Gun Digest Book of 9mm Handguns PDF

The Gun Digest
Book Of
An In-Depth
Study of the 9mm
Luger/Parabellum
Cartridge and the
Guns That Fire It •
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Steve Comus is currently the
managing editor of GUN WORLD
magazine, capping off a lengthy
career as a professional writer.
He has been a life-long student of
firearms and has hunted on three
continents. His association with
9mm handguns dates back to the
mid-1950s when he acquired a
war surplus P-35 (Browning Hi-
Power) from the veteran who had
"liberated" it during a campaign in
Europe. Since then, he has shot
scores of different models of
9mm handguns, both on the
range and in the field.
The author was a photo-jour-
nalist and investigative reporter
for 20 years before becoming a
gun writer more than a decade
ago. Since then, he has worked
as a freelance writer, guns and
hunting editor and author (The
Gun Digest Book of Sporting
Clays). Comus takes all shooting
seriously, and is enthusiastic
about all manner of firearms. He has competed domestically in handgun, rifle and shotgun
events, and internationally in airgun events.
With this background in firearms, the author is able to understand the intricacies of
both arms and ammunition. And with such a widely based background in all manner of
firearms, he is able to discuss where the 9mm fits into the overall scheme of things. When
he wasn't busy, working as a reporter or as a gun writer, the author served a stint with the
United States Army in the mid-1960s, but that was before the 9mmP was the issue hand-
gun. He then carried a Model 1911A1 in .45 ACP (made by Ithaca).
THE
GUN DIGEST BOOK
of 9 m m HANDGUNS
Second Edition
By Steve Comus
DBI Books, Inc.

ABOUT OUR COVERS
Efficient That's probably the best way to describe both

the subject cartridge and the SIG Sauer handguns shown on
our covers.
On the left is the SIG Sauer P226, the full-size member of
the trio. Available in double-action/single-action or double- EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
action only, this handsome pistol has an overall length of Jack Lewis
7.71 inches, weight of 26.5 oz., barrel length of 4.41 inches
ART DIRECTOR
and a 15-shot magazine (20-shot optional). It can be had in
blue, nickel or K-Kote finishes, depending upon the shooter's
needs. Hundreds of law enforcement agencies have adopted Rueselle E. Gilbert
the P226, and the FBI has chosen it for its elite Hostage
Rescue Teams and SWAT units.
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
At right is the 9mmP P228, a reduced-size and compact
sidearm designed for concealed carry or off-duty roles, but Sonya Kaiser
equally capable of front-line work. It, too, is available with
double-action/single-action or double-action only trigger PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
modes, but has a rounded trigger guard, 3.86-inch barrel,
with an overall length of 7.08 inches, and weighs in at 26.1 Russ Thurman
oz. Like the P226, this gun is offered in blue, nickel or K-
Kote finishes. Despite its compact size, the P228 has a large COPY EDITOR
13-shot capacity magazine.
Center stage is the SIG Sauer P225 with double- Julie Duck
action/single-action trigger. Also compact, it has a 3.86-inch
barrel, overall length of 7.08 inches and weighs 26.1 oz. This PHOTO SERVICES
Ben Delaney
model has a squared trigger guard and 8-shot magazine
capacity, which allows a slimmer grip for smaller hands.
Originally designed for the West German police, this is the
most widely issued police pistol in Europe. It also has PUBLISHER
achieved immense popularity in the U.S.
These three 9mm SIG Sauer handguns represent some of
Sheldon L. Factor
the finest technology available in the shooting sports world
today. That they happen to be extremely efficient at perform-
ing their tasks just adds icing to the cake.
Photo by John Hanusin.
P r o d u c e d by
GALLANT
CHARGER
OUTDOOR GROUP
©Copyright MCMXCIII by DBI Books, Inc., 4092 Commercial Ave., Northbrook, IL 60062. All rights reserved. Printed In the United States of America. No part
of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise
without prior written permission of the publisher.
The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publisher and no responsibility for such views will be assumed.
Arms and Armour Press, London, G.B., exclusive licensees and distributors in Britain and Europe, New Zealand, Nigeria, So. Africa and Zimbabwe, India and
Pakistan. Lothian Books, Port Melbourne, Aust., exclusive distributors in Australia.
ISBN: 0-87349-149-1 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 86-071043
CONTENTS
Introduction 5
CHAPTER;
1. HISTORY & THE 9mm — Is this truly the cartridge people love to hate? 6
2. WHY THE 9mm? — This cartridge holds a specific position in the overall
picture 2
3. THE 9mm STAYS AT HOME — As a home-defense gun, its faults seem

outweighed by advantages 28
4. FOUR LIVES OF THE 9mm PARABELLUM — nearly a century old, this

cartridge has seen historic military use 40
5. OF GADGETS AND GEAR — Accessories for 9mm handguns meet virtually

any need — or want! 48
6. A MATTER OF CHOICE — Auto or revolver? Smith & Wesson has both for
the9mmP 66
7. BROWNING & THE NINES — There have been only two Browning-designed
handguns; both fill a need 74
8. BERETTA'S MODEL 92 SERIES — This 9mm is now available in numerous

variations 80
9. THE 9mm HANDGUNS OF COLT — This cartridge never has been a big item
in Hartford 90
10. RUGER'S 9mm HANDGUNS — Limited models meet most needs 95
11. THE KOREAN CONNECTION — The Daewoo 9mmP pistol is building a

reputation for excellence! 104
12. THE 9mm HANDGUNS OF INTERARMS — The Walther leads the pick for
this importer 109
13. THE 9mm STABLE OF SIG SAUER — This maker has tried to come up with
a line to meet all needs 117
14. A FAMILY CALLED GLOCK — This unusual design has a 9mm to meet
various requirements 126
15. THE 9mms OF HECKLER & KOCH — This German maker's lineup is short
— but adquate 138
16. THE E.A.A. WITNESS — In two configurations, these 9mm autos are excel-
lent additions! 148
17. ACTION ARMS & THE CZ — This importer now has a corner on this top-
selling Czech 9mm pistol 156
18. TESTING THE TAURUS — All of these models perform better than
just "well" 162
19.CARTRIDGE OF THE CENTURY — The 9mm Parabellum has seen more

action than any other caliber! 166
20. PROPER FEEDING FOR THE 9mm — Today's high-tech handgun bullets
offer a big boost in performance 172
2 1 . RELOADING THE 9x19mm — It's a project not unfraught with complexities,

but there are shortcuts around most of them! 180
22. AFTER THE WORK-UP — When you've found which 9mm load is best, it's
time to produce! 186
23. THE OTHER NINES— This concerns cartridges that are contemporary to the
9x19mm 198
24. GLOCK ARMORER'S SCHOOL — This course is specific to the breed, but
in some respects, relates to all 9mmP autos! 204
25. FIELD HUNTING WITH THE 9mmP — It doesn't down elephants, but it has
its proper uses! 210
26. OF AMMO & HANDGUNS — Here's a trio of relatively unknown 9mmP

launchers that show special talents! 220
27. TOOLS OF THIS TRADE — Three handloads, 27 different factory 9mm

rounds and a batch of accessories went into this volume! 226
28. NINES TO THE LINE! — After years of neglect, the 9mm is getting competi-
tive attention 234
29. THE BIG SWITCH — Training trauma has been reduced with ultimate accep-
tance of the 9mmP for law enforcement 242
30. A TIME FOR CHOICES — With dozens of calibers available, why settle for
this aged cartridge? 250
INTRODUCTION
From the moment Jack Lewis proposed doing this bookuntil it the final word
was typed, a host of people became involved to varying degrees. Each
literally made the entire project possible. To all, a hearty thank you!
Rather than attempt to list all of the names of the people who helped out
(that would be done only at peril of inadvertently omitting one or more to my
supreme embarrassment), it seems more fitting to recognize the kinds of
assistance which made it all happen.
Thousands of hours of range time go into the collecting of data for a book
such as this, and there is no way the author could have done it all himself.
Thanks, guys, and a special tip of the hat to Mike Raahauge who never
hesitated to provide a place to shoot.
Without ammunition, this tome would have been impossible. Gratitude
goes out to CCI, Federal, Hansen, PMC, Remington, Sure Fire and Winches-
ter for assistance with loaded ammunition. Also helpful with components were
CCI, Hercules, Hornady and Turners Outdoorsman.
On the firearm front, chapters within the book witness the assistance of the
many makers and marketers of guns which fire 9mm cartridges. Thank you
all for that.
Also, we could not have done detailed range work without basic gear like the
Oehler 35P chronograph or the Ransom Rest which were pressed into
service repeatedly.
No single writer can do it all. Some segments of this book were the efforts
of others who are recognized experts in the various specialties. Add to their
input all of the efforts of the staffs at Gallant/Charger Publications and DBI
Books, and the list begins to grow beyond belief.
Yet all of that effort, if not channeled and focused — indeed, at times even
ramroded — never could have jelled into a singularly identifiable work.
Thanks, Jack.
Shooters throughout the gun world ultimately comprise the army of book-
buying gun buffs who really make this possible. I sincerely hope the informa-
tion contained herein is both helpful and informative, entertaining and
worthwhile.
Before closing, however, I must recognize — even salute — a German
soldier whose identity I've never known. He carried a P-35 into combat and
relinquished much more than the pistol that day. It was his handgun which
introduced me to the world of 9mm. So, in the end, there was a beginning.
Good shooting to all,

HISTORY & THE
9mm
r
Is T h i s T r u l y T h e C a r t r i d g e 1
People L o v e T o Hate?
r
This interesting 9mm Luger is a DWM1916 artillery model with snail drum magazine. Many of the firearms featured
in this chapter and others are available from Sam Fowler Gun Room, 964 N. Tustln Ave., Orange, California, 92667.
6 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

This special 9mm Luger was one of 250 manufactured in the 1970s by Mauser. It is called a 1902 Cartridge Counter.
T
HE 9MM IS more than just another cartridge. It is when the good guys, bad guys and all the Average Joes
an institution around the globe. Through common between find themselves owning and shooting the 9mmP, it
usage and over a period of time, some specific items definitely is doing a lot right.
become generic, representing entire classes of enti- To appreciate this wonder of 20th Century handgunning
ties. So it is with the 9x19mm pistol cartridge. Both praised fully, it is necessary to start at the beginning—to take a closer
and vilified, this relatively petite round is referred to by a look at the times and situations into which the 9mmP was
number of different names. The most common is the 9mm introduced. The year was 1902, and the pistol in which the
Luger (named for the handgun design in which the cartridge cartridge was introduced was the semi-auto designed by
made its debut shortly after the turn of the last century). The Georg Luger. More about the Model 1902 Luger pistol later,
cartridge is also known as the 9mm Parabellum (meaning, but for now, focus is on the cartridge itself.
loosely, to guard against war). The 9mmP embodies all that the 20th Century is, was—or
In terms of numbers, the 9mmP, as it shall be called from ever will be. It defines an era in which humans went from
now on in this work, has no equal in the world, save, perhaps, initial powered flight to the moon, and beyond. The 9mm's
the .22 rimfire, when it comes to handgun cartridges and the development was concurrent with that of things like the
firearms made to shoot them. Other cartridges have come and automobile and electrification of the entire world. Consider
gone during the 9mmP's 90-plus-year presence. Arguably, that the 9mm is one year senior to the M1903 U.S. military
the 9mmP is far from perfect, or even the best handgun rifle and its cartridge, the .30-03 (which, when the neck was
cartridge ever designed. But it must have something going for trimmed back a bit, became the venerable .30-06 Springfield,
it, or it would have died out long ago — with some of the considered by many to be the finest centerfire rifle cartridge
"better" rounds which failed to pass the test of time. ever developed).
In this work, the totality of the 9mmP will be inspected, In 1902 when the 9mmP came upon the scene, there were
discussed, dissected and explored. Close attention will be only 45 states in the United States (Oklahoma didn't become
given to precisely what it can do, and exactly what it cannot the Sooner State until 1908, and New Mexico and Arizona
do. With universal application has come no small degree didn't join the fold until 1912. Of course, Alaska joined the
of misuse, to say nothing of applications beyond design Union as a state in 1959, followed by Hawaii the next year).
parameters. It is when the incredibly efficient 9 m m P is Henry Ford was still trying to put together a viable automobile
tasked beyond itself that it gets a bad rap. However, company when the 9mmP was introduced, but he wasn't able
THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 7

This is a superb specimen
of a Walther AC 45 P38.
This Erfurt arsenal 1918 Luger is an excellent example The Walther P38 was built to meet the demands of
of an early model 9mm military issue officer sidearm. military operations. It was the first DA military pistol.
to line-up the initial $100,000 capitalization for the Ford .30-40 Krag (.30 U.S.) smokeless powder military rifle car-
Motor Company until the following year — 1903. It was to be tridges were introduced. Unveiled the same year as the 9mmP
a full decade later — 1913 — when Ford introduced the was the .33 Winchester cartridge, introduced as a smokeless
production-line form of automobile manufacturing. powder loading for that company's then-most-successful
Apache Indian Chief Geronimo was still alive and well Model 1886 lever-action hunting rifle.
when the 9mmP was introduced (he died seven years later in B ut perhaps most notable was the fact that when the 9mmP
1909). Many of those who had signed-up to fight with Teddy was born, the cartridge against which it would come to be
Roosevelt and his Roughriders were still serving-out their judged so often wasn't even a gleam in John Browning's eye.
initial military enlistments then. Imagine that there were still Browning introduced the .45 ACPin 1905. By then, the9mmP
quite a few American Civil War veterans who were active was already an adopted military round, having been accepted
shooters when the 9mmP was introduced. by the German navy in 1904. The 9mmP subsequently was
Or consider this: It wouldn't be for another year that Orville adopted by the German army in 1908 (with the P-08 pistol),
and Wilbur Wright would make their historic flight at Kitty and that was a full three years before the .45 ACP became a
Hawk, North Carolina (Dec. 7,1903). A scant 10 years before military cartridge. It was adopted in the Model 1911 Brown-
the 9mmP came along, both the 7mm Mauser (7x57mm) and ing-designed pistol which became known in many circles as

Here's a valuable collectable.
The 1936 Krieghoff Luger
in 9mm is a rare find today.
This Walther P38 byf 44 was produced late in WW II. Rushed through production late in WW II, the P38 byf
44 lacked the fit and finish of earlier production models.
the Colt .45 Auto. inch. The rimless case starts out at .394-inch at the "rimless"
Enough of the history lesson. Suffice to say that when the rim, and is .391-inch in diameter at the rear of the case body
9mmP was born, the world was a vastly different place. With itself—tapering ever so slightly to the .380-inch width at the
that in mind, this little cartridge is, indeed, a wonder. That it mouth.
would survive and even flourish during its eighth and ninth That means it is a rather simple, straight-forward design. In
decades is strong testimony to its validity. If anything, the traditional handgun terms, the 9mmP is a relatively high-
country which first adopted it as a military cartridge was intensity cartridge which throws out service weight bullets at
largely responsible for its jerky, if not rather retarded, prolif- slightly more than the speed of sound. That's right. It's a
eration around the world. Being the pistol cartridge of a supersonic round which was a fact of life before powered
country which lost the two biggest wars in the world this airplanes were invented.
century can tend to put a damper on popularity. But when Actually, through the years, there have been a number of
something works, it will not be denied. So it is with the 9mmP. 9mm pistol cartridges, some only civilian in nature, but others
Ostensibly, there is nothing mysterious about the 9mmP. having had some sort of military career. Most notable among
Fully loaded, it is only slightly more than an inch long. The them is the .380 Auto, a cartridge designed by John M.
case, at .754-inch in length, features a neck diameter of .380- Browning in 1912 (aka 9mm Browning Short). In 1903,

Above, the Model 1896
Broomhandle Mauser 9mm.
This firearm was among the
first military 9mm pistols
to be used during wartime.
Right, this is a Husqvarna

Model 1940 Lahti 9mm.
It's another example of a
pistol used during WWII.
Browning introduced the 9mm Browning Long, hence, the considered acceptable. By the same token, elephants are not
motivation to call the .380 Auto the "short." And, there were hunted with .22 caliber rifles, but varmints are.
others: the 9mm Glisenti, 9mm Steyr and 9mm Mauser. Between the extremes are bore diameters which seem to be
Among these others, the .380 Auto is the only one besides the best suited for most people. For example, in rifles, the .30
9mmP to be manufactured widely and used significantly as caliber is accepted generally as the largest bore size that most
the 20th Century comes to a close. shooters can handle well. For shotguns, the 12 gauge rules
There are many theories as to why the 9mmP made it big. supreme because it seems to the largest bore diameter which
And, since there is no absolute authority on the matter, one can be handled well by the majority of shooters. And during
person's guess is as good as another's. Perhaps it is simply the last part of the last century and the first nine-tenths of this
because it works and works well. But what makes it work? one, handguns with bore diameters in the mid-.30s have been
Everything in the gun world involves levels of acceptabil- more or less universal. In the United States, it was a revolver
ity. For example, few people ever go varmint hunting with an round called the .38 Special (.357-inch diameter). In most of
elephant rifle. It would work, but the weight of the firearm, the the rest of the world, it was the 9mm (.355-inch diameter).
recoil, noise and expense preclude such usage. It is simply not More than any other kind of firearm, a handgun needs a

Above is a P-35 (Browning
Hi-Power) made in Belgium
for issue to German troops
during WWII. The wooden
stock also serves as a holster.
Left, the 9mm has been

chambered in nearly every
type of handgun. This is a
Colt Single Action Army.
series of interdependent qualities to be universally "usable" and supply logistics. Part of that comparison seems to find its
by people who come in many sizes, shapes and strength levels. way into the "knock down" discussion. Again, the 9mmP will
Handguns chambered for cartridges in the mid-.30-caliber not knock down a full-grown, adult human being. Neither will
range can be built in convenient sizes and weights. And, the the .45 ACP. But because the .45 ACP's paper ballistic
resultant recoil of all but the "magnums" is also tolerable in characteristics come closer to accomplishing that mythical
this size cartridge. Hence, the 9mmP had the important basic quality, the 9mmP becomes the cartridge many shooters love
specifications going for it right from the start. to hate.
The overall length of the 9mmP is ideal. Semi-auto and More recently, the 9mmP has been compared to the .40-
full-auto firearms to shoot it can be designed easily, and they caliber new kids on the block: the .40 S&W and its predeces-
can be extremely efficient in the process. Speaking of effi- sor, the 10mm Auto. Given the availability of the new genera-
ciency, the 9mmP makes total use of the relatively small tion of bullets for handguns, the actual differences in tactical
amount of powder it takes to fuel it. Even from a military performance are more imagined than real.
perspective, the 9mmP is a winner. Logistics are aided by And so it goes. The 9mmP is a total winner, or a total loser,
ammunition which takes up relatively little space. The 9mmP depending more on the mind set of the person considering the
is a winner on that front, as well. question. That is fine. Because wherever the 9mmP fits into a
So, the 9mmP fills the needs for which it was designed. particular discussion or argument, there are basic, bold face
However, as much as it is a total winner in and of itself, it has facts of life.
inherited a darker image over the years when compared to There have been more 9mmP firearms and ammunition
other handgun cartridges which were designed to do things made and used in the world than any other kind of centerfire
other than those for which the 9mmP was intended. Also, the handgun or load. And, the popularity continues to grow,
9mmP has found itself thrust into the midst of controversies despite all-out challenges by other cartridges. The final an-
which are totally foreign to its role. swer is that if the 9mmP is the most popular form the world has
For example, it has been in vogue traditionally to pit the known ever, then it is a definitional winner. This book takes
9mmP against the .45 ACP. In such contexts, the 9mmP a close look at many of the the guns and loads which have
definitionally loses on all but two fronts: magazine capacity helped make and keep the 9mmP on top.
THE GUN DIGEST BOOK ol 9mm HANDGUNS 11

HISTORY CONTINUES WITH DON
M I T C H E L L ' S P-08 S T A I N L E S S U P D A T E !
Author fires Mitchell Arms P-08 Luger. The stainless steel remake is faithful to the original German military pistol.
T
HE LUGER P-08 pistol was the launching pad
which made the 9mmP cartridge a factor on the
world scene during the early days of the 20th
Century. Now, as that same century draws to a
close, there is an American rebirth of both the handgun and
the ethic which for millions of shooters always has defined
the 9mmP. It is called the Mitchell Arms American Eagle
version of the legendary Pistol Parabellum P-08 (Luger).
To a degree, the Mitchell Arms Luger might be considered
THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

The Mitchell P-08 has the
natural pointing dynamics
inherent in all Luger pistols.
as nothing more than a stainless steel clone of the original. For example, the P-08 is an evolutionary example of what
However, that simplistic view would be doing a disservice to happened when a basic design by Hugo Borchardt was im-
what is emerging as one of the planet's great 9mmP handguns. proved upon by Georg Luger. Borchardt, who worked for
It is the author's opinion that Mitchell's incarnation of the Winchester during the late 1800s, had designed a pistol
legendary design goes far beyond being faithful to the original bearing his name which was one of the very first of the
design. It simply is a better pistol. autoloading pistols of the world.
More about the pistol and its performance later. First, it is A full century later, Don Mitchell returned the concept to
important to put everything into a proper historical perspec- the United States, and began making and marketing his
tive. In a way, Mitchell's P-08 brings it all h o m e — i t takes the version of the P-08 in stainless steel.
entire ethic full-circle and completes the theme. How faithful to the original P-08 design is the Mitchell?
Field-stripped, the Mitchell

P-08 shows the simplicity
of the basic Luger design.

This original 1917 Luger
has several stainless steel
parts from the new Mitchell.
The stainless steel sideplate

and trigger on this Luger
are from a Mitchell pistol.
Close enough that the stainless steel parts for the Mitchell P- characteristics which made Lugers so popular through the
08 can be fitted into an original German military handgun. In years.
fact, Mitchell did exactly that with one of his own well-worn Like the originals, the new Mitchells are magazine-fed,
originals. It was a pistol made in 1917, and Mitchell replaced recoil-operated, closed-bolt, striker-fired, semi-auto pistols.
the toggle linkage, trigger and trigger side plate with some of The safety system is the same as on the originals — with the
his new stainless steel parts. The pistol shoots. However, it safety lever located on the left rear side of the frame. When
might be noted that the original not only fails to shoot as pushed to the rear, the lever puts the pistol on "safe." When
accurately as the new Mitchell offering, but it also will not forward, it is in the "fire" mode. Incidentally, there is a slight
feed as wide a variety of ammo as reliably as the new gun. It difference between the original and the new Mitchell which is
is important to note that the reason the original hybrid will not apparent when the pistol is put into the safe mode. On the
feed ammo as well has nothing to do with the new parts. It has original, the word "GESICHERT' appears on the frame,
to do with the unaltered feed ramp which simply did not allow while no lettering appears on the Mitchell.
the use of many different kinds of loads. Wooden parts are the same on originals and the new
The new Mitchell Lugers are dimensionally very close to Mitchells. Wood grips are fully checkered, and there are
the originals (identical, except for the use of American types wooden bases on both types of magazines.
of measurements like threads on screws and bolts and that sort A couple of other minor differences noted between the new
of thing). This means that the originals and the new Mitchells Mitchell and the 1917 hybrid appeared on the rear of the pistol.
feel the same in the hand, and offer the same natural pointing The lanyard ring featured on the original is not present on the

Above, a Mitchell stainless
toggle linkage has been
installed on this 1917 Luger.
Left and below, this is the
Mitchell Arms American
Eagle Model. Each of the
Mitchell firearms is stamped
with the year it was made.
Mitchell, and the grip strap at the bottom of the frame,

although having the same contour, is not cut to accept a
shoulder stock, as is the original. Certainly, there were more
differences among the many variants of the originals than
these slight differences between these two pistols represent.
Both examples tested for this chapter were of the four-inch
barrel "army" persuasion. Of the many original variations,
four-inch versions were used by the army, six-inch-barrel
models were navy propositions, and then there was the artil- • viM^m
lery model with its eight-inch barrel. The magazines on the
originals and the new Mitchells hold seven rounds, and the
''••-mm
magazines are interchangeable.
Original Lugers have carried with them the stigma of being
finicky when it comes to the ammo they will digest well. In
fact, many of the function problems encountered when shoot-
ing the originals occurs when the loadings are milder than the
original military spec loads which, compared to some Ameri-
can fodder, are considered quite hot.
For the Mitchell P-08, contemporary commercial loads are
suggested. The maker states: "You must use factory new

ammunition only; no reloads. Your gun is designed to func- some of the lighter handloads that originals will not digest, the
tion best with American-manufactured 124-grain full metal author cut back a half-grain from one of the basic lead bulleted
jacket ammunition. This ammunition is also called military reloads, and that was just enough to cause one intentional
ball, ball, or hardball. Any of the above ammunitions will malfunction. What all of this seemed to indicate was that the
result in the most trouble-free operation." Mitchell will handle any full-power loading with aplomb.
The admonishment against the use of reloaded ammo is And, it will handle a wider variety of loadings and bullet
standard in the industry during the 1990s. Most manufacturers configurations than will its predecessors. However, as is
advise against the use of reloads for a number of reasons, typical of the Luger action design, light loads can cause
including legal considerations which might arise if improper cycling malfunctions.
handloads are used and cause some sort of problem. But the Sights on the Mitchell P-08 are identical to those on the
concern goes further. Improper handloads also can cause originals. The front sight is an inverted V type which is drift
function problems, which can tend to make the firearm look adjustable for windage, and the rear sight is a fixed V-notch
like it is not as good a shooter as it would be with new factory built into the rear toggle link. These are combat sights, and not
ammo. meant for accurate target work.
For the workout here, the author fed the Mitchell P-08 a diet Accuracy achieved from the bench with the Mitchell was
of diverse loadings, including the suggested 124-grain FMJ typical of any Luger. The sights are the most limiting factors,
variety. There were no function problems with any full-house and they simply do not lend themselves to precision bullet
factory loads. However, it might be noted that there also were placement. Groups at 25 yards with all ammunition were
no problems with any of the 115-grain factory ammo used, nor similar in size and configuration. They ranged from three
with any of the 147-grain factory loadings fired. In fact, inches with the Winchester 147-grain hollow-points to four
Winchester's sub-sonic 147-grain hollow-points produced inches with the "worst" of the other loadings. That is consis-
the best and most consistent groups through the Mitchell P-08. tent. Groups typically were concentric, and for the author the
Testing also included the use of forbidden handloads. gun shot a couple of inches high and about an inch to the right
Again, no function problems, and groups were equal to those at 25 yards. That's pretty good for an "out of the box"
produced by factory ammo. Although the Mitchell cycled proposition with a wide variety of loads.

