Caseless Ammunition designed for the H&K G11
Caseless ammunition refers to small arms ammunition that packages the primer, propellant and projectile together without a cartridge case. They are fired using either mechanical or electronic means to ignite the primer. This design has different characteristics compared to traditional modern metal-cased cartridges.
It a subject of some debate as to whether ammunition where the "casing" is metallic but part of the projectile and fired along with it, such as the Volcanic Ball, Soviet VOG grenades and the rounds fired by the Ho-301 autocannon should be considered caseless: usually the term is reserved for rounds that truly have no metallic casing. Rounds with combustible cases (eg paper cartridges) are also typically discounted.
Advantages (Propellant body)
- Decreased weight because of the lack of an external metal casing
- Shorter/smaller Cartridges
- Higher cyclic rates
Considerations (Propellant body)
- Fragility of the ammunition; the case is formed from the primer and propellant
- Heat sensitivity during sustained fire
- Sealing of the chamber, an issue not encountered with metal-cased cartridges during firing
Calibers
- 40×53mm caseless grenade
- 9×25mm AUPO
- 4.73×33mm
- 5.56x30mm caseless
- 6x60mm Kentron IFA
- 7.62mm caseless
- 308 SCA
- Rocket ball
See Also
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