2019)
        • V23N2 (Feb 2019)
        • V23N3 (Mar 2019)
        • V23N4 (Apr 2019)
        • V23N5 (May 2019)
        • V23N6 (Jun Jul 2019)
        • V23N7 (Aug Sep 2019)
        • V23N8 (Oct 2019)
        • V23N9 (Nov 2019)
        • V23N10 (Dec 2019)
      • Volume 24
        • V24N1 (Jan 2020)
        • V24N2 (Feb 2020)
        • V24N3 (Mar 2020)
        • V24N4 (Apr 2020)
        • V24N5 (May 2020)
        • V24N6 (Jun Jul 2020)
        • V24N7 (Aug Sep 2020)
        • V24N8 (Oct 2020)
        • V24N9 (Nov 2020)
        • V24N10 (Dec 2020)
  • The Archive
    • Search The Archive
  • Store
    • Books
    • Back Issues
    • Merchandise
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Events
  • About
    • About Small Arms Review
    • About Chipotle Publishing
    • Contact Us
    • Other Publications
      • Small Arms Defense Journal
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Guns & Parts
    • Suppressors
    • Optics & Thermals
    • Ammunition
    • Gear
    • News & Opinion
    • Columns
    • Museums & Factory Tours
    • ID Guides
    • Interviews
    • Event Coverage
    • Articles by Issue
      • Volume 1
        • V1N1 (Oct 1997)
        • V1N2 (Nov 1997)
        • V1N3 (Dec 1997)
        • V1N4 (Jan 1998)
        • V1N5 (Feb 1998)
        • V1N6 (Mar 1998)
        • V1N7 (Apr 1998)
        • V1N8 (May 1998)
        • V1N9 (Jun 1998)
        • V1N10 (Jul 1998)
        • V1N11 (Aug 1998)
        • V1N12 (Sep 1998)
      • Volume 2
        • V2N1 (Oct 1998)
        • V2N2 (Nov 1998)
        • V2N3 (Dec 1998)
        • V2N4 (Jan 1999)
        • V2N5 (Feb 1999)
        • V2N6 (Mar 1999)
        • V2N7 (Apr 1999)
        • V2N8 (May 1999)
        • V2N9 (Jun 1999)
        • V2N10 (Jul 1999)
        • V2N11 (Aug 1999)
        • V2N12 (Sep 1999)
      • Volume 3
        • V3N1 (Oct 1999)
        • V3N2 (Nov 1999)
        • V3N3 (Dec 1999)
        • V3N4 (Jan 2000)
        • V3N5 (Feb 2000)
        • V3N6 (Mar 2000)
        • V3N7 (Apr 2000)
        • V3N8 (May 2000)
        • V3N9 (Jun 2000)
        • V3N10 (Jul 2000)
        • V3N11 (Aug 2000)
        • V3N12 (Sep 2000)
      • Volume 4
        • V4N1 (Oct 2000)
        • V4N2 (Nov 2000)
        • V4N3 (Dec 2000)
        • V4N4 (Jan 2001)
        • V4N5 (Feb 2001)
        • V4N6 (Mar 2001)
        • V4N7 (Apr 2001)
        • V4N8 (May 2001)
        • V4N9 (Jun 2001)
        • V4N10 (Jul 2001)
        • V4N11 (Aug 2001)
        • V4N12 (Sep 2001)
      • Volume 5
        • V5N1 (Oct 2001)
        • V5N2 (Nov 2001)
        • V5N3 (Dec 2001)
        • V5N4 (Jan 2002)
        • V5N5 (Feb 2002)
        • V5N6 (Mar 2002)
        • V5N7 (Apr 2002)
        • V5N8 (May 2002)
        • V5N9 (Jun 2002)
        • V5N10 (Jul 2002)
        • V5N11 (Aug 2002)
        • V5N12 (Sep 2002)
      • Volume 6
        • V6N1 (Oct 2002)
        • V6N2 (Nov 2002)
        • V6N3 (Dec 2002)
        • V6N4 (Jan 2003)
        • V6N5 (Feb 2003)
        • V6N6 (Mar 2003)
