9 mm Luger Parabellum
Encyclopedia
The 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge
was designed by Georg Luger
and introduced in 1902 by the German
weapons manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken
(DWM) for their Luger semi-automatic pistol. For this reason, it is commonly called the 9 mm Luger cartridge, differentiating it from the 9mm Makarov
and 9mm Browning
(.380 ACP) cartridges.
The book Cartridges of the World stated in 2006 that the 9×19mm Parabellum is "the world's most popular and widely used military handgun cartridge."
The name Parabellum is derived from the Latin
: Si vis pacem, para bellum ("If you seek peace, prepare for war"), which was the motto of DWM.
In addition to being used by over 60% of police in the U.S., Newsweek
credits 9×19 pistol sales with making semi-automatic pistols more popular than revolver
s. The popularity of this cartridge can be attributed to the widely held conviction that it is highly effective in police and self-defense use. Its low cost and wide availability (subject to jurisdiction) are self-sustaining contributors to the caliber's continuing popularity.
developed the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge from Luger's earlier 7.65×21mm Parabellum
. In 1902, Luger presented the new round to the British Small Arms Committee as well as three prototype versions to the U.S. Army
for testing at Springfield Arsenal in mid-1903. The German Navy adopted the cartridge in 1904 and in 1906 the German Army
adopted it as well.
The initial cartridge was created by removing the bottleneck of the 7.65 mm Luger cartridge, resulting in a tapered rimless cartridge. The ogive
of the bullet
was slightly redesigned in the 1910s in order to improve feeding.
To conserve lead during World War II
in Germany, the lead core was replaced by an iron core encased with lead. This bullet, identified by a black bullet jacket, was designated as the 08 mE (mit Eisenkern—"with iron core"). By 1944, the black jacket of the 08 mE bullet was dropped and these bullets were produced with normal copper-colored jackets. Another wartime variation was designated the 08 sE bullet and identified by its dark gray jacket, and was created by compressing iron powder at high temperature into a solid material (Sintereisen—"sintered iron").
, acceptance of this caliber increased. Nine-millimeter pistols and submachine guns were adopted by military and police users in a number of countries. The 9×19mm Parabellum has become the most popular caliber for U.S. law enforcement agencies, primarily due to the availability of compact pistols with large magazine capacity that use this cartridge.
From the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, there was a sharp increase in the popularity of semiautomatic pistols which coincided with the adoption of the Beretta M9 (a military version of the Beretta Model 92) by the U.S. Army. Previously, most police departments issued .38 Special
caliber revolvers with a six-shot capacity. The .38 Special was preferred to other weapons such as variants of the M1911
because it offered low recoil, was small and light enough to accommodate different shooters, and was relatively inexpensive.
The 9mm is ballistically superior to the .38 Special revolver cartridge, is overall shorter, and being an autoloader cartridge, it is stored in flat magazines, as opposed to cylindrical speedloaders or clips
. This, coupled with the advent of the so-called 'wonder nines'
led to many US police departments exchanging their revolvers for some form of 9mm autoloader by the 1980s.
The 9×19mm Parabellum has 0.86 ml
(13.3 grains
H2O) cartridge case capacity.
9×19mm Parabellum maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm).
The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. The common rifling
twist rate for this cartridge is 250 mm (1 in 9.84 in), 6 grooves, ø lands = 8.82 mm, ø grooves = 9.02 mm, land width = 2.49 mm and the primer type
is small pistol.
Empty case weighs approximately 4 g (0.141095848420448 oz).
The round was originally designed to be lethal to 50 m, although the bullet does travel and is lethal at longer ranges.
The 9 mm cartridge combines a flat trajectory
with moderate recoil
. As early as 1986, in the NRA's book Handloading stated that "the modern science of wound ballistics has established beyond reasonable doubt that the 9mm cartridge is highly effective."
