M634 Experimental High-Powered Semi-Armor-Piercing
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
M634 Experimental High-Powered Semi-Armor-Piercing, abbreviated as M634 X-HP-SAP or M634 9.5×40mm HP-SAP, and also known as the 9.5×40mm KURZ,[1][Note 1] is a 9.5×40mm rifle cartridge made specifically for the BR55, the BR75,[2] and the BR85 series.[3]
Overview
The M634 X-HP-SAP was developed in conjunction with the prototype XBR55 Battle Rifle. As an experimental round, its use is only limited to the BR55 Battle Rifle, the BR55 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle, and the BR85 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle. While the round was designated as experimental around 2525, at some point between then and 2558, the "experimental" designation was dropped, becoming the M634 9.5×40mm HP-SAP.[3]
Properties
As designated in its name, the M634 X-HP-SAP is an experimental round. It uses a special propellant that allows it to achieve a higher muzzle velocity than the M118 7.62×51mm round while using a smaller cartridge. It is also semi-armor-piercing, meaning that it mixes the properties of an armor piercing round with the properties of another type of round. The second type is unknown, though it is most likely similar to the M225 SAP-HE used in the M6 Series. The round is intended for high-velocity and long-range marksmanship.
The M634 is likely the result of human inclinations towards increased size (leading to the 9.5 mm bullet) and technological manipulation (leading to the experimental propellant). The larger caliber is probably also required to increase stopping power and to defeat the advanced body armor of the Insurrectionists and the Covenant. At some point before 2558, the experimental identification of the M634 was removed, suggesting the round received formal adoption by the United Nations Space Command.
The closest real-life counterpart of this round being the .375 SOCOM, which is a sized down version of the .458 SOCOM, a cartridge designed in 2000. However, the .375 SOCOM was designed in 2013 after the battle rifle first premiered in Halo 2, and interestingly shares its 9.5×40mm cartridge measurements.
Gallery
A 9.5×40mm cartridge in a magazine used to feed the BR55 service rifle in Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer.
Spent 9.5×40mm casings ejecting from a BR55 in Halo 2: Anniversary multiplayer.
List of appearances
- Halo: First Strike (First appearance)
- Halo 2
- Halo 3
- Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
- Halo 4
- Halo: Spartan Assault
- Halo: Escalation
- Halo 2: Anniversary
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Halo Infinite
Notes
- ^ Kurz is a German word for "short".
Sources
- ^ The Art of Halo 3, page 57
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 168
- ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Battle Rifle
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