r C H E L L A R M S A M E R I C A N l.ACI.F
a CM O M M LUGI U
4// Mitchell Arms Lugers
J are bu/7f here /n f/je U.S.A.
warn VJT /fy
One factor rang out loud and clear, however. When all of
the shooting was done, every bullet hole was within a six-inch
circle at 25 yards! What that means is that every single bullet
fired in a lengthy range session would have hit the same six-
inch target every time. For a combat setup, that is incredible.
In all, nearly 500 rounds were fired.
Shooting the new Mitchell P-08 even feels just like doing
it with one of the originals. The author never has been a serious
collector of Luger pistols. However, he has been a frequent
shooter of them, having run tens of thousands of rounds
through Lugers over the years. This was mostly in the late
1950s and very early 1960s when such handguns routinely
were thrown-in with multi-gun deals to make the overall price
right. At that time, the author traded, bought and sold Lugers
at about every gun show. Typical prices for P-08s in good
working order or better at that time were $25 for the army
model and $35 for the artillery model. A wooden holster/
shoulder stock for the artillery model at that time commanded
an added $ 15, and some of the navy models went for as much
as $50. At such prices, and with such a large supply of pistols
on the market which had been brought back by World War II
GIs, it was common to have a Luger involved in a gun deal for
some other totally unrelated type of firearm, like a Winchester
Model 12 shotgun or Model 1873 rifle.
The trigger pull on the Mitchell P-08 felt somewhat better
than the average military-issue originals. It was a smooth,
rather spongy pull. The sponginess is due to the mechanism,
and was also typical of the originals. However, the letoff of the
trigger on the Mitchell is somewhat cleaner than on most of the The safety lever on this original 1917 Luger is in the
originals the author has fired over the years. safe position, showing the German word "Gesichert.'
There is a classic Luger "feel" when a cartridge is fired
through a P-08. It is quite sharp and sends the muzzle skyward
violently. This characteristic precludes really fast firing of the when there is a cartridge in the chamber, the extractor sits
model. This phenomenon occurs, because of the design which higher through the top of the bolt, and it can be spotted with
puts most of the bulk and weight of the pistol squarely into the the eye or felt with the finger.
palm and extending over the top of the hand. The barrel is Other functioning and firing procedures and techniques
relatively short and light. also are the same on new or old P-08s. The action is locked
Ejection is the same on the Mitchell as on the originals. open after the last shot has been fired. To close the action, it
This means the empties are sent skyward with force sufficient is necessary either to insert a loaded magazine and then pull
to launch them quite high into the air. The extractor is also the the toggle action back enough to unlock the bolt stop, or
same, which means that it also doubles as a visual and tactile simply remove the empty magazine, pull back on the toggle
loaded chamber indicator. That's handy. What it means is that system and lower it forward on an empty chamber. There is no

Above, the action of this
Mitchell Luger is closed.
At right, the action is open,
showing the toggle linkage
at its most rearward position.
separate slide release button or lever. to close on an empty chamber. This assumes the magazine has
Although the Mitchell owner's manual does not suggest been removed. While pushing the barrel/slide assembly rear-
field stripping for routine cleaning and maintenance, the ward a fraction of an inch, rotate the take down lever on the left
Mitchell P-08 disassembles and reassembles the same way as front of the frame clockwise 90 degrees. The trigger side plate,
do any of the originals. located on the left side of the frame just above the trigger, can
After assuring that the pistol is not loaded, allow the action then be removed. This allows the slide, complete with toggle

The new Mitchell Lugers even
have checkered walnut grips
and walnut magazine base
just like the German originals.
linkage, to move forward and off the frame. By removing the

through-bolt at the rear of the barrel/slide group, the toggle
linkage can be removed. Further disassembly is possible and
obvious, but necessary only when there is a need to replace a
damaged or broken part. There is no need to disassemble the
pistol further for any sort of normal maintenance or cleaning.
Reassembly is the reverse process, and there are no surprises
in doing so. It is a simple, straight-forward design.
The Mitchell stainless steel P-08 is called the "American
Eagle" version, because there is an American Eagle atop the
front of the action. This is similar to some of the original
"American Eagle" Luger variants. Below theeagle, the date of
manufacture is shown. On the test pistol, it was 1992. It was
common for original P-08 pistols to have the date of manufac-
ture indicated in the same place. For example, on the original
hybrid used, the date is 1917, indicating World War I vintage.
All of the fit and finish on the Mitchell P-08 was superb.
Couple that with the lasting qualities of stainless steel, and this
is a very appealing, serious handgun that literally can last
several lifetimes.
It may be rare for a clone to surpass its predecessors, but the
author feels that the Mitchell P-08 is a much better all-around
handgun than were its ancestors. So, as a complete handgun,
this is a real shooter that doesn't have to sit in a vault as part
of a static collection. But there is more.
As this writing was being completed, there were repeated
rumors that a sizeable supply of original Lugers would be
imported to the United States from the former Soviet Union
where they had been warehoused when they were liberated at Just behind the date on this new Mitchell is the Luger's
the end of World War II. Condition of these pistols was fabled extractor. It also serves as a loaded chamber indicator.
to range from like new to clunky.
Should such a supply of surplus Lugers become a reality on
the domestic market, Mitchell Arms may find itself extremely keep the others operating.
busy just manufacturing replacement parts for the many well- Regardless what happens on the surplus front, one factor is
used pistols included in the deals. That would represent a certain: Mitchell Arms has come up with a total winner in its
benefit that shooters of t h e ' 20s and '30s following World War American Eagle version of the legendary P-08 pistol. Yes, the
I, and the shooters of the '50s and '60s following World War entire ethic has now come full-circle, and shooters are the
II did not have — a reliable supply of high-quality new beneficiaries in the process.
replacement parts to keep the old war veteran firearms in Both the P-08 and the 9mmP cartridge are living proof of
operation. During the previous periods, shooters were pretty the validity of each individually, as well as of both as a
well stuck with cannibalizing other Lugers to get the parts to combination. It is nice when things work out so cleanly.

CHAPTER
WHY THE 9mm?

T h i s Cartridge Holds A Specific
P o s i t i o n In T h e O v e r a l l P i c t u r e
The 9mmP is the world's most common centerfire handgun cartridge. Even if manufacture of the handguns and ammo
stopped, there would be plenty around for a long time. Here, a Browning Hi-Power is literally awash in a sea of 9mmP.

Unlike peas in a pod, the
9mmP (left) is different
from the 9x21 mm (center)
and .38 Super. The added
length of the 9x21 mm and
the .38 Super cases allow
them to be loaded safely to
major power for target work.
Two 9mmP pretenders are

the 9x21 mm (left) and the
.41 Action Express (center).
With the same head size,
they function well through
the same action designs.
A
T NO time during its 90-year career has the 9mm the powerful .41 magnum was much bigger and better than the
Parabellum faced such a serious and potentially traditional .38 Special, yet not so user-brutal as the thundering
life-threatening series of attacks as it sees right .44 Remington magnum cartridge. It was seen as the ultimate
now. Yet, there is no reason to believe the vener- compromise when it came to size and power. Like most
able old cartridge can't — and won't — continue to thrive on compromises, it fizzled dramatically. In-between in the gun
the world scene. world just never seems to cut it. Now, the 10mm/.40-caliber
The 10mm/.40-caliber assault upon the 9mm's status has auto blitz is on, again challenging the established status quo.
been relentless and is growing. Favor of the fatter cartridges On the sjurface, there are actually a number of reasons for
by certain major law enforcement agencies, of course, has one to suspect the various .40s might be formidable foes for
played the major role in this saga. However, the relative the 9mm, but reality is more than skin deep, and surface fears
fatness of another cartridge never has put a crimp in the 9mm's need not go any further. The secret to understanding the entire
style. If the bumblebee-shaped .45 ACP couldn't do it, why is phenomenon of cartridge acceptability and success is to
there any reason to believe the in-between .40 will fare any recognize that there is room for a lot of different things in
better? gundom, and that the .40s have their place, as well.
After all, a couple of decades ago there was a major Without being deliberately disrespectful, it would be safe
movement, both within the shooting sports industry as well as to say that if cartridge design and development were left to law
law enforcement circles, touting the then in-vogue .41 enforcement gurus alone, the world probably would still be
Remington magnum cartridge. Proponents pointed out that stuck with the .38 Special and the .380 ACP as defensive/

Many cartridges would like to steal the 9mmP's thunder. There are agruments for and against each round. The 9mmP
(right) stands quietly. The others are (from left) the .45 ACP, .41 Action Express, 10mm Auto, .40 S&Wand 9x21 mm.
offensive handgun options. The sun in gundom neither rises should be cast into roles of Cain and Abel, or David and
nor sets on those who wear badges for a living, but law Goliath. In short, depending upon who was doing the arguing,
enforcement can — and, at times, does — have meaningful one was good and the other was bad. The discussions never did
input. That is what the industry is witnessing to some degree include an allowance that both might have legitimate uses.
now with respect to the 10mm Auto and the .40 S&W The big .45 ACP was characterized as the stopper by its
cartridges. proponents who argued — sometimes vehemently — that the
In the sometimes confusing arena of law enforcement 9mmP was a puny pretender to the throne of legitimacy.
agency endorsements of cartridges, it probably would be safe Conversely, proponents of the 9mmP argued that the round's
to suggest now that had the .40 S&W cartridge come along comparatively higher velocity, coupled with the ability to
first, the 10mm Auto probably would not be a factory-loaded produce handguns with much higher capacity magazines,
option. more than outweighed any edge the .45 might have on the
To comprehend the situation fully, one must go back to the killing front
beginning. In that beginning, there was the .45 ACP and the Such arguments were definitionally moot, because each
9mmP, and there were those who insisted the two cartridges side had reached its conclusion before any debate was allowed
The Bren 10 launched a

mania for 10mm/.40 caliber
handguns in the late 1980s,
early '90s. Oddly, by the
time the ammunition was
available, the gun was not.

The .40 S&W is a challenger to the throne of the 9mmP.
Many law enforcement agencies have embraced the .40.
Remington's .40 S&W, 180-grain carries a jacketed

to begin. Hence, there never could have been an effective hollow point bullet that's rated at 936 fps at 50 yards.
argument, regardless of what the actual facts might suggest.
Interestingly, though, the traditional arguments involving
the .45 ACP versus 9mmP were at least based on the assump-
tion that full-size firearms were to be used for comparison. By
full-size, one means the full military configuration and heft. turned law enforcement handgun experts. Instead, it came
Given the relatively minor role handguns actually have from the then wide-open paramilitary/survivalist crowd which
played in the activities of the militaries of the world during the demanded a handgun cartridge with more punch farther down-
lifetimes of active shooters today, it prompts one to wonder range than the .45 ACP could ever offer, coupled with the flat
why there could be such a debate launched in the first place. trajectory at that distance which had always been enjoyed by
But, there is a romance surrounding the ethic of handguns, the 9mmP.
making them the objects of intense love/hate relationships, What started out as high hopes for a Southern California
both within and outside the shooting industry. company of the Eighties turned out to be gundom's version of
For militaries, a lot of things are relatively easy to decide. the chicken-and-the-egg proposition.
One of them is the size of the handgun. The reasons are Although officially "manufactured" from 1983 to 1986 by
relatively simple. Militaries can be — and usually are — Dornaus & Dixon Enterprises in Huntington Beach, Califor-
arbitrary in their approach to any thing. Beyond that, militaries nia, the Bren Ten handgun really never got off the ground.
have the luxury of adopting equipment based on its perfor- Pick j ust about any alleged corporate ailment normally afflict-
mance and not necessarily upon its carrying convenience. ing new and innovative firms, and it was alleged at some time
Hence, the official military sidearms, regardless of chamber- or other that it was the reason for the virtual non-existence of
ing, have tended to be on the full-bodied side. the Bren — a well made, robustly designed autoloading
But when more and more of the law enforcement agencies handgun.
in the United States decided they should switch from revolv- At first, there were prototypes of the Bren on special
ers to autos, gun companies found pay dirt and were going to display at the SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trades)
waste no time going for the mother lode. Show. Excitement soared, but alas, no commercially made
All of a sudden, previously academic concerns became ammo was available. Eventually, Norma in Sweden made the
quite real. Whether a particular design would fit a wide range 10mm Auto ammunition, but by then the Bren guns no longer
of hand sizes, for example, was of paramount concern. Maga- were being made.
zine capacity was another big item. With a .45 ACP, there was Colt capitalized on the situation, and merely reconfigured
no possibility of having it both ways. With the 9mmP, it was the trusty old 1911 design to handle the 10mm ammo. Presto,
not only possible, but relatively easy. the Delta Elite was born. A quick move at that juncture
However, the largely misunderstood concept of "knock- ensured there would be guns to shoot all the ammo that
down" power reared its ugly head. What everyone seemed to suddenly was available for guns which didn't for the most part
want was a cartridge which would deliver the potent punch of exist, until the Delta Elite came along.
the .45, yet offer the size flexibility in handgun design and the But, frankly, not much ground had been gained overall,
high magazine capacity afforded by the 9mmP. The .40 because the gun was exactly the same size as the traditional .45
caliber size seemed to offer the best of both worlds, and that auto, and included the relatively low capacity necessitated by
concept remains the chief selling point in favor of the .40s the in-line cartridge stacking of the magazine.
today. The downrange performance of the 10mm Auto cartridge,
Everyone did not just leap headlong into the .40 caliber however, did capture the imaginations of many shooters,
arena, however. Like most things in gundom, the matter was including some of the larger law enforcement agencies. With
approached slowly and methodically. In fact, the first seem- such interest, there soon were to be other companies hopping
ingly serious thrust came not from the scaled-down school of onto the 10mm bandwagon. Some agencies even adopted the
thought in handgun design, nor from the rocket scientists- cartridge, but then a strange thing happened. Scholars among

Left and below, this 10mm
automatic cartridge from
Remington has a 180-grain
jacketed hollow point bullet.
armorers saw the full-house 10mm cartridge as too much of a

hot-rod. What needed to be done, they opined, was to slow it
down, make it subsonic and all would be right with the world.
Was it not the blistering downrange ballistic performance
which justified this cartridge's existence in the first place?
Never mind trivialities. These gurus demanded less muzzle
blast/flash and all that sort of thing. Hence, there came to be
the sheep-in-wolf s-clothing sub-cartridge — a 10mm Auto
loaded to sub-sonic velocities. Never mind that the .45 ACP
always had been a subsonic proposition which had been
available all along in handguns of the same general size and
weight, with almost the same magazine capacity.
The marriage may have been made with 10mm, but it
wasn't quite consummated yet. During this same general era,
there was another upstart cartridge which was having prob-
lems on the acceptability chart. It was called the .41 Action
Express which began life on the competition front, with some
real Yankee ingenuity involved.
The .41AE was born with the kiss of death. It had a rebated
rim. That means the rim diameter is less than the case body
diameter. Rebated rims were nothing new. They were simply
not universally appealing. Witness the underwhelming "suc-
cesses" of cartridges like the .284 Winchester, the .425 Westley
Richards, the .500 Jeffery or the 11.2x72mm Schuler.
But the .41 AE phenomenon is a necessary element in
understanding the four-oh mania. Its rebated rim is the same
size as that of the 9mm. What this meant for the custom target
gun trade was that available 9mm handguns could be retrofit-
ted to shoot .41-caliber bullets, thus raising the power poten-
tial out of the same general length package. Although this idea
may have had some sort of merit, it was blown out of the water

THE 9MMP:
Factory loadings for the 9mmP focus primarily upon three
bullet weights at more-or-less "accepted" velocities. There is
the 115-grain loading at 1160 feet per second and 345 foot-
pounds of energy at the muzzle. Also, there is the 124-grain
loading at 1120 fps/345 foot-pounds, and the 147-grain load-
ing at 975 fps/310 foot-pounds.
The .40 S&W

Two bullet weights dominate the .40 S&W scene. One is
the 155-grain loading at 1140 fps/445 foot-pounds and the
other is the 180-grain loading at 985 fps/390 foot-pounds.
The 10mm Auto

Three bullet weights have made the biggest news on the
factory-loading front. They are the 155-grain loading at 1325
fps/605 foot-pounds, the 180-grain loading at 1030 fps/425
foot-pounds and the 200-grain loading at 990 fps/435 foot-
pounds.
The .41 AE
A typical factory loading for the .41 AE is a 180-grain
bullet at 1000 fps/400 foot-pounds of energy.
The .45 ACP

Although the .45 ACP has been factory-loaded and
handloaded with a truly wide range of bullet weights, the 230-
When the .40 S&W captured a following with shooters,
grain loading is the classic which set the pace. It generally is
Winchester introduced their version of the cartridge.
loaded to 850 fps/369 foot-pounds. Other common loadings
include the 185-grain bullet at 950 fps/370 foot-pounds and
the 200-grain bullet at 940 fps/392 foot-pounds.
when two major manufacturers decided to come out with their What does all of this really mean? The answer to that
own version of the ultimate compromise. question depends totally upon who is talking. However, the
As all of this was going on, the light bulb turned on in the actual energy churned-up by all of those loadings (with the
heads of some folks at both Smith & Wesson and Winchester exception of the 155-grain 10mm Auto loading) falls within a 100-
(Olin) ammunition. If updated specifications for law enforce- foot-pound window; there is only a 100-foot-pound spread in actual
ment applications called for loading-down the 10mm Auto, energy. That's not much.
why have the cartridge case so long? When downloaded, there It is easy to envision the difference among them all. Simply
was air space in the case which accomplished nothing. take a 100-pound bag of flour and drop it from one foot above
Enter the .40 S&W cartridge. For practical purposes, it is the floor, take a 50-pound bag of potatoes and drop it from two
nothing more or less than a 10mm Auto short. But there are feet up or take a 25-pound bag of shotgun shot and drop it from
factors here which could almost be considered clandestine. four feet above the floor. That impact is the total difference
The length of the .40 S&W cartridge put it right back into the represented in the common loadings for all of these various
9mmP ballpark with regard to gun design factors like slide cartridges — and that's not impressive. So much for the
travel, feeding and all the related timing considerations im- "knock-down" syndrome.
plied there. These were all proven quantities. This should come as no great surprise because of the
Smith & Wesson and Winchester had come up with the parameters within which such handguns and their ammo must
ultimate compromise for the traditional warring parties. De- fall. For example, they dare not create so much recoil as to
pending upon how one wanted to view the situation, they had jump out of a normal person's hand when shot, and they dare
developed a fat 9mmP or a skinny .45 ACP — a wonder not create so much noise as to instantly deafen the user when
cartridge which was supposed to offer the best of all worlds. no ear protection is worn. Hence, if the gun and ammo have to
It had more punch than the maligned 9mmP, yet could be be limited to "manageable" levels, then so, too, does down-
offered in handguns with greater magazine capacity than the range performance.
fat .45. That puts the argument right back to square one. Within
In fact, for perceived American law enforcement needs, the those performance levels, which of the trade-offs are most
.40 S&W very well may have hit that perfectly harmonious important? Is it better to have more magazine capacity at the
chord. A close look at the ballistic performances of the various expense of bullet diameter? After all, when conventional
cartridges in question reveals the facts. bullets are discussed, bullet diameter in handgun loads over-

For comparison (from left), here are Remington's ammo in 9mm Luger +P, 115-grain JHP; the 9mm Luger, 140-grain
SJHP (practice round), the .357 Magnum, 125-grain SJHP (medium velocity) and .45 automatic +P, 185-grain JHP.
rides most other concerns when it comes to effectiveness on As for either of the .40 caliber cartridges replacing the
the target when that target is live tissue. Certainly, high tech 9mmP, even on the American law enforcement front, don't
bullet designs expand the performance possibilities for any hold your breath. There are a number of facts of life at play
and all of the cartridge sizes, but in the final analysis, judg- here, as well. One such factor is the ever-increasing terminal
ments are made more on subjective criteria than objective performance of some of the new bullet designs which literally
data. make the 9mmP an enhanced cartridge.
In as little as a tenth of the time the 9mmP has been around, But there is another undeniable factor, as well. Call it the
the .41 AE has come and, essentially, gone. The 10mm Auto, "bottom line" or whatever; it is dollars and cents. Law en-
in half that amount of time, has gone from a rising star to a forcement agencies, being subdivisions of umbrella govern-
rather mediocre seller. The only meaningful challenge to the ment agencies, are saddled with incredible budget restraints.
9mmP from the 10mm/.40-caliber pretenders at this time is Since much of the law enforcement transition from re-
the .40 S&W. volver to auto happened when the 9mmP was the overwhelm-
For all of the fanfare accompanying the .40 S&W cartridge ingly favored choice over the then-only-viable-option .45
and handguns to shoot it, however, general public acceptance ACP, and before either of the .40s came along or were
during these early years of its existence gives one cause to take established, many of these agencies now use the 9mmP as
pause and assess the situation more closely. their official cartridge.
Regardless the merits of the .40 S&W or its parent, the To re-equip the troops with something else would be a most
10mm Auto — and they have totally measurable merits — cosdy move, one that many agencies and/or politicians simply
there are bedrock facts of life extant in the real world with could not or would not allow. And they would have a conve-
respect to their effects on the 9mmP. nient argument for those who would question how they could
Although they may fill niches left open in the cartridge continue using an "inferior" cartridge like the 9mmP.
line-up at the time of their introductions, neither of the 10mm/ No single cartridge is the best bet for everything in every
.40-caliber rounds is about to replace the 9mmP. For that situation. Even the .45 ACP lacks the "knock-down" power of
answer, simply view the history of the 9mmP. the 12-gauge shotgun, and the 9mmP itself lacks the flat
The 9mmP grew up on the tough side of town, so to speak, trajectory and downrange punch of the 7.62mm NATO round.
having had its vocal detractors almost since birth. Yet, it has Obviously, then, compromises have to be made somewhere.
thrived as no other handgun cartridge on the face of the earth! It then becomes a question only of degree.
Why? The answer is so simple and obvious as to be obscured. Oddly, there is a left-handed factor which would poten-
The 9mmP is large enough to have a sufficient quantity of tially lessen some of the effective internal arguments in favor
the right stuff to get most jobs done, yet it is small enough to of replacing an agency's 9mmP handguns with ones to handle
fit into designs that feel good to hands around the globe. At the either of the .40s. One of the major arguments against revolv-
same time, it is more user-friendly to any logistics application. ers and in favor of autos when departments were eager to
Put another way, it is a snappy cartridge that can be shot by change was that the criminals possessed significantly more
almost anyone, and anyone can physically carry a lot of firepower, because they were using the autos.
cartridges. At last check, criminals — lumped under the banner of
At this point in its career, the 9mmP has mountains of murderers, drug dealers, rapists and robbers — were using
inertia going for it. With the mega-millions of firearms cham- none of the .40s in significant numbers. They still were
bered for it, and the mega-billions of rounds of ammo spread "stuck" with the 9mmP combos.
all around the planet for it, the 9mmP would continue to be a For 9mmP detractors, however, there is light at the end of
popular cartridge even if tomorrow all manufacture of 9mmP the tunnel, still. Over the past few years, the .45 ACP has been
firearms and ammo ceased! experiencing a largely unexplained re-birth or, at least, an

Sadly, the .38 Super has been around for decades and
ignored emphatically through the years. It is a true performer,
but for some reason just never captured the imaginations of
many in the gun world.
The 9x21mm is quite a bit newer, having been developed
in an effort to sidestep governmental regulations in Europe
which addressed the need for civilians not to own guns and
ammo which also are used by the military. Hence, all it took
to bypass regulations and still have a cartridge which would
work in standard 9mmP handguns (after a chamber j ob or new
barrel) was to lengthen the case by two millimeters.
It didn't take long, however, for some of the target blasters
in the United States to start checking-out this longer 9mm. A
longer case meant a bit more powder capacity — and that
meant more power.
Through the years, the 9mmP came close but just wasn't
quite enough to make what has been termed major power for
some kinds of matches. It could be loaded hot and make it, but
These are two of Remington's 10mm automatics: the pressures were high enough that it was essentially banned for
170-grain hollow point (left) and 200-grain metal case.
such purposes.
That same phenomenon was responsible for today's lim-
ited interest in the .38 Super, because that cartridge could be
heated up to perform better. This may have been handy, but the
9x21mm was even handier—and it could knock right on that
awakening in sales and use among the ranks of citizen shoot- power level door everyone was wanting.
ers. What does this mean? No doubt the 9x21mm will be around for a while, but don't
Maybe it's time to rekindle the old .45 versus 9mm debate. expect it to be a major factor much beyond specific target
And, as was mentioned earlier in this chapter, that debate is applications. In street terms, there isn't enough tactical differ-
decided in the minds of those participating even before data is ence to justify a change from the long established 9mmP.
inserted. And so it goes. There are newcomers, but the old Suffice it to say that well placed bullets from any of the
argument is still alive and well. cartridges in question are far better bets than badly placed
There are a couple of like-diameter pretenders to the 9mm bullets from all of the others combined. All are potentially
throne, as well. However, they merit comparatively little lethal, and all are potentially inert. It really depends upon how
attention in the big picture. One is the .38 Super, the other the any particular one is used in a specific situation. There simply
9x21mm. Both enjoy a degree of popularity among some of is no one "right" answer to this age-old question, and so long
the target-shooting disciplines. as the 9mmP exists, it will be included in the discussion.
In late 1990, Winchester

added two new loads to its
.40 Smith & Wesson line.
At left is the 155-grain, Full
Metal Jacket Match and on
the right is the 155-grain
Silvertip Hollow Point.
.- jff > . • "...