The energy delivered by most 9 mm loads allows for significant expansion and penetration with premium JHP bullets. Illinois State Police
, Border Patrol, Federal Air Marshals and United States Secret Service
favored and used 115 gr +P+ 9 mm loads at 1300 ft/s (396.2 m/s) for years with excellent results. Lethal Force expert Massad Ayoob
has stated that the "Tried, Tested, and True" 115 gr +P or +P+ is the best self defense load in this caliber. Proponents of the hydrostatic shock
theory contend that the energy of the 9mm cartridge is capable of imparting remote wounding effects known as hydrostatic shock, in human-sized living targets.
The table below shows common performance parameters for several 9×19mm loads. Bullet weights ranging from 115 gr are common. Loads are available with energies from just over 320 lbf (1,423.4 J) to over 558 lbf (2,482.1 J), and penetration depths from 8 in (203.2 mm) to over 40 in (1 m) are available for various applications and risk assessments.
Key:
Expansion: expanded bullet diameter (ballistic gelatin).
Penetration: penetration depth (ballistic gelatin).
PC: permanent cavity volume (ballistic gelatin, FBI method).
TSC: temporary stretch cavity volume (ballistic gelatin).
According to the official C.I.P. (Commission Internationale Permanente Pour L'Epreuve Des Armes A Feu Portatives) guidelines the 9×19mm Parabellum case can handle up to 235 MPa (34,083.9 psi) piezo pressure. In C.I.P. regulated countries every pistol cartridge combo has to be proofed at 130% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers.
The SAAMI
pressure limit for the 9×19mm Parabellum is set at 241.32 MPa (35,000.5 psi) piezo pressure.
The SAAMI
pressure limit for the 9×19 mm Parabellum +P is set at 265.45 MPa (38,500.3 psi) piezo pressure.
In addition to the traditional pressure values for this cartridge, there are two main variants that offer different pressure standards than the SAAMI or C.I.P requirements.
are labeled "+P" or in the case of very high pressure loadings "+P+". Ballistic performance of these rounds was moderately improved over the standard loadings. In addition, improvements in jacketed hollow point bullet
technology have produced bullet designs that are more likely to expand and less likely to fragment than earlier iterations, giving a 9 mm bullet better terminal effectiveness.
among NATO users is "9 mm NATO". The 9 mm NATO can be considered as an overpressure variant
of the 9×19mm Parabellum that is defined by NATO standards. The service pressure Pmax of the 9 mm NATO is rated at 252 MPa (36,549.5 psi) where C.I.P. rates the 9 mm Luger PTmax somewhat lower at 235 MPa (34,083.9 psi). The 315 MPa (45,686.9 psi) proofing test pressure used in the 9 mm NATO proof test however equals the proofing test pressure used in the 9 mm Luger C.I.P. proof test. While the NATO standards do not specify the type of bullet to be used, the Hague Convention of 1899 prohibits the use of expanding ammunition in warfare by signatories, and therefore 9 mm NATO ammunition uses FMJ "ball" bullets.
.
Besides enhanced penetration capabilities these overpressure variants
offer a flatter trajectory and lessened recoil. The increase in service pressure causes a rise in bolt thrust
, so the use of this overpressure ammunition induces more stress on critical weapon parts during firing. After initial research, conducted since the late 1980s under the codename "Grach", the Russian armed forces adopted two specialized 9×19mm variants.
The 7N21 (Cyrillic
: 7Н
21) 9×19 mm overpressure variant
features an armour piercing bullet and generates a peak pressure of 280 MPa (40,610.6 psi). The 7N21 bullet features a hardened (sub-caliber) steel penetrator core, enclosed by a bimetal jacket. The space between the core and jacket is filled with polyethylene, and the tip of the penetrator is exposed at the front of the bullet, to achieve better penetration. The penetration range for body armor is specified at up to 40 m. The MP-443 Grach
and GSh-18 pistols and PP-19-01, PP-90M1
and PP-2000
submachine guns were designed for usage with this overpressure cartridge. Jane's Infantry Weapons stated in 2003 that the 7N21 cartridge combines the 9×19mm Parabellum dimensions with a 9×21mm Gyurza bullet design and was developed specifically for the penetration of body armor and for the MP-443 Grach pistol, the latest Russian service pistol.
