Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
I don’t care if you call it the 9mm Luger, 9 x 19 or just 9mm, it is nearly impossible to mention this cartridge without generating disparaging comments, or at the very least: unfair comparisons. Let’s explore the world’s most widely distributed handgun cartridge.
Its history is well known but for just a reminder, the 9mm Parabellum was introduced in 1902, making the cartridge 122 years old. It was designed by Georg Johann Luger, and it was derived from the 7.65×21mm Parabellum (7.65 Luger) cartridge. The 9mm is essentially a 7.65 Luger cartridge with the bottleneck removed and the resulting slightly tapered, slightly shorter, rimless casing holding a 9mm bullet. The cartridge was a high pressure, smokeless powder cartridge from the beginning.
It's interesting that even though Georg Luger would have been aware of contemporary semi-rimmed designs of the day, he chose to go with a rimless case design. He also wasn’t afraid to use the advantages of smokeless powder to its full potential. The 9mm Luger is a truly high-pressure pistol cartridge. To this very day, I run across knuckle-dragging morons that proclaim the 38 Special cartridge is bigger than the 9mm and is therefore more powerful than the 9mm. Really ?????
After its 1902 debut in the Luger pistol the cartridge goes on to eventually become THE military handgun & submachine gun cartridge in Europe. This domination doesn’t happen overnight and there are holdouts, but by the end of WWII the 9mm is the clear king outside of the Soviet controlled areas of Europe.
Across the pond things take a different path. Sure, some of the central and south American countries have strong ties to the old world and Canada is trying to get along with both the British Empire and the U.S.A., but the U.S. military went with the 45 ACP. Even when NATO is formed and every member nation except for the U.S., adopts the 9mm, the U.S.A. holds onto the 45 ACP.
So, after two world wars and it’s 1949. NATO is formed and the Cold War lines are solidly drawn. The 9mm cartridge is unquestionably established by this time. It’s well known worldwide and well accepted in large portions of the world but not well accepted in the U.S. of A.
The 9mm is not a stranger in post WWII U.S.A. There are multitudes of Walther P-38, Luger P-08, Browning Hi-Power and other pistols chambered for that “foreign” cartridge in post WWII America. Unfortunately, in the early days of post WWII America almost all the available 9mm ammunition was FMJ. And a lot of it is loaded below its acceptable pressure levels.
In the early 1950’s, Smith & Wesson produces the Model 39, but the U.S. military stays with the 45 ACP. In 1955 the model 39 is released on the civilian market but outside of the true firearms enthusiasts and collectors, the 9mm cartridge continues to be something of a novelty in the U.S.A. The Illinois State Police adopts the S&W Model 39 in 1967 and that along with the eventual development of the Federal Ammunition 9BP hollowpoint cartridge was a small step towards American acceptance of the cartridge.
By the 1970’s there is a flood of new pistol development in Europe. We see the Beretta 92 (derived from the Beretta 1951), H&K is born from the ashes of WWII and is extremely innovative, Walther and SIG introduce new designs. Even the Czechs get in the game with the CZ-75 (although that pesky Iron Curtain is a bit of an impediment). In the early 1980’s an Austrian named Glock will introduce something that will also have an impact on the market for the 9mm Luger cartridge.
By the 1980’s the 9mm cartridge is finally starting to gain some acceptance in the U.S.A., sort of like that son in law from a different national origin that is finally accepted into the family when it is apparent that he is an honorable, hard working man of good character.
Everything is looking good for the foreign born 9mm Luger son in law to be welcomed into the American family, but you knew there would be a spoiler. The quality of the available ammunition, particularly the jacketed hollowpoint ammunition, was all over the map. There was some very good 9mm ammunition in the 1980’s and early 1990’s when the 9mm cartridge was enjoying its American tsunami days BUT, there was also some very bad ammo. The reputation of the cartridge took an undeserved hit. Anecdotal stories of the failures of the 9mm cartridge abounded and spread like wildfire. Many of these stories were based on the use of FMJ rounds (often by criminals and idiots), some of these reports were spread by people that just hated the cartridge in general and a lot was just pure misinformation. The stories of failures would only identify the cartridge as, “A 9mm” and little more. Sort of like saying the 2 door Chevrolet lost the race, without specifying if it was a Corvette or a Chevette?
The FBI report after the Miami shootout did the cartridge no favors and only fueled the fires of bias towards the cartridge.
However, despite the deck being stacked against the 9mm Luger, the positive traits could not be denied. The bullet is almost the same diameter as the beloved 38 Special/357 magnum (albeit typically a little lighter). The operating pressure of the cartridge is 35K. The small size of the cartridge belies its power. Sure, one can always find a comparison that shows a negative contrast but is that a fair evaluation?
The currently available 115-125 grain +P and +P+ JHP offerings have accumulated a good track record of performance. The 9mm Luger has faced a long road to acceptance in the U.S.A.