PH APTFR
Three
THE 9mm STAYS
AT HOME
A s A H o m e - D e f e n s e G u n , Its F a u l t s
Seem Outweighed By Advantages!
A
MONG CIVILIAN shooters, the 9mmP plays its istics. This means that a home-defense firearm need not be
largest role as a home-defense/self-defense propo- good for assaulting an enemy installation, nor for shooting
sition. In fact, it is in this context that some of the through barricades.
most serious questions of life need to be answered Although there is no need for a defensive tool to be able to
if one is to have insight into whether something is right or not. perform offensive activities, it doesn't mean that a firearm/
Elsewhere in this book, the 9mm's military and law en- cartridge combination which may have been designed for
forcement roles are investigated. And, since the cartridge was assaults is not also credible in a defensive mode.
invented as a military round, one would think it would be in For home-defense/self-defense, there is no particular need
this arena that it fits best. Perhaps, but don't bet on it. for concern about the size or weight of the rig, so long as it can
Whenever discussions of equipment arise in the military or be handled fluidly by the owner. And, there is no need for a rig
law enforcement context, there is a major factor at play which to be particularly concealable, as might be of concern for
is totally missing on the civilian or home front. It is the matter undercover law enforcement officers. Hence, when opting for
of standard issue firearms, uniformity and all that sort of thing. a home-defense firearm/cartridge combination, the field is
Frankly, individuals have infinitely more choices than do literally wide open.
those in uniform, regardless what the uniform happens to be. If such is the case, then why not opt for a 12-gauge shotgun
Yet, traditionally it has been common for civilians to take their and be done with the matter? Certainly, the 12-gauge is among
lead in firearms choices from both the military and police. the best tools for home-defense in a number of ways, but
Although there is a left-handed sort of connection between nothing is perfect and all-inclusive. So it is with the 12-gauge
uniformed and civilian firearms choices, informed procurers shotgun.
realize the ultimate choice should be based on the specific So what is really important, and what is not, when it comes
intended use or uses, not on whether some other person or to choosing a firearm/cartridge combination for home-de-
agency has seen merit — or lack thereof — in a particular fense? Further, where, if at all, can the 9mmP fit into this
cartridge, firearm or combination of the two. picture?
What this means is that when civilians decide what sort of Finding that answer is not difficult for each individual, but
firearm they should acquire and maintain for self-defense — it does require a logical investigation of facts and options. The
which will be assumed here to include home-defense — the most important factors and decisions have nothing to do with
number and extent of options are seemingly endless. the firearm or cartridge at all. They have to do with the shooter
For example, equipment intended to be used solely in a himself or herself.
defensive role need not have any credible offensive character- The concept of acquiring and maintaining a firearm for

Violent criminal attacks in the home are usually up close and personal. In such situations, the handgun must fit well
enough to point and shoot quickly. Fast follow-up shots from a 9mm semi-auto like this CZ-75 can make a difference.
THE GUN DIGEST BOOK ot 9mm HANDGUNS 29

If a person awakens to find an intruder in the room, a double-action 9mm auto can be put into service immediately.
home-defense is moot if the person in question lacks the concerned about a defensive firearm, because they would not
ability or resolve to pull the trigger at the moment of truth. For use one at the moment of truth, even if they had one in hand.
people who are not prepared mentally to drop the hammer, it The majority of people fall somewhere in between. Most
is better not to consider any firearm as a viable option. In fact, might have personal problems pulling the trigger in most
opting for a firearm at all can be deadly for them. They are the situations, yet are probably capable of dropping the hammer
people who find themselves facing criminal attack, hesitating under other conditions. It is because of this single phenom-
to take action and then having their firearms taken way by the enon that the choice of a personal defense firearm is so unique
criminals who often use the citizen's firearm against him or to the individual in question.
her. Yet, it is important to point out that, when needed, any
So the first, and pivotal, question is as personal as anything firearm is better than none at all, assuming it actually is used
in the world can be: Can I look an attacker in theface and pull when needed. So, gunowners who maintain firearms for
the trigger ? There is nothing macho involved here, and no one sporting, recreational or collection purposes have defensive
has to worry about looking or feeling like a wimp or potential within reach, even though they may or may not ever
superperson, depending upon the answer to the question. It consider them as such — except and until they might be used
can be asked solely in the mind of the individual, and an- in panic when danger arises.
swered without anyone else ever knowing what it is. If the Those who have a predisposition to pull the trigger can
answer to the basic question is yes, then a totally logical make an informed choice easily and rather quickly. Those
discussion about defensive firearms and cartridges can take who know they couldn't drop the hammer know they are
place — and have meaning. better off pursuing some other form of defense/escape. It must
Ironically, most people are incapable of answering that be stressed strongly here that firearms never should be consid-
specific question with authority. In fact, it most often is better ered as implements of intimidation. They never should be
to focus upon those who answer the question negatively. Yes, considered as things with which one "scares" an intruder or
those who realize up front that they really couldn't pull the attacker. When any firearm is brought into a confrontational
trigger are fortunate in a strange sort of way. They need not be situation, it is of the most serious nature possible. Briefly,
30 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK ol 9mm HANDGUNS

Some suggest homeowners
try to flee violent invaders.
However, some people, like
those physically disabled,
cannot escape quickly. In
such cases, a high capacity
9mm gun can save a life
when an attacker breaks in.
never ever inject a firearm into a confrontation with the idea long, they are comparatively difficult to swing and shoot in the
that its presence alone is going to resolve anything. By confines of residences and they are extremely loud when fired
definition, such misuse of a firearm will not result in harm to inside.
the intruder or attacker, yet very could lead easily to the Likewise, centerfire hunting rifles make relatively bad
demise of the individual who produced the firearm in the first home-defense choices, if for no other reason than the fact that
place. shooting one in a home is likely to cause permanent and total
Discounting those who know they can pull the trigger and hearing damage to the defender, regardless what happens to
those who know they cannot, the majority of people are the intruder/attacker. Also falling into this less-than-optimum
doubtful. Yes, when they or members of their family are category are the high performance "magnum" handguns with
threatened with deadly force, they "could" react in a way full-house loads in them. Granted, all of these kinds of rigs will
which would result in them pulling the trigger. Yet, under accomplish the job, and some of them dramatically so. But in
almost all situations, they would not fire at another human the final analysis, they are less than ideal.
being. For them, a 12-gauge shotgun is not a terribly good Conversely, does it then mean that something on the low
choice for home-defense. Shotguns are relatively large and end of the power scale is the better choice? Perhaps, perhaps
Any peaceful neighborhood can turn into a nightmare if a violent criminal decides to break into one of the homes.

not. That question can be answered more fully later. But when it is needed, yet secure from access by unauthorized
having discounted some of the lesser choices in home-defense people, including children. In fact, many states now have
firearms/cartridges, it is proper to investigate what factors statutes which address this situation specifically, and have
might be truly important in making a choice. established felony sanctions for those who allow minors to get
Relatively few individuals need to use a home-defense their hands on firearms. This is serious stuff. Even without
firearm on a regular basis. This means that most firearms such criminal sanctions, it is advisable to keep firearms out of
intended to be used solely or primarily for home-defense will the hands of those too young or too irresponsible to handle
spend most, if not all, of their time in an inert mode —just them properly.
lying around. When considering such matters, handguns—as a classifi-
Hence, some degree of thought needs to be applied to the cation of firearms — offer a number of conveniences. They
storage of a home-defense firearm, since it will be in storage take up less space, and they can be secured in smaller contain-
much longer and more often than it ever will be used. Safety ers which can be kept out of sight in a wider variety of areas
is a primary concern of everything involving firearms. Hence, around a home.
it is proper to consider the safe storage of a home-defense There are a host of security devices on the market which
firearm. This means the gun must be readily available if and either keep a handgun out of reach, or make such a firearm
inert. These come in the form of locking boxes and miniature
vaults, locks and the like. Many of these containers feature
multiple-button locking devices which can be opened in the
dark, using the "feel" of their raised buttons to allow the owner
to know which ones to push — and in what order. They can
keep unauthorized hands off a firearm, yet allow almost
instant access to the gun should the owner need it. They are
totally worthwhile. Locking devices also come in a variety of
forms, and they make the gun inert, yet can be removed
quickly if the gun needs to be used in a hurry.
Having established the inherent convenience of a handgun,
there are some important considerations when deciding what
kind of handgun/ammo might be best for specific situations.
For example, will the handgun be used only by the owner, or
might someone else in the household, like a spouse, also
possibly use it? Here, we get into the tactical performance
arena.
It doesn't matter how much lead is launched into the air at
an attacker, nor how large and potentially lethal the bullets are
if the target is not hit. A bullet in the air is relatively meaning-
less, and often can create more problems than it ever could
have solved. Hence, whoever might find himself or herself
using a home-defense firearm should know how to use it
properly, and should be able to hit the target with it. In
handgun shooting, the fit and feel of the gun in the hand are
Above, the smaller 9mmP

(left) is often chided when
compared to the .45 ACP.
Yet, with the right bullets,
like the PMC/Eldorado
Starfire (left), it can be a
true home-defense cartridge.
Right, high performance
ammo like Winchester's
Black Talon makes the
9mm come alive, notably in
automatics like the CZ-75.

Hornady offers factory-loaded 9mmP ammunition that
features the company's XTP high performance bullets.
The round is an outstanding choice for home-defense.
primary factors contributing to accurate hits.

If only the owner will ever use the home-defense firearm,
then proper size of the firearm is dictated solely by that
individual's hand size, upper body strength and preferences.
However, if more than one person might use the firearm, then
the gun has to be small enough not to be too large for the
smallest person who might use it. In real world situations,
large hands and strong people can handle smaller firearms
better than smaller and weaker people can handle larger
firearms.
Any discussion of tactical performance presumes some
degree of familiarization and practice. It is during such ses- Many 9mm handguns are supplied in a lockable box,
sions that many well intentioned gunowners make gigantic like this Browning BDM in 9mmP. The box keeps the
mistakes. In any form of shooting, perceptions (mental im- gun handy, yet out of the hands of unauthorized people.
ages) mean more than most actual factors. The subjects at
hand here are noise and recoil. These two factors act in
interdependent ways to cause flinching at least, and hesitation
to fire at most. It is self-defeating for a person to maintain a considering the advances of an intruder or attacker? Yes and
firearm for self-defense if that person is intimidated by the no. The subject being discussed here is not casual, nor particu-
gun. larly sociable. The use of deadly force never is to be taken
Unfortunately, the perceptions of both noise and recoil are lighdy, nor incompletely.
exaggerated on the range. Hunters are quite aware of this The concept of "knock-down" power when used in the
phenomenon. A powerful centerfire hunting rifle may "kick" discussion of handguns often is misunderstood. Virtually no
severely when they sight-in at the range before a hunt. Yet, firearm which can be fired when held in one hand has the brute
when they shoot at an animal during the hunt, they are force actually to knock down an attacker. What is often
unaware of recoil at all. So it is when the discussion involves interpreted as "knock-down" power is nothing more than the
home-defense firearms. Too often, shooters are so intent on target's muscular response to instant trauma.
impressing a family member with the power of a firearm that Granted, it really doesn't matter precisely what causes an
they cause their students to be intimidated by the very imple- attacker to hit the floor, so long as it happens. But the real
ment which is intended to help save their lives. Hence, a home- object is to stack the deck in favor of the attacker hitting the
defense firearm should not be so loud, nor kick so hard, that floor. A number of factors beyond brute force come into play
any of those who might use it would hesitate to do so, simply in the equation — and actually may be much more important
because in the back of the mind, there is the memory of pain in the end.
or intimidation. What is the actual goal of the gunowner should the home-
So what does this mean so far? If a home-defense handgun defense firearm be pressed into service? First, the gunowner
has to be physically small enough to be handled well by the wants to stop any and all aggression. After that, concerns can
smallest of hands which might use it — and if it cannot recoil be listed in a diminishing order of importance which is fairly
violendy enough to intimidate the user—then most, if not all, easy to establish.
of the big, large-bore handguns are less than ideal choices. In matters involving firearms, bullet placement is the
But what about stopping power? Is that not important when trump card in all situations. Good placement of a bad bullet is

better than bad placement of a good bullet. Yes, it is far better
to hit an intruder well with a .22 rimfire than it is to hit that
same intruder marginally with a .45. By the same token,
hitting that intruder well with a .45 is usually quite effective.
Never discount the importance of mind-set. Yes, every
single shot should count. But the only situation in which a
single shot in and of itself is relevant is when only one shot is
available; when the firearm itself is a single-shot, or when the
firearm itself contains only one shot.
Whenever a repeater is used and it contains more than one
cartridge, then the mind-set has to include the potential for
multiple well placed shots. Here is where the performance of
a single projectile ceases being the only concern and becomes
a part of the performances of more than one. Whether the
firearm is a revolver or semi-auto, the practiced and disci-
plined gunowner can deliver a number of hits, even if the first
shot is fired at the moment the attacker first physically touches
the shooter. Certainly, from across a residential room, there is
time for a fairly large number of deliberate shots. The truly
operative concept here is "deliberate" shots. Merely spewing
lead into the air accomplishes little, if any, good.
Hence, the assumption here will be that a repeater is abetter
home-defense firearm than is a single-shot in most situations.
Likewise, if a handgun is a more convenient home-defense
firearm than is a long gun, then a repeating handgun is a logical
choice. And, this repeating handgun should shoot ammunition
which will not cause the shooter to be intimidated. This
translates generally into a small or medium-size revolver or
semi-auto.
Firearms have been used for home-defense long enough
that empirical data establishes this pretext to be valid. So, what
has tradition established, and where, if at all, does the 9mm fit
into die picture? To a degree, it depends upon where in time
one wants to focus. For example, the .22 rimfire short was
Above, whether it is a small
box or a full vault like this
model from Treadlok, it's
vital to think safety when
firearms are kept in a home.
Right, some 9mm guns, like
the S&W Model 3913LS
(LadySmith) are designed
for people with small hands.

The unique safety system of
the Glock 17 makes it ideal
for home-defense. The auto
can be kept with a round
in the chamber, ready to go.
developed initially as a self-defense cartridge. It was intro- bered for the 9mmP cartridge, but more about that later.
duced more than a century ago in the diminutive Smith & Since the most logical of the home-defense handguns have
Wesson No. 1 single-action revolver. Such handguns were relatively short barrels, because they must be stored in rela-
kept in dresser drawers or carried in vest pockets or purses. tively small containers, it is valid to consider cartridge perfor-
The thought at the dme was that a defensive firearm would be mance characteristics in relatively short barrels. Such a con-
used at arm's length or closer, and that by literally thrusting sideration precludes the .357 magnum from serious thought.
the handgun into the attacker's face and pulling the trigger, the Through a short barrel, there are many .38 Special loads which
job would be done. There is some validity to such a concept, perform at least as well as any of the .357 magnum recipes.
obviously. This means that the only difference is that the .357 magnum
As cartridge firearms evolved and centerfire cartridges will likely be louder and produce a much brighter muzzle
became viable, the concept of home- or self-defense gunnery flash, while delivering exactly the same punch with precisely
changed. The now-infamous $3 pistol (actually a revolver) the same bullet as the .38 Special.
was one result. These were inexpensive revolvers which fired So, in the arena of the traditional revolver cartridges, the
relatively sedate cartridges like the .32or .38 short, or even the .38 Special is among the better choices available. However, in
longer versions of either. Such firearms were the rule rather a short-barreled revolver, the 9mmP is an outstandingly good
than the exception throughout the first half of this century. option. A .38 Special bore is .357-inch in diameter. A 9mmP
Although they probably provided more of a sense of security is .355-inch in diameter. That is so close that there are
than actual security for their owners, they served their pur- handguns around which are chambered for one cartridge, but
poses well. which actually have bores of the other. That is so close that the
One must consider that those also were the times when same bullet can be fired through either. Yet, the efficiency of
many law enforcement agencies still were using .32-caliber the 9mmP is such that it produces high performance almost
revolvers, and most of the rest were using .38s with round- instandy and does not need a particularly long barrel to
nose bullets. That was long before the likelihood that an achieve credible ballistics.
attacker might be "high" on some drug. Even the bad guys What this means is that the shorter 9mmP cartridge, fired
then would normally turn and run at the sight or sound of a in a short-barreled revolver, actually achieves the same level
defensive firearm, to say nothing of being hit by a projectile of performance as do some of the Plus-P .38 Special loads in
from one. But that was then, and now is now. standard length barrels. So the 9mmP is as credible as any
Yet, all of those traditional defense firearms were small other cartridge of its diameter or smaller in short-barreled
enough to be handy, and not so powerful as to intimidate their revolvers. And, since revolvers which handle substantially
owners. larger diameter cartridges are often too large for some of the
Semi-auto handguns for home-defense have been a factor hands which are likely to have to use the firearm in a home-
for virtually all of this century. They range from the diminu- defense situation, the 9mmP is as credible as anything out
tive .25 autos through the .32s and into the 9mm/.38-caliber there when it comes to home-defense application via a short-
categories. barreled revolver.
By the latter years of this century, overall top choices for Yet, it was not in the revolver that the 9mmP was born, nor
home defense handguns involved revolvers chambered for where it established its preeminent position in the world. Far
.38/357 magnum cartridges or smaller, and semi-autos in- from it. The 9mmP is primarily a semi-auto cartridge. And
volved pistols chambered for 9mmP or smaller cartridges. since 1935, when John M. Browning's P-35 (Hi-Power) pistol
Recently, there has been expanded interest in revolvers cham- was introduced, the 9mmP has been synonymous with the

If a smaller gun is required,
the 9mm Glock 19 Compact
model is an excellent choice.
concept of high-capacity magazines. It is common for even through the attacker, creating a hole its diameter. Whether
the scaled-down 9mmP semi-auto handguns to have maga- lethality was quick was determined solely upon exactly where
zine capacities of 12 rounds or more. the bullet went into and through the attacker.
If the direction of this discussion was not evident before, Bear in mind that in the European military ethic of the time
the validity in home-defense situations for the 9mmP should when the 9mmP was introduced and expanded initially, the
begin to become obvious. object was merely to wound the opponent. If the wound was
The 9mmP is chambered routinely in small to medium-size fatal instantly, fine. If not, so long as the opponent was
handguns which can be stored safely and conveniendy. The essentially put out of service, the object of the exercise had
cartridge itself offers performance which is on par with all but been achieved.
the largest of the handgun rounds. And, even in small or To a similar degree, the politics of policing have dictated
medium size handguns, the 9mmP is physically small enough in many instances that law enforcement officers use "hu-
to afford high-capacity magazines. That means lots of shots. mane" ammunition — whatever that might be. Hence, even
Yet, the 9mmP does not recoil stiffly enough to intimidate any when law enforcement agencies switched to 9mmP for their
adult shooter. handgunnery, the projectiles they threw into the air were less
But the discussion does not end here. There are other than the most effective for that size bullet. When establishing
critical matters of consideration when it comes to the logical a home-defense rig, such concerns are moot.
home-defense firearm. Interestingly, the same projectiles which preclude ex-
Such firearms should not fire projectiles which will pen- tended penetration through walls also tend to perform most
etrate through a lot of walls, or even through an attacker and radically inside a target — such as an attacker!
still through a wall. There are a number of reasons for this The reason is simple. A bullet which expands rapidly
consideration, including the fact that most residences are following impact will not penetrate through walls as well as
close to other residences, and there likely could be a situation one which does not. And, one which expands quickly after
where an attacker might be shot at in one room, while other impact will impart more tissue damage in an attacker than one
family members are in an adjoining room in the same resi- that does not. But there is no free lunch, either.
dence. Again, this is serious stuff. A projectile which expands too quickly might cause noth-
It is in this regard that one of the largest of the detracting ing more than a surface wound in the attacker — especially
factors involving the 9mmP as a defensive cartridge can be when one considers that the bullet will, in many cases, have to
discounted. Traditionally, the 9mmP has been questioned as penetrate several layers of clothing on the way. Here is where
a "stopper." Detractors have argued that attackers have been some of the more recent "wonder" handgun bullets come into
hit, sometimes repeatedly, with the 9mmP, yet kept on coming play.
and causing injury or death to others. The root of such stories They expand quickly and do not over-penetrate, yet will go
is based more on the projectiles being launched than the into a target deeply enough to do major damage. Among these
cartridge itself. bullet types are the Eldorado Starfire, Federal Hydra-Shok,
Initially, as a military cartridge, the 9mmP sported a full- Remington Golden Saber and Winchester Black Talon.
metal jacket bullet. This "solid" round-nose configuration had If there was a major problem with 9mmP performance in
about as much stopping performance as did the now-maligned defensive situations before, these kinds of bullets have af-
.38 Special round-nose lead bullet of law enforcement's past. forded a viable solution. For example, this kind of 9mmP
The problem was simple. The .35-caliber bullet simply slid projectile causes the same level of tissue damage as did the

The 9mmP lends itself to high performance in handguns with short barrels like the Smith & Wesson Model 940.
more traditional soft-nose designs in the full-house .357 firearm are best? The answer is very personal. It is: Whatever
magnum loadings when fired through long-barreled revolv- combination works best for the person likely to be pulling the
ers. trigger.
So what does all of this mean? Where does the 9mmP fit But what are some of these combinations, and why might
into the home-defense arena? Depending upon a shooter's some be better for some people than others? Consideration
perception, it may not be the "ultimate" answer to the ques- here must focus upon the likely circumstances under which
tion. But for most people, it represents one of the best options the chosen firearm might be used. In home-defense scenarios,
available. these times are both scary and tense, to say the least.
Still, bear in mind that no firearm and no cartridge will do Home-defense firearms, if used in that role at all, are going
anything by itself. The gun and ammo are only as effective as to be used when the owner is literally under attack. The
the person at the controls. The point here is, however, that for owner's home actually is being invaded. His or her life is
most people at the controls, the 9mmP represents a valid really on the line. This is enough to make anyone tense, at
choice for home- or self-defense, and for very many of them, least, and most likely extremely nervous and anxious.
the 9mmP is the best choice. Hence, some consideration must be given to the firearm
Having viewed the situation from a number of perspec- configuration which will serve best under such compelling
tives, it should come as no surprise that such a conclusion situations. The mechanics of the firearm must not serve as a
might be reached. As was mentioned earlier, empirical data hindrance to its operation. Put another way, the owner must be
would indicate the same thing: There are more 9mmP hand- able to grab the gun and use it without wasting time, effort or
guns and ammunition used in the world than any other thought upon the mechanical workings of the gun itself.
centerfire type. Such an overwhelming endorsement must be In this respect, a double-action revolver is a highly logical
viewed as having merit. choice, because the owner need merely pick it up, point it and
And, when logic dictates similar conclusions, it is safe to pull the trigger. The revolver does the rest. For those consid-
state bluntly that the 9mmP is among the better bets for home- ering a double-action revolver, however, it is essential that
or self-defense. Yes, it is in this defense arena that the 9mmP everyone who might be using the firearm is able to work the
shines best of all. It is in that context that all of the advantages double-action mechanism with relative ease. That means the
of the cartridge and guns which shoot it can be realized, while gun must fit well enough that the index finger is able to pull the
any of the negatives can be precluded or minimized. trigger authoritatively and through its entire length of pull.
The real question then, is which 9mmP cartridge and This is something which can be determined in the gun shop,

