9 × 21 mm Russian

The new round was derived from the older 9 × 18 mm cartridge in much the same way that the 9 × 21 mm was based on the 9 × 19 mm round. Description The copper-washed, straight taper, steel case is a lengthened version of the 9 × 18 mm cartridge; case dimensions are virtually identical, save for length. The bullet is armour-piercing, with a steel penetrator protruding from the gilding metal jacket. The jacket is internally lined with Teflon or plastic surrounding the steel penetrator and remaining with the jacket when it peels away from the steel penetrator upon impact with the target. There are two versions of the cartridge, the original RG-052 and the improved penetration RG-054, although both remain in service. The two can be differentiated by the armour-piercing tip, which protrudes farther from the bullet jacket on the RG-054. The RG-054 bullet was originally claimed to penetrate 30 layers of Kevlar and two 1.4 mm titanium plates at 100 m, but these performance claims have subsequently been amended to the more realistic defeat of two 1.2 mm titanium plates and 30 layers of Kevlar at 50 m. RUSSIAN FEDERATION Manufacturer Tula Ammunition factory Type: Armour-piercing, RG-052: AP; 6.71 g; MV 415 m/s (est) Armour piercing, RG-054: AP; 6.69 g; MV 415 m/s.