The 7N31 (Cyrillic
: 7Н
31) / PBP 9×19mm overpressure variant uses the same concept with a similar but lighter bullet that achieves higher muzzle velocity. The penetration of an 8 mm thick steel plate is specified at up to 10 m. The 7N31 cartridge was developed in the late 1990s for the GSh-18 pistol. The 7N31 was adopted for the PP-90M1
and PP-2000
submachine guns. Its maximum service pressure remains unclear.
and USPSA
competitions in the open division. It describes a 9×19mm loaded to reach or surpass the "major" factor in those competitions, something that few if any commercial self-defense loads do. Such loads are only rarely within the limits defined by SAAMI or CIP, exceeding even +P loads. Usually, they are compressed powder charges combined with heavy bullets and a longer than standard OAL. Since they can be used with common 9×19 brass, they are considered a cheaper alternative to .38 Super
. This ammunition puts a greater strain on the gun than normal ammunition.
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
was designed by Georg Luger
Georg Luger
Georg Johann Luger was an Austrian designer of the famous Luger pistol and the 9 x 19mm Parabellum cartridge.-Early life and military service:...
and introduced in 1902 by the German
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
weapons manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken
Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken
Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken Aktien-Gesellschaft , known as DWM, was an arms company in Imperial Germany created in 1896 when Ludwig Loewe & Company united its weapons and ammunition production facilities within one company...
(DWM) for their Luger semi-automatic pistol. For this reason, it is commonly called the 9 mm Luger cartridge, differentiating it from the 9mm Makarov
9×18mm Makarov
9×18mm Makarov is a Soviet pistol and submachine gun cartridge. During the latter half of the 20th Century it was a standard military pistol cartridge of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc, analogous to the 9×19mm Parabellum in NATO and Western military use.-History:During the Second World War...
and 9mm Browning
.380 ACP
The .380 ACP pistol cartridge is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. It was introduced in 1908 by Colt, and has been a popular self-defense cartridge ever since...
(.380 ACP) cartridges.
The book Cartridges of the World stated in 2006 that the 9×19mm Parabellum is "the world's most popular and widely used military handgun cartridge."
The name Parabellum is derived from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: Si vis pacem, para bellum ("If you seek peace, prepare for war"), which was the motto of DWM.
In addition to being used by over 60% of police in the U.S., Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
credits 9×19 pistol sales with making semi-automatic pistols more popular than revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
s. The popularity of this cartridge can be attributed to the widely held conviction that it is highly effective in police and self-defense use. Its low cost and wide availability (subject to jurisdiction) are self-sustaining contributors to the caliber's continuing popularity.
Origins
Georg LugerGeorg Luger
Georg Johann Luger was an Austrian designer of the famous Luger pistol and the 9 x 19mm Parabellum cartridge.-Early life and military service:...
developed the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge from Luger's earlier 7.65×21mm Parabellum
7.65×21mm Parabellum
The 7.65×21mm Parabellum is a pistol cartridge that was introduced in 1898 by German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken for their new Pistol Parabellum...
. In 1902, Luger presented the new round to the British Small Arms Committee as well as three prototype versions to the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
for testing at Springfield Arsenal in mid-1903. The German Navy adopted the cartridge in 1904 and in 1906 the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
adopted it as well.
The initial cartridge was created by removing the bottleneck of the 7.65 mm Luger cartridge, resulting in a tapered rimless cartridge. The ogive
Ogive
An ogive is the roundly tapered end of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional object.-Applied physical science and engineering:In ballistics or aerodynamics, an ogive is a pointed, curved surface mainly used to form the approximately streamlined nose of a bullet or other projectile.The traditional...
of the bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
was slightly redesigned in the 1910s in order to improve feeding.
