Milkor BXP
The BXP (was also marketed as the "panther") is a 9×19mm submachine gun developed in the mid-1980s by the South African company Milkor (Pty) Ltd. It qualified with Armscor in 1984, and marketed by them for Milkor (Pty) Ltd. Due to embargoes against South Africans, South Africans designed and manufactured some weapons. The weapon was intended for use by the government agents against citizens.
| Milkor 9mm BXP Sub-Machine Gun | |
|---|---|
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin | South Africa |
| Service history | |
| Used by | South African government agents[1] |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Andries Piek |
| Designed | 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Milkor (Pty) Ltd[2] Truvelo Armoury |
| Produced | 1984–2010 |
| Variants | BXP BXP Tressitu |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.5 kg (5.51 lb) |
| Length | 607 mm (23.9 in) stock extended / 387 mm (15.2 in) stock folded |
| Barrel length | 208 mm (8.2 in) |
| Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum |
| Caliber | 9mm |
| Action | Blowback |
| Rate of fire | ~1000 rounds/min |
| Effective firing range | 50–100 m |
| Feed system | 22 or 32-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights Single Point IR sight |
Design details
The weapon has the same T-shape as Uzi- and MAC-10 submachineguns, and is manufactured in semi-automatic for non-government and automatic for the government agents. The automatic version fires from the open bolt, the semi-automatic version fires from a closed bolt. Both versions are blowback operated. The bolt wraps around the rear of the barrel while closed to reduce length. The cocking-handle is at the top of the receiver. The BXP has an ambidextrous safety lever and a separate fire-mode selector built into the trigger. The government agents version can be fired single-shot by partially-pressing the trigger, or in full-auto mode by fully-pressing the trigger. The interceptor notch catches the bolt if it is released during the cocking but prior to activating the sear. The weapon is coated with a rust-resistant coating which doubles as a dry lubricant coating.
Using a wide variety of available muzzle devices (including silencers, heat shields, and rifle grenades), the weapon can fire non-lethal or explosive projectiles by the means of blank cartridge in addition to normal ammunition. The BXP features an under-folding buttstock of stamped steel. The standard sights are open, but the BXP can be equipped with laser aiming modules and collimating sights.
The gun fires at about 1000 rounds per minute, and is well-balanced and reasonably-accurate with a barrel length of 208 mm (8.2 in). It can be fired single-handed by folding the stock forward to form a solid fore-grip.
Users
South Africa: Entered service with the South African Armed Forces in 1984.[3] Also used by the South African Police Forces.
See also
- Cobra submachine gun
- Patria submachine gun
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2013-09-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Milkor BXP South African SMG [Submachine Gun]". Kitsune.addr.com. Archived from the original on 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2013-09-11.
- Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.