        • V6N7 (Apr 2003)
        • V6N8 (May 2003)
        • V6N9 (Jun 2003)
        • V6N10 (Jul 2003)
        • V6N11 (Aug 2003)
        • V6N12 (Sep 2003)
      • Volume 7
        • V7N1 (Oct 2003)
        • V7N2 (Nov 2003)
        • V7N3 (Dec 2003)
        • V7N4 (Jan 2004)
        • V7N5 (Feb 2004)
        • V7N6 (Mar 2004)
        • V7N7 (Apr 2004)
        • V7N8 (May 2004)
        • V7N9 (Jun 2004)
        • V7N10 (Jul 2004)
        • V7N11 (Aug 2004)
        • V7N12 (Sep 2004)
      • Volume 8
        • V8N1 (Oct 2004)
        • V8N2 (Nov 2004)
        • V8N3 (Dec 2004)
        • V8N4 (Jan 2005)
        • V8N5 (Feb 2005)
        • V8N6 (Mar 2005)
        • V8N7 (Apr 2005)
        • V8N8 (May 2005)
        • V8N9 (Jun 2005)
        • V8N10 (Jul 2005)
        • V8N11 (Aug 2005)
        • V8N12 (Sep 2005)
      • Volume 9
        • V9N1 (Oct 2005)
        • V9N2 (Nov 2005)
        • V9N3 (Dec 2005)
        • V9N4 (Jan 2006)
        • V9N5 (Feb 2006)
        • V9N6 (Mar 2006)
        • V9N7 (Apr 2006)
        • V9N8 (May 2006)
        • V9N9 (Jun 2006)
        • V9N10 (Jul 2006)
        • V9N11 (Aug 2006)
        • V9N12 (Sep 2006)
      • Volume 10
        • V10N1 (Oct 2006)
        • V10N2 (Nov 2006)
        • V10N3 (Dec 2006)
        • V10N4 (Jan 2007)
        • V10N5 (Feb 2007)
        • V10N6 (Mar 2007)
        • V10N7 (Apr 2007)
        • V10N8 (May 2007)
        • V10N9 (Jun 2007)
        • V10N10 (Jul 2007)
        • V10N11 (Aug 2007)
        • V10N12 (Sep 2007)
      • Volume 11
        • V11N1 (Oct 2007)
        • V11N2 (Nov 2007)
        • V11N3 (Dec 2007)
        • V11N4 (Jan 2008)
        • V11N5 (Feb 2008)
        • V11N6 (Mar 2008)
        • V11N7 (Apr 2008)
        • V11N8 (May 2008)
        • V11N9 (Jun 2008)
        • V11N10 (Jul 2008)
        • V11N11 (Aug 2008)
        • V11N12 (Sep 2008)
      • Volume 12
        • V12N1 (Oct 2008)
        • V12N2 (Nov 2008)
        • V12N3 (Dec 2008)
        • V12N4 (Jan 2009)
        • V12N5 (Feb 2009)
        • V12N6 (Mar 2009)
        • V12N7 (Apr 2009)
        • V12N8 (May 2009)
        • V12N9 (Jun 2009)
        • V12N10 (Jul 2009)
        • V12N11 (Aug 2009)
        • V12N12 (Sep 2009)
      • Volume 13
        • V13N1 (Oct 2009)
        • V13N2 (Nov 2009)
        • V13N3 (Dec 2009)
        • V13N4 (Jan 2010)
        • V13N5 (Feb 2010)
        • V13N6 (Mar 2010)
        • V13N7 (Apr 2010)
        • V13N8 (May 2010)
        • V13N9 (Jun 2010)
        • V13N10 (Jul 2010)
        • V13N11 (Aug 2010)
        • V13N12 (Sep 2010)
      • Volume 14
        • V14N1 (Oct 2010)
        • V14N2 (Nov 2010)
        • V14N3 (Dec 2010)
          • Ammunition
        • V14N4 (Jan 2011)
        • V14N5 (Feb 2011)
        • V14N6 (Mar 2011)
        • V14N7 (Apr 2011)
        • V14N8 (May 2011)
        • V14N9 (Jun 2011)
        • V14N10 (Jul 2011)
        • V14N11 (Aug 2011)
        • V14N12 (Sep 2011)
      • Volume 15
        • V15N1 (Oct 2011)
        • V15N2 (Nov 2011)
        • V15N4 (Jan 2012)