To conserve lead during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in Germany, the lead core was replaced by an iron core encased with lead. This bullet, identified by a black bullet jacket, was designated as the 08 mE (mit Eisenkern—"with iron core"). By 1944, the black jacket of the 08 mE bullet was dropped and these bullets were produced with normal copper-colored jackets. Another wartime variation was designated the 08 sE bullet and identified by its dark gray jacket, and was created by compressing iron powder at high temperature into a solid material (Sintereisen—"sintered iron").
Popularity
After World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, acceptance of this caliber increased. Nine-millimeter pistols and submachine guns were adopted by military and police users in a number of countries. The 9×19mm Parabellum has become the most popular caliber for U.S. law enforcement agencies, primarily due to the availability of compact pistols with large magazine capacity that use this cartridge.
From the early 1980s to the mid-1990s, there was a sharp increase in the popularity of semiautomatic pistols which coincided with the adoption of the Beretta M9 (a military version of the Beretta Model 92) by the U.S. Army. Previously, most police departments issued .38 Special
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
caliber revolvers with a six-shot capacity. The .38 Special was preferred to other weapons such as variants of the M1911
M1911
The M1911 is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, and recoil-operated handgun chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge. John M. Browning designed the firearm which was the standard-issue side arm for the United States armed forces from 1911 to 1985. The M1911 is still carried by some U.S....
because it offered low recoil, was small and light enough to accommodate different shooters, and was relatively inexpensive.
The 9mm is ballistically superior to the .38 Special revolver cartridge, is overall shorter, and being an autoloader cartridge, it is stored in flat magazines, as opposed to cylindrical speedloaders or clips
Clip (ammunition)
A clip is a device that is used to store multiple rounds of ammunition together as a unit, ready for insertion into the magazine or cylinder of a firearm. This speeds up the process of loading and reloading the firearm as several rounds can be loaded at once, rather than one round being loaded at a...
. This, coupled with the advent of the so-called 'wonder nines'
Wonder Nine
Wonder Nine is a term coined by firearms author Robert Shimek which then became popular in American firearm-related magazines during the 1980s. It refers to any handgun that is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum and has a double stack magazine, as well as a double-action trigger for at least the first...
led to many US police departments exchanging their revolvers for some form of 9mm autoloader by the 1980s.
Cartridge dimensions
Litre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
(13.3 grains
Grain (measure)
A grain is a unit of measurement of mass that is nominally based upon the mass of a single seed of a cereal. From the Bronze Age into the Renaissance the average masses of wheat and barley grains were part of the legal definition of units of mass. However, there is no evidence of any country ever...
H2O) cartridge case capacity.
9×19mm Parabellum maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions. All sizes in millimeters (mm).
The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case. The common rifling
Rifling
Rifling is the process of making helical grooves in the barrel of a gun or firearm, which imparts a spin to a projectile around its long axis...
twist rate for this cartridge is 250 mm (1 in 9.84 in), 6 grooves, ø lands = 8.82 mm, ø grooves = 9.02 mm, land width = 2.49 mm and the primer type
Percussion cap
The percussion cap, introduced around 1830, was the crucial invention that enabled muzzleloading firearms to fire reliably in any weather.Before this development, firearms used flintlock ignition systems which produced flint-on-steel sparks to ignite a pan of priming powder and thereby fire the...
is small pistol.
Empty case weighs approximately 4 g (0.141095848420448 oz).
Performance
The 9 mm cartridge combines a flat trajectory
Trajectory
A trajectory is the path that a moving object follows through space as a function of time. The object might be a projectile or a satellite, for example. It thus includes the meaning of orbit—the path of a planet, an asteroid or a comet as it travels around a central mass...
with moderate recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
. As early as 1986, in the NRA's book Handloading stated that "the modern science of wound ballistics has established beyond reasonable doubt that the 9mm cartridge is highly effective."
The energy delivered by most 9 mm loads allows for significant expansion and penetration with premium JHP bullets. Illinois State Police
Illinois State Police
The Illinois State Police is the state police force of Illinois. Officially established in 1922, the Illinois State Police have over 3,000 personnel and 21 districts. The main facilities of the Illinois State Police Academy, which were constructed in 1968, are located in Springfield. Prior to...
