The PPSh assault rifle designed by Shpagin in the standard version with a drum disc holds 71 rounds of 7.62×25 mm TT caliber, which ensured a high density of fire in close combat. This figure has become legendary, however, when using a box-shaped sector magazine, the weapon’s capacity was reduced to 35 rounds, which was dictated by the requirements for the reliability of delivery and the dimensions of the ammunition. It was the combination of a powerful cartridge and a large magazine capacity that made this model of small arms an effective means of close combat.
During the Great Patriotic War, the question of how many cartridges were in a PPSh often depended on the availability of loaded magazines on the front lines, since drum discs were difficult to manufacture and required careful manual filling. Soldiers appreciated the ability to fire a long burst without reloading, but the 71-round disk increased the weight of the weapon and often got in the way when moving in the trenches or forest. Therefore, by the middle of the war, many fighters preferred to use two or three box magazines of 35 rounds, which were lighter and more reliable in field conditions.
The design of the receiving window made it possible to use both types of magazines, but the feed mechanism had its own characteristics that required a certain skill from the shooter. The 7.62x25 mm cartridge had high penetration power and a flat trajectory, which compensated for the lack of accuracy at long distances. Understanding the ammunition capacity and cartridge feeding characteristics is critical to assessing the real combat capabilities of this historical model.
Technical characteristics and ammunition capacity
The main characteristic that determines firepower PPSh assault rifle, is the capacity of its magazine. In the classic version with a drum disk, known as a 1941 model magazine, the weapon holds 71 rounds. This number is not accidental: it corresponds to the magazine capacity of a TT pistol, increased in accordance with the dimensions of the drum. Such a container made it possible to conduct continuous fire for several seconds, creating a solid wall of lead in front of the advancing enemy.
However, when answering the question of how many cartridges are in the PPSh, one cannot ignore the modification with a box magazine, which was more common during the war years. The sector magazine, adopted to simplify logistics and reduce weight, held 35 rounds. This reduction in capacity was dictated by the need to improve feed reliability, as the long burst of 71 rounds often resulted in delays due to the inertia of the drum rotation and changes in the feed angle of the cartridges as the disk emptied.
⚠️ Attention: Using magazines from other weapons or homemade adaptations can lead to jamming of the mechanism and injury to the shooter due to rupture of the cartridge case or swelling of the chamber.
The weight of the ammunition also played a significant role. 71 rounds weighed significantly more than 35, which affected the fighter’s mobility. When fully equipped, the disc-mounted machine gun became heavy and cumbersome, especially in winter clothes. That's why PPSh-41 with a box magazine became more widespread at the end of the war, despite the smaller capacity, since the fighter could carry more magazines of the total weight.
To preserve the life of the barrel and prevent overheating, it is not recommended to fire the entire burst of 71 rounds in one gulp without a break. The optimal firing mode is short bursts of 3-5 shots.
Design features of stores: disk versus box
The difference between disk and sector magazines was not only in the number of cartridges, but also in the feeding principle. The PPSh drum magazine had a complex spiral guide along which the cartridges moved to the neck. Loading 71 rounds required a special device and significant physical effort, since the magazine spring had a powerful action. Incorrect packing often led to misalignment of cartridges and automatic failures.
The box magazine, holding 35 rounds, was made according to a scheme with a single-row arrangement of cartridges in a checkerboard pattern (double-row magazine). This solution simplified the design and made it possible to quickly replace the magazine in battle. The box magazine feed mechanism was considered more reliable as the cartridges were fed at a more predictable angle and the risk of case jamming was minimized.
- 🔫 Drum magazine: 71 cartridges, high loading difficulty, large weight, risk of cartridges being distorted when dropped.
- 📦 Box magazine: 35 rounds, ease of use, lighter weight, high feed reliability in all conditions.
- ⚙️ Compatibility: The PPSh automatic machine accepts both types of magazines without modifications; the receiving window allows you to install any of them.
- 🔥 Fire rate: About 15-17 rounds per second with full automatic fire.
- ⏱️ Disk empty time: The 71-round magazine is emptied in approximately 4-4.5 seconds of continuous fire.
- 🎯 Recommended mode: Short bursts of 2-5 shots to improve accuracy and prevent overheating.
- 🇷🇺 PPSh: 71 (disc) / 35 (box), cartridge 7.62x25 mm.
- 🇩🇪 MP-40: 32 rounds, 9x19 mm Parabellum cartridge.
- 🇺🇸 Thompson: 50 (drum) / 20-30 (box), cartridge 45 ACP.
In real combat, soldiers were often faced with a situation where there were not enough disks, and they had to switch to box magazines. Engineers constantly improved the design, trying to combine high capacity with reliability. However, the law of inertia and ballistics dictated its conditions: the more cartridges in the magazine, the higher the likelihood of delay during intense shooting.
Ammunition and ballistics of the 7.62×25 mm cartridge
The firepower of the PPSh assault rifle is based on the 7.62×25 mm TT cartridge. This ammunition has a high muzzle velocity, reaching 480-500 m/s from automatic weapons. The high speed provided excellent penetration ability, allowing the bullet to penetrate soft armor, helmets and wooden shelters. It was the characteristics of the cartridge that determined how many cartridges in the PPSh were needed to hit the target.
The 7.62 mm cartridge bullet had a steel core, which made it effective against lightly armored targets. At a distance of up to 200 meters, the penetrating effect was maximum, but at long distances the bullet quickly lost energy due to its small caliber and weight. However, the density of fire created by the machine gun with a 71-round magazine compensated for the decrease in penetration ability at a distance.