The S&W Model 940 is a
double-action revolver with
an internal hammer. It will
not snag when drawn, yet
can go into action simply
by pulling on the trigger.
even before a particular model is chosen. is a good idea to unload magazines periodically to allow the
If the revolver chosen happens to be a 9mmP, it will magazine springs to relax and preclude premature negative
generally be small enough not to be a negative factor, even for sets.
relatively small hands, and likely will have a cylinder which So, if the home defense semi-auto is to be a single-action
will hold either five or six rounds. Barrel length probably will design, then everyone who likely will use it must be mechani-
be two or three inches. cally astute enough to be able to pick up the pistol, cycle the
Such revolvers are available from several companies, slide and chamber a round, making the gun ready to shoot.
including Ruger and Smith & Wesson. Also, they are avail- This is both easy and fast for anyone really familiar with
able in blued steel or stainless. In addition to the cosmetics firearms, but can present an awkward challenge to others. This
involved, there are other factors which dictate which type of is especially true if one or more of the people who might use
metal is best. Stainless handguns are less vulnerable to the the firearm for home-defense has any physical problems at all
ravages of humidity and climate than are blued steel ones. And in manually cycling the action. This is something which
since a home-defense firearm is likely to spend extended should be determined before opting for a particular style of
lengths of time in storage and out of sight, it is often best to opt firearm, and it can be determined easily and quickly in a gun
for the stainless variety. shop or on the range.
Assuming that everyone who might use the home-defense Double-action means the firearm can be cocked and fired
handgun is mechanically astute enough to operate a semi-auto simply by pulling on the trigger. And, there are semi-auto
effectively in a highly charged situation, there are several 9mmP handguns on the market which offer a double-action
factors to consider when choosing a particular type of hand- feature for the first shot, with single-action firing for subse-
gun. quent rounds when the gun itself cocks the action. Also, there
In the realm of semi-auto handguns, the concept of "cocked- are double-action-only handguns available. These semi-autos
and-locked" pops up from time to time. This is a phenomenon offer the same double-action-type trigger pull for every shot,
encountered primarily with single-action semi-autos. Single- from first to last.
action means the handgun must be cocked physically before With modern double-action semi-autos, abuilt-in decocking
it can be fired the first time. Subsequendy, the reciprocating feature also involves a hammer-blocking device and/or a
action of the pistol automatically cocks itself for following firing pin-blocking device which preclude the primer on the
shots. cartridge from being struck by the firing pin unless the trigger
Before the advent of double-action semi-autos, it was itself is pulled. This means it is relatively safe to keep a round
common practice for shooters carrying single-action semi- in the chamber and have the action uncocked. Certainly, this
autos to carry them cocked-and-locked, which meant the type of feature has many benefits when it comes to home-
handgun had a cartridge in the chamber, was cocked, then the defense handguns. It means the handgun can be stored loaded
safety was engaged (locking the mechanism and rendering the and ready to fire, yet be relatively safe and not present a
gun somewhat safe). problem for the critical springs. It is about the best of all
Although this may have evolved as standard carry practice, worlds.
such a system is somewhat questionable when it comes to a However, some of these firearms are configured in such a
home-defense handgun. Since the firearm likely will spend way as to be comparatively unwieldy for some people. In such
such long periods of time in inert storage, keeping it cocked instances, it is better to opt for a handgun design which
would contribute to the creation of a negative "set" in the handles quickly and smoothly, whatever it might happen to
hammer spring. This means weakening its ability to spring. be.
Similarly, whenever semi-autos are kept for home-defense, it A quick trip to any well stocked gun shop can help a person

Left, attached to the trigger,
the Trigger Alarm from
Firearm Safety Products,
Inc., is one of many devices
available to keep a home-
defense firearm at hand, yet
safe from curious fingers.
Below, the Starfire from
PMC/Eldorado has become
favorite for those using a
9mm gun for home-defense.
decide which type of firearm will not work well. It may or may
not indicate which type of firearm is best. Unfortunately, it
isn't until an individual actually shoots a particular kind and
size of firearm that this person knows whether it is totally
right.
For such determinations, there are a number of options
available. In many of the urban and suburban areas around the
country, there are indoor shooting ranges where handguns can
be fired. These same ranges routinely offer rental handguns in
about every configuration imaginable. That means a person
can go there and actually try out different kinds of guns before
having to decide which is the best to acquire.
These same ranges also routinely offer instruction in the
safe and proper use and handling of firearms. Someone who
doesn't know an avid shooter, or has no background in
shooting at all, can go to one of these indoor ranges to receive
the initial safety and handling training, then go to the firing
line and learn to shoot.
If there are no such ranges in the area, there is likely some However, as a defensive firearm, it need not deliver target-
kind of local shooting range. And, with even a little persis- level accuracy, and the sights, if any, need not be precise.
tence, a person usually can go to such a range and check out Consider the home in which the firearm might be used. What
a number of different kinds of firearms. Some of the guns may is the longest available shot? What is the longest likely shot?
be range equipment, but there always will be guns brought by There is no need for such a firearm to be able to hit anything
other shooters. For such locations, check with any local gun at distances beyond those.
shop. If the shop does not have some program of its own, In fact, if the target can be hit at distances no farther than
people there usually can provide information about where a two or three paces, it is likely at least credible. Hence, the
person can go to shoot or learn to shoot. operation of the gun and the shooter's familiarity with it are of
Once a particular firearm has been chosen for home- or the most concern.
self-defense, it is not enough simply to buy some ammo and Although any practice is better than none, it is a good idea
have it ready. At least a minimal amount of practice and to practice with the same ammunition that will be used in the
familiarization are a must. For this, there will need to be a trip firearm when it is pressed into service in a defensive situation.
or trips to the local range or to some other legal shooting spot. It is important that the shooter become as familiar with the
During these sessions, it is a good idea to pay close characteristics of the actual defense ammunition loads as it is
attention to how the firearm works, and to become as familiar to be familiar with the gun itself.
as possible with the way it works, the way it shoots and where The whole concept of maintaining a firearm for home-
it shoots. After all, a home-defense firearm needs to shoot defense is serious business. It should not be entered into
where the shooter is looking. This might require some form of lighdy or frivilously. However, if such a decision is made, it
sight adjustment and, to accomplish that, check the is valid to say that the 9mmP is a logical choice and worth
manufacturer's instructions. consideration.

v n M r I C n
Four
FOUR LIVES OF THE

9mm PARABELLUM
Nearly A Century Old, T h i s Cartridge
H a s S e e n H i s t o r i c Military U s e !
The Mauser broomhandle

M1916 9mm Parabellum
was the only 9mmP pistol,
besides the Luger, made in
quantity until about 1935.
The M1916 had a large "9"
carved in the grips. Except
for that feature, it looked
like these .30 calibers.
40 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK o( 9mm HANDGUNS

Pat Cascio fires the Korean Daewoo D/A 9mm large capacity pistol. Many countries have produced a D/A 9mm.
T
HE 9mm PARABELLUM cartridge, also known as sal acceptance came with extreme slowness. Actually, accep-
the 9mm Luger and by other names, is used so tance in the military world has come in four distinct phases
universally today as a military cartridge that most stretching over a period of 90 years. It is hard to believe, but
people do not realize it took many decades for it to in less than 10 years the 9mm Parabellum cartridge will be a
gain such a level of acceptance. century old and more popular and widely used than ever!
Today, the 9mmP is the military handgun and submachine During phase one of the military acceptance of the 9mm
gun cartridge of nearly every country in the world, except Parabellum, the cartridge's growth was tied almost com-
most of the present and former members of the Communist pletely to the Luger pistol. In the late 1800s, while working for
Bloc and some of the Third World countries they have the German arms firm DWM, a talented German gun designer
supplied with arms. For the latter, the standard military named Georg Luger redesigned an awkward and ugly toggle-
handgun cartridges are either the 9mm Makarov or the locked pistol originally designed by Hugo Borchardt, a natu-
7.62x25mm Tokarev pistol cartridge. ralized American citizen. The result was the sleek and hand-
West Point graduate Chuck Karwan has made a study of some handgun we now know as the Luger. It was available for
military use of the 9mmP cartridge. Here are his findings: military adoption in about 1900.
"Among the former members of the Communist B loc, both Following in the footsteps of Borchardt and Mauser, the
Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia are switching to the 9mm new pistol was chambered for a bottlenecked. 30 caliber high-
Parabellum, as has the former East Germany since it reunified velocity cartridge called the 7.65 Luger(.30Luger). However,
with West Germany. It also would not be a surprise to see Luger's native Germany indicated displeasure with that car-
countries like Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and others tridge and expressed interest in the Luger if it could be
do the same in the near future. Similarly, with the decline of chambered for a cartridge that fired a larger diameter, heavier
influence of the former Soviet Union, the same thing is bullet.
happening in the Third World where the movement is almost By 1902, Luger had developed just such a cartridge.
universally toward the 9mm Parabellum for handgun use." Basically, all he did was remove the botdeneck in his 7.65mm
About the only other military holdouts from the 9mm are Luger cartridge case, shorten it slightly and load it with a 9mm
such countries as Greece and South Korea that still use the .45 bullet so as to have about the same overall length as the
ACP for their handgun cartridge, because their handguns are 7.65mm Luger cartridge. The result was the 9mm Luger
M1911A1 pistols supplied them through U.S. foreign mUitary cartridge, also known as the 9mm Parabellum, 9x19mm,
assistance. Since the U.S. adoption of the 9mm Parabellum, 9mm NATO, 9mm P'08 — and by other names.
many of those countries also are dropping the .45 ACP for By taking this route, the only modification to the Luger
more modern pistols chambered for the 9mmP cartridge. pistol needed to adapt it to the 9mm cartridge was a new barrel.
Since the 9mm Parabellum is the primary military handgun The first military adoption of a 9mm Parabellum-cham-
cartridge of over 90 percent of the countries of the world, and bered handgun was the M1904 Marine Model Luger adopted
the numbers are climbing, few realize that this almost univer- by the German Navy. Commonly called the Navy Luger, it

In the early days of semiautomatic pistols, it was popular to have them produced so that they would accept a shoulder
stock that also doubled as a holster. Here, a Browning Hi-Power 9mm (top) accompanies two Mauser Broomhandles.
featured a six-inch barrel, an adjustable rear sight, a lug to take went with the 7.65mm Luger cartridge. Germany was by far
a shoulder stock and a grip safety. Later models of the Navy the major user of the 9mm Luger cartridge and gun, but others
Luger did away with the grip safety, but were otherwise pretty were Portugal, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Persia and Latvia.
much the same in specifications. The Navy Luger is consid- Until 1935, no 9mm Parabellum pistol other than the Luger
ered the handsomest of the large Luger family. was adopted by any military with one exception. That one
A few years later, a Luger variation in 9mm was adopted exception occurred during WWI. The German mUitary was so
by the German Army as the Pistole '08 and the9mm Parabellum short of Lugers that they contracted Mauser to make their
cartridge was adopted as the Pistolenpatronen (pistol car- M1896/M1912 broomhandle in 9mm Parabellum. Adopted as
tridge) '08. The P-08, as the Army model Luger became limited standard, these 9mm pistols were designated the
known, differs from the graceful Navy model by having a Model 1916. To distinguish them from the otherwise indentical
shorter, stubbier barrel of about four inches, no grip safety and 7.63mm-chambered guns that had also been pressed into
a simple fixed notch rear sight. The P-08 is by far the most service, these Mausers have a large 9 carved into their grips
common of all the Lugers. which usually is accented with red paint. Thus, these pistols
About 1914, the German Army adopted yet another ver- are called "Red Nines" by collectors. Approximately 150,000
sion of the Luger, commonly called by collectors the "Artil- 9mm Parabellum-chambered Mauser broomhandle pistols
lery Model." It featured an eight-inch barrel with a rifle-type had been produced by the end of WWI.
tangent sight mounted on the barrel calibrated to an extremely The year 1935 started phase two in the military history of
optimistic 800 meters. It also had an interesting accessory that the 9mmP cartridge. World War II was hovering on the
consisted of a 32-round drum magazine that used the normal horizon. Many countries were starting to re-arm and their
Luger magazine well. When the Artillery Luger was com- handguns were largely holdovers from WWI. The only hand-
bined with a shoulder stock and its drum magazine, the results gun of WWI which was not obsolete by then was the U.S.
were roughly equivalent to a submachine gun that can only M1911. It was clear that all the others, including the Luger,
shoot semi-automatically. In those pre-submachine gun and were not nearly state of the art.
pre-assault rifle days, it was an excellent close range defense In Poland, 1935 saw the adoption of an excellent 9mm
gun for artillery and other crew served-weapon crews. Parabellum pistol called the VIS or Radom. It was based on
The Luger was purchased widely by the military forces of the Colt M1911 but had a number of improvements including
many countries, usually in 9mm, though the Swiss and Finns changing the Colt's swinging link to a solid ramp-type locking

Except in current
Communist countries,
the 9mmP is the world's
most popular military
handgun cartridge. This
gun is chambered for
the 9mm Makarov.
mechanism. It also had no manual safety, as we know it, but continued the production of the Radom throughout their entire
instead depended on a slide-mounted decocking lever to occupation of Poland and issued them widely to their own
safely lower the pistol's hammer on a loaded chamber for forces. As the war progressed, the quality of manufacture of
carry with the hammer down. Naturally, putting the pistol into the Radom pistol became progressively worse to the point that
action required manual cocking of the hammer before it could the last ones were quite crude. Even these normally will
be fired. function well, though their accuracy is not great due to the
The 9mm Polish Radom, as built prior to WWII, is one of loose fit of parts and loose bore dimensions.
the best-made military handguns ever produced. Asa military In 1935, Finland introduced a new 9mm Parabellum pistol
pistol, it is far superior to the Luger in reliability, durability, called the L35 Lahti, named after Aimo Lahti, the native Finn
simplicity, safety and other factors. When the Germans over- designer of the gun. Finland had been using the Luger pistol
ran Poland in 1939, this fact was not lost on them. They in 7.65mm Luger for many years with mixed results. In one
After WWII, countries in

the Soviet sphere adopted
Soviet firearms. That's why
the Chinese Type 54 (top)
is virtually identical to the
Soviet TT33. The bottom
auto is a Hungarian T58.
It features a thumb safety
not found on a regular TT33

At the end of WWII, these handguns were the best military pistols. The P38 9mm (top) had a double-action trigger.
The Browning Hi-Power 9mm (middle) had a large capacity magazine. The M1911AI .45 ACP had stopping power.
swoop, they were able to go to a more effective chambering the FN 9mm Browning Hi-Power, was one of the last designs
and a superior pistol design with adoption of the Lahti. worked on by John Browning before he died in 1926. How-
The L35 Lahti is an interesting pistol, though unnecessarily ever, much of the pistol's excellence also must be attributed to
heavy and complicated. It uses a vertically moving block to D.J. Saive, FN's master gun designer, who has many other
lock the bolt to the barrel extension in much the same way as successful designs to his credit like the FAL and MAG 58.
the Mauser broomhandle. Unique among pistols, it uses a bolt The "Hi-Power" name has confused many folks, since the
accelerator, as found on a number or machine guns, to ensure auto is no more powerful than any other pistol chambered for
reliable functioning even under difficult sub-zero conditions. the 9mm Parabellum cartridge. The name comes about from
In addition, the gun is well sealed against the introduction of the fact that the gun was preceded by Browning-designed
dirt to the pistol's mechanism. All parts are robust to the pistols chambered for the less powerful 9mm Browning Short
extreme and made from high-grade steels. As a result, the (.380ACP) and 9mm Browning Long cartridges. Thus, this
Lahti has an excellent reputation for reliability and durability was the high-powered Browning.
in adverse conditions. The Browning Hi-Power (HP) is light and handy and has
The Lahti pistol also has a number of shortcomings. It is one of the most comfortable grips of any handgun ever made.
styled after the Luger and shares that pistol's excessive Its major claim to fame is that it was the first powerful pistol
muzzle lightness and tendency to point high when held at to have a large-capacity, staggered-column magazine in its
shoulder height. It also has an awkward safety and magazine grip frame. The standard HP magazine holds 13 rounds, but
catch. Field-stripping is easy, but detail-stripping is extremely some variations comfortably hold 14 cartridges. There are
difficult and is best left to a trained armorer with special tools. also a number of extension magazines available that hold 20
This gun is also unnecessarily heavy for the cartridge. or more rounds, but they stick out the end of the pistol's butt.
Sweden adoptedaminor variation of the L35 Lahti in 1940, The Browning HP was a major factor in putting the 9mm
calling it the M40. Both the L35 and M40 are still in service Parabellum cartridge on the international map. Prior to WWII,
to this day in reserve units in their respective countries, though the gun was adopted by Belgium, China and several other
they are obsolete by any reasonable standard. countries. When WWII broke out and Germany invaded
There was one more 9mm Parabellum pistol introduced in Belgium, they took over production of the HP just as they had
1935—and it was by far the most important of them all. This, with the Radom; they continued production until they with-

Variations of the Beretta
Model 92FS 9mm (top) are
used extensively by military
forces throughout the world.
Originally, the Glock 17
(bottom) was developed for
use by the Austrian military.
The Browning Hi-Power

in 9mm (top) was a favorite
during WWII along with
the M1911A1.45ACP.
drew from Belgium later in the war. The HPs were widely handgun was developed in the pre-WWII period. It was the
issued to Germany's forces and were well thought of and 9mm Walther P38. This was the handgun the Germans chose
sought after. Fit and finish declined as the war progressed, but to replace their venerable Luger. It was far superior to the
even the last ones made in that era were good pistols. Later Luger in most ways and far easier to manufacture, as well. Its
issues had plastic grips instead of wood and the magazine claim to fame was that the P38 was the first successful high-
safety was deleted to simplify production. powered combat handgun to have a double-action trigger.
Some of the FN technicians had been able to escape from That is, the trigger both cocks the hammer and drops it for the
Belgium before the country fell to the Nazi onslaught. Through first shot, then the cycling of the pistol's slide cocks the
their help, production of the Browning HP began about 1943 hammer for subsequent shots.
in Canada by the John Inglis company. These guns were For the first time, a pistol could be carried fully loaded with
supplied to the Chinese as well as Canadian, Bridsh and other a round in the chamber and the hammer down, yet still be
Commonwealth Forces. As a result, the Browning HP was the instandy able to be shot with just a pull of the trigger. The P38
only handgun made and used by both sides in WWII. also had a slide-mounted, hammer-dropping safety which, to
One other extremely significant 9mm Parabellum military this day, still is probably the most popular safety system in use

The Czech CZ-75 was one
of the first military 9mm
pistols to combine a large
capacity staggered magazine
with a double-action trigger.
The SIG-Sauer P226 was

co-winner of the U.S. pistol
trials that sought a large
capacity double-action auto.
The Beretta M92F prevailed
during competitive bidding.
for double-action autoloaders, though it is losing ground to bered pistols by Germany and her allies caused the Spanish
other systems. The P38 was produced in relatively huge handgun manufacturers of Astra and Star to modify their
quantities beginning in 1940, while production of the Luger standard offerings to take the 9mmP cartridge. Astra modified
ended rather early in the war. their 9mm Bergmann-Bayard M400 into the M600 in 9mmP.
When the Nazis absorbed Austria in 1938, that country's Star made a slight modification of their Model A in 9mm
standardmilitary handgun was the Steyr-Hahn (hammer Steyr) Bergmann-Bayard to make the Model B in 9mm Parabellum.
M1912 chambered for the 9mm Steyr cartridge. Rather than Both of these fine pistols were delivered in quantity to the
rearming the Austrian army with Luger pistols to keep com- Germans, until France was liberated and delivery from Spain
monality of ammunition, a decision was made to rebarrel the was cut off.
Steyr pistols on hand to 9mm Parabellum. The Austrians got On the Allied side, the British Commonwealth Forces and
the better of the deal since the M1912 is considerably simpler, the Chinese got a tremendous amount of favorable combat
more robust and more reliable than the Luger. However its performance from the Browning Hi-Power in 9mmP, not to
fixed magazine, which is loaded with a stripper clip from the mention their use of the same cartridge in the Sten, Owen,
top, is certainly less convenient than the detachable magazine Lanchester and Austen submachine guns.
of the Luger. On the Axis side, there was tremendous use of the 9mm
It was WWII that really caused expanded use of the 9mm Parabellum cartridge in the Luger, the P38, Browning HP,
Parabellum cartridge on a huge, international scale. The Radom, Astra 600, StarModelB, SteyrM1912P-08 and even
seemingly insatiable demand for 9mm Parabellum-cham- red Nine Mauser broomhandles left over from WWI. There

The SIG-Sauer P228 9mm
was adopted by the U.S.
military as its compact 9mm
service auto, called the M11.
was also a tremendous amount of use of the cartridge in while the entire British Commonwealth adopted the Brown-
various submachine guns with the major player being the ing HP, as did a huge number of other countries all over the
German MP40. world. Licensed production of the Browning HP was under-
The net result of the WWII experience was that most of the taken in Argentina, Venezuela, Nigeria, besides Belgium and
world, except for the U.S., the Soviet Union and Japan, had Canada in WWII. Unlicensed production has taken place in
made extensive use of the 9mm Parabellum cartridge by the Indonesia, Hungary and India. The number of countries that
end of the war. Also, the rise in the use of submachine guns — use the Browning HP reads like a roster of the United Nations.
most chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge — also The third phase of the military history of the 9mm cartridge
caused expansion of interest in the cartridge. continued into the mid-1970s with more and more countries
With the end of WWII came the end of phase two and the adopting 9mm Parabellum handguns. However, virtually all
beginning of phase three in the history of the 9mm Parabellum of the handguns adopted were pre-WWII designs like the
as a military handgun cartridge. Browning HP, the P38 and the Star Model B, or one of the
The post-WWII period saw a great number of realign- post-WWII designs that were technologically equivalent like
ments, reorganizations and consolidations. Many countries the MAC M1950, SIG P210 and Beretta M1951.
ended up with substantial supplies of captured or abandoned In 1971, S&W introduced the 9mm Model 59, the world's
German arms. It was only natural to employ them with their first large-capacity, double-action 9mm pistol. It was quickly
own forces. Thus, such countries as France and Norway ended followed by the Beretta M92 and the Czech CZ-75. This was
up using former German 9mm Parabellum P38 pistols even the beginning of phase four in the 9mm Parabellum's history
though they had not used the 9mmP cartridge before the war. as a military handgun cartridge, and this phase continues
The French went on to develop their own 9mmP handgun, the today. One country after another is replacing military hand-
MAC Ml950. It was an enlarged version of the pre-WWII guns with high-capacity, double-action 9mm handguns. Italy
MAC M1935S that shot the pipsqueak 7.65mm Long car- has adopted the Beretta M92, as have many other countries,
tridge. It is of basic Browning design along the lines of the including Brazil, Chile, France, South Africa, USA, Indone-
M1911. sia, Iran and others.
During WWII, Italy had used the 9mm Parabellum in the Austria has adopted the Glock 17, as has Norway, the
excellent Beretta submachine guns, but used the 9mm Corto Netherlands and other countries. Spain has the Llama M-82,
(.380 ACP) in the standard military handgun, the Beretta while Czechoslovakia has adopted their superb CZ-75 which
M1934. After WWII, it was only natural to adopt a 9mm is also sold widely to Third World countries. And so it goes.
Parabellum handgun to go with the similarly chambered Practically every country that does not have a high-capacity,
submachine guns. Italy adopted the Beretta M1951 in 9mm double-action 9mm Parabellum probably will adopt one even-
Parabellum, an excellent pistol that also was adopted by Israel tually. However, many older 9mm pistol designs, particularly
and Egypt and still is being made in Egypt today. the Browning Hi-Power, are likely to hang on for decades to
Switzerland also decided to retire its old 7.65mm Lugers. come.
SIG developed a nice 9mm called the P210 that combined The 9mm Parabellum has taken 90-plus years to be totally
some features of the Browning, the MAC M1935A and a bit accepted in military handguns, and its growth has not yet
of the Tokarev TT33. It was adopted as the Model 49. ended. Indeed, it is clear that the 9mm Parabellum will be the
Denmark also purchased quantities of this pistol. world's primary military handgun cartridge well into the next
Austria, Portugal and Pakistan adopted the 9mm P38, century.