, Border Patrol, Federal Air Marshals and United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
favored and used 115 gr +P+ 9 mm loads at 1300 ft/s (396.2 m/s) for years with excellent results. Lethal Force expert Massad Ayoob
Massad Ayoob
Massad F. Ayoob is an internationally known firearms and self-defense instructor. He has taught police techniques and civilian self-defense to both law enforcement officers and private citizens in numerous venues since 1974...
has stated that the "Tried, Tested, and True" 115 gr +P or +P+ is the best self defense load in this caliber. Proponents of the hydrostatic shock
Hydrostatic shock
Hydrostatic shock or hydraulic shock describes the observation that a penetrating projectile can produce remote wounding and incapacitating effects in living targets through a hydraulic effect in their liquid-filled tissues, in addition to local effects in tissue caused by direct impact...
theory contend that the energy of the 9mm cartridge is capable of imparting remote wounding effects known as hydrostatic shock, in human-sized living targets.
The table below shows common performance parameters for several 9×19mm loads. Bullet weights ranging from 115 gr are common. Loads are available with energies from just over 320 lbf (1,423.4 J) to over 558 lbf (2,482.1 J), and penetration depths from 8 in (203.2 mm) to over 40 in (1 m) are available for various applications and risk assessments.
| Manufacturer | Load | Mass | Velocity | Energy | Expansion | Penetration | PC | TSC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cor-Bon | JHP | 115 gr | 1350 ft/s (411.5 m/s) | 465 ft-lb (630.4 J) | 0.55 in (14 mm) | 14.2 in (360.7 mm) | 3.4 cu in (55.8 ml) | 38.5 cu in (631.4 ml) |
| Speer | Gold Dot JHP | 124 gr | 1310 ft/s (399.3 m/s) | 472 ft-lb (639.9 J) | 0.7 in (17.8 mm) | 13.25 in (336.6 mm) | 5.1 cu in (83.6 ml) | 37.6 cu in (616.6 ml) (est) |
| Federal | HydraShok JHP +P+ | 124 gr | 1220 ft/s (371.9 m/s) | 410 ft-lb (555.9 J) | 0.67 in (17 mm) | 13.4 in (340.4 mm) | 4.7 cu in (77.1 ml) | 44.8 cu in (734.7 ml) |
| Remington | Golden Saber JHP | 147 gr | 990 ft/s (301.8 m/s) | 320 ft-lb (433.9 J) | 0.62 in (15.7 mm) | 14.5 in (368.3 mm) | 4.4 cu in (72.2 ml) | 33.2 cu in (544.5 ml) |
| Winchester | Silvertip | 115 gr | 1225 ft/s (373.4 m/s) | 383 ft-lb (519.3 J) | 0.72 in (18.3 mm) | 8 in (203.2 mm) | 3.3 cu in (54.1 ml) | 16.7 cu in (273.9 ml) |
| Winchester | WWB JHP | 147 gr | 990 ft/s (301.8 m/s) | 320 ft-lb (433.9 J) | 0.58 in (14.7 mm) | 15.9 in (403.9 mm) | 4.2 cu in (68.9 ml) | 19.6 cu in (321.4 ml) |
| Winchester | FMJ | 115 gr | 1155 ft/s (352 m/s) | 341 ft-lb (462.3 J) | 0.36 in (9.1 mm) | 24.5 in (622.3 mm) | 2.5 cu in (41 ml) | 10.6 cu in (173.8 ml) |
| Doubletap | JFN+P trail defense | 147 gr | 1135 ft/s (345.9 m/s) | 420 ft-lb (569.4 J) | 0.36 in (9.1 mm) | 40 in (1,016 mm) | NA | NA |
Key:
Expansion: expanded bullet diameter (ballistic gelatin).
Penetration: penetration depth (ballistic gelatin).
PC: permanent cavity volume (ballistic gelatin, FBI method).
TSC: temporary stretch cavity volume (ballistic gelatin).
