View source for 12.7 × 108 mm

{{Short description|Rifle cartridge}}
{{Infobox firearm cartridge
| name = 12.7×108mm
| image = 12.7x108mm.jpg | image_size = 300px
| caption = A 12.7 × 108 mm cartridge
| origin = [[Soviet Union]]
| type = [[Heavy machine gun]]<br>[[Anti-materiel rifle]]
<!-- Service history -->
| service =  1935–present
| used_by = Soviet Union and successor states
| wars = [[Winter War]]<br>[[World War II]]<br>[[Korean War]]<br>[[Portuguese Colonial War]]<br>[[Vietnam War]]<br>[[Cambodian Civil War]]<br>[[Cambodian–Vietnamese War]]<br>[[Six-Day War]]<br>[[War of Attrition]]<br>[[The Troubles]]<br>[[Yom Kippur War]]<br>[[Soviet–Afghan War]]<br>[[Iran–Iraq War]]<br>[[Gulf War]]<br>[[Chechen War (disambiguation)|Chechen War]]<br>[[Iraq War]]<br>[[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]<br>[[2011 Libyan Civil War|Libyan Civil War]]<br>[[Syrian Civil War]]<br>[[Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]]<br>[[Russo-Ukrainian War]]<br>[[Gaza war]]
<!-- Production history -->
| designer = 
<!-- Specifications -->
| is_SI_specs = yes
| parent = 
|case_type=Rimless, bottleneck
| bullet = 12.98
| neck = 13.95
| shoulder = 18.90
| base = 21.75
| rim_dia = 21.70
| rim_thick = 1.90
| case_length = 108
| length = 147.50
| case_capacity = 22.72
| rifling = 
| primer =Berdan 
| max_pressure = 360
<!-- Ballistic performance -->
| is_SI_ballistics = yes
| bwunit = gram
| bw1 = 48.3
| btype1 = API B32 57-BZ-542
| vel1 = 820-860
| en1 = 16240-17861
| bw2 = 55.4
| btype2 = API-HC BS
| vel2 = 820
| en2 = 18625
| bw3 = 56.6
| btype3 = API-HC BS 7-BZ-1
| vel3 = 820-825
| en3 = 19029-19621
| bw4 = 59.2
| btype4 = Sniper SN 7N34
| vel4 = 770-785
| en4 = 17549-18240
| bw5 = 44.1
| btype5 = Tulammo 680 gr hunting cartridge
| vel5 = 916-923
| en5 = 18501-18785
| test_barrel_length = 1000 mm
}}

The '''12.7×108mm''' cartridge is a [[12.7 mm]] [[heavy machine gun]] and [[anti-materiel rifle]] [[Cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]] used by the former [[Soviet Union]] and [[Warsaw Pact]] countries, including Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and many others. It was invented in 1934 to create a cartridge like the German [[13.2mm TuF]] anti-tank rifle round and the American [[.50 BMG|.50 Browning Machine Gun]] round (12.7×99mm NATO). 

It is used in the same roles as the [[NATO]] .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) cartridge. The two differ in bullet shape and weight, and the casing of the 12.7 × 108 mm is slightly longer, and its larger case capacity allows it to hold slightly more of a different type of powder. The 12.7 × 108 mm can be used to engage a wide variety of targets on the battlefield, and will destroy unarmored vehicles, penetrate lightly armored vehicles and damage external ancillary equipment (i.e.: searchlights, radar, transmitters, vision blocks, engine compartment covers) on heavily armored vehicles such as tanks.<ref>[http://www.wlhoward.com/id554.htm#prof Technical Intelligence Bulletins May - June 2003] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813023341/http://www.wlhoward.com/id554.htm#prof |date=August 13, 2006 }}</ref> It will also ignite gasoline and—since 2019—diesel fuel (experimental "Avers" AP/I round).<ref>{{Cite web|title=ЦАМТО / Новости / В России создали новые зажигательные патроны калибра 12,7 мм|trans-title=Russia has created new incendiary cartridges of 12.7 mm caliber|lang=ru|url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2019/0301/115051260/detail.shtml|access-date=2021-05-07|website=armstrade.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite patent|country=RU|status=patent|number=2655338C1|title=CARTRIDGE WITH ARMOR-PIERCING INCENDIARY BULLET|inventor=TsNIITochMash|gdate=2018-05-25}}</ref>

==Cartridge dimensions==
The 12.7 × 108 mm has 22.72 [[litre|ml]] (350 [[grain (measure)|grains]]) H<sub>2</sub>O cartridge case capacity.

