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2.7mm Kolibri Auto
Historical Notes:
The 2.7mm Kolibri Auto is the smallest commercially manufactured centerfire pistol cartridge. It was used in the equally small Kolibri semiauto pistol, introduced about 1914. There was also a single-shot parlor-type pistol chambered for the round. The Kolibri automatic is of conventional blowback design. The cartridge has been obsolete for many years and is a collector's item.
General Comments:
Small pistols and miniature cartridges may have some value for indoor target practice, but have no other practical use. The tiny 2.7mm Kolibri jacketed bullet is of .105-inch to .108-inch diameter and weighs about three grains. Actual ballistics are unknown, but muzzle velocity is estimated to be 650 to 700 fps. This would develop an energy of only three ft-lbs. When you consider that the .25 Automatic develops 73 ft-lbs at the muzzle, you can see what a pipsqueak this cartridge is. However, it is by no means a toy. It is claimed that the bullet will penetrate 1½ inches of pine, which is sufficient to inflict a serious wound at close range. It should be treated with the same respect accorded any firearm. The 2.7mm Kolibri could not be considered a humane cartridge for hunting anything. However, it might do to dispatch a trapped mouse or eliminate an overly aggressive cockroach. It is not practical to reload these small cartridges.
2.7mm Kolibri Auto Factory Ballistics
Bullet (grains/type) | Powder | Grains | Velocity | Energy | Source/Comments | ||||||
3 FMJ | FL | 650-700 | 2.8-3.25 | Factory load * | |||||||
Dimensional Data | |||||||||||
Cartridge | Case | Bullet Dia. | Neck Dia. | Shoulder Dia. | Base Dia. | Rim Dia. | Rim Thick. | Case Length | Ctge. Length | Twist | Primer |
2.7mm Kolibri | D | .107 | .139 | - | .140 | .140 | .37 | .43 | ? | B | |
*Estimated velocity Case Type: D = Rimless, straight. Primer Type: B-1 = Berdan #1. B-2 = Berdan #2. DISCLAIMER: Any and all loading data found here is to be taken as reference material only. This site and it's entities bear no responsibility for the use by others of the data included here. WARNING: For any modern firearm, it is essential that you adhere to the loading recommendations put forth in the reloading manuals of today’s components manufacturers, as well as to the owners manual of the maker of your individual firearm. The potential for things to go wrong is exacerbated in guns long out of production, those chambering obsolete cartridges, and those using cartridges containing blackpowder or cordite. As a separate caution, you must never fire any cartridge in any gun just because it looks similar to, or has a similar designation to, the cartridge the gun is chambered for. This can be extremely dangerous. Almost is not good enough, so if you are at all uncertain about the proper cartridge, have a competent gunsmith check the bullet diameter and case dimensions and firearms chamber and headspace. | |||||||||||
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