Improvements and variations
The SAAMI
Saami
Saami or SAAMI can stand for:*Sami people*Sami languages*Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute...
pressure limit for the 9×19mm Parabellum is set at 241.32 MPa (35,000.5 psi) piezo pressure.
The SAAMI
Saami
Saami or SAAMI can stand for:*Sami people*Sami languages*Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute...
pressure limit for the 9×19 mm Parabellum +P is set at 265.45 MPa (38,500.3 psi) piezo pressure.
In addition to the traditional pressure values for this cartridge, there are two main variants that offer different pressure standards than the SAAMI or C.I.P requirements.
9×19mm +P variant
Attempts to improve ballistics of the cartridge came in the early 1990s with the widespread availability of high pressure loadings of the 9 mm cartridge. Such overpressure cartridgesOverpressure ammunition
Overpressure ammunition, commonly designated as +P or +P+, is small arms ammunition that has been loaded to a higher internal pressure than is standard for ammunition of its caliber , but less than the pressures generated by a proof round...
are labeled "+P" or in the case of very high pressure loadings "+P+". Ballistic performance of these rounds was moderately improved over the standard loadings. In addition, improvements in jacketed hollow point bullet
Hollow point bullet
A hollow point is an expanding bullet that has a pit or hollowed out shape in its tip, generally intended to cause the bullet to thin upon entering a target in order to decrease penetration and disrupt more tissue as it travels through the target. It is also used for controlled penetration, where...
technology have produced bullet designs that are more likely to expand and less likely to fragment than earlier iterations, giving a 9 mm bullet better terminal effectiveness.
9 mm NATO variant
The 9 mm cartridge has been manufactured by, or for, more than 70 different countries and has become a standard pistol caliber for NATO and other military forces around the world. Its official nomenclatureNomenclature
Nomenclature is a term that applies to either a list of names or terms, or to the system of principles, procedures and terms related to naming - which is the assigning of a word or phrase to a particular object or property...
among NATO users is "9 mm NATO". The 9 mm NATO can be considered as an overpressure variant
Overpressure ammunition
Overpressure ammunition, commonly designated as +P or +P+, is small arms ammunition that has been loaded to a higher internal pressure than is standard for ammunition of its caliber , but less than the pressures generated by a proof round...
of the 9×19mm Parabellum that is defined by NATO standards. The service pressure Pmax of the 9 mm NATO is rated at 252 MPa (36,549.5 psi) where C.I.P. rates the 9 mm Luger PTmax somewhat lower at 235 MPa (34,083.9 psi). The 315 MPa (45,686.9 psi) proofing test pressure used in the 9 mm NATO proof test however equals the proofing test pressure used in the 9 mm Luger C.I.P. proof test. While the NATO standards do not specify the type of bullet to be used, the Hague Convention of 1899 prohibits the use of expanding ammunition in warfare by signatories, and therefore 9 mm NATO ammunition uses FMJ "ball" bullets.
9 mm SESAMS
The United States Military uses red and blue marking rounds in the 9mm caliber known as Special Effects Small Arms Marking Systems (SESAMS). Commonly used for training simulations, these rounds are comparable in function to the paintballs used in paintball markers, except they are fired with a propellant, and can be shot in Beretta M9 service pistols with only a barrel modification. The 9mm SESAMS rounds are fired from specially modified pistols as well as M16 and M4 rifles, which are incapable of chambering standard live ammunition. SESAMS weapons or components are normally painted blue or otherwise clearly marked, in order to denote their inert status and avoid a potentially catastrophic mixup with live-fire weapons. This allows the armed forces to train with nearly identical equipment as used in real life situations. The brand name for this ammunition, which is sold commercially and to law enforcement, is SimunitionSimunition
Simunition is a trademark for training ammunition produced by General Dynamics - Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada Inc. of Québec, Canada. Simunition encompasses many types of training rounds, the best-known being the FX Marking Cartridge....
.