HAPTER
OF GADGETS
AND GEAR
A c c e s s o r i e s F o r 9 m m H a n d g u n s Meet
Virtually A n y Need — O r Want!
The Ny/Tex nylon shoulder holsters from RanShar have the ability to carry a sidearm either vertically or horizontally.
48
Tex Shoemaker & Son offers
the US Swivel holster (left)
which has an adjustable riveted
swivel top, and the Quick
Front holster (below) that
allows for a speedy draw.
A
NY SERIOUS discussion of the ethics of the
9mmP eventually comes to an undeniable conclu-
sion: It is a study in economy. Everything about
the 9mmP is efficient. This reality too often is
overlooked when shooters think or talk about the cartridge, the
firearms and the gear related to them
What this means to shooters is that there is no burning need
to have more than the gun and ammo for the 9mmP to be
credible. Yet, when it comes to personalizing the gun and gear
to go with it, there are virtually no bounds. It is as wide open
as the imagination of the shooter.
The most basic of accessory gear for the 9mmP is the
holster. Although it is possible to go through life with a 9mmP
and never have a holster or other specialized carrying device,
most shooters find that some sort of holster is, at the very least,
handy. Yet, it is common for shooters to opt for the first budget
priced holster they encounter at the store, then learn to live
with it.
Serious action shooters and other competitors, of course,
are the opposite: They spend a lot of money for rigs which they
perceive as possibly giving them even the slightest of added
edges. Actually, the better bet usually lies somewhere be-
tween those two extremes.
There is a logical way to approach the question: What is the
best holster design for me? Keep in mind that selection of a
carrying device for ahandgun is an extremely personal matter.
What works or is best for one shooter may not be a good bet the use of only the rigs which are issued. The same is true of
for another. Ultimately, the situation goes beyond just a many law enforcement agencies. In such situations, there is
holster. Consideration should include serious thought about litde to consider. Whatever the organization issues and/or
the entire holster rig which usually includes the holster, a belt requires is what is used. That simplifies life.
and probably some form of magazine pouch. Yet, within most of such organizations, there are special
It also should be noted there are essentially two major units or special job assignments which allow the use of non-
classifications of shooters involved in the world of the 9mm, standard or generally non-issue rigs. For example, when I was
and they can have decisively different needs, or the gear which in the U.S. Army, the 1911-type .45 auto was the standard
works best for one of the groups also may be credible for the sidearm, and the classic leather flap holster which fit onto the
other. The two groups are shooters in uniform — military or web pistol belt was the norm. However, there were times when
police — and civilians. specific assignments dictated I use the standard shoulder
To a greater or lesser degree, the rigs used by uniformed holster rig instead. So, there are some options, even though
9mm users are dictated by the agencies with which they are minor.
affiliated. For example, military organizations usually allow Law enforcement agencies run the gamut. Some require

total uniformity when it comes to duty rigs, while others allow
some degree of personalizadon or, in rarer instances, total
personalizadon. Certainly in the law enforcement arena, off-
duty rigs become non-standard and extremely personal.
Of all the 9mm shooters, civilians have the widest options,
because each is his or her own boss when it comes to such
matters. Regardless of which category — or categories — a
particular shooter happens to be in at a given time, there is a
logical series of considerations which can help in the myriad
choices available. Oddly, it does not begin with the high-tech
tactical features a particular rig may or may not offer. Instead,
itbegins with where and how the pistol will be stored when not
in use.
STORAGE
The fact is that most 9mmP handguns spend much more
time in storage than they do in use. So, the initial "gadget" to
consider is something in which to store the firearm. Interest- Many 9mm handguns come in lockable storage boxes.
ingly, this can be a tough decision.
For example, when not in use, will the pistol be maintained
in a "ready" mode or will it simply be stored? If one or even
the major role for a particular 9mmP handgun is home- in the gun world. There are trigger locks, action locks, mini-
defense, then quick and easy access to the pistol is important. vaults with locking systems which can be opened by the owner
Hence, a "holding" device could be as basic as a gun rug or a quickly and by touch so they work in the dark. It is worth a trip
small, lockable box. It is always important to think a lot about to the gun shop just to inspect the many variations. Then
where and how a "ready" firearm is stored. consider the individual situation and opt for whatever type of
A recent rash of laws in states around the country have device or devices are most valid.
added severe criminal penalties to the existing civil liabilities Things are simplified a lot if the pistol is to be stored in what
incurred should some unauthorized person, like a child, get might be termed an "inert" condition. This means it is stored
hold of a firearm and hurt someone with it. So it is important totally unloaded, and probably locked away in a closet, vault
to store a ready gun in such a way that will make it accessible or some other secure area.
when needed, but not a problem should unauthorized hands If the storage is in a locked area like a vault, it may be best
get near it. to place the handgun on a padded shelf, then close and lock the
The safety device arena has become an entire sub-market door. The most sophisticated piece of gear needed in such
The MiniVault has a slotted

combination system for
quickly unlocking the small
safe, even in the dark. It is
made by Gun Vault, Inc., of
Albuquerque, New Mexico.

m
A gun rug is an inexpensive way to protect a firearm.
The H&K P7 M13 storage box also has cleaning gear.
situations is a basic gun rug, which serves more to prevent the

handgun from being bumped or scratched than anything else.
Storing a handgun in aholster may be common, but it is not
always the greatest of ideas. Under some circumstances, like
in humid areas, this can result in damage to the finish of the
gun, or may even cause rusting which can attack the metal of
the gun itself. In the worst cases surface pitting can result. It
is usually a good idea to make certain any firearm being stored
is able to "breathe." This means that, unless it is in some sort
of oiled and sealed environment, air should be allowed to
circulate around it. Keeping it zipped tightly in some of the
padded cases or rugs can cause moisture to be trapped in the
padding, and the moisture eventually will attack the surfaces
of the gun.
Interestingly, some of the better storage containers avail- This H&K is kept clean and safe in a low-cost gun rug.
able also happen to be the boxes in which some 9mmP
handguns come when they are new. There is nothing wrong
with storing apistol in the original box. After all, the manufac- quently are they taken to the range or some other shooting area
turer used the box to protect the firearm from the time it left the by the owner where they are shot recreationally or for updated
factory until it was purchased by its ultimate owner — a familiarization. Then they go right back home, and resume
process which routinely includes a lot of shipping, stacking their storage existence.
and moving. For such use, the original box will suffice nicely, and the
Although a basic cardboard box or one made of some form moulded, reusable boxes are totally credible. In fact, shooters
of foam will do the trick well, manufacturers in recent years who do no more with their pistols than store them and
have been offering an added perk for consumers. It is common occasionally take them to a shooting area for informal practice
now for many of the makes of pistols to come in moulded need consider nothing more. Unless the handgun is to be
plastic boxes which also serve as reusable storage and carry- carried as part of its activities, there really is no need for a
ing containers. Most of them have holes aligned so a small holster at all.
padlock can be attached to lock the box, while others actually Should the original box be absent, a simple gun rug is all
come with a small lock. that is needed for transport, assuming that local laws do not
There may be fancier gadgets available, but the original also require some other form of container. If a lockable
boxes — and especially the moulded, reusable kind — are container is required, there is a wide variety available on the
among the most effective devices available. As mentioned market. Although those kinds of devices are what might be
earlier, the 9mmP is a study in economy. termed "gun specific," there are other options available for
those who want to save a few bucks. For example, if the
shooter already has a lockable attache case for his job, it can
TRANSPORT serve nicely as a transport container. To avert damage to the
A great many 9mmP handguns have rather uneventful handgun, however, it is a good idea to pad it in some way so
lives. They are stored at home most of the time. Only infre- it won't bounce around inside the case.

For that kind of application, the gun nig again comes into looping is quite expensive, and there is not enough room on
the picture. But for those who want to keep saving money, one most belts for enough loops when it comes to the 9mm and its
or a pair of old socks works well, depending upon the size of high-capacity reality.
the gun. Or, wrap it in a small terry cloth towel. It doesn't take Breaking things down to basics, a simple holster attached
a lot of invendveness to come up with something that will to the same belt which holds up the trousers would suffice for
work well. some open carry purposes. Generally, however, this calls for
a number of compromises which are often not desirable.
For example, if a trouser belt is used for the holster, the
CARRY DEVICES shooter has relatively few options when it comes to position-
The list of opdons literally explodes when it comes to carry ing the holster around the trunk of the body. Belt loops on the
devices for9mmP handguns. Here is where holsters and such trousers pretty well dictate one or two logical locations for the
come to the fore. Again, a series of considerations can answer holster, and that is about it.
the question about which sort of rig will serve best. More importandy, however, is the fact that such an ar-
First, the shooter must determine what mode or modes of rangement allows for only one vertical placement of the
carry will come into play. It is important to note here that holster — exactly at the waist. For many shooters, that is not
rarely will one kind of rig serve well for different modes of the best location for easy access. Often, the better location is
carry. Generally, each mode requires its own specific form of slightly above or slightly below the trouser belt line. Here is
where a regular pistol belt comes into the picture.
rig.
The easiest form of carry to discuss is that of informal, open Assembling the handiest holster/belt combo can be more
carry. Interestingly, this is also the most common form, so it complex than it first appears to be. When in doubt, it is not a
is a legitimate concern for most shooters. bad idea to acquire matching components from a single
As mentioned earlier, the basic open carry rig generally manufacturer. After all, makers of holsters and belts have
includes a holster, a belt and perhaps a magazine pouch. There made extensive studies of what combinations work and what
is no need for bullet loops on belts for 9mmP users for two ones don't. Yet, not all combinations work in all instances, so
reasons. First, most 9mmP handguns use magazines, and there are still decisions to be made.
second, any such loops would have to be closed on the bottom, For example, does it matter whether the holster is able to
because the 9mmP is a rimless cartridge. Closed-bottom slide up or down the belt, or should it be affixed to a specific
Perfect Partner holsters include hand-moulded leather models and those made of Propex, a water resistant synthetic.

This Colt, with Pachmayr
grips, is housed in a holster
from Michaels of Oregon.
Leather goods from Gould

& Goodrich are considered
to be some of the finest.
spot on the belt via some sort of horizontal "loop?" This civilians have a number of handy options. For example, the
question is really important for shooters of single-action basic, full-size Sam Browne rig, complete with shoulder strap,
revolvers, and generally is of less import for shooters of semi- is totally functional.
autos. However, it is something to think about. Law enforcement folks may have abandoned this style,
How wide should the belt be? The subject here is the because the shoulder strap for them is nothing more or less
comfort zone. Generally speaking, the longer the periods of than another big handle for combatant criminals to grab. But
carry are to be, the wider the belt should be. Again, it is not a for informal civilian carry, the distribution of weight from
bad idea to start out with a heavy, wide belt. It will serve well such a rig is very nice.
for extended carry periods, and also will be totally comfort- What style of holster is best? Again, it depends upon likely
able for shorter term outings. uses and personal preferences. For example, a holster with a
Another factor which enters the equation here is whether full flap will protect a handgun from bumps and scratches
there will be anything else attached to the belt. The more better than one with an open top. But full-flap holsters pre-
weight the belt has to support, the wider and heavier duty it clude any form of really fast draw. Should the bottom of the
should be. For example, if it is to carry a full-size 9mmP and holster be open or closed? If the handgun is to be carried in the
one or more magazine pouches, a medium belt would prob- woods where it likely will be exposed to all manner of debris
ably work. However, if other things like a knife or a flashlight and wetness when brushed against foliage, a closed holster is
are to be part of the ensemble, then definitely bigger is better. not a bad idea. However, if the bottom is closed, then the top
For example, the author's favorite widths range from two should have a full flap. Otherwise, debris or water can fall into
to 2-1/4 inches for most uses. These widths are enough to carry the top and be trapped inside.
a considerable load as comfortably as possible, yet are handy For general open carry, a holster with some sort of strap to
enough for shorter term, informal carry. For extended carry, secure the pistol is a good idea. Granted, for some law

From Michaels of Oregon,
the Sidekick Professional
tactical holster system is
built for SWAT and other
emergency response teams.
enforcement and military purposes, a clamping design which ever, it is not the end-all material for holster rigs.
allows the pistol to be drawn quickly and smoothly can be Leather is by far the most romantic of holster rig materials.
handy. But for general carry, a snap strap accomplishes It feels nice and even smells delicious. And when maintained
everything nicely. properly, sucharigcan lastalifetime—ormore. But the "M"
Hence, style means a lot in a holster — and not just for word is a factor — maintenance. Leather requires more
aesthetic reasons. Consider the likely situations that will be maintenance than some of the other materials.
faced, and select the holster accordingly. When in doubt, In addition to maintenance, leather is less than the best bet
consider the acquisition of more than one holster if the if the rig is likely to get wet often. Granted, leather can be
applications likely will be extremely diverse. treated and coated to minimize the negative effects of mois-
Almost as important as the design of the holster and width ture, but eventually wetness will cause problems for leather
of the belt in a rig is the material from which it is made. rigs.
Certainly, theclassicholsterrigs were madeof leather. Leather, High-tech rigs now are made from a number of synthetic
of course, is a credible option for many circumstances. How- materials, with some form of nylon or a close cousin to that
This lady's handbag has a

compartment to hold a gun.
The bags are handmade by
En Garde of Dallas, Texas.

Right, the tactical holsters
from Michaels of Oregon
are of Sidekick laminate,
featuring a Cordura nylon
exterior, waterproof foam
padding and smooth nylon
lining. The company also
makes tactical submachine
gun triple magazine cases.
Below, also from Michaels
is a high ride hip holster.
L ^
synthetic being the basic fabric. And, where leather rigs

Michaels of Oregon makes this 20-round magazine case
feature snaps or hooks, synthetic rigs often have hook-and-
for magazines of the Sig, Beretta and Smith & Wesson.
loop fastening surfaces.
For the most part, synthetic rigs are impervious to inclem-
ent conditions. If they get wet, merely allow them to air dry practicality are the two main factors offered by the synthetic
and they are back in action. If they get dirty, scrub them with rigs.
water, rinse them off and let them dry. For 9mmP shooters, there is a type of rig which should be
And when it comes to synthetic holster rigs, even the least considered, even if the shooter plans only to carry the pistol
expensive of the lot generally hold up well. So, durability and informally. That is a shoulder holster rig. Such rigs are among

the most versatile of all. They afford concealed carry yet serve chamber. Either way, function suffers.
well when used in any of the open carry modes. For hunters If left compressed long enough, a magazine spring can lose
who carry a 9mmP as part of their battery, a shoulder rig often power and cause the pistol to malfunction by not keeping the
is the handiest of all designs. top cartridge properly in place. The remedy in such cases is to
replace the spring. However, in most magazine malfunction
scenarios, it is best to replace the whole thing.
EXTRA MAGAZINES OR CLIPS Even though some magazines can be bent back into shape,
Even though many current production 9mmP handguns it is common for the entire magazine to have been sprung
come with two magazines, shooters find they may want to enough that attempts to put it back in shape will result in
acquire either more magazines, or ones with different capaci- inconsistent performance. That can be the most frustrating
ties than whatever came standard with the pistol. and potentially dangerous. It simply is not worth the hassle to
It is always prudent to have at least one spare magazine. deal with a bad magazine. It is simply best to replace i t
Magazines are notorious for two things: They are either lost or Replacement magazines come in many forms. There are
they are damaged. Either way, they are useless. factory replacements which are identical to those supplied
Because they are designed to be removed from the hand- with the pistol when it was new. And, there are clones of the
gun, they are subject to being lost, left behind or disappear in standard magazines. Some are as good as the originals, some
some other way. Hence, a backup spare is in order. are better and some are not as good. Buyer beware!
Magazines also suffer all kinds of abuse, and can be Some shooters like to acquire spare magazines made of
damaged enough to inhibit or preclude proper function. They stainless steel, even if the original magazine was made of
find themselves being dropped, kicked, stepped on and even blued steel. Ease of maintenance is generally the moving
run over by motor vehicles! Once bent, a magazine likely is no force in such cases.
longer serviceable and should be replaced. Or a shooter may want to acquire a spare magazine which
One of the most common areas to suffer damage is around has more capacity than the standard one provided with the
the magazine lips which hold the top cartridge in place and pistol. Check local laws before acquiring really high-capacity
ready to feed. When the lips become bent, function suffers. magazines. Anti-gun forces of late have been pushing heavily
For example, if they are bent outward, they may not hold the to limit legal magazine capacities.
cartridges in place. If bent inward, they may not allow loading, For those who shoot 9mmP revolvers, any of the many
or they may prevent the top cartridge from feeding into the kinds of clips might be handy, if not required for functioning

and quick reloading. These clips are usually flat stampings of In addition to handle design, the material from which the
spring steel which hold cartridges in place when they are put grips are made can be an important consideration. For ex-
into the cylinder. The most common types are third-moon, ample, are alternative grips being installed purely for func-
half-moon and full-moon clips. Third-moon clips hold two tional purposes, or is there a decorative aspect, as well?
cartridges, half-moon clips hold three rounds, and full-moon Handgun grips have been made from about every kind of
clips hold an endre cylinderful of ammo — either five or six material imaginable. Standard factory grips generally are
rounds, depending upon the handgun in question. limited to wood, hard or soft rubber or plastic.
In addition to aiding in the quick extraction of empties, Replacement grips might be any of those materials or
these clips also serve as a form of speed loader. In the case of something more exotic. It is probably safe to suggest that if a
full-moon clips, an entire cylinder can be charged in a single type of material could be used for a handgun grip, it probably
movement by dropping the loaded clip into the cylinder, or the has been. Among the more common materials are metals,
cylinder can be unloaded by a single push on the ejector rod. animal antler or horn, ivory, or some exotic variant of them.
Shooters who use 9mmP revolvers should consider a good Add to all of those above the growing number of high-tech
supply of clips to be mandatory. Since these clips are small, synthetic materials which look like any of the natural materi-
thin and light, they can be misplaced or easily lost. They are als, and what the grips are made of is limited more by the
inexpensive, and it is advisable for anyone who uses them to imagination of the maker than anything else.
lay in a good supply.
SIGHTS
GRIPS Generally in the industry, current production 9mmP hand-
The handles — or grips — which come standard on 9mmP guns come equipped with a basic set of sights which some-
handguns generally work fine for most shooters. In fact, of all times feature the three dot system. There is one dot (usually
the pistol sizes, the 9mmP family seems to fit more sizes and white) on the left side and one dot on the right side of the rear
shapes of hands than any other. Grips generally are neither too sight, and a third dot on the rear of the front sight. The idea is
large nor too small. Yet, there are a number of reasons why a that the shooter need only align the three dots in a horizontal
shooter might want to install different grips. line and the pistol is on target. Such a system allegedly works
Most important among those is handling quality. Grips well in low light conditions. Some shooters like them, others
which are configured in such a way that they enhance the don't. If the dots are a distraction, a couple of daubs with a felt
handling qualities of the pistol are definitionally valid. By marker can eliminate the problem.
changing grips, a shooter can slim the handle area, fatten it up Most sighting systems which come standard on production
or add stabilizing features like finger grooves or a thumb shelf. 9mmP handguns feature drift-adjustable rear sights to adjust
In addition to a wide variety of aftermarket configurations, the left-to-right bullet placement. Few are equipped to adjust
there are custom-made grips which are crafted specifically to for elevation. With such systems, changing the elevation of
an individual shooter's hand. These vary in price and degree the bullet placement is intended to be accomplished by using
of work. Thus, they can be relatively inexpensive, or they can a higher or lower front sight — most of which are drift-
cost a lot. Needs of the individual shooter dictate what is best. removable in some sort of dovetail slot in the slide.
The Ruger P-85 sights from
Pachmayr have windage
and elevation screws that
are micro-click-adjustable.
If the shooter wants to fine-tune the sight picture to the the target and squeeze the trigger. Such systems are preferred
bullet placement, or if he intends to use a variety of different by some of the rapid-fire competitive shooting crowd.
loads, sighting systems which are designed to be adjusted There is also a growing number of laser sights available.
might be in order. There are many different designs available, These sights transmit a beam of light (laser) which, when
at a wide range of prices, depending upon whether basic adjusted properly, shows a red dot on the target where the
adjustment is desired, or whether repeatable target-level ad- bullet will hit. Such sights are handy for nighttime work, but
justment is needed. they require a power source such as a battery, and are subject
Some shooters want to have sights which work well in the to the many things which affect electronics. Such sights are
dark. Most of these shooters happen to be law enforcement without doubt going to be a major factor in the future, but as
officers, but there could be some civilian interest in such of this writing, remain less than totally acceptable for the
sighting systems. Most common among this kind of sight is widest ranges of applications.
the variety which uses tritium — a slightly radioactive sub- Finally, there are standard telescopic sights being used on
stance which glows in the dark. Such sights, however, are some 9mmP handguns. As they do when used on long guns,
relatively expensive and are valid only if there is a real need telescopic sights on 9mmP handguns can offer an added level
for them. of tactical accuracy. Bullet placement can be much more
Another form of sighting system is the red dot "scope." precise. However, some shooters find it takes a considerable
Some red dot systems are also slightly telescopic, but many amount of practice for them to become totally credible with
are merely a form of optical sight which shows a glowing red such sights.
dot in the middle of the glass as the shooter looks at the target. Whenever any of the "scope" sights are used, shooters are
These units normally are battery powered and feature dial well advised to pay total attention to the mounting system.
adjustments much like those encountered on traditional tele- Such sights are no better nor any stronger than the mechanism
scopic sights. In use, the shooter needs only to put the dot on which holds them to the firearm. When installed, it is critical

These Master Red Dot Scopes from Simmons are lightweight and can be finely adjusted to the needs of the shooter.
that the entire rig be assembled properly, and that it be Another popular add-on is a magazine base extension
tightened and secured well enough that it won't work loose. which also provides a finger rest for the pinky finger. These
When such systems become loose, they are worse than having usually are encountered on small-handled pistols carried by
no sights at all. large-handed shooters.
Some kinds of competitive shooting call for quick changes
of magazines. Shooters in such sports want the empty maga-
ASSORTED ACCESSORIES zine to pop out, or at least fall out freely when the release
Oddly, there are relatively few other accessories for 9mm button is pushed. For them, time is important, and they don't
use. Perhaps the most prevalent of such accessories is the want to have to fumble around, removing an empty magazine.
magazine loading device. Also, when their portion of the event is over, they need to go
Charging 9mmP high capacity magazines can be a real back and retrieve the magazines they have strewn all over the
chore. And, it can be tough on fingers and thumbs as the ground.
shooter repetitiously fights the spring tension to slide car- As a result, it is common for such shooters to attach a
tridges into place. colorful base to their magazines which also add enough
Most common among the magazine charging tools are the weight to assure that the magazine exits the pistol cleanly and
small, boxy-looking fixtures which slide over the top of the quickly every time.
magazine and make it easier for the shooter to depress the Cleaning and other maintenance tools also are necessary.
spring and follower, and rounds on top of them, enough to slip Fortunately, most 9mmP handguns come from the factory
added rounds into place, one at a time. with at least a cleaning rod. Many also are furnished with a
Another magazine-related accessory is the aftermarket bore brush. Target model handguns often are provided with
base plate or shoe. There are a number of different types of specialized sight adjustment tools, which can be anything
accessory bases, depending upon what the shooter wants them from a basic screwdriver to some form of exotic tool which fits
to accomplish. a specific sighting system. Add to such tools the necessary
For example, there are bases which also serve as magazine solvents and lubricants, and the gun care front is covered well.
extensions. Most of these afford one or two more rounds to be These items need not be expensive, but they should be
held by the magazine. They are simply add-on bottoms for the obtained.
magazine. Commonly, shooters who use one of the shorter- So, it is easy to see that even though there is no need for any
gripped compact 9mmP handguns might want to extend the accessories to own and use a 9mmP handgun, some or many
magazine a bit to put total capacity at a higher level. However, of them can make the whole process easier or more enjoyable.
there are trade-offs, and one of them is that, with the extension, When it comes to accessories, it is sound advice to suggest
the handle area of the pistol will be larger — which may or that the basics be addressed first. There will be plenty of time
may not negate the advantages of using a compact handgun in to add a gadget here, a goodie there. When in doubt, shoot
the first place. more and become more proficient with the handgun itself.