        • V15N5 (Feb 2012)
      • Volume 16
        • V16N1 (1st Quarter 2012)
        • V16N2 (2nd Quarter 2012)
        • V16N3 (3rd Quarter 2012)
        • V16N4 (4th Quarter 2012)
      • Volume 17
        • V17N1 (1st Quarter 2013)
        • V17N2 (2nd Quarter 2013)
        • V17N3 (3rd Quarter 2013)
        • V17N4 (4th Quarter 2013)
      • Volume 18
        • V18N1 (Jan Feb 2014)
        • V18N2 (Mar Apr 2014)
        • V18N3 (May Jun 2014)
        • V18N4 (Jul Aug 2014)
        • V18N5 (Sep Oct 2014)
        • V18N6 (Nov Dec 2014)
      • Volume 19
        • V19N1 (Jan 2015)
        • V19N2 (Feb Mar 2015)
        • V19N3 (Apr 2015)
        • V19N4 (May 2015)
        • V19N5 (Jun 2015)
        • V19N6 (Jul 2015)
        • V19N7 (Aug Sep 2015)
        • V19N8 (Oct 2015)
        • V19N9 (Nov 2015)
        • V19N10 (Dec 2015)
      • Volume 20
        • V20N1 (Jan 2016)
        • V20N2 (Feb Mar 2016)
        • V20N3 (Apr 2016)
        • V20N4 (May 2016)
        • V20N5 (Jun 2016)
        • V20N6 (Jul 2016)
        • V20N7 (Aug Sep 2016)
        • V20N8 (Oct 2016)
        • V20N9 (Nov 2016)
        • V20N10 (Dec 2016)
      • Volume 21
        • V21N1 (Jan 2017)
        • V21N2 (Feb Mar 2017)
        • V21N3 (Apr 2017)
        • V21N4 (May 2017)
        • V21N5 (Jun 2017)
        • V21N6 (Jul 2017)
        • V21N7 (Aug Sep 2017)
        • V21N8 (Oct 2017)
        • V21N9 (Nov 2017)
        • V21N10 (Dec 2017)
      • Volume 22
        • V22N1 (Jan 2018)
        • V22N2 (Feb 2018)
        • V22N3 (March 2018)
        • V22N4 (Apr 2018)
        • V22N5 (May 2018)
        • V22N6 (Jun Jul 2018)
        • V22N7 (Aug Sep 2018)
        • V22N8 (Oct 2018)
        • V22N9 (Nov 2018)
        • V22N10 (Dec 2018)
      • Volume 23
        • V23N1 (Jan 2019)
        • V23N2 (Feb 2019)
        • V23N3 (Mar 2019)
        • V23N4 (Apr 2019)
        • V23N5 (May 2019)
        • V23N6 (Jun Jul 2019)
        • V23N7 (Aug Sep 2019)
        • V23N8 (Oct 2019)
        • V23N9 (Nov 2019)
        • V23N10 (Dec 2019)
      • Volume 24
        • V24N1 (Jan 2020)
        • V24N2 (Feb 2020)
        • V24N3 (Mar 2020)
        • V24N4 (Apr 2020)
        • V24N5 (May 2020)
        • V24N6 (Jun Jul 2020)
        • V24N7 (Aug Sep 2020)
        • V24N8 (Oct 2020)
        • V24N9 (Nov 2020)
        • V24N10 (Dec 2020)
  • The Archive
    • Search The Archive
  • Store
    • Books
    • Back Issues
    • Merchandise
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Events
  • About
    • About Small Arms Review
    • About Chipotle Publishing
    • Contact Us
    • Other Publications
      • Small Arms Defense Journal
Search
Results for {phrase} ({results_count} of {results_count_total})
Displaying {results_count} results of {results_count_total}
Generic filters
Search
Results for {phrase} ({results_count} of {results_count_total})
Displaying {results_count} results of {results_count_total}
Generic filters
Small Arms Review
Home Articles Ammunition