Russian military overpressure variants
The Russian military has developed specialized 9×19mm cartridges that utilize relatively light bullets at high muzzle velocities for both pistols and submachine guns to defeat body armour.Besides enhanced penetration capabilities these overpressure variants
Overpressure ammunition
Overpressure ammunition, commonly designated as +P or +P+, is small arms ammunition that has been loaded to a higher internal pressure than is standard for ammunition of its caliber , but less than the pressures generated by a proof round...
offer a flatter trajectory and lessened recoil. The increase in service pressure causes a rise in bolt thrust
Bolt thrust
Bolt thrust or breech pressure is a term used in internal ballistics and firearms that describes the amount of rearward force exerted by the propellant gases on the bolt or breech of a firearm action or breech when a projectile is fired...
, so the use of this overpressure ammunition induces more stress on critical weapon parts during firing. After initial research, conducted since the late 1980s under the codename "Grach", the Russian armed forces adopted two specialized 9×19mm variants.
| Chambering | 7Н En (Cyrillic) En is a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet.It commonly represents the alveolar nasal consonant , like the pronunciation of ⟨n⟩ in "nice".-History:The Cyrillic letter En was derived from the Greek letter Nu .... 21 (7N21) |
7Н En (Cyrillic) En is a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet.It commonly represents the alveolar nasal consonant , like the pronunciation of ⟨n⟩ in "nice".-History:The Cyrillic letter En was derived from the Greek letter Nu .... 31 (7N31) / PBP |
|---|---|---|
| Cartridge weight | 9.5 g (8.55008550085501E-07 gr) | 8.1 g (7.29007290072901E-07 gr) |
| Bullet weight | 5.2 g (4.68004680046801E-07 gr) | 4.1 g (3.690036900369E-07 gr) |
| Muzzle velocity | 460 m/s (1,509 ft/s) | 600 m/s (1,969 ft/s) |
| Muzzle energy | 561 joule | 756 joule |
| Accuracy of fire at 25 m (27 yd) (R50) |
25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) | |
| Maximum pressure | 280 MPa (40,610.6 psi) | |
- R50 at 25 m (27 yd) means the closest 50 percent of the shot group will all be within a circle of 25 mm (0.984251968503937 in) diameter at 25 m (27 yd).
The 7N21 (Cyrillic
Cyrillic alphabet
The Cyrillic script or azbuka is an alphabetic writing system developed in the First Bulgarian Empire during the 10th century AD at the Preslav Literary School...
: 7Н
En (Cyrillic)
En is a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet.It commonly represents the alveolar nasal consonant , like the pronunciation of ⟨n⟩ in "nice".-History:The Cyrillic letter En was derived from the Greek letter Nu ....
21) 9×19 mm overpressure variant
Overpressure ammunition
Overpressure ammunition, commonly designated as +P or +P+, is small arms ammunition that has been loaded to a higher internal pressure than is standard for ammunition of its caliber , but less than the pressures generated by a proof round...
features an armour piercing bullet and generates a peak pressure of 280 MPa (40,610.6 psi). The 7N21 bullet features a hardened (sub-caliber) steel penetrator core, enclosed by a bimetal jacket. The space between the core and jacket is filled with polyethylene, and the tip of the penetrator is exposed at the front of the bullet, to achieve better penetration. The penetration range for body armor is specified at up to 40 m. The MP-443 Grach
MP-443 Grach
Yarygin PYa, MP-443 Grach |rook]]) is the latest Russian standard military-issue side arm. It was developed in response to Russian military trials, which began in 1993. In 2003, it was adopted as a standard sidearm for all branches of Russian military and law enforcement, alongside GSh-18 and SPS...
and GSh-18 pistols and PP-19-01, PP-90M1
PP-90M1
The PP-90M1 is a 9x19mm Parabellum Russian submachine gun developed by KBP Instrument Design Bureau in the 1990s. It features a 64-round helical magazine, and other than sharing a manufacturer is unrelated to the similarly named PP-90M....
and PP-2000
PP-2000
The PP-2000 is a submachine gun made by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. It was first publicly displayed at the Interpolytech-2004 exhibition in Moscow even though its patent was filed in 2001 and issued in 2003.- Overview :...
submachine guns were designed for usage with this overpressure cartridge. Jane's Infantry Weapons stated in 2003 that the 7N21 cartridge combines the 9×19mm Parabellum dimensions with a 9×21mm Gyurza bullet design and was developed specifically for the penetration of body armor and for the MP-443 Grach pistol, the latest Russian service pistol.