T h e L a s e r Is N o t A C u r e - A l l F o r 9 m m
I n a d e q u a c i e s , B u t Is A D e f i n i t i v e
Aid To The Handgun's Accuracy
This BA-2, five megawatt sight from Laser Devices, Inc., is designed to conform to the shape of the Walther P88.
M
ention the term "laser" among the general years to come the laser itself may become the "projectile,"
population, and images of Star Wars charac- replacing the bullets it sights for now. But that is in today's
ters dueling with laser swords pop into the terms nothing more than a form of dream — a fiction which
minds of some. Others will perceive the sub- may be fascinating to imagine, but impossible to realize.
ject as some high powered light beam being used for every- Even laser sights as they currendy are constituted are not
thing from intricate surgery to the Strategic Defense Initiative cure-alls and end-alls for shooters. Hardly. They are not even
that some think might involve the zapping of military targets useful in a way so universal as the traditional sighting meth-
on earth from devices in satellites orbiting earth. ods. However, laser sighting devices have demonstrated that
In a practical sense, lasers in the world of the 9mmP these in a number of situations, they do have merit and, in a smaller
days are limited to sighting devices. Briefly, the laser in such arena, they are the preferred type of sighting system.
applications is little more than ared beam of light which shines In the late 1970s, when laser sighting systems first began
onto a target and shows the shooter where the bullet will go if appearing on the shooting front, they were viewed primarily
the trigger is pulled. as curiosities. Some shooters saw them as litde more than
From a scientific perspective, this may constitute a rather interesting "toys" which could not be taken seriously. To a
limited, fringe use of the laser. Perhaps so, and perhaps in degree, that viewpoint had merit, because the initial devices

The sight from Laser Devices fits snugly on the P88. It attaches easily to the auto without the need of a gunsmith.
were bulky, had wires hanging around to snag on anything and revelation should come as no great surprise. Any meaningful
everything, and were heavy enough to change the handling sighting device throughout history necessarily has been simple.
characteristics of whatever firearm they found themselves Consider the fact that with the development of the various
mounted upon. laser and red dot sighting systems over the past couple of
Like most things in the electronics, miniaturization has decades has come more real change in sights than had hap-
happened to the laser aiming element of the firearms industry. pened in the entire history of hand-held firearms.
These days, the laser sighting systems available are small Simply put, there are three basic types of sighting systems
enough and light enough, including power sources, that they extant in Gundom. There are the "iron" sights which require
no longer turn a fast-handling firearm into aboat anchor. They the alignment of two sighting fixtures with the target, optical
are small enough, in fact, that some are now being built into sights which require the alignment of some form of reticle
the firearm itself. Without question, laser sighting systems with the target and electronic sights. The electronic sights are,
will become integral in a number of firearm models on the forpractical purposes, quite recent on the scene. The other two
market over the next few years. It is beginning to happen on types of sighting systems have been around for more than 100
a limited basis as this writing is being completed. years, in the case of optical sights, and since firearms began in
There will be no effort here to attempt to create any form the case of iron sights.
of "laundry list" of laser sighting systems available on the Laser sights as they are now constituted emit a focused
market. After all, that segment of the industry is evolving beam of light. When mounted on a firearm and adj usted so the
quickly enough that any list compiled as of this writing would dot of light which appears on the target is at the same spot
no doubt be obsolete by the time the book is published. Or, where a bullet will go when fired, these sighting systems offer
certainly, it would be out of date by the time many readers pour an expansion of possibilities for shooters — especially since
over the pages of this tome. most companies offer units that do not preclude the use of the
Much of the meaningful development among laser sight- more traditional sighting systems. That means that in situa-
ing devices has hinged around a change from the use of a tube tions when traditional sights work best, the shooter can use
to the use of diodes. It was a move into solid state hardware, them, or when the laser beam is abetter bet, it also is available.
and that afforded entirely new possibdities in the arenas of As much as most shooters have been aware of the presence
weight reduction, size reduction and tactical usage. of laser sighting systems since their inception, relatively few
Regardless what the exact design and make, laser sighting have availed themselves of opportunities to use them. Cost
devices as a classification are uncommonly simple. This prohibits flippant trials by the masses, because the devices

The major portion of the BA-2 is the form-fitting mount that is built for a specific gun. The laser slides inside the case.
typically cost more than $100 and very often can cause the For newcomers and re-educated firearms veterans, using
ouday of several hundred dollars, by the time everything is the laser sighting systems is as simple as pointing at the target
factored into the equation. and squeezing the trigger when the red dot shows up where the
But there is another factor which has retarded universal bullet should go. For shooters who refuse to open their minds
acceptance of this new form of technology among the rank- to the changes in technique needed to maximize the potential
and-file shooters. It is called "tradition." Face it, tradition of the laser systems, they represent a form of frustration which
guides the lives and activities of most shooters. We are, as a might be considered unacceptable.
group, traditionalists in the purest sense of the term. Change, For the laser sighting system test drive at the range, the
when it does happen, comes reluctantly. Anything "new" author opted to focus on some of the products from Laser
must prove itself over and over again before it can take its Devices, Inc., one of the original companies in this segment of
rightful place in the overall order of things. So it has been with the industry. That company's BA-2 series of sighting devices
the laser sighting systems. was used, one mounted on a Walther P-88, the other mounted
One could hardly fault many shooters for taking any step on a Glock 17 — both well known 9mmP handguns.
toward change with less than total deliberance. Shooting, after By far, the most difficult procedure involved the sighting-
all, is a most serious business. In all but the most informal of in of the units. They were not more difficult to adjust and put
target and plinking disciplines, shooting is at the least a serious on-target than are many of the optical sights (scopes), but as
matter, and quickly becomes a question of life and death in any experienced shooter realizes, fine tuning the adjustments
other manifestations. for optical sights can cause a noticeable degree of effort and
With all of this in mind, the author, a newcomer to the is not always without frustration.
actual use of laser aiming devices, headed to the range for a Once sighted-in, the actual use of the laser sights demon-
test drive. What is it really like to shoot a laser-sighted strated to the author that one needs to re-think how one shoots
firearm? The answer is an unqualified "different." if the advantages inherent in laser sighting are to be realized
There were several techniques and tricks which had to be fully. It simply takes practice.
learned. Equally large were the number of habits which had to The first challenge involves holding the pistol steady. Even
be "unlearned" before the laser sighting systems began to if laser sighting devices were never used in any tactical
show what they really could do. Perhaps that is among the situation, they would have intrinsic value as practice tools.
major stumbling blocks for manufacturers of laser sighting With optical or open sights, the shooter is not nearly as aware
systems. They are useful immediately to anyone who is not of just how much the muzzle is jiggling when the red dot
familiar with traditional sighting systems, yet require some dances around on a target downrange.
degree of re-learning and re-thinking for those who have Laser sighting systems help extend the only acceptable
developed a level of proficiency with the more traditional form of gun control there is—control of the gun in your hand.
systems. The bouncing light beam on the target literally forces the

Because of the way the BA-2 is mounted to this Walther P88, it doesn't prevent the use of the auto's regular sights.
shooter to concentrate on basics like hold. Yes, it takes a while and then look for the red dot on the target. Frankly, the
to get to the point where the dot on the target is standing still quickest way to learn to use laser sights is to hold the pistol in
enough to attempt a shot. some unorthodox way which precludes looking across the
It is in the act of shooting, though, that beginners have an iron sights. Hold the pistol at hip level or, if shooting off the
edge over experienced shooters when it comes to acclamation bench, purposely hold the head so high that there is no way to
with the laser system. A new shooter, whose mind is not look down the slide or along the top of the barrel.
clouded with habits and techniques developed through the This altered relationship of the eyes and the firearm force
years, simply puts the light beam on the target, keeps it there the shooter to focus on the light dot on the target, moving it to
and fires the shot. The experienced shooter, armed with the desired spot solely by using instinctive hand-eye coordi-
ingrained reactions to sight pictures, usually compounds any nation. Once this practice is undertaken, the laser system
problem with such reactions. becomes quicker to use and contributes to more accurate
For example, when aligning open sights with the target, bullet placement.
there actually are inverse relationships created among the It took the author a 50-round box of ammo to adj ust to some
three points of focus. With the laser beam, there is only a direct of the basic procedures. Before the expenditure of more than
relationship. What this means in practice is that experienced 100 rounds, there was a noticeable degree of proficiency
shooters at first can find themselves walking the beam right beginning to develop. It became clear that with regular prac-
off the target when they try to move it from the side to the tice and added familiarization the use of laser sighting systems
center. A few minutes of concentrated effort can overcome could become as "second nature," as have the usage of the
this tendency. other more traditional sighting systems.
The single most difficult task for the author was in the By the end of a single range session, the author was hitting
trigger control department. Keeping the red dot of light on the as quickly and accurately with the laser sighting system as
target while pulling the trigger truly was a challenge. It felt with any other. And, at the longer ranges (like 30 to 40 yards),
different, looked different and was just plain weird. Again, the groups were actually better with the laser than with the
however, following a brief period of practice, these problems regular sights.
disappeared and the system became effective — even in the Keep in mind, however, that all of this was in broad
author's hands. daylight. This is the worst scenario for laser sight usage.
Another old habit experienced shooters must learn to Simply put, the darker things get, the better the laser systems
overcome is that of automatically trying to align the iron sights look. In lighting as subdued as normal indoor environments,

Author tests the accuracy of
the BA-2 sight from Laser
Devices on a Glock 17. He
fired the auto without using
the standard factory sights.
laser sights are totally workable. When things begin to get handguns, as well as the laser system. Bingo! What a concept!
dark, the lasers really come into their own — into an arena This suddenly expands from a question of whether one should
where they take the lead. have traditional or laser sighting systems in a situation that
In the shoodng industry, several types of groups normally allows the optional use of either — or both. Things become
serve as catalysts for change and serve as guiding forces when more interesting all the time.
it comes to equipment. These include the military, law en- For example, if a person had a 9mmP handgun equipped
forcement and serious target shooters. with a laser sighting system for home defense, there would be
Certainly, the pioneering forces in the use of laser sighting no disadvantage, compared to the same handgun sans the
devices have come from the military and law enforcement electronic option. If worst came to worst, the pistol would still
communides. There are logical reasons for this. Laser sighting function the same way. This means that even if the owner,
systems are most useful in some of the kinds of situations under stress, failed to turn on the laser system, or had been
faced by military and law enforcement personnel. negligent and allowed the battery to drain, the firearm would
Specialized units first put some of the laser sighting sys- remain at leas t as useful as it ever would have been without the
tems to the test in specific situations. Experiences dictated that laser system.
the big, bulky and heavy systems which were offered initially However, assuming the owner had maintained the power
had to change if they were to be valid. Changes continue to be supply properly and remembered to turn on the laser system,
made, and with each advancement in design, the useful the laser sights would afford an added tool at the moment of
potential of the system is expanded. truth which could help make the difference between a hit and
Currendy, laser sighting systems offer effective ranges of a miss. Is that not really what this discussion is all about?
several hundred yards (under the right lighting conditions). Speaking of panic moments, there is an added advantage to
Yet, the really meaningful applications for laser sights involve the laser sights. They can be used effectively by people who
across-the-room distances. do not know how to use standard sights. There is no efforthere
Obviously, law enforcement officers who must operate in to suggest that people who are unfamiliar with firearms should
the dark, or in darkened indoor areas, can make use of sighting be using them under normal circumstances.
systems which work best in such an environment. But the real But facts are facts, and some people simply refuse to take
future for laser sighting systems necessarily has to be in the the time and effort to acquaint themselves with firearms. Yet,
hands of civilian gun owners and shooters. That is where the these same people are more likely to find themselves in life-
largest numbers exist. threatening situations than are the firearms-fluent folks. To a
For self or home defense, laser sighting systems make a lot degree, the subject here often involves the spouses of gun
of sense. Civilians, after all, have more options than do owners and shooters.
uniformed officers or soldiers. Civilians can custom-tailor When such people are awakened in the middle of the night
their gear to their own specific needs and preferences. Also, by a criminal intruder, it is a little late to think about practicing
civilians generally don't have to carry their gear on a duty belt, at the range. Ins tandy, it is do it or die time. S ince laser sighting
along with all kinds of other equipment for an entire working systems now are available routinely with switches which
shift. work when the pistol is grasped, there need not be a deliberate
What this means is that civilian shooters can opt for a setup "turning on" of the switch.
which allows them to use the standard sights on their 9mmP What does this mean to an inexperienced shooter? In a

Laser Devices also makes
holsters to accommodate guns
with their sight systems
attached. This holster holds
a Glock 17, extra magazine.
The BA-2 laser teamed with

a Walther P88 to produce
this five-shot group at 25
yards. The special target
from Laser Devices allows
the shooter to see the laser's
dot even in bright daylight.
moment of terror, all that the person needs to do is grab the In a way, it is a form of high-tech marriage. Just as the
gun, point it at the attacker and pull the trigger when the red 9mmP has redefined how many shooters operate, the laser
dot is on the attacker. Certainly, such a scenario is not meant sighting systems are in the process of redefining how sights
that one should preclude famUiarity with firearms and range are viewed.
practice. However, in an imperfect world, laser sighting Still, for the crusty old shooters who find anything with
systems do offer advantages to those who refuse to prepare for batteries to be foreign to the firearms ethic, there is bound to
problems. be some resistance. So it shall be. Laser sights, after all, are not
Indeed, laser sighting systems are likely to develop in the the best bet in all circumstances, nor are they the best answer
future. Without question, they are a reality whose time has for everyone.
come. And, it is in the 9mmP arena that the laser sighting However, laser sighting systems are becoming more valid
systems really make sense. These sights lend themselves to for more shooters all the time. They are indeed the sights of the
the kinds of situations in which 9mmP handguns routinely future—at least until laser beams themselves replace the need
find themselves. for projectiles like bullets. Hmmmm.

CHAPTER
Six
A MATTER OF
CHOICE
Auto O r Revolver? Smith & W e s s o n
Has Both For T h e 9 m m P
Rick Kennerknecht uses a Smith & Wesson Model 3913 pistol in 9mmP. It's a highly accurate, compact package.

The S&W Model 3913LS
has a satin stainless finish
and a 3 1/2-inch barrel.
Featuring a blue finish, the

S&W Model 3914LS is
outfitted with fixed sights.
W
HEN SMITH & Wesson introduced what it Whatever it was, S&W struck pay dirt.
calls the "third generation" of semi-auto hand- During the same period, S&W also did a lot of model house
guns, many shooters responded with a mea- cleaning. That meant the company dropped a whole slew of
surable level of sarcasm. "Yeah, right!" was models, which was another good thing. Frankly, over the
heard frequendy around the gun world. Other shooters, how- years, there had evolved so many different models that it
ever, were excited, and justifiably so. seemed like just about every handgun coming off the line had
In my opinion, these new S&W 9mmP handguns are not a different model designation.
just better than anything that company ever produced before, For 9mmP shooters, S&W's new model numbering sys-
but are winners in every respect. Maybe it took a stroll all the tem makes total sense, and is easy understand. For example,
way back to Square One to get all of the ducks in line. there is the 3900 series of compacts, the 5900 series of

Roger Combs handles the S& W Model 5946 in 9mmP. This DA-only pistol is one of the best bets in the S& W lineups.
standard-size pistols with stagger-box, high-capacity maga-

zines, and the 6900 series of compacts. Throw in the generic,
budget-priced entry level Model 915, and you have the entire
S&W offering of 9mmP semi-autos. Granted, there are sev-
eral variations within most of the series groupings, but the
differences encompass features like the finish of the pistol, or
the kind of sights it has, rather than anything radically substan-
tial.
All pistols in the third generation from S &W offer double-
action on the first shot at least. By series, the models are:
3900 Series
The Model 3913 has a satin stainless finish, the Model
3914 is blue, Model 3953 is double-action-only stainless, and
Model 3954 is double-action-only blue. Completing the 3900
series is the Model 3913 LadySmith.
5900 Series
The Model 5903 is satin stainless with fixed sights, the
The S&W Model 6906 has checkered panels on the Model 5904 is blue with fixed sights, while the Model 5906 is
front of the trigger guard and grip for a solid grasp. satin stainless with fixed sights. There also is the 5906 option
It also has a coned barrel which enhances accuracy.
with the tritium night sight. Rounding out the 5900 series is the
Model 5926 with a frame-mounted decocking lever, and the
Model 5946 double-action-only.

The S&W Model 5946 in
9mmP has a flat profile.
It carries and draws nicely.
stop pin from the opposite side of the frame and remove the
6900 Series slide stop.
S&W's Model 6904 has a blue finish, the Model 6906 has Now move the slide forward and off the frame. Once the
a clear anodized sadn stainless finish and the 6906FNS has a slide is off, remove the recoil spring assembly by depressing
fixed tritium night sight. the spring slightly and releasing it carefully from the small
A detailed look at one example from each of the third radial undercut in the barrel lug. Be careful here to avoid
generation series provides some insight into what sorts of letting the spring and guide launch themselves across the
roles each can play. By model, they are: room, or into your face. It really isn't a problem, but could be
if it is not done carefully.
Model 3913 The barrel then can be pulled out of the slide. The barrel
This is a compact handgun with a 3 1/2-inch barrel and bushing on third generation pistols is built-in, so there is no
eight-round magazine capacity. It is 6 7/8 inches long overall concern there when it comes to field stripping. Reassembly is
and weighs 25 ounces empty. Sights are fixed (drift-adjust- the reverse.
able for windage), with post front sight and square slot rear One note here, however. When replacing the slide, it is
sight. The three-dot system is incorporated for those who necessary to depress the ejector and firing pin safety levers so
prefer to follow the dots. the slide will clear them when it is reinstalled.
The first shot is double-acdon, with successive shots in the The Model 3913 has an extremely thin profile. The frame
single-action mode. This gun's hammer is bobbed flush with is a scant .729-inch wide and the slide is not much thicker at
the rear of the slide when it is carried de-cocked. .819-inch. Grip width is 1.050 inches and the widest part of the
Metal checkering is located on the front of the grip and on pistol is the distance across the ambidextrous safety/decocker
the front of the trigger guard, with checkering moulded into levers. It measures 1.315 inches.
the sides and rear of the wrap-around black synthetic grips. Shooting the 3913 is a lot of fun. The pistol holds and points
Ambidextrous slide-mounted safety levers also serve as well, and is easy to keep on target in either the single- or
decocking levers, and the slide release lever is located on the double-action mode. Trigger pull on the test pistol was a
left side of the frame just above the trigger area in the robust 14 pounds on double-action, and a legally "correct"
traditional place for such controls. Also in the traditional nine-pounds on single-action. These numbers, however, are
location just aft of the trigger area is the slide release button. somewhat deceiving by themselves.
Two magazines are provided with the pistol. One has an The trigger pull in either single- or double-action was
extended shoe on the bottom for added finger control on the extremely smooth and positive. Despite the seemingly heavy
compact grip, and the other features a trim, flat base. Both hold pull in either mode, working the trigger did not cause the pistol
eight rounds each. to stray off-target during the range workout. There is a secret
Disassembly of this model, as well as the other models in to shooting any of the third generation S&W pistols well with
the third generation, is simple and straight forward. After the factory trigger systems, however. Simply use an authori-
assuring that the pistol is unloaded, remove the magazine and tative, smooth squeeze and don't prolong the operation (don't
allow the slide to return to battery. rush, either). This procedure made all third generation pistols
Next, move the slide to the rear until the slide stop notch in perform surprisingly well in tactical kinds of shooting situa-
the left side of the slide is aligned with the forward, rounded tions — those for which these guns really were designed.
portion of the slide stop. Then merely press inward on the slide Because of its extremely thin grip area, the 3913 was the

The S&W Model 6906 is given a workout by Roger Combs. It's a higher capacity version of the compact Model 3913.
tances ranging from seven to 10 yards. Those targets, at

varying heights and distances, were shot as quickly as the gun
could be positioned, with no time for careful aiming.
When it was time for more serious work, the 3913 proved
to be an effective handgun even at the 25-yard line where the
same four-inch targets were hit repeatedly, both when the gun
was hand-held and when the base of the slide was rested on a
bench.
The pistol performed flawlessly with a wide variety of
ammunition, including both factory and handloads, jacketed
bullets and cast ones.
For a compact 9mmP, this pistol has a lot going for it. The
3913 could easily be categorized as a "can't go wrong"
proposition for someone who needs a compact pistol, or for
someone with small hands.
Model 5946
Of all the 9mmP pistols in the third generation line-up, the
Model 5946 in double-action-only configuration is a top
choice for all-around winner. The test model with fixed sights
and DAO operation doesn't claim to be a paper-punching
The S& W Model 915 in 9mmP is a high performance, target gun, yet it shoots very well. What it does claim to be is
high capacity handgun. It carries a 15-round magazine.
one supremely serious handgun.
Because it is DAO, the only controls are the slide release
lever and the trigger. This translates into about as goof-proof
most difficult of the third generation pistols to hold steady, but as a pistol can be.
that is far from a criticism. It held on target extremely well, and The trigger pull is one of the smoothest, slickest 12 1/2
I had no difficulty hitdng four-inch targets at random dis- pounds I've ever felt on a production pistol. Coupled with the
70 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK o( 9mm HANDGUNS

Author tries his hand with the S&W Model 940 revolver in 9mmP. He found it fun to shoot and extremely effective.
full-bodied size of the grips, this is a natural pointing, easy-to- the gun was hand-held and shot quickly, or rested informally
hit-with proposition. on a bench.
Furnished with the pistol are two 15-round stagger maga- Trigger pull was 14 pounds in double-action, and nine
zines. It's just a lot of pistol in a pretty package. Finish on the pounds in single-action. Again, however, the pull was ex-
5946 is satin stainless, and the front edge of the trigger guard tremely smooth and slick, making the handgun perform admi-
is checkered. Vertical striadons on the front of the grip help rably, even with the legally correct amount of pull.
keep a firm hold, and the wrap-around synthetic handle is
checkered on the sides and back. For general carry and tactical Model 915
kinds of shooting, the 5946 could easily be considered the best
The Model 915 is without question the best buy in the S & W
bet among the entire third generation lineup. auto 9mmP line-up. It is a full-size pistol with 15-shot maga-
The same four-inch targets were hit at random distances zine. What it does not have is much fancy or many whistles
from seven to 25 yards, and hitting them was so predictable and bells. It's a basic, nice gun.
that the rate of fire was increased so that the sights weren't Controls are located on the left side only. There is the
even used. Rather, the target was spotted, the gun was pointed combination safety/decocking lever at the rear of the slide,
and fired in one fluid movement. Hits were both routine and and the slide release lever just above the trigger on the frame.
predictable. The magazine release button is located just aft of the trigger
housing.
Model 6906 The flat black finish on the gun is actually rather appealing.
For lack of a more succinct way of putting it, the Model It has fixed sights and an exposed hammer. Trigger pull was
6906 is essentially the fat brother of the 3913. Both are 12 pounds in double-action, and 7 1/2 pounds single-action.
compacts, and the only real difference is the thickness of the Again, the trigger system was smooth and stick.
grip and the number of rounds held in the magazine. The 3913 For a basic 9mmP, it is totally credible and would make a
holds eight rounds, and the 6906 holds 12. fine all-around pistol for everything from serious tactical
Because the Model 6906 has a larger grip area, it held work to plinking fun.
steadier for my large hands. However, that steadiness was not Smith & Wesson created this model as an entry-level
a factor, because both pistols performed equally as well in the offering, but don't let that designation limit expectations.
tactical shooting sessions. I had no problem hitting four-inch Granted, it is economically an entry-level proposition, be-
targets every time at distances of seven to 25 yards, whether cause it is competitively priced. However, it is also a real

The two-inch barrel version of the S& W Model 940 weighs 23 ounces with the three-inch model hitting 25 ounces.
pistol, and is ready to offer years and years of service. In fact, Depending upon where one wants to begin, the fact that it
during the range workout, it performed as well or better than is made of stainless steel is a plus. Most guns of this configu-
any of the other S&W pistols during the tactical sessions. ration find themselves fired relatively seldom in a lifetime, but
carried and/or stored for years. This means the best idea is to
have the handgun made of materials that require little, if any,
S&W 9mmP Revolvers maintenance.
Smith & Wesson also offers three revolvers chambered for Whether it is to be carried or kept in a drawer, the outer
the 9mmP cartridge. They are called Centennials, and one is configuration of the 940 works well. It has a concealed
the Model 642 Centennial Airweight. The other two are the hammer, which means there is nothing to snag when it is
Model 640 Airweight and the Model 940 Centennial. pulled out and put into service.
The primary difference in models is that the Airweights The double-action-only feature of such a revolver is also
have a lighter aluminum alloy frame. All three revolvers quite handy. What it means is that operation is a no-brainer
feature a serrated ramp front sight and a square notch fixed proposition. Just point and pull the trigger. When such a gun
rear sight. is used in defense modes, the stress factor is usually at its peak.
Barrel length on the Model 642 is two inches, while the Hence, the simpler the better.
barrel length on the Model 640 is three inches. Barrel lengths The more the 940 was shot at random distances in plinking/
available for the Model 940 are two and three inches. Weight combat modes, the more fun it became. It would be safe to
of the Model 642 is 15.8 ounces. The Model 640 weighs stress that when it comes to snubby revolvers, the 9mmP
approximately 17.8 ounces, and the Model 940 weighs 23 cartridge is a superb alternative to any .38 Special ever made.
ounces with a two-inch barrel, and 25 ounces with a three-inch There is no effort here to suggest the stubby 9mmP car-
barrel. All three models feature fully concealed hammers. tridge has the potential to be more potent than the more
For this writing, a Model 940 with two-inch barrel was put voluminous .38 Special. However, in terms of snub-nose
through the paces on the range. Results were intriguing, and revolvers, the 9mmP cartridge offers higher tactical and actual
the snub-nose five-shot revolver performed well, considering performance — and that is from standard 9mmP loads, not
what such a handgun is designed to do. some form of Plus-P proposition.
Such a handgun is not a target proposition. Rather, it is Like most cartridges, the 9mmP is aided by longer barrels,
intended for recreational applications like plinking, or for b u t unlike some other cartridges, it reaches credible operating
more serious uses like self-defense. For either kind of activity, ballistics very, very quickly, which means that even when shot
it is a good bet. through a very short barrel, the bullet is cooking well.

Full moon clips are supplied
with the S& W Model 940.
They make the lightweight
handgun even easier to use.
To put this into perspective, the 940, using factory ammo, clips to hold the rimless 9mmP cartridges. There are advan-
churned up velocities of 1000 feet per second with 124-grain tages to the five-shot clips. The first is that they aid in
loadings, and 1100 feet per second for 115-grain loadings, as extracting casings and/or unfired rounds from the cylinder,
measured over the Oehler 35P chronograph. but there is another handiness to the clips. They serve as
The Model 940 handled well in tactical testing. Its sights abbreviated speed loaders, as well. During tactical testing, the
are basic, and that is totally proper. The low front ramp sight revolver was shot with and without the clips.
and square notch cut in the top of the frame for a rear sight are Small parts like these clips are lost easily. I wondered
what is best for such a gun. whether the handgun would work credibly without a clip—by
At random distances of two feet to seven yards, point and simply loading 9mmP cartridges singly into the cylinder.
shoot tactics saw bullets hit within a couple of inches of each The 940 worked superbly in such a mode. Fired cases
other for most shots. Because of the trigger pull, there was an popped out easily when pushed one-at-a-time with a ball-
occasional bullet pulled " o f f target, but that distance was point pen (anything, including a drinking soda straw, also
always less than half a foot, which means this is an effective would work well).
handgun right out of the box. For a snubby, the 940 is a great bet. And, the more I test
Personal preferences, however, would cause me to have short-barreled handguns, the better the 9mmP looks as a
the trigger slicked-up by a competent gunsmith. Such a trigger viable cartridge. In the future, though, some maker could have
job could eliminate the pulled fliers instandy. There is no need a significant effect on the market by designing a 9mmP
to reduce the weight of the pull, which on the test revolver was snubby which is totally a 9mmP proposition.
a constant 11 1/2 pounds and is proper. For example, the Model 940 is obviously a .38 Special
Because of the likely uses of such a handgun, one would not design which has been chambered for the short 9mmP car-
want the revolver to go off inadvertentiy. The only thing that tridge. The cylinder is long enough to accommodate a car-
might be improved would be to smooth out the long, double- tridge like the .38 Special, which is much longer than the
action pull. That could be done quite easily by any credible 9mmP.
gunsmith. In other words, as a thoroughbred 9mmP revolver, the
The rubber grips with finger grooves provided on the 940 snubby could have a significandy shorter cylinder, and thus be
are both comfortable and useful. There is even a hint of a significantly shorter and lighter overall.
thumb groove at the top of the grip on each side, which means Until that happens, the Model 940 S&W and its snubby
this design is equally credible for right- or left-handed shoot- siblings are certainly worth a serious look. They are outstand-
ers. ing designs for anyone who wants a small handgun which is
The revolver is supplied with four five-shot full-moon totally easy and simple to use.

