9mm (9mm Parabellum) Handgun Cartridges
Learn more about 9mm (9mm Parabellum) Handgun Cartridges
Looking to find out more about firearms before you apply for your SAPS firearm licence? Learn all there is to know about 9mm (9mm Parabellum) Handgun Cartridges right here.
This cartridge was introduced along with the Luger semi-automatic pistol. The pistol and cartridge was first adopted by the German Navy in 1904 and then by the German Army in 1908. This cartridge has since been adopted by the military of practically every non-Communist power. It has become the most popular and widely-used handgun cartridge in the world. Performance wise, the 9mm cartridge has somewhat more power than the .38 Special but falls well short of the .357 Magnum.
9mm (9mm Parabellum) Handgun Cartridges |
 |
| Cartridge Specifications | |||
| Case Type: | Rimless, straight | ||
| Introduced: | 1902 | Made For: | Semi-Auto |
| Cart Len: | 1.169-in | Case Len: | 0.754-in |
| Case Dia: | 0.391-in | Bul Dia: | 0.356-in |
| Ballistics measured with: |
| 4-inch pistol barrel |
| Cartridge Variants: | |||
| Weight | Velocity | Energy | |
| From: | 95 gr | 1300 ft/sec | 356 ft-lbs |
| To: | 158 gr | 950 ft/sec | 317 ft-lbs |
| Cartridge Used in Database | ||
| Weight | Velocity | Energy |
| 124 gr | 1150 ft/sec | 364 ft-lbs |
| Rankings for Cartridge Used in Database | |||
| PF: | 142600 | TKO: | 7.242 |
**See below for further reference regarding the power rankings listed in the tables above:
MV-Muzzle Velocity
Muzzle velocity when fired from a typical handgun. Measured in feet-per-second.
ME-Muzzle Energy
Muzzle energy when fired from a typical handgun. Measured in foot-pounds.
PF-Power Factor
In shooting competition the Power Factor is used to determine the competitive division in which a particular handgun/cartridge can be used. A simple calculation of the bullet's mass times its muzzle velocity.
PF = bull. mass x muzzle vel.
TKO-Taylor Knock Out Formula
Developed by big-game hunter John Howard Taylor in the 1940's. Calculates the relative effectiveness of bullets for hunting game.
TKO = (bull. mass x muzzle vel. x bull. dia.)/7000
Link back to the main table listing of handgun and rifle cartridges HERE.