The 7N31 (Cyrillic
Cyrillic alphabet
The Cyrillic script or azbuka is an alphabetic writing system developed in the First Bulgarian Empire during the 10th century AD at the Preslav Literary School...
: 7Н
En (Cyrillic)
En is a letter of the Cyrillic alphabet.It commonly represents the alveolar nasal consonant , like the pronunciation of ⟨n⟩ in "nice".-History:The Cyrillic letter En was derived from the Greek letter Nu ....
31) / PBP 9×19mm overpressure variant uses the same concept with a similar but lighter bullet that achieves higher muzzle velocity. The penetration of an 8 mm thick steel plate is specified at up to 10 m. The 7N31 cartridge was developed in the late 1990s for the GSh-18 pistol. The 7N31 was adopted for the PP-90M1
PP-90M1
The PP-90M1 is a 9x19mm Parabellum Russian submachine gun developed by KBP Instrument Design Bureau in the 1990s. It features a 64-round helical magazine, and other than sharing a manufacturer is unrelated to the similarly named PP-90M....
and PP-2000
PP-2000
The PP-2000 is a submachine gun made by the KBP Instrument Design Bureau. It was first publicly displayed at the Interpolytech-2004 exhibition in Moscow even though its patent was filed in 2001 and issued in 2003.- Overview :...
submachine guns. Its maximum service pressure remains unclear.
9mm major
"9mm major" is a term common among handloaders in IPSCInternational Practical Shooting Confederation
The International Practical Shooting Confederation is a shooting sport based on the concept of practical shooting. Accuracy, power and speed are all required to achieve a maximum score.-Founding and organization:...
and USPSA
United States Practical Shooting Association
The United States Practical Shooting Association, or USPSA, is the national governing body of one form of Practical shooting in the United States, and is the US Region of the International Practical Shooting Confederation...
competitions in the open division. It describes a 9×19mm loaded to reach or surpass the "major" factor in those competitions, something that few if any commercial self-defense loads do. Such loads are only rarely within the limits defined by SAAMI or CIP, exceeding even +P loads. Usually, they are compressed powder charges combined with heavy bullets and a longer than standard OAL. Since they can be used with common 9×19 brass, they are considered a cheaper alternative to .38 Super
.38 Super
The .38 Super or .38 Super Automatic is a pistol cartridge that fires a diameter bullet. The Super was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP or .38 Auto. The old .38 ACP propelled a bullet at . The improved .38 Super Auto pushed the same bullet at...
. This ammunition puts a greater strain on the gun than normal ammunition.
Other variants
VBR-B produces specialized bullets for this cartridge, a 2-part controlled fragmenting projectile and an armor-piercing bullet that features a brass sabot and a hardened steel penetrator. These are designed for increasing the content of the permanent wound cavity and double the chance to hit a vital organ.Synonyms
- 9×19
- 9 mm
- 9 mm Luger
- 9 mm NATO
- 9×19mm
- 9×19mm NATO
- 9 mm ParabellumParabellumThe word Parabellum is a noun coined by German arms maker Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken and is derived from the Latin saying si vis pacem, para bellum, meaning If you wish for peace, prepare for war...
- 9 mm Para
See also
- 9 mm caliber9 mm caliberThis article lists firearm cartridges which have a bullet in the caliber range. The most prevalent of these rounds is the 9x19mm Parabellum.*Length refers to the cartridge case length.*OAL refers to the overall length of the cartridge....
- List of firearms
- List of handgun cartridges
- List of rifle cartridges
- NATO EPVAT testingNATO EPVAT testingNATO EPVAT testing is one of the three recognized classes of procedures used in the world to control the safety and quality of firearms ammunition....