CHAPTER
Seven
BROWNING &
THE NINES
Like T h e 9mmP, T h e Recently Introduced
B D M W i l l B e A M a i n s t a y In B r o w n i n g ' s
I n v e n t o r y F a r Into T h e F u t u r e !
Author fires the Browning BDM 9mmP semi-auto. He found it a substantial handgun in a smooth, slick package.

Browning's BOM (Browning Double Mode) 9mmP pistol is slim, trim and loaded with high performance features.
B
rowning's BDM (Browning Double Mode) 9mmP available which used the high-capacity approach. That single
semi-auto is a design which will be valid far into the feature not only set this model apart, but it guaranteed a
21st Century, and it is a fitting sibling to the only validity which could not have been realized in any other way.
other lasdng 9mmP to wear that company's name. Yet, John M. Browning himself never lived to see this
The BDM is the first design by the firm since the master handgun reach production. Its patent was applied for in 1923,
himself defined what a high capacity autoloader should be and was not granted until Feb. 22,1927 — three months after
like. the designer's death. Fabrique Nationale in Belgium began
The inventiveness of John Moses Browning remains un- production of the pistol in 1935, hence the Model 1935
questioned in the firearms world, and his last pistol design is designation.
no exception. That handgun has been called variously the This pistol is 7 3/4 inches long with a 4 5/8-inch barrel. It
Model 1935 or Browning Hi-Power, and it continues in that weighs two pounds, three ounces. Through the years, in both
company's line today. military and civilian format, the pistol has been supplied with
Perhaps the best way to understand this particular pistol is blade front and fixed rear sights, or with a variety of adjustable
to consider it an "improved" version of Browning's own 1911 rear sights ranging from a folding leaf type on some military
design. It uses the same general lock-up design, but does not models to fully adjustable target sights on some civilian
incorporate the sometimes troublesome barrel bushing of the variations.
1911, nor the at times awkward pivoting barrel link. The Belgian army adopted it as its sidearm in 1935, and it
Although the basic features of this short-recoil-operated, also was used by other European nations, including Germany
locked-breech semi-auto pistol would be enough to make it a during the World War II years. Additionally, there were more
desirable handgun, it was the magazine capacity which really than 200,000 Model 1935s produced during World War II for
set this model apart from everything else for decades. The China in Canada, and the pistol became one of the official
Model 1935 features a magazine which holds 13 rounds of models of N A T O countries during that international
9mmP. Add another cartridge in the chamber, and this is a 14- organization's long lifespan.
shot proposition. Although it is doubdess that the Model 1935 will become
The high-capacity magazine incorporates the staggered, obsolete so long as there are centerfire cartridge handguns, it
double-column concept, and the Model 1935 had been around is a single-action proposition. To a degree, this reality has
for several decades before other designs became generally been viewed in recent times as somewhat of a drawback, given

The BDM disassembles into two major groups: receiver
and slide. The disassembly is both simple and logical.
The right side of the BDM features the ambidextrous

lever that serves as a safety, decocker and slide release.
the proliferation of double-action semi-auto handguns.

There have been some modifications of the design which
feature a double-action capability, but the Browning offering
continues to be single-action only. Through the years, there
have been numerous knock-offs of the Model 1935, and many
of them are in production today. This is just another testimo-
nial to the validity of John Browning's last pistol design. Yet,
it wasn't his only 9mmP handgun model. In 1923, Browning,
while working with the French government, designed a 9mmP
pistol with a large capacity magazine, only it was a blowback-
operated model. This handgun, however, never was patented
nor commercially manufactured. Later in the same year,
Browning developed what was to become the Model 1935,
and the rest is history.
Although the fact that the 9mmP cartridge itself, and the
Model 1935, as well, are prime candidates for high capacity
application, that single marriage of cartridge and pistol is not
solely responsible for the model's long life and widespread
acceptance. The BDM's take-down lever is just above the trigger,
The Model 1935 also happens to fit a wide spread of human the magazine release to its right The slide hold-open
hand sizes, and is noted for its inherent accuracy. Couple that latch is between the Buckmark logo and mode selector.
with the high level of functional reliability, and the model is
one of this century's true winners.
In fact, the Model 1935/Hi-Power was so valid that it offering continued to be the Hi-Power, despite recurring
wasn't until 1977 that Browning offered any other type of rumors through those years that some form of double-action
9mmP handgun. Pressed by demands for a double-action handgun was in the offing. The company was not happy with
handgun, Browning marketed the BDA (Browning Double- the various conversion efforts to turn the Hi-Power into a
Action) pistol in 1977. This model was available for a short double-action model, and it wasn't until 1992 that Browning
time in 9mmP, .45 ACP and .38 Super. actually produced its own handgun design with double-action
Frankly, this pistol might have been designated the capability.
"Brownauer," or the "Signing," because it was essentially the It may have taken Browning a number of years to get fully
SIG Sauer Model P220 with a Browning name on it. This involved in the double-action pistol market, but when it did
model was in the line for only that one year, and there were make the move, the company again redefined the genre. It
only about 1,000 of these handguns ever delivered. came in the form of the BDM (Browning Double Mode) semi-
For the next decade and a half, Browning's only 9mmP auto handgun.

The BDM has a large ejection port. When a round is chambered, the brass is seen in the cut near the rear of the port.
Perhaps the best way to describe this new model is to

explain that it features virtually all of the "whistles and bells"
one might imagine for a single handgun model. After all, it is
not just a double-acdon pistol.
Early generations of double-acdon autos had what many
shooters considered to be a design fault which appeared to be
a necessary evil for years. Pistols so designed operated as
double-action handguns for the first shot, then as single-
actions for the successive rounds.
This meant a gross disparity in both weight and length of
trigger pulls from the first shot through the remainder of the
shots. Lacking a viable alternative, many shooters accepted
this phenomenon as the preferred trade-off, reasoning that the
convenience of the double-action first shot outweighed the
awkwardness of two distinctively different types of trigger
pulls.
During this period of prolific handgun design develop-
ment, some companies addressed the problem of differing
trigger pulls in another way. They offered double-action-only
models which incorporated the same weight and length of pull
for every shot.
Although this type of system was applauded by many folks Because of its simple design and ease of operation,
in the gun world, it is necessary to understand the frames of shooters don't hesitate to perform routine maintenance
reference extant during that transitional period. on the BDM. This has kept the guns in operation.
A large percentage of those who carried and used handguns
on a daily basis had cut their teeth on double- action revolvers.
Typically, those revolvers could be fired in double-action five or six rounds) and comparatively slow reloading capabil-
mode simply by pulling the trigger for each shot, or they could ity — even with any of the speed-loading devices.
be fired in single-action mode by cocking the hammer before Enter the Browning BDM semi-auto pistol. This Made-in-
firing. The only major drawbacks of the double-action re- US A handgun is unique in that it can act like a double-action
volver involved relatively small ammo capacity (generally revolver, a double-action semi-auto or even a single-action

gun, depending upon the whims of the shooter. This switch in When the gun is switched to the revolver mode, the trigger
operation can be accomplished by rotating a round, slotted and hammer mechanism behave like that of a double-action
mode selector on the left side of the slide just above the grip. revolver, with a consistent double-action trigger pull for each
By rotating the selector to "P," the handgun is in the pistol shot. No other handgun offers this much variety in operational
mode. Rotate the selector to "R," and it is in the revolver mode. modes.
The selector can be moved by a screwdriver, a thin coin, or The list of up-to-date features seems endless on the BDM.
even with the "screwdriver blade" nub on the rear base of the
magazine.
When in the pistol mode, the handgun operates like tradi-
tional double-action semi-auto pistols. The first shot is double-
action, and successive shots are single-action with shorter and
lighter trigger pulls.
However, a combination decocking lever/safety/slide re-
lease lever on both sides of the slide offers the shooter still
another option. This lever works similarly to the decocking
levers on many other handgun models, but once the BDM is
"decocked," the double-action trigger pull is both shorter and
lighter than it is on an initial double-action shot from the full
hammer-down position, yet somewhat longer and heavier
than it is in full single-action form.
Checkering is where it's needed. There's checkering

on the front of the grip and bottom of the magazine.
Above, the BDM features

a three-dot sight system.
Left, this Browning Hi-Power
has factory optional fully
adjustable target sights.

Charles Conyers fires the Browning Hi-Power. The handgun has a well-deserved reputation for being highly accurate.
It has a removable front blade sight; loaded chamber indica-

tor; two redundant, passive, internal safety systems (hammer
block safety and a firing pin safety which disengage when the
trigger is almost fully rearward); snag-proof hammer; black,
moulded, wrap-around grips which are checkered on all sides;
bevelled magazine well; all steel frame and slide; reversible
magazine release; checkered front strap; extended lip at the
bottom of the magazine which holds 15 rounds; gripping
extensions on each side of the slide to complement the grooves
for easier slide cocking; and checkered thumb surfaces on
either side of the hammer to help assure that the slide remains
in battery when holstering the handgun.
That's a large list of features, but it is not all. The grip is
designed into the frame, affording the BDM an uncommonly
narrow compactness. And, the rear sight is Allen wrench
adjustable for windage.
The business-like Browning BDM, available for only
In function, the BDM is a recoil-operated semi-auto with
one year, looks a lot like the popular SIG Sauer P220.
no dramatic surprises. Rather than focus on some totally new
or distinctively different general operations design, the com-
pany opted to use established and proven technologies, but
offer them all in a single handgun. And it works.
Disassembly is simple and straight-forward, beginning by
rotating the take-down lever on the left side of the frame just traditional Hi-Power, even though the parts are somewhat
above the trigger, after pulling and locking the slide rearward different.
(always make certain the handgun is fully unloaded before Full disassembly sees the slide, recoil spring and guide,
beginning the disassembly procedure). barrel, frame assembly and magazine as component parts.
Simply move the slide slighdy more rearward after rotating Reassembly is the reverse.
the take-down lever clockwise a bit more than 90 degrees, and Hence, even though the list of Browning 9mmP models is
the entire slide group can be removed by sliding it forward. exceedingly short, considering that John M. Browning's first
Once the slide is removed from the frame, it is simply a design was done in 1923, Browning has been a formidable
matter of disengaging the head of the recoil spring guide from name in the 9mm business for most of the life of the cartridge.
the barrel lug to remove the recoil spring, recoil spring guide And, the new BDM promises to keep Browning in this
and barrel. This procedure is virtually identical to that of the segment of the industry for a long time to come.

CHAPTER
Eight
BERETTA'S MODES,
92 SERIES
T h i s 9 m m Is A v a i l a b l e In
N u m e r o u s Variations
The 92S is one of Beretta's

basic double-action 9mm autos.

I
F IT IS a Beretta 9mmP handgun, it's one of many in the round at a time direcdy into the chamber, should the shooter
long line of pistols in the 92 series from the world's opt for single-shot operation. And, when it comes to instruc-
oldest industrial enterprise. No other industrial enter- tional sessions, this feature is handy, indeed.
prise in the world has been in business longer. During the earlier decades of this century, the Beretta look
The Beretta story, of course, began in Italy. That was the in handguns was not associated generally with the 9mmP.
year 1526, to be exact, and a time contemporary with Leonardo Rather, it was the flood of this company's pistols in smaller
da Vinci. Through the years, the company expanded a number calibers, like .22 rimfire and .32 ACP that dominated a large
of times and remains a major force in the firearms industry. part of the pocket pistol market.
The firearms industry around the world tends to have However, by the late 1980s, it was the 92 series in 9mmP
among its ranks some of the long-term operations. For ex- that would capture the handgun press headlines. The reason?
ample, Beretta may be the oldest industrial enterprise in the The United States opted to retire the Model 1911 A l single-
world. In a similar situation, Remington is the oldest company action .45 ACP in favor of the Beretta 92. The move literally
in the United States which is still engaged in its original sent shock waves through the domestic firearms industry in
manufacturing activity — making firearms. So much for that the United States. Although there was a fair degree of politics
part of history. involved in the decision, politics always have played heavily
Backbone of the Beretta 9mmP lineup is the full-size in the adoption of any firearm design for the military. It was
Model 92FS — a high-capacity, short-recoil semi-auto pistol an historic move, however, from the standpoint that it was the
that features an aluminum alloy frame. first time since the American revolution that a foreign maker
Of all the 9mmP pistol designs in the world, the Berettas— would be producing the official military pistols at the exclu-
and their clones — are among the easiest to identify at a sion of a domestic-based operation.
distance, because they incorporate an open-slide design. That Certainly, there were provisions that soon after adoption
means most of the top of the slide is open. By comparison, there would be facilities in the United States to produce the
other designs incorporate a solid slide with an ejection port. pistols, and that came to pass without incident. But in the
Because the Beretta design has an open slide, any problems process, that move alone served as a brutal wake-up call to
with jams essentially are precluded — there is nothing there some of the domestic operations who apparently thought they
to catch. might have had a lock on the decision.
Incidentally, this design also allows easy loading of one In overall military terms, the size of any contract for
handguns falls somewhere in the lower reaches of the "pocket
change" category. However, the message was delivered loudly
and clearly. First, the U.S. military would adopt the standard
NATO (North Atiantic Treaty Organization) handgun car-
tridge and abandon the .45 ACP which had been in service for
about three-quarters of a century and through two world wars
as well as a gaggle of smaller fights.
There had been a rather steady and somewhat strong
emergence of the 9mmP on the American scene but, frankly,
it was the Beretta breakthrough with the U.S. military that sent
the 9mmP soaring in sales all around the United States.
The military adoption of the pistol and cartridge raised the
consciousness nationally to a point that the 9mmP instandy
took on an air of credibility it never could have achieved in any
other way. And, as quickly as the credibility shot upward in
some circles, it came under renewed fire from others. To this
day, there is a measurable cadre of American shooters who
consider anything associated with the 9mmP to be somehow
un-American. Yet, what would anyone expect? A "foreign"
cartridge chambered in a "foreign" pistol gave the KO punch
to the single most successful and longest-running All-Ameri-
can military handgun/cartridge combination in history — the
John M. Browning-designed Model 1911 Colt and the .45
ACP.
The phenomenon of the military switch, however, also
triggered another onslaught. That metamorphosis occurred
within the law enforcement community. Looking back on the
era with the clarity of hindsight, one might conclude that it
simply was the Time of the Nine. In fact, it was more than that.
It was that brief point in American history when die entire
There's not much size difference between Beretta s concept of handgunnery changed — and changed dramati-
full-size Model 92SB (top) and the compact 92SB. cally. It not only changed how handguns were viewed, but re-
wrote tactics to be used both militarily and by police.

In the 1980s, the U.S. military
selected the Beretta 92SB-F
9mm as its standard service
auto, replacing the .45 auto.
Although the military had been using a semi-auto for theater of opportunity to Beretta and its Model 92 series.
decades, the standard police sidearms in most departments So what is this pivotal pistol all about? Actually, it is a
were revolvers. Most of them were .38 Specials or .357 rather simple, straight-forward design. And, although there
Magnums, with a lot of departments adopting .357 Magnums are many model variations, all of the Beretta 9mmP handguns
through which their officers were forced to shoot the more are extremely similar, differing primarily in length, height and
sedate .38 Special loadings. magazine capacity or in features like double-action only as
The dust had not yet setded in the military arena when the opposed to being double-action for the first shot, then single-
law enforcement community jumped enthusiastically onto the action for the remainder of the shots.
9mmP, and Beretta was Johnny-on-the-spot with a high In all, there are a dozen Model 92 variants. A table of
capacity 9mmP handgun that had j ust received one of the most specifications is provided nearby to detail comparative sizes
formidable endorsements possible — Uncle Sam. and features. Additionally, there are a number of factors
Regardless how one views the situation, the fact is that which are common among some of the variants, unique to
Beretta literally cracked the market in the United States wide others.
open when it came to 9mmP handguns. Much of the resultant For example, all pistols in the 92 series feature a short
successes of other 9mmP designs in this country can credit the recoil, falling block system. Also, most 92 handguns have
exposed hammers—except the Models DS and D, which are light alloy, sandblasted and anodized black. On the De Luxe
without a hammer spur. (There is a hammer there, but since models, the frames are anodized, then plated with either silver
those models are double-action only, the hammer cannot be or gold, and on the Inox models, the frames are anodized gray.
hand-cocked, so it has been bobbed to be flush with the rear of Slides and barrels on the Model 92 handguns are made of
the slide). steel, "phosphatized and Bruniton coated." The inside of the
There are two variations from the norm in action operation barrel is chrome-plated. In addition to the blue versions, the
among the various Beretta pistols. Most are double-action and Inox models feature stainless steel slides and barrels with the
single-action, with the double-action feature designed for the frame anodized to match. All models come with one extra
initial shot. However, the Combat model is a single-action magazine. Grips are checkered and sandblasted plastic on
proposition, and the DS and D models are double-action only. most models, with rubber or wood grips available on request.
Rifling pitch among all of the Beretta 9mmP pistols is
right-hand, six grooves with a twist of one turn in 9.8 inches. M O D E L 92FS
Incidentally, this means the barrels tend to stabilize the The basic Model 92FS features a 15-round stagger-box
heavier 147-grain bullets well. magazine and has an ambidextrous manual safety which also
The front sight on most models is a blade integral to the functions as a decocking lever.
slide. However, on the Competition Conversion Kit models "With the safety on, the firing pin striker is rotated away
there is a high front sight which is dovetailed to the counter- from the hammer, physically disconnecting the front part of
weight. The rear sight on most models is a notched design the firing pin from the hammer," Beretta explains. "Conse-
which is dovetailed into the top of the slide. The rear sight on quently, a falling hammer can never break safety. In addition,
the Competition Conversion Kit, Target and Combat models
is fully adjustable.
Safety mechanisms on semi-auto pistols have become
major items of concern among shooters and among the admin-
istrators of departments who decide what handguns their
troops will carry. Hence, it is not uncommon for modern
pistols to have a number of interrelated safety mechanisms, all
intended to help make the pistol goof-proof. Beretta pistols are
no exceptions. The company describes it thusly:
All models: automatic firing pin safety; when the trigger is
not pulled completely back, a blocking device secures the
firing pin and prevents it from moving forward. Manual safety
which separates the firing pin from the hammer, lowers the
hammer, when cocked, and interrupts the connection between
the trigger and sear. Models G: when the manual safety lever
is released after having been activated to lower the hammer,
it automatically returns to the ready-to-fire position. Models
DS: the manual safety separates the firing pin from the
hammer and interrupts the connection between trigger and
sear. Models D: without safety. Models Combat: the manual
safety interrupts the connection between trigger and sear and
locks slide in its closed position. Author test fires the Beretta 92FS-P Compact Type M.
The frames on the various Model 92 pistols are made of This model's grips are narrower to fit smaller hands.

when the safety is on it activates the trigger bar disconnect
mechanism and severs the connection of the trigger with the
sear mechanism. Finally, the firing pin blocking device,
always engaged, prevents accidental discharges caused by
internal movement of the firing pin if the weapon is dropped
or strikes the ground muzzle down. When the trigger is pulled
all the way back, it deactivates the firing pin block."
Also, all of the 92FS pistols incorporate a slide block,
described by Beretta:
"This device, a modification of the hammer hinge pin,
engages the slide groove and prevents rearward travel of the
slide beyond normal function limits."
There is a reversible magazine release button on the 92FS
pistols and the squared combat-style trigger guard is designed
to aid in two-handed shooting.
The Model 92FS Compact Type M allows a straight

pull on a double-action trigger for enhanced accuracy.
MODEL 92FS COMPACT

The Compact version retains the same basic features of the
full-size 92FS pistols, including a large magazine capacity (13
rounds). Dimensions, however, are reduced on the Compact.
Overall length is 7.8 inches, compared to 8.5 inches for the
standard 92FS. B arrel length on the Compact is 4.3 inches (4.9
inches on standard), overall width is 1.5 inches (same as
standard), overall height is 5.3 inches (5.4 inches standard),
weight unloaded is 32 ounces (34.4 ounces standard) and sight
radius is 5.8 inches (6.1 inches standard).
MODEL 92FS CENTURION

Above, the controls on the This variant retains the same frame and magazine as the
Beretta 92 Series include basic 92FS, but has the reduced length of the compact version
the magazine release button, (7.8 inches overall with 4.3-inch barrel).
trigger, slide release lever
and the takedown lever.
Right, the Model 92FS-P
Compact Type M easily
fit into the author's hand.

The Model 92FS-P Compact
Type M can only handle
a single-column, eight-round
magazine. Its slender grips
provide a flatter profile.
MODEL 92FS COMPACT TYPE M MODEL 92G

This variant is identical to the 92FS Compact except that This variation was designed to satisfy some requirements
the "M" version has a narrower grip with a single-column, of the French. It differs from the 92FS in the safety.
eight-round magazine. This sub-model is designed for those "The hammer drop does not function as a traditional safety:
with smaller hands, or who want a flatter handgun profile when the lever is released after having been activated to lower
through the grip area for carry purposes. The magazine release the hammer, it automatically returns to the ready-to-fire
button on this sub-model is not ambidextrous. position," Beretta explains. "The automatic firing pin block
always stays on."
The Beretta 92G Police Special is a full-bodied service

pistol. It is a no-frills, basic gun, ready for everyday use.
Above, author noted that

the test 92G Police Special
pointed extremely well, an
important feature in a police
handgun. Left, author puts
the 92G Police Special to
the test, using a variety of
9mm factory ammunition.

Blaine Huling put the Model.
92G Police Special through
a series of rapid fire tests.
MODEL 92DS
This is the double-action only version of the standard MODEL 92FS INOX
Model 92FS. This is the stainless steel version of the basic Model 92FS.
"Every time the trigger is pulled, the hammer is armed and "The barrel, slide, trigger, extractor, safety and other
released," Beretta explains. "Without the half-cock position, components are made of stainless steel," Beretta reports.
the hammer returns to the disarmed position after every cycle "The frame is manufactured in lightweight aluminum alloy
of the slide. The hammer spur has been removed in order to anodized to perfectly match the other parts."
provide a smooth flush effect at the back of the slide. The Grips are checkered black rubber, and the rear sight is
double-action has been softened to improve shooting preci- Bruniton coated.
sion. The manual safety is the same as that of the 92FS."
MODEL 92FS DE LUXE
MODEL 92D These are the fancy entries in the Beretta lineup. There is
This sub-model is the same as the 92FS, except it is without an engraved blued version, as well as ones plated in gold or
a manual safety. Even the lever has been eliminated. It is a silver. Grips are highly figured, smooth-finish walnut, and
double-action only version, and also features the same bobbed each pistol comes in a cowhide-covered presentation case
hammer design as the 92DS. Overall, this is one of the with extra magazine and cleaning brush.
smoothest outward appearing of the Beretta 9mmP handguns,
and echoes a movement within the industry to eliminate the MODEL 92FS TARGET
number of hand controls on the DAO (double-action only) This variant is a full-on competition pistol which meets the
sub-models. UITS (International) standards for large caliber pistols. It has
The Beretta 92D is built for

double-action only operation.

