Description
AP-10
A simple striker fired combat pistol with an integrated laser-light-module.
---------
Model: AP-10
Manufacturer: Angel Arms Company
Action: Semi-Automatic - short-recoil, falling block, striker fired
Ammunition: 5.7x37mm caseless - 5.7x37 UE
Feeding mechanism: 21 round detachable magazine
Accessories: Micro reflex sight, integrated laser-light-module, ported barrel,
quick-detach modular suppressor, digital ammunition counter (backside)
----
Available ammunition (selection):
5.7x37mm caseless - 5.7mm UE Ball (T-345A3) - Full Metal Jacket
5.7x37mm caseless - 5.7mm UE HP (T-347) - Jacketed Hollow Point
5.7x37mm caseless - 5.7mm UE SAP (T-349A1) - Semi-Armor Piercing
5.7x37mm caseless - 5.7mm UE AP (T-350A3) - Armor Piercing
5.7x37mm caseless - 5.7mm UE HE (T-407) - High-Explosive
---------
Length: 22.1cm / 34.0cm (without / with suppressor)
Height: 15.2cm (with sight)
---------
The AP-10 is a simple semi-automatic handgun chambered in the 5.7x37mm caseless cartridge, better known as 5.7 UE. It is one of the first weapons made by Angel Arms after Earth's forces left Serenity and was explicitely chambered in 5.7x37 to capitalize on the surplus ammunition left behind. In the end, it didn't pay off, as modern chamberings of 9mm Parabellum and other cartridges were an order of magnitude more common and could match the price of surplus caseless ammo. Those who were willing to buy new production pistols chambered in modern calibers would rather buy guns made by COF that were currently being considered for military service and about to be released commercially.
The 5.7x37mm UE cartridge was a highly capable, high-velocity pistol round when it was first introduced, but it was quickly sidelined as a standard issue handgun cartridge and mostly relegated to colonial forces in favor of larger caliber rounds that could carry substantial payloads. Many independent or semi-dependent worlds were never interested in the cartridge since they considered even this quite durable caseless ammo to be too fragile and finicky to work with.
The gun is highly durable and dependable, yet it is quite expensive, which has detrimentally impacted its sales in the post-war economy of the early Union of Free Systems.