THE FIRST ASSULT RIFLE CARTRIDGE?

SAR Staff by SAR Staff
August 2, 2022
in Ammunition, Articles, Articles by Issue, Search by Issue, V11N3 (Dec 2007), Volume 11
THE FIRST ASSULT RIFLE CARTRIDGE?
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Anthony G. Williams

Author’s Note: Regarding terminology, some will argue that because the term “assault rifle” (or rather, Sturmgewehr, which literally translates as “storm rifle” in the sense of “storming a defended position”) was devised for the StG 44, no earlier weapon can be called an assault rifle. To avoid such a debate, I will clarify that in this article I am only using the term “assault rifle” as a convenient, well-understood shorthand for “selective-fire military rifle designed around a cartridge intermediate in power between pistol/SMG and full-power rifle/MG rounds.”

The development of the assault rifle, and in particular the relationship between the AK-47 and the StG 44, is always a popular subject for argument. Such debates usually pay little attention to the development of the ammunition and, when they do, they often contain inaccuracies and misunderstandings. This article is an attempt to redress the balance by focusing on the development of the assault rifle cartridge, leading up to the StG’s 7.92×33 Kurz and the AK’s 7.62×39 M1943.

The concept of such a rifle goes back to the start of the 20th century. The Italian Cei-Rigotti was developed between 1900 and 1905 around the 6.5×52 Carcano cartridge. A decade later, the Russian Colonel Federov produced his Avtomat, originally in his own purpose-designed 6.5mm caliber. However, as the Great War was then underway there was no chance of a new cartridge being adopted, so he modified his gun to use the Japanese 6.5x50SR Arisaka cartridge; large quantities of the guns and ammunition having been acquired by Russia to meet a shortfall in their supply of rifles. A few thousand Federov Avtomats were produced and entered service, and these reportedly saw action as late as the Winter War with Finland in 1939-40.

It can be argued that neither the Cei- Rigotti nor the Federov Avtomat used “intermediate”cartridges, as the 6.5mm Carcano and Arisaka were the front-line rifle/MG rounds in the Italian and Japanese armies respectively. This is true, but it is worth bearing in mind that, in terms of caliber and muzzle energy, they were in the same class as the present-day 6.8×43 Remington SPC and 6.5×38 Grendel, which are today regarded by many as ideal cartridges for assault rifles.

6.5mm Arisaka, 7.65mm Mannlicher Carbine, 8mm Ribeyrolle (replica), 7.65×35 Swiss Furrer M1921, 7.65×38 Swiss Unknown (with separate bullet), .276 Pedersen, .30 M1 Carbine, 7.92mm Kurz, 7.62mm M1943. Note that the Japanese changed to a pointed bullet for the 6.5mm Arisaka in 1905, but it appears that the older rifles acquired by Russia were still sighted for the round-nosed Type 30 loading of 1897; at any rate, the UK supplied over 400 million rounds of this version to Russia between July 1916 and March 1917. The round shown here was made by Kynoch in 1916.

An equally early attempt to produce a carbine firing an intermediate round was the Austrian Mannlicher Self-Loading Carbine in 7.65×32 caliber. This was an improved and enlarged version of their Model 1901 pistol carbine chambered for a lengthened version of the 7.65×25 pistol round, and was made in about 1904. It never went past the prototype stage and its ballistics are not known. However, the cartridge case is similar in length, as well as calibre, to the US .30 M1 Carbine’s, but slightly fatter as it is bottle-necked.

The next country with a claim to contributing to the development of the assault rifle is France. During the Great War they made some use of Winchester self-load-ing carbines: the Model 1907 in .351 SL and the Model 1910 in .401 SL. In 1917, France placed an order for 2,200 of an automatic version of the Model 1907 for arming special assault soldiers. At the same time, they were modifying the .351 case by necking it down to accept the heavy 8mm bullet from the Lebel rifle/MG round, thereby creating the 8mm Ribeyrolle – arguably the first purpose-designed intermediate military cartridge. The war endedbefore anything came of this, but it is not hard to see that had it lasted for another year or two, French troops would have been equipped with an assault rifle. As it was, neither the Ribeyrolle, nor a 7mm version designed in the 1920s, made further progress.

Next in the frame is Switzerland. Their prolific gun designer Furrer produced a short-recoil carbine with a new bottlenecked 7.65×35 cartridge in 1921. We are now getting very close to the concept – except that the cartridge had a round-nose rather than pointed bullet. A year later a modified 7.65×38 appeared which did have a pointed bullet. Swiss sources indicate that data from the tests of these rounds were passed to DWM in Germany, where they may have influenced later developments. Other pre-Second World War Swiss short-case ammunition designs included a different and rather mysterious 7.65×38 round for which unloaded components were made in some quantity, for an unknown destination, just before the war.

In 1925 Kynoch of the UK proposed a “7mm light automatic rifle cartridge” intended for BSA. The factory drawing shows a bottle-necked case with a length of 41mm and a round-nosed bullet. It is not clear whether the cartridge or gun were ever built.

