M9 9mm Pistol

Introduction

The M9 pistol is a semi-automatic, magazine-fed, recoil-operated, double-action pistol, chambered for the 9mm cartridge. The magazine has a 15 cartridge capacity.

The M9 is carried by crew-served weapon crewmen and by others who have a personal defense requirement, such as law enforcement personnel and aviators. It replaces the M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol and the .38 caliber revolver.

OPERATION

The M9 Pistol has a short recoil system utilizing a falling locking block.

Upon firing, the pressure developed by the combustion gases recoils the slide-barrel assembly. After a short run, the locking block will stop the rearward movement of the barrel and release the slidewhich will continue its rearward movement. The slide will then extract and eject the fired cartridge case, cock the hammer and compress the recoil spring. The slide moves forward feeding the next cartridge from the magazine into the chamber.

The slide and barrel assembly remains open after the last cartridge has been fired and ejected.

AMMUNITION

Ammunition for the M9 is issued in the form of a complete 9x19mm round. A complete round (cartridge) consists of all the components (cartridge case, bullet, propellant powder, and primer) necessary to fire the weapon once. 

• 9mm M882 Ball
• 9mm M917 Dummy Round