Isn’t it time we let it sit at the dinner table with the rest of the family?
Its history is well known but for just a reminder, the 9mm Parabellum was introduced in 1902, making the cartridge 122 years old. It was designed by Georg Johann Luger, and it was derived from the 7.65×21mm Parabellum (7.65 Luger) cartridge. The 9mm is essentially a 7.65 Luger cartridge with the bottleneck removed and the resulting slightly tapered, slightly shorter, rimless casing holding a 9mm bullet. The cartridge was a high pressure, smokeless powder cartridge from the beginning.
It's interesting that even though Georg Luger would have been aware of contemporary semi-rimmed designs of the day, he chose to go with a rimless case design. He also wasn’t afraid to use the advantages of smokeless powder to its full potential. The 9mm Luger is a truly high-pressure pistol cartridge. To this very day, I run across knuckle-dragging morons that proclaim the 38 Special cartridge is bigger than the 9mm and is therefore more powerful than the 9mm. Really ?????
After its 1902 debut in the Luger pistol the cartridge goes on to eventually become THE military handgun & submachine gun cartridge in Europe. This domination doesn’t happen overnight and there are holdouts, but by the end of WWII the 9mm is the clear king outside of the Soviet controlled areas of Europe.
Across the pond things take a different path. Sure, some of the central and south American countries have strong ties to the old world and Canada is trying to get along with both the British Empire and the U.S.A., but the U.S. military went with the 45 ACP. Even when NATO is formed and every member nation except for the U.S., adopts the 9mm, the U.S.A. holds onto the 45 ACP.
So, after two world wars and it’s 1949. NATO is formed and the Cold War lines are solidly drawn. The 9mm cartridge is unquestionably established by this time. It’s well known worldwide and well accepted in large portions of the world but not well accepted in the U.S. of A.
The 9mm is not a stranger in post WWII U.S.A. There are multitudes of Walther P-38, Luger P-08, Browning Hi-Power and other pistols chambered for that “foreign” cartridge in post WWII America. Unfortunately, in the early days of post WWII America almost all the available 9mm ammunition was FMJ. And a lot of it is loaded below its acceptable pressure levels.
In the early 1950’s, Smith & Wesson produces the Model 39, but the U.S. military stays with the 45 ACP. In 1955 the model 39 is released on the civilian market but outside of the true firearms enthusiasts and collectors, the 9mm cartridge continues to be something of a novelty in the U.S.A. The Illinois State Police adopts the S&W Model 39 in 1967 and that along with the eventual development of the Federal Ammunition 9BP hollowpoint cartridge was a small step towards American acceptance of the cartridge.
By the 1970’s there is a flood of new pistol development in Europe. We see the Beretta 92 (derived from the Beretta 1951), H&K is born from the ashes of WWII and is extremely innovative, Walther and SIG introduce new designs. Even the Czechs get in the game with the CZ-75 (although that pesky Iron Curtain is a bit of an impediment). In the early 1980’s an Austrian named Glock will introduce something that will also have an impact on the market for the 9mm Luger cartridge.
By the 1980’s the 9mm cartridge is finally starting to gain some acceptance in the U.S.A., sort of like that son in law from a different national origin that is finally accepted into the family when it is apparent that he is an honorable, hard working man of good character.
Everything is looking good for the foreign born 9mm Luger son in law to be welcomed into the American family, but you knew there would be a spoiler. The quality of the available ammunition, particularly the jacketed hollowpoint ammunition, was all over the map. There was some very good 9mm ammunition in the 1980’s and early 1990’s when the 9mm cartridge was enjoying its American tsunami days BUT, there was also some very bad ammo. The reputation of the cartridge took an undeserved hit. Anecdotal stories of the failures of the 9mm cartridge abounded and spread like wildfire. Many of these stories were based on the use of FMJ rounds (often by criminals and idiots), some of these reports were spread by people that just hated the cartridge in general and a lot was just pure misinformation. The stories of failures would only identify the cartridge as, “A 9mm” and little more. Sort of like saying the 2 door Chevrolet lost the race, without specifying if it was a Corvette or a Chevette?
The FBI report after the Miami shootout did the cartridge no favors and only fueled the fires of bias towards the cartridge.
However, despite the deck being stacked against the 9mm Luger, the positive traits could not be denied. The bullet is almost the same diameter as the beloved 38 Special/357 magnum (albeit typically a little lighter). The operating pressure of the cartridge is 35K. The small size of the cartridge belies its power. Sure, one can always find a comparison that shows a negative contrast but is that a fair evaluation?
The currently available 115-125 grain +P and +P+ JHP offerings have accumulated a good track record of performance. The 9mm Luger has faced a long road to acceptance in the U.S.A.
Isn’t it time we let it sit at the dinner table with the rest of the family?