[[File:12,7 x 108.jpg|400px]]

'''12.7 × 108 mm maximum cartridge dimensions.{{Citation needed|date=August 2016}}''' All sizes in millimeters (mm).

Americans define the shoulder angle at alpha/2 ≈ 18.16 degrees.

According to guidelines the 12.7 × 108 mm case can handle up to 360 MPa (52,213 psi) piezo pressure. In [[C.I.P.]] regulated countries every rifle cartridge combo has to be [[Proof (firearms)|proofed]] at 125% of this maximum CIP pressure to certify for sale to consumers.

==Cartridge types==

===Soviet and Russian 12.7 × 108 mm types===
; Б-30 (B-30)
: First version of 1930. Armor-piercing ({{lang|ru|бронебойная}}) bullet weighing {{convert|49|g|abbr=on}} and {{convert|64|mm|abbr=on}} long with hardened steel core.<ref name=autogenerated1>Гнатовский Н. И., Шорин П. А. История развития отечественного стрелкового оружия. — М.: Военное изд-во Министерства обороны СССР, 1959, с. 235</ref> Replaced by B-32.
; БЗТ (BZT)
: Pre-WW2 armor-piercing incendiary ({{lang|ru|бронебойно-зажигательная}}) tracer.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> Replaced by BZT-44.
; Б-32 (B-32) ([[GRAU index|GRAU#]] 57-BZ-542, 7-BZ-2)
: Steel-cored {{abbr|API|armor-piercing incendiary}} bullet. Main type in use.<ref name="autogenerated1" />  Penetrates {{convert|20|mm|abbr=on}} NATO medium-hard RHA from {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}} at 0° when fired out of DShKM. Penetrates {{convert|20|mm|abbr=on}} 2P steel from {{convert|100|m|abbr=on}} at 0° when fired out of NSV-12.7. First produced 1936; named after the B-32 [[7.62×54mmR]] ammunition of 1932.
; БС-41 (BS-41)
: API bullet weighing {{convert|55.4|g|abbr=on}} and {{convert|51|mm|abbr=on}} long with a [[cemented carbide]] (Re8 WC-Co) core. Produced in small quantities at the beginning of WWII for the 12.7 mm Sholokhov anti-tank rifles (PTRSh-41).
; БЗТ-44 (BZT-44) (GRAU# 57-BZT-542)
: APIT with brighter tracer, usually used with B-32. Complemented by BZT-44M (GRAU# 57-BZT-542M) of 2002 with subdued tracer.
; БЗФ-46 (BZF-46)
: API bullet with (white) phosphorus ({{lang|ru|фосфорная}}). Aircraft MG round.
; БС (BS) (GRAU# 7-BZ-1)<ref>[http://www.lveplant.ru/pages_ru.php?id=33 сайт ЗАО НПЗ]</ref>
: API bullet with cemented carbide (VK8 WC-Co, commonly called a "cermet" in Russian) core, developed in 1972. Ballistics also similar to B-32.
; {{abbr|МДЗ|мгновенного действия, зажигательная}} / MDZ (GRAU# 7-3-2)
: Immediate-action incendiary. Used in belt with B-32 and BZT-44(M).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gunrf.ru/rg_patron_12_7x107_ru.html|title=12,7x107 крупнокалиберные патроны|date=22 February 2018 }}</ref>
; 12,7 1СЛ (12.7 1SL) (GRAU# 9-A-4012)
; 12,7 1СЛТ (12.7 1SLT) (GRAU# 9-A-4427)
: Tandem / duplex cartridge with two bullets inside, in normal and tracer versions. Developed 1985 for use by helicopter against soft targets.<ref>{{cite web |title=12.7x107 large-caliber cartridges |url=https://gunrf.ru/rg_patron_12_7x107_eng.html |website=gunrf.ru|date=22 February 2018 }}</ref>
; 12,7СН (12.7SN) (GRAU# 7N34)
: Sniper cartridge (FMJ; AP). Bullet weighs {{convert|59.2|g|abbr=on}} and travels at ~{{convert|800|m/s|abbr=on}}. Bullet consists of hardened tool steel tip and lead body. Able to defeat lightly-armored vehicles at {{convert|1500|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|10|mm|abbr=on}} RHA at {{convert|800|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=12.7 mm 7N34 sniper cartridge 7N34  |url=http://roe.ru/eng/catalog/land-forces/strelkovoe-oruzhie/pistol-cartridges/7n34/ |website=Catalog Rosoboronexport}}</ref> Entered production in the 2000s.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5oqCPAFRf4&feature=youtu.be АСВК КОРД 12.7х108 и ОСВ-96 - YouTube<!-- The title was added by a bot -->]</ref>
; 12.7 [[Blank (cartridge)|Blank]] (GRAU# 7H1)
; 12.7 UCH [[Dummy cartridge|Dummy]] (GRAU# 7H2)

Note that some WW2 bullets share designations with ones for [[14.5×114mm]].

==Use==

===Anti-tank and anti-materiel rifles=== 
* [[AMR-2]] [[Anti-materiel rifle|anti-materiel sniper rifle]]
* [[ČZW-127]] anti-materiel sniper rifle
* [[Falcon (sniper rifle)|Falcon OP96]] anti-material rifle  
* [[Gepard anti-materiel rifles]]
* [[Steyr HS .50|Golan S-01]] anti-materiel sniper rifle
* [[KSVK 12.7|KSVK]] anti-materiel sniper rifle
* [[OSV-96]] anti-materiel sniper rifle
* [[PDSHP]] anti-materiel sniper rifle
* [[QBU-10]]  anti-materiel sniper rifle
* [[QBU-201]]
* [[Snipex M]]
* [[SVN-98]] experimental anti-materiel rifle
* [[V-94]] anti-tank/anti-materiel rifle
* [[Vidhwansak]] anti-materiel rifle
* [[Zastava M93 Black Arrow]] anti-materiel sniper rifle
* [[Zastava M12 Black Spear]] anti-materiel sniper rifle
* [[Zijiang M99]] anti-materiel sniper rifle
** Zijiang & Poly M99-I/M99B-I/M06  anti-materiel sniper rifle
* Zijiang LR-2/LR-2A  anti-materiel sniper rifle

===Heavy machine guns===
* [[6P62]] handheld machine gun
* [[Afanasev A-12.7]] heavy machine gun
* [[DShK]] heavy machine gun
* [[Berezin UB]] aircraft machine gun
* CS/LM5 Gatling machine gun
* M17G 12.7mm hatch machine gun
* [[NSV (machine gun)|NSV]] heavy machine gun
* [[Kord machine gun|Kord]] heavy machine gun
* [[Type 77 heavy machine gun]]
* [[W85 heavy machine gun|QJC-88 heavy machine gun]]
* [[QJZ-89]] heavy machine gun
* [[QJZ-171]] heavy machine gun
* [[Zastava M02 Coyote]] heavy machine gun
* [[Yak-B 12.7mm machine gun|Yak-B 12.7mm]] Gatling gun
* [[Zastava M87]] heavy machine gun
* [[Yu-12.7]] aircraft gun

==See also==
* [[.50 BMG]] (American equivalent)
* [[14.5 × 114 mm]]
* [[20 mm caliber]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite book
  | last = Koll
  | first = Christian
  | title = Soviet Cannon - A Comprehensive Study of Soviet Arms and Ammunition in Calibres 12.7mm to 57mm
  | publisher = Koll
  | year = 2009
  | location = Austria
  | url = http://www.russianammo.org
  | isbn = 978-3-200-01445-9
  | page = 72  }}
*[https://modernfirearms.net/en/cartridge/12-7x108-2/ Maxim Popenker, modernfirearms.net]
* [http://www.lveplant.ru/pages_en.php?id=09 Cartridge Plant official site]
*[http://www.tulammo.ru/en/production/vintovochnye-patrony/patron-12-7kh108/ Tulammo official site]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5oqCPAFRf4 ASVK Kord 12.7×108 and OSV-96 Youtube]

== Further reading ==
* Борцов А.Ю. "Пятилинейный", ''Мастер-ружье'' issue 110, May 2006, pp.&nbsp;56–62

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140108160630/http://gunsru.ru/rg_patron_12_7x107_eng.html 12.7×108 large-caliber cartridges]
*[https://kk-combat.ucoz.ru/proekt1/Htm_boot/m_127.html 12.7 mm cartridges] for more types
*[http://www.russianammo.org/Russian_Ammunition_Page_145mm.html#2 Russian Ammunition Page]

{{WWIIUSSRInfWeapons}}

[[Category:Pistol and rifle cartridges]]
[[Category:Military cartridges]]
[[Category:12.7×108 mm firearms| ]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1935]]
[[Category:Anti-materiel cartridges]]
[[Category:Soviet inventions]]