4 mm Flobert Short

4 mm Randz Court
Place of origin France
Production history
DesignerNicolas Flobert
ManufacturerSellier & Bellot
Produced1942-present
Specifications
Case typerimfire
Bullet diameter4.5 mm (0.18 in)
Base diameter4.6 mm (0.18 in)
Rim diameter5.9 mm (0.23 in)
Rim thickness1 mm (0.039 in)
Case length6.1 mm (0.24 in)
Overall length9.13 mm (0.359 in)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
7.7 gr (0.49895 g) Sellier & Bellot lead BB 280 m/s (918.6 ft/s) 20 J (15 ft⋅lbf)
Test barrel length: 200 mm[1]

The 4mm Randz Court or 4mm Flobert Short cartridge is a rimfire cartridge that uses only mercury as a propellant. It is one of the smallest rimfire cartridges in the world and is used only in Europe.[2][3]

Developed in 1842 by French gunsmith Nicolas Flobert, the 4mm Randz Court is one of the oldest rimfire cartridges still in production. It uses a 7.7-grain lead shot. While not exactly 4mm, it is actually 4.5mm in diameter and produces an impact energy of less than 30 joules, which is why many European Union regulations are quite permissive regarding its use.[2][3]

There is a version with a case lengthened by 2 millimeters, developed by RWS. This version, called the 4mm Randz Long or 4mm Flobert Long Case, also uses the same projectile as the Randz Court and is powder-free. It also produces an impact energy of less than 30 joules.[2]

Among the gun models that use the 4mm Flobert cartridge (in its short and long versions) are the Alfa series revolvers produced by AlfaProj (Models 420, 440/441 and 461) and the Safari Sport rifle-revolver produced by Latek[4][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "4 mm RANDZ COURT". Sellier & Bellot. Retrieved 2026-02-19.
  2. ^ a b c "RWS-Flobertpatronen". AllJagd.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-02-19.
  3. ^ a b "4 mm Flobert Short case". Munición.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-02-19.
  4. ^ "4 mm Randz long ALFA". AlfaProj (in Czech). Retrieved 2026-02-19.
  5. ^ Мосин (Mosin), Васлий (Vasliy) (2018-10-03). "ООО «ЛАТЭК» представляет револьверную винтовку Safari Sport под патрон Флобера" [LATEK LLC presents the Safari Sport revolver rifle chambered for the Flobert cartridge]. All4Shooters.com (in Russian). Retrieved 2026-02-19.
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