The Model 92D (left and
below) is a double-action
only auto. The hammer is
bobbed to avert snagging
and there's no manual safety.
a 5.9-inch barrel with an aluminum counterweight sleeve,
fully adjustable sights and contoured grips made of walnut.
MODEL 92FS COMPETITION CONVERSION KIT

This kit allows conversion of a standard Model 92FS into
a compeddon handgun. It includes a 7.3-inch barrel with
counterweight and elevated front sight. The rear sight is fully
adjustable, and the walnut grips are contoured.
MODEL 92FS COMBAT

These new handguns are being designed for the combat-
style shooting disciplines. Operation is single-action only,
and magazine capacity is 17 rounds. Some specifications still
were being changed as this sub-model was being developed at
the time of this writing.
This may be a long list of model variations, but the truth of
the matter is that all share the same basic mechanical design.
And why not? It seems to work well, all things considered.
As mentioned earlier, Beretta was in a position to capitalize
on the new-found fondness of the 9mmP high-capacity semi-
autos among members of the law enforcement community.
Factors which played major roles in Beretta taking such a
large, early lead was the fact that Beretta was able to deliver
a lot of handguns relatively quickly when the movement from
revolvers to semi-autos took place.
Also, Beretta had a fairly highly developed system of
factory representatives. That, coupled with an effective distri-
bution network, didn't hurt. In short, Beretta took an aggres-
sive approach to the U.S. market, and is still one of the biggest operating under hostile conditions can perform the tasks.
players. However, in the meantime, other companies have Disassembly is as simple as making certain the pistol is not
established major presences, but Beretta continues to be a loaded, removing the magazine and, with the slide forward
force for still another reason — perhaps one of the more and hammer decocked, pressing inward on the disassembly
important ones when it comes to acceptance by budget- release button on the right side of the frame just in front of the
conscious administrators in public agencies. It's called price. top of the trigger guard, then rotating the disassembly latch
And, the Beretta 9mmPhandguns remain competitively priced (lever) which is located on the left side of the frame just above
in that arena. the front of the trigger guard. Then, in a single movement, slip
If there is one thing the Beretta pistols are, it is easy to the slide forward and off the frame.
disassemble and reassemble. This is no mistake. They are The recoil spring and guide can be lifted up and out of the
designed in such a way that even a shooter who is fatigued or slide when the slide is held upside down in one hand. Some

MODEL 92G 3-DOT POLICE SPECIAL
This is what might be considered the basic Beretta offering
for American law enforcement agencies. Essentially, it is the
plain Jane version of the basic 92FS, full size and with fixed
sights.
The pistol felt good in the hand, and the double-action
trigger pull was long, but smooth and the let-off was consis-
tent. That meant it shot well in the double-action mode.
Trigger pull in double-action was approximately 12 pounds,
with the pull in single-action mode being an even five pounds.
Single-action pull was virtually without travel; crisp and
clean. In fact, the single-action pull on this pistol was exceed-
ingly nice for an out-of-the-box police handgun.
During the shooting sessions, this particular pistol did not
produce the smallest group of the Beretta line — nor did it
shoot the largest group. Instead, it seemed to handle all loads
at least okay for the kind of pistol it is, and it shot a couple of
them surprisingly well for what is a no-trills, basic tactical
handgun.
For example, 2-1/4-inch groups were produced by three
different loadings: CCI Blazer 147-grain TMJ, American
Eagle 124-grainmetaljacketandSureFire 115-grain jacketed
hollow-point. This performance is notable, because it shows
Author found the Beretta 92 Series autos to be credible that the pistol shot equally well with loadings that include the
service handguns. Out of the box, they're ready for duty. three major bullet weight classes ever used in tactical situa-
tions. Few 9mmP handguns will do that.
Groups measuring three inches were recorded for two
degree of care needs to be taken to avoid allowing the spring loads: USA 115-grain ball and Remington 115-grain metal
to "fire" out of position, sending itself and the guide across the case.
table, across the room or into the face. The pistol seemed not to like the PMC 115-grain jacketed
Next, the barrel can be taken out of the slide by pulling hollow-point loading too well, delivering only a four-inch
upward on the pivoting barrel lug, moving the locking block group with that ammo. Consider, however, that this pistol's
upward. The barrel then lifts up and out of the slide. This is worst group was four inches at 25 yards off the bench. That's
about as far as the pistol needs to be disassembled for routine not bad — and the consistency was there, as the pistol
cleaning and field maintenance. Reassembly is the reverse performed similarly, regardless how many groupings were
process, and it is really just that simple. attempted.
Shooting the several variants for data for this chapter Interestingly, the best group fired came from the author's
revealed that all were easy to understand, simple to operate cast bullet handloads. That loading is a 125-grain hardcast
and delivered good levels of accuracy, given the fact that they bullet over five grains of Hercules Unique powder, CCI
were not target models, and in some instances, were full-on primer and Winchester case. The groups measured an even
combat versions. two inches for the most part, expanding once to 2-1/8 inches.
The full size of the 92FS makes it totally controllable in the Most impressive about this pistol was the consistency with
hand, and the accuracy achieved on all but one sub-model which it handled any of the loadings shot. Such performance
(92FS -P Compact "M" with Trijicon sights) was equal, whether contributes significantly to the shooter confidence factor.
the pistol was being shot from the bench, from a two-hand
hold, or one-handed. MODEL 92D POLICE SPECIAL
What this meant was that three to four-inch groups were the The general size and shape of this model is the same as the
largest normally encountered, and it didn't matter under what 92G. However, since this one is double-action only, there is no
conditions the shooting was done. From a target shooting manual safety lever, and the hammer is bobbed. The author
standpoint, this may be less than exciting. However, from a felt that the double-action trigger pull was better on this pistol
tactical perspective, those are quite impressive groups, con- than on the standard police model. It is a quick, effective
sidering that all were essentially concentric. That meant that handgun for daily use.
under any of the shooting conditions, the pistols delivered For some unknown reason, this particular pistol loved the
groups no larger than three or four inches in diameter at 25 author's cast bullet handloads. That loading features a 125-
yards. That is quite sufficient for most tactical applications. grain hardcast bullet over five grains of Hercules Unique
Somewhat better groups were obtained with the 92FS-P powder, CCI primer and Winchester case. The best group of
Compact " M " with the Trijicon sights. The author felt this was five shots from the bench at 25 yards measured an even one
due more to the fact that the sights were crisper and ouUined inch. Other groups fired to confirm that it had not been a fluke
themselves against the target better than the standard sights. measured one inch for the most part, and expanded to 1-1/8
For the sub-models used for this writing, some of the inches in one instance.
author's impressions were: This particular pistol did not particularly like the US A115-

grain ball loads. Five-shot groups were four inches at 25 yards random loadings into groups that do not exceed 3-1/2 inches
from the bench. However, it must be noted that they were a at 25 yards. That's good tactical performance.
consistent four inches, with nothing noticeably smaller, nor
anything noticeably larger. MODEL 92FS-P COMPACT " M "
The story was pleasurably different with CCI Blazer 147- WITH TRIJICON SIGHTS
grain TMJ loads. The best group was 1-1/2 inches at 25 yards Normally, compact 9mmP handguns present problems
off the bench, and the largest group was 1-3/4 inches. Again, when it comes to anything that approaches accuracy at dis-
consistency was typical of the performance. tances of 25 yards or more. However, this Beretta offering is
PMC's 115-grain jacketed hollow-point loads seemed to a notable exception.
confuse the pistol. Its groups were both large and inconsistent. It felt much different in the hand than did any of its other
Typically, they were in the six-inch category, and the distribu- Beretta stablemates, and the feel was good. Much of that good
tion of the bullets within the group seemed to be in a random feeling came from the relative size and weight of the slide/
placement. barrel group compared to the grip area. If the barrel and slide
The American Eagle 124-grain metal jacket loads pro- were much shorter, the feel would be entirely different and
duced a most uninspired four-inch group. Although this probably harder to control.
grouping at 25 yards off the bench was four inches in diameter, However, in this configuration it's is a real shooter. Over-
it was concentric. Subsequent groups fired repeated the per- all, the trigger pull—double-action or single-action—was as
formance, and were the targets to have been overlaid, the good as any of the Berettas used, and better than some.
aggregate group for 50 rounds on the target would have been The grip/handle of the Compact is noticeably slimmer than
no larger than five to six inches. the full-size 92 models. Yet, this slimness does not inhibit
accurate shooting. The slim dimensions of the grip are pos-
MODEL 92FS WITH 3-DOT SIGHTS AND WOOD GRIP sible, because this model has an in-line, single-column maga-
The only thing that distinguishes this sub-model from the zine that holds eight rounds.
standard 92FS is the grip material — wood instead of plastic. It didn't seem to matter what ammo was fed into this little
For tactical work, the standard plastic grips on Beretta pistols gem. It shot them all well, and one of them superbly. Consider
work well. that this is not a target handgun. It is a full-on tactical pistol
However, for those who want a little dressier handgun for with fixed sights. Yet, it behaved much like a target pistol.
personal use, the wood grips are nice. In fact, they are some of For example, when it was fed the US A115-grain ball loads,
the better looking of the factory wood grips on the market. the first five-shot group at 25 yards from the bench measured
On the test pistol, the wood was dark, straight-grained one inch. Three more groups followed and they were virtually
walnut with nicely checkered panels on both sides of the grip identical. That's good performance for just about any 9mmP
frame. Medallions adorn the wood panels—a "PB" on the left handgun, to say nothing of a compact tactical model.
and the Beretta arrow logo on the right. The story was good with other loads, as well. For example,
with American Eagle 124-grain metal jacket loads, the pistol
MODEL 92FS-D CENTURION fired consistent groups of two inches, and the same size groups
DOUBLE-ACTION ONLY were produced when the pistol blasted away with Sure Fire
This was a fast-handling handgun that captured the author's 115-grain jacketed hollow-point loadings.
affections. Outwardly, it was smooth—no manual safety and Remington's 115-grain jacketed round-nose loads also
the hammer spur was bobbed off. came in with groups in the two to 2-1/4-inch category — the
It was one of those guns that all the shooter needed to do same size groups produced by the author's handloads whether
was pick it up, point it and pull the trigger. How handy! And, they were made with 125-grain hardcast bullets and five
it shot as well in double-action only as some handguns do in grains of Hercules Unique powder, CCI primer and Winches-
single-action. Trigger pull was about 10 pounds, but when the ter cases, or whether they were made with the same compo-
trigger approaches the point of let-off there is a positive feel nents behind a 115-grain jacketed hollow-point bullet from
which allows for quick and accurate shots. Winchester.
Of all the sub-models used, this one was among the CCI's 147-grain TMJ Blazer loads also registered groups
author's favorites as an all-around 9mmP performer. in the two to 2-1/4-inch category. Winchester's subsonic 147-
Considering that this pistol is double-action only, the grain hollow-point loading put holes in the target in the same
performance from the bench at 25 yards was surprisingly good size area, and at the same point of impact meaning this little
and consistent. In fact, it did not matter whether it was fired gun seemed to like anything it was fed.
from the bench, from the two-hand hold, or one-handed. Whether all such compacts from Beretta will shoot this
Similar groups were produced under all conditions. Very well is not known, but it is certain that this one particular pistol
impressive. performed superbly. The author felt that the sights on the
The best 25-yard group was produced by CCI Blazer 147- handgun contributed significantly to the consistency, because
grain TMJ ammo. It was an even two inches. Sure Fire 115- they presented a crisper, more well defined image than did the
grain jacketed hollow-points registered the next best group at standard Beretta sights.
2-1/4 inches. Overall, the entire Beretta line performed well — with one
Groups of 2-1/2 inches were produced by USA 115-grain particularly memorable entry. There were no malfunctions of
ball loads and PMC 115-grain jacketed hollow-points. The any kind with any of the pistols, regardless what loads were
largest group, 3-1/2 inches, was recorded by American Eagle fed through the pistols.
124-grain metal case ammo. Hence, it is easy to understand why Beretta continues to
Imagine that, a double-action only pistol which shoots maintain a notable presence in the marketplace.

a ptpp
V / M n r I E_ri
Nine
THE 9mmP
HANDGUNS OF COLT
T h i s Cartridge Never Has Been a
B i g I t e m In H a r t f o r d , B u t . . .
This Colt 1911A1 features a 9mm conversion unit. The

pistol was originally designed to shoot the big .45 ACP.

Colt offers the Government
Model in 9mm as part of its
extensive Series 80 line-up.
W
HENEVER ANYONE sits down to write any- and screaming, when it came to the 9mmP, however. Yes, the
thing about Colt handguns, the first key to be company had offered that chambering for years in both of the
struck on the typewriter or computer should be Commander sub-variants, but it wasn't until the Series 80
the asterisk (*), because there are extremely pistols that the 9mmP was offered in the full-size Government
few totally straightforward statements that can be made about Model. And, the 9mmP was added to the chamberings for the
those firearms. Usually, some form of footnote or other Double Eagle in 1991 — the same year Colt decided to take
expanded explanation needs to be inserted, just to keep the a major plunge into the world of the 9mm.
record straight. In 1991, Colt introduced the All American Model 2000
And so it is when it comes to Colt handguns in 9mmP. It is double-action, high-capacity auto. It was C o i f s first high-
safe to suggest, that the 9mmP cartridge has been less than a capacity 9mmP handgun — exacdy 89 years after the car-
big item with Colt. In a general sense, this world famous tridge was introduced.
company has done little more than dabble in "nineness" There is no effort here to grind upon Colt for its manufac-
through the years. Of course, what could one expect from a turing and marketing decisions. It is just that when discussing
revolver maker that ignored the .44 Magnum until 1990? the 9mmP, one cannot help but wonder openly why it took so
One of the reasons it is so incredibly difficult to make long for the firm to read the writing on the walls.
definitive statements about Colt firearms is that the company To comprehend the change in attitude, one must view the
has been in business so long and has made so many guns. With circumstances under which the Model 2000 (and Colt's entry
such a lengthy history, punctuated by the intermittent pres- into the high capacity 9mmP market) emerged. Financial
ence of its own custom shop operation, there are bound to be times were far from good nationally, and they had been bad for
many non-standard guns actually leave the factory. Colt for years. The company had been strapped by a number
On the 9mmP front, the less frequentiy encountered type of of problems, including everything from labor problems to
handgun bearing the name of Colt is the Single Action Army. corporate buy-outs. By the time 1991 rolled around, Colt
Yes, there were S AA revolvers made in 9mmP—intended for needed something to give it a financial jolt — something to
the European market. This is not at all uncommon. In fact, it kick-start the empire and get it going again.
is the rule rather than the exception for U.S. manufacturers to "This is the beginning of a new era at Colt, a time for new
offer different chamberings for specialized foreign markets. thinking, new products, and new dialogue with you, our
And that's the way it was for the Colt SAA revolvers cham- customer," stated Colt's Manufacturing Company President
bered for the 9mmP. Ronald E. Stilwell at the time. "It is a time of rebirth for an
Although Colt may not have been in the 9mmP business in American legend."
a big way ever, the company was involved with the cartridge Stilwell noted that the company planned to tie its long
for a relatively long time. Some of the very first of the tradition (Colt started in 1836) with innovation — innovation
Commander prototypes made in 1940 were chambered for which was to include the radically different Model 2000.
9mmP. "To create these products, we have united the best of the
And, Commanders have been available in 9mmP all along. past and the present: state-of-the-art technologies and leading
It took a number of years, but eventually Colt began to offer edge manufacturing methods, such as computer-aided design
its time-proven, full-size 1911 Government model in 9mmP, (CAD) and computer numerical control (CNC) manufactur-
as well as the double-action Double Eagle MKII/Series 90 ing techniques, with the time-honored care and craftsmanship
pistol. you expect from Colt."
It was as though Colt was being led to the trough, kicking With that prologue, Colt unveiled the Model 2000—billed

Colt All American Model
2000 is strictly a 9mm auto.
as "a radical departure from ordinary double action design." Rifling Six grooves, right-hand twist, one
It was stated: "The new Colt Model 2000 is a locked breech, turn in 10 inches.
recoil-operated, double-action-only 9mm semiautomadc that Magazine capacity 15 in magazine, one in chamber.
sets new standards." Front sight Ramped blade, glare proof, fixed.
So much for the send-off. There were delivery delays and Rear sight Square notch, glare proof.
initial function problems that, at times, put its entire future in Sight radius 6-3/8 inches.
question. But the company was determined to make a go of it Safety system Internal striker block.
— after all, it had put an incredible amount of its eggs in the
2000 basket. But what is this gun? For development of data for this chapter, I used a Model
Essentially, it is a high-capacity semi-auto that, due to its 2000 with a polymer receiver. Repeated trips to the range
double-acdon-only trigger pull, offers the simple operation of resulted in a number of conflicting impressions and results.
a revolver. But it is much different from other double-acdon- For example, the pistol is a full-size service model hand-
only 9mmP handguns on the market. The action of this pistol gun. Yet, the grip size and weight distribution make it feel
is truly different. much lighter than it actually is. That's nice.
"The All American is a radical departure from any other However, for my hand size, relationship of the grip to the
handgun you've owned," Colt reported when introducing the trigger, coupled with the longish trigger pull, took a while for
new model. "First of all, it shares important technology with any familiarity to develop.
the famous ColtM16 mditary rifle. The locked breech, recoil The handgun was most at home during quick point-shoot-
operated action features locking lugs integral to the barrel like ing at random targets located at random distances. It was
those on an M16 rifle. common for hits to be made at distances of five feet to 10
"Barrel and slide lock together and work as a unit, with the yards.
shot-after-shot consistency of performance needed for top But when the distance stretched to 25 yards and shooting
accuracy," the company continued. "This precise rotary ac- was done off the bench, anumber of things happened. With the
tion reduces felt recoil by slowing down the unlocking cycle." author holding the pistol on a rest, 25-yard groups were
Because of the action design, the Model 2000 is easy and frustrating. There would be two or three shots in close prox-
simple to use. For example, there is no external safety or imity to one another, then there would one or two "fliers." And
decocking lever, and the roller bearing mounted trigger is the fliers, at times, were six inches away from the other shots.
smooth. Magazine release is reversible for right- or left- I do not claim to be the world's greatest pistol shooter, so
handed shooting. the initial feeling was that the problem resulted from some
Even some of the materials used in the pistol are space age. mysterious form of pilot error. Okay, that accepted, it was
For example, the 2000 is offered with either a polymer decided to have the pistol judged by an impartial entity—the
(plastic) receiver or an aluminum receiver. Specifications are: Ransom Rest.
For those who never have experienced one of these marvels
of modern times, the Ransom Rest is a totally adjustable
Barrel length 4-1/2 inches. machine rest which locks the pistol in place and allows it to be
Overall length 7-1/2 inches. put precisely back into battery for repeated shots. When used
Weight (empty) 29 ounces with polymer frame, 33 correctly, the Ransom Rest allows a pistol to demonstrate its
ounces with aluminum frame. full accuracy potential — without the human error problems

O L T All American"
Model 2000 • All Double Action
Semiautomatic Pistol
Caliber: 9x19mm
The Colt All Americans unique design is featured in this photo of the pistol field
stripped to its eight major parts. Takedown is simple and easy to perform and
takes only seconds. Sub-assemblies include the (1) carbon steel slide, (2) barrel
bushing, (3) barrel with integral locking lugs, (4) recoil spring and guide,
(5) cam block, (6) sear, trigger assembly, (7) light weight polymer receiver and
(8) magazine with 15-round capacity. Note the locking lugs on the barrel
assembly are similar to those found on the Colt M16 military rifle.

This Colt 9mm was made
especially for long-time gun
scribe Dean A. Grennell. He
authored the first edition of
this 9mm handgun book.
often faced when a person is pulling the trigger. My own handloads—consisting of a 115-grain Winches-
In fact, the Ransom Rest was used frequently during the ter hollow-point bullet over 6.0 grains of Unique powder and
development of data for this book. Usually, it was pressed into using CCI small pistol primers and Hansen cases—produced
service when a particular handgun demonstrated either ex- a group of 4-1/4 inches.
tremely irregular behavior, or when a pistol seemed to be When one considers that those groups were shot from a
shooting terrifically well. Ransom Rest, it is easy to understand the author's confusion.
The Ransom Rest was used to help rule out human error The two Winchester 147-grain loadings performed well
and establish the accuracy potential of the pesky guns, and it enough, but what happened to the others? Groupings were
also was used to seejusthow accurate an otherwise apparently inconsistent enough that I quit recording results as I tried a
accurate pistol really was. In both kinds of instances, the number of other loads from other companies. They were no
Ransom Rest proved to be uncommonly helpful. better — and no worse — than those mentioned above.
However, the Ransom Rest was designed before any of the It is rumored in the handgun world that it can take some
handguns on the market were made of plastic. And, when time to shoot-in a new pistol. In other words, a pistol has to
using a Ransom Rest with a plastic pistol, the operator needs be shot a lot before it really shows its stuff. Perhaps that is the
to take a number of carefully deliberate steps to assure the rig case with the particular Model 20001 used.
is adjusted properly. In fact, it takes a bit of shooting to However, other pistols from other manufacturers were
establish a real working familiarity with the rest for any kind shotno more and they performed more consistently. Strangely,
of gun, but once established, the rest can be a great help. though, there was no problem in free-hand hitting of targets
So it was when the Model 2000 was clamped into the rest. in quick shooting sessions at distances to 10 yards. So,
More than 100 rounds went downrange, and the barrel was de- without question, the test pistol was a good service-grade
fouled twice before I was certain it was absolutely in correct pistol out to 10 yards with any ammo, and to 25 yards with the
adjustment. The problem was that the groups coming out of two Winchester loads. Beyond that, any comment would be
the pistol in the rest looked strikingly familiar — almost more speculation than fact.
identical to the ones shot from a bench rest by the author. Ironically, the "tale of the tape" shed little meaningful
Of all the 9mmP handguns fired while collecting data for light on the situation. The printout from the Oehler 35P
this book, the Colt 2000 was the most finicky when it came to chronograph showed little relationship between velocity
ammunition it would accept and ammunition it would shoot consistency and group size. With the triple sky screens placed
well. All groups were five shots at 25 yards. 15 feet from the muzzle, readings for five-shot groups from
Best group by far was with Winchester's 147-grain JHP the Oehler 35P were:
subsonic loading. That group was exactly one-inch in diam- CCI Blazer 147-grain TMJ loads registered a high of 999
eter and concentric. Next best group came from Winchester's and low of 993 for a median 997 feet per second. Extreme
147-grain Black Talon ammo. It was exactly two inches wide spread was 6 and standard deviation was 2. That is incredibly
and rather concentric. If pressed for an opinion, the author consistent.
would suggest that the particular pistol used in the tests should The PMC 115-grain FMJ loading registered a high of
be fed these two loads and these two loads only. Such a 1180 and low of 1101 for a median of 1134 feet per second.
combination could make the shooter very happy. Extreme spread was 79 and standard deviation was 30.
The CCI Blazer 124-grain JSP loading left a horizontal The author's handload consisting of 115-grain Winches-
string 3- 3/4 inches wide, and the CCI Blazer 147-grain TMJ ter JHP over 6.0 grains of Unique powder registered a high of
loading resulted in a "pattern" which was 5-1/4 inches from 1377 and low of 1301 for a median of 1327 feet per second.
corner to comer. PMC's 115-grain FMJ loading produced a Extreme spread was 76 and standard deviation was 29.
group that was so scattered that one of the rounds never was Meanwhile, Colt All American Model 2000 pistols have
accounted for properly. It was estimated the group was about hit the market full-bore, and sales continue. The pistol is
seven inches across. priced somewhat lower than the Colt Model 1911 variants.

ROGER'S 9MM
HANDGUNS
M o d e l s A r e L i m i t e d , B u t Meet M o s t N e e d s
The Ruger 9mm KP93 compact pistol is 14 percent

lighter and 6/10-inch shorter than the P89 model.

O
NE THOUGHT of the nation's major manufac- pistol business via a somewhat rocky road. Certain design
turers of handguns, Sturm, Ruger & Company changes were deemed necessary extremely soon after the P85
has a relatively short list of pistols and revolvers first appeared, making way for the P85 Mk II. As is common
chambered for the 9mmP cartridge. Currently among things Ruger, the dates of introduction and the actual
there are two basic pistol models and two revolver models in dates of deliveries of guns do not always coincide. And, as is
9mmP available from Ruger. common in any industry, there is always a brief period of time
Ruger's original 9mmP pistol was the P85, which was when model changes are made that both the old model and the
introduced in the mid-1980s, but didn't actually hit the market new model superseding it are actually on the market at the
until the latter '80s. It had been on the market a short time same time. Such was the case with the Ruger 9mmP pistol
when it was superseded by the P85 Mk II, which incorporated progression. Suffice to say that within a matter of about five
a number of changes, including a new slide, firing pin, firing years, Ruger had gone from introducing the P85, obsoleting it
pin safety and other subtle internal changes. and introducing the P85 Mk II, obsoleting it and introducing
B y the end of the decade of t h e ' 80s, Ruger had introduced the P89, and then adding to the offerings by announcing a
the P89, which became available early in the 1990s. The P89 compact model — the P93.
series replaced the P85 models totally for the domestic mar- Although the P85s and the P89s may look similar on the
ket. There are still some P85s being manufactured for some outside, they are actually totally different guns. There is
remote foreign markets, but, domestically, the P85 took its virtually no interchangeability between them.
place in history when the P89s were introduced. For 1993, Ruger's two 9mmP revolvers are the SP101 and the
Ruger introduced the P-series compact, called the P93DAO Blackhawk. Made in stainless steel only, the 9mmP variants
and P93DC (the letter suffixes denote double-action only and of the SP101 revolver feature barrel lengths of 2-1/4 or 3-1/16
decock-only). More on them later. inches. The Blackhawk revolver available in 9mmP is one of
Ruger 9mmPpistols, then, are the P85, the P89 and the P93. the several "convertible" combinations Ruger has marketed
A P94 is on the drawing boards. Within those model designa- through the years. In the case of the 9mmP, it is a convertible
tions are several sub-models. For example, there is one sub- with the .357 magnum, and is available with barrel lengths of
model in blue and another in stainless for both the P85 and the 4-5/8 or 6-1/2 inches.
P85 Mk II, and there are blue and stainless variations in P89 Although there are relatively few Ruger 9