5.6mm RGF

The 5.6mm RGF began in Austrasia as a project by the Reichsgewehrfabrik state arsenal which grew out of operational research by the army general staff into the NSC-produced 7.92mm cartridge. Austrasian researchers identified the combination of a very low drag projectile and low impulse cartridge as highly promising and superior to the Riche's then-standard infantry cartridges as well as other League-produced cartridges. As a consequence a contract was issued to RGF to prototype a cartridge combining a very low dag loading with a low-impulse cartridge suitable for automatic fire from the shoulder that would be lighter than the NSC's 7.92mm cartridge and provide superior penetration of body armor.

=Case= To minimize development time the starting point for the 5.6mm RGF was a prototype 5.6x49mm cartridge developed and produced in small numbers by the arsenal in the 1970s - but ultimately rejected - as a potential future infantry cartridge for the Reichswehr. The cartridge case had a simple straight wall bottle-neck design made from lacquered steel: The primary emphasis of the design being produce-ability without use of strategic materials such as copper. For conversion into the 5.6mm RGF the parent case was shortened by 7 mm. The resulting case was still relatively voluminous for the desire propellant, permitting an exceptionally low operating pressure of 272 MPa. This was considered a favourable change as it reduced barrel erosion.

=Bullet= Desiring to match the exceptional ballistic performance of the 7.92mm with its low-drag aluminum core projectile, RGF engineers turned to a comparatively exotic solution: An aggressively streamlined, lightweight, hardened steel bullet with an oversized tracer formulated to burn without visible light. This so-called 'fumer' served to inject gas into void space created by the projectile as it cuts through the air, providing dramatic reductions in supersonic drag. The resulting projectile weighed just 2.4 grams but retained supersonic velocity in excess of 600 meters while its high-hardness high aspect-ratio steel core provided exceptional penetration of body armor and armored plate. Consistent with Austrasian copper conservation practices the bullet is jacketed by mild steel and dipped in lacquer to prevent corrosion - typically black in Austrasian service.

Users

 * Austrasia: Adopted in 1988.
 * Gardarike: Adopted by the Gardarike Defence Force and various Gardic Police Services. Also popular among Gardic hunters as it is the smallest cartridge legally permitted for use against several types of medium game.