Arsenal Shipka

Summary

The Shipka is a 9mm Bulgarian submachine gun produced in 1996 by the Bulgarian company Arsenal. The name is a reference to the famous Shipka Pass, near Arsenal's Kazanlak headquarters, in the Balkans where Bulgarian volunteers and Russian troops defeated the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877, thereby liberating Bulgaria. The Shipka was developed for the Bulgarian police and military.[1]

Shipka
TypeSubmachine gun
Place of originBulgaria
Service history
In service1999–present
Used byBulgaria
Production history
Produced1996
Specifications
Mass2 to 2,2 kg without magazine
Length338 mm (stock folded)
625 mm (stock extended)
Barrel length150 mm

Cartridge9×18mm Makarov
9×19mm Parabellum
Caliber9 mm
Actionblowback
Rate of fire600-650 rpm (9x18 mm)
700 rpm (9x19 mm)
Muzzle velocity320 m/s (9x18 mm)
360 m/s (9x19 mm)
Effective firing range150 m
Feed systemDetachable box magazine:
32 rounds (9×18mm)
25 rounds (9×19mm)
SightsIron sights

Design edit

The Shipka is a compact weapon originally intended for use by armored vehicle crews, pilots, and other shooters who might require either a close-quarter weapon or aimed shots at longer ranges.

The prototype and pre-production versions of the Shipka were chambered in 9×25mm Mauser and used a 30-round box magazine. Production versions were produced in 9×18mm Makarov with a 32-round magazine. After Bulgaria's entry into NATO, a version chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum with a 25-round magazine was introduced.

The design is a straightforward blowback operation firing from open bolt. The lower receiver along with the pistol grip and trigger guard is made from polymer, the upper receiver is made from steel. The simple buttstock is made from steel wire and folds to the left side of gun.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "9x18 mm and 9x19 mm SHIPKA SMG". Arsenal-bg. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2021.

External links edit

9x18. SHIPKA. ARSENAL Range Performance