In Russia, Federov continued to argue for the adoption of a smaller cartridge than the 7.62x54R. In the late 1920s he recommended adoption of the 6.5mm “if not even smaller” and a rimless or semirimmed case with a length shortened by about 20% (to 40mm). His ideas were supported in 1930 by V.E. Markevich, of the Red Army’s Weapons Scientific and Research Range, who pointed out that an ideal cartridge already existed – in the .25 Remington. The .25’s bigger brother based on the same case, the .30 Remington, was of course used as the starting point for the development of the 6.8mm Rem SPC.

The US Army did indeed experiment with a .25 cartridge in the 1920s – although this was a much more powerful round than the .25 Remington – before focusing on the .276 Pedersen. This was a 7×51 cartridge that was similar in power to the 6.5mm Arisaka, and to the modern 6.8mm Rem. However, the army was still thinking in terms of long-range semiautomatic fire (a mindset which did not change until the 1960s). The .276 cartridge was rejected in 1932, partly for cost reasons but also because it did not offer sufficient longrange performance.

In the early 1930s, Denmark made limited numbers of the delayed-blowback Weibel (or Danrif) assault rifle in a 7×44 caliber. Also in the early 1930s, the US Frankford Arsenal tested an Italian Terni semiautomatic rifle in 7.35×34, but nothing seems to have survived apart from a drawing of the round, which shows it with a pointed bullet of 134.5 grains. In 1939, a light automatic weapon was advertised in Greece in 7.92×36 caliber, the cartridge apparently being based on a shortened and necked-out 6.5mm Mannlicher case.

We now turn to Germany, where in the aftermath of the Great War a Hauptmann Piderit of the Rifle Testing Commission advocated a short-cased cartridge and a suitable rifle to fire it. His was a lone voice, however. It wasn’t until 1927 that DWM (actually, the “Berlin-Karlsruher Industriewerke A.G.” as DWM was known between 1922 and 1936) carried out the first tests of short-cased cartridges, possibly as a result of the data they had received about the Swiss rounds. This had no immediate result, and the direct line of development which led to the 7.92×33 Kurz commenced in the mid-1930s. Over the next ten years, no fewer than five German companies were involved in developing short-cased cartridges suitable for assault rifles: Geco, DWM, RWS, Rheinmetall- Borsig and Polte.

Geco was the first in the field, cooperating with the gun company Vollmer- Werke Maschinenfabrik, to produce the Vollmer SL Model 35 self-loading carbine in a nominal 7.75×40 caliber (the caliber was actually 7.9mm, with a bullet 8.05mm in diameter). This was officially tested with good results, but led to no orders. In 1942 Geco produced a new cartridge also intended for a Vollmer carbine, the 7x45SR. This used a wider case and was far more powerful, with a muzzle velocity of 1,000 m/s. Another cartridge, measuring 7.92×33.5, was designed at Geco and attributed to an H.G.Winter, a director of the firm, but the date and the gun for which it was intended are not known. DWM designed a 7×39 cartridge in the mid-1930s, for which a Walther self-loading carbine was reportedly made. It was appreciably more powerful than the 7.92×33 Kurz. However, the interest of the Heereswaffenamt (HWA) was by then focused on Polte developments, so the DWM round also failed to progress further. RWS produced several short-cased rifle rounds in the 1930s, including an 8×45, 8×46 and 7×46, but these developments were taken no further. Rheinmetall- Borsig were involved in a number of prewar experiments concerning 7mm rounds in various case lengths, some of them very long, probably for high-velocity aircraft gun projects. One drawing has been found of a 7×36 cartridge which would obviously have been suitable for assault rifles, but there is no evidence that it was made. The design work may have been done by Polte on behalf of Rheinmetall-Borsig.

This brings us to Polte Patronenfabrik of Magdeburg, who made by far the most significant contribution. The HWA awarded them a contract, probably in 1938, for the development of a short-cased infantry cartridge. This resulted in several different designs of cartridge; 7.9×45, 7.9×30, two different 7.9×33 and a 7×45, all by 1940. In all of these, Polte retained the head and rim diameters of the standard 7.92×57 rifle/MG round, and in all but the 7mm the same caliber as well. This kept production costs to a minimum and no doubt helped to account for the success of their proposals. The final 7.92×33 design (which had less case taper than the first or “transitional” effort) was approved in December 1940, the only subsequent change being to the angle of the extractor groove, which was altered from 45 to 60 degrees in May 1942.