⚠️ Attention: The use of cartridges with a modified powder weight or a bullet with broken geometry can lead to rupture of the barrel. Use only standard ammunition that meets specifications.
The table below shows the main ballistic characteristics of the cartridge used in PPSh:
| Parameter | Meaning | Unit of measurement |
|---|---|---|
| Caliber | 7,62 | mm |
| Case length | 25 | mm |
| Bullet weight | 5,5 | g |
| Initial speed | 480-500 | m/s |
| Effective range | 200-300 | m |
Understanding ballistics helps to appreciate why the PPSh assault rifle was so effective in urban battles and forested areas. The short distance of a real battle made it possible to use the full power of the cartridge, and the large magazine ensured suppression of the enemy with fire.
Firing modes and ammunition consumption
The PPSh assault rifle fired only automatic fire, without a single-shot mode. This decision was dictated by the concept of using weapons as a means of close combat, where reaction speed and fire density are important. The theoretical rate of fire was about 900-1000 rounds per minute, which meant that the magazine of 71 rounds was fully depleted in less than 5 seconds.
Such a high rate of fire led to rapid overheating of the barrel and enormous consumption of ammunition. A fighter with a full set of discs could use up all the ammunition in a few minutes of intense combat. Therefore, shooting training included practicing the skill of firing in short bursts, which made it possible to save ammunition and maintain accuracy.
Historical fact
In some modifications and field conditions, the rate of fire could be artificially reduced by shortening the bolt stroke or changing the mass of the bolt frame, but the PPSh remained one of the fastest-firing machine guns of the war.
Ammunition consumption was colossal, and supplying front-line soldiers with 7.62 mm TT cartridges was one of the rear priorities. Soldiers often took 4-6 discs with them into battle, which amounted to more than 250-400 rounds of ammunition, not counting additional box magazines. This emphasizes the importance of the question of how many cartridges are in the PPSh for combat support planning.
Evolution of stores during operation
During the war, the design of PPSh magazines underwent changes. The first samples of disks were difficult to manufacture and required a lot of non-ferrous metals. Later simplified versions appeared, but the problem of supply reliability remained relevant. The transition to box stores was a forced measure, which, however, turned out to be strategically correct.
Box magazines also improved. Early models had problems feeding the top rounds when the magazine was full due to the spring being too tight. In later versions, magazine geometry and spring force were optimized, increasing reliability PPSh-41. The number of rounds remained unchanged - 35 pieces, but the quality of shooting increased.
⚠️ Attention: When storing magazines with cartridges for a long time, it is recommended to unload them to avoid weakening the feed spring, which can lead to delays in firing.
It is interesting that captured German MP-40 assault rifles, converted to the 7.62 mm cartridge (MP-40(r)), also used PPSh magazines, but with an adapter, since the standard MP-40 magazine was already narrower. This confirms the versatility and prevalence of the PPSh magazine on the battlefield.
Main conclusion: The transition from a 71-round disc to a 35-round box magazine was a key factor in increasing the reliability and mass production of the PPSh assault rifle in the second half of the war.
Comparison with analogues and modern samples
Comparing PPSh with modern assault rifles, you can notice a significant difference in magazine capacity. Modern designs, such as the AK-74 or M4, use 30-round magazines of 5.45 or 5.56 mm caliber. Reducing the caliber made it possible to increase the wearable ammunition, but reduced the stopping effect of the bullet at short distances compared to the 7.62 mm TT.
The German MP-40 held 32 rounds in a box magazine, which was comparable to the PPSh box magazine, but inferior to the disk version. The Soviet machine gun benefited from a more powerful cartridge and the ability to use a drum magazine, although it lost in weight and dimensions. The question of “how many cartridges are in the PPSh” in comparison with the MP-40 was often decided in favor of Soviet weapons in close combat.
Modern submachine guns, such as the PP-19 "Vityaz" or MP5, also gravitate towards magazines with a capacity of 30 rounds. Large-capacity drum magazines (for 50-100 rounds) exist, but are rarely used due to their weight and dimensions, which is confirmed by historical experience gained from operating PPSh.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to insert a magazine from a PPS into a PPSh?
No, the magazines of PPSh and PPS assault rifles are not compatible. They have different neck designs, latches and body geometry. Attempting installation may damage the receiving window of the machine.
Why was the 71-round drum magazine canceled?
The main reasons were the complexity and labor-intensive production, the difficulty of loading in the field, large weight and dimensions, as well as less reliability of cartridge feeding compared to a 35-round box magazine.
How much does a full PPSh magazine weigh?
The weight of an empty disc magazine was about 1.7 kg, and with 71 rounds - more than 3.5 kg. The box magazine weighed about 0.5 kg when empty and about 1.2 kg with 35 rounds.
Is it possible to shoot a PPSh without a magazine by inserting a cartridge into the chamber?
Technically, a shot is possible if the bolt is cocked, but this is extremely dangerous and is not provided for by the design. The automatic weapon is designed to work with a magazine that guides the cartridge. Shooting without a magazine can cause the cartridge to stick and cause injury.
What is the real rate of fire for the PPSh?
The combat rate of fire was about 100 rounds per minute (taking into account aiming and reloading), although the technical rate of fire reached 900-1000 rounds per minute with continuous fire.
☑️ Checking the readiness of the PPSh store
Studying the question of how many cartridges are in a PPSh assault rifle opens up an understanding of the logic behind the creation of this weapon. The balance between firepower, reliability and wearability was the result of the rigors of war. And although the 71-round disc is a thing of history, it remains a symbol of the era when the density of fire decided the outcome of the battle.