Small arms
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57-BZT-542M
12.7 mm cartridge with modernized BZT-44M armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet

The 12.7mm 57-BZT-542M cartridge with modernized BZT-44M armor-piercing incendiary tracer bullet is used against enemy personnel, soft-skinned ground and low-flying targets as well as for target designation and fire adjustment when fired from 12.7mm machine guns, except the YakB-12.7mm machine gun, at temperatures from -50 to +50 °C.

Main characteristics
Caliber, mm
12,7
Max weight, g:
cartridge
132
bullet
44,8
Cartridge length, mm
147
Average bullet velocity V25, m/s
810-825
Probability of penetrating a 15mm thick armor plate at 100 meters, not less than, %
90
Peak value of maximum gas pressure, not more than, MPa (kgf/cm2)
333,4 (3400)
Mean value of maximum gas pressure, not more than, MPa (kgf/cm2)
304,0 (3100)
Tracing time (for 85% of bullets), not less than, s
2,9
Cartridge case material
brass