At the same time as the German work was reaching its conclusion, the USA was developing the .30 M1 Carbine, a light rifle chambered for a new 7.62×33 straightcased round based on the .32 Winchester Special case. This was not intended as an assault rifle but as what would now be called a “personal defence weapon” for troops who would not normally carry a rifle. However, its handiness meant that some front-line troops carried it in preference to the much bigger and heavier .30 M1 Garand rifle. The M2 version of the Carbine introduced selective fire and was close to the specification of an assault rifle, but the cartridge with its round-nosed bullet was really too small and weak to reach out to 300m (330 yards), considered the desirable effective range as some 90% of fire-fights took place within that distance. Attention now switches back to the USSR. The key date was 15th July 1943 when a meeting was held of the Technical Council of the People’s Commissariat for Armament (NKV). They had met to consider “New foreign weapons firing lowerpowered rounds” and studied examples of both the US .30 M1 Carbine supplied by the USA, and the German MKb 42 (H) in 7.92×33, which had been captured while undergoing troop trials. The meeting con tridge were important developments and decided that a new reduced-power round must be designed. Responsibility for this was handed over to the OKB-44 design bureau, which produced the first prototype of what became the 7.62mm M1943 round only a month later, with the first batch of ammunition loaded with flat-based leadcored bullets being range-tested that December. This kept the same caliber as the 7.62x54R rifle/MG round for production convenience, but adopted a new case which was slimmer than that used by the 7.92×33. A pilot series-production run began in March 1944, and before the end of the war the round was combat-tested in prototypes of the Degtyarov RPD light machine gun and Simonov SKS carbine. At that time the case had a length of 41mm, but development work continued, resulting in a boat-tailed bullet shape being adopted and the lead core being replaced with mild steel. The case neck was reduced to the final 38.7mm to keep the overall round length the same despite the longer bullets.

The story was not yet over. The old pioneer Federov, now “Doctor of Services, Professor Lt. General (Technical Engineering Branch) V.G. Federov” and serving as a senior member of the Technical Council of the NKV, continued to argue for a smaller-caliber cartridge. As a result, between 1946 and 1948 several different rounds were made and tested in 6.75mm as well as 7.62mm caliber. Despite this,the 7.62×39 M1943 cartridge was finally selected in 1948, when the AK-47 was already undergoing pre-production troop trials. One of the reasons for retaining the 7.62mm caliber was said to be that the Soviet manufacturing plants did not at that time have the equipment to mass-produce smaller-caliber ammunition and gun barrels with the necessary precision.

Some sources claim that the 7.62×39 was no more than a copy of a German Geco cartridge for the Vollmer M 35 carbine, designed in 1934/35 by the aforementioned H.G.Winter. However, as we have seen, the cartridges designed for that gun were quite different, having larger case diameters. The round often cited as the model for the M1943 is the 7.62×38.5 Mittelpatrone, but the diameter of that case is also larger than the M1943’s and, according to Dynamit Nobel (Geco’s post war parent company), it dates from 1960. There is therefore no known German cartridge of which the 7.62×39 M1943 could have been a copy. The authors of a Russian history of the M1943, who had access to Soviet archives, were unable to find reliable information as to whether the USSR had any previous knowledge of the development of intermediate rounds in the West.

In summary, it is clear that the concept of a selective-fire rifle using a purpose-designed intermediate cartridge pre-dates the Second World War, and was not invented in Germany. Several countries were involved in developing ideas along those lines, from the Great War onwards. However, the German Army were the first to put such a weapon into service, and it was this example which led to the modern military rifle. It is also clear that while the development of the Russian 7.62×39 M1943 round was inspired by the 7.92×33 Kurz, it was not a copy of any other cartridge. Finally, the true father of the assault rifle concept was Col. V.G. Federov. As well as designing the Avtomat he consistently argued, over a period of three decades covering both world wars, for the adoption of a short-cased reduced-caliber cartridge in a selective-fire rifle. If he could have seen a modern assault rifle in 6.8mm Rem or 6.5mm Grendel he would doubtless have exclaimed: “Yes! That’s what I wanted all along!”

(Anthony G Williams is editor of “The Cartridge Researcher” (the bulletin of the European Cartridge Research Association), co-editor (with Leland Ness) of “Jane’s Ammunition Handbook” and coauthor (with Maxim Popenker) of “Assault Rifle: the Development of the Modern Military Rifle and its Ammunition”. He maintains a website you can visit at www.quarry.nildram.co.uk.

This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V11N3 (December 2007)
and was posted online on October 19, 2012

Author

  • SAR Staff

    View all posts

Tags: 2007AmmunitionAnthony G. WilliamsV11N3
Previous Post

THE FAMAS ASSAULT RIFLE

Next Post

INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL WILLIAM KEYS, CEO OF COLT DEFENSE, LLC

Next Post
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL WILLIAM KEYS, CEO OF COLT DEFENSE, LLC

INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL WILLIAM KEYS, CEO OF COLT DEFENSE, LLC

TRENDING STORIES

  • Col. Rex Applegate: The Knife Designs of a Close-Combat Legend

    Col. Rex Applegate: The Knife Designs of a Close-Combat Legend

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Perfecting the Israeli Krinkov – Krebs Custom Galil ACE 5.45x39mm Pistol

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Evolution of the U.S. Grenade Launcher From World War II to Today’s Conflicts

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • H&K LOWER ID GUIDE

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Guns of the Silver Screen: V23N1

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Col. Rex Applegate: The Knife Designs of a Close-Combat Legend

Col. Rex Applegate: The Knife Designs of a Close-Combat Legend

Krebs Custom Galil ACE 5.45x39mm Pistol

Perfecting the Israeli Krinkov – Krebs Custom Galil ACE 5.45x39mm Pistol

Evolution of the U.S. Grenade Launcher From World War II to Today’s Conflicts

Evolution of the U.S. Grenade Launcher From World War II to Today’s Conflicts

H&K LOWER ID GUIDE

H&K LOWER ID GUIDE

New Review: V19N1

New Review: V23N3

SAR|Special

SAR|Special

The Grand Power Q100

The Grand Power Q100

A Fading Star: The star S135 Submachine Gun, That is

A Fading Star: The star S135 Submachine Gun, That is

CZ 600 Lux

The New CZ-USA 600 Lux Rifle – Traditional Styling, Advanced Technology

EDITORIAL SPECIAL: AK INNOVATION

EDITORIAL SPECIAL: AK INNOVATION

Smith & Wesson’s New Limited-Edition Spec Series Pistol Kit

Smith & Wesson’s New Limited-Edition Spec Series Pistol Kit

LifeCard

Trailblazer Firearms Announce New President

QUICK LINKS

  • About Chipotle Publishing
  • About Small Arms Review
  • Advertise with Us
  • Write for Us

CONTACT DETAILS

  • Phone: +1 (702) 565-0746
  • E-mail: office@smallarmsreview.com
  • Web: www.chipotlepublishing.com
  • Chipotle Publishing, LLC 631 N. Stephanie St., No. 282, Henderson, NV 89014
Small Arms Review

FOLLOW US

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

© 2022 Chipotle Publishing | All Rights Reserved

Search
Results for {phrase} ({results_count} of {results_count_total})
Displaying {results_count} results of {results_count_total}
Generic filters
  • Home
  • Articles
    • Guns & Parts
    • Suppressors
    • Optics & Thermals
    • Ammunition
    • Gear
    • News & Opinion
    • Columns
    • Museums & Factory Tours
    • ID Guides
    • Interviews
    • Event Coverage
    • Articles by Issue
      • Volume 1
      • Volume 2
      • Volume 3
      • Volume 4
      • Volume 5
      • Volume 6
      • Volume 7
      • Volume 8
      • Volume 9
      • Volume 10
      • Volume 11
      • Volume 12
      • Volume 13
      • Volume 14
      • Volume 15
      • Volume 16
      • Volume 17
      • Volume 18
      • Volume 19
      • Volume 20
      • Volume 21
      • Volume 22
      • Volume 23
      • Volume 24
  • The Archive
    • Search The Archive
  • Store
    • Books
    • Back Issues
    • Merchandise
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Events
  • About
    • About Small Arms Review
    • About Chipotle Publishing
    • Contact Us
    • Other Publications
      • Small Arms Defense Journal

© 2022 Chipotle Publishing | All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter

Are you in the know?
Stay up to date with the latest articles.

Facebook-f Linkedin Instagram

Redirecting to External Website

You are leaving the Small Arms Review website and will be redirected to an external link in a 5 Seconds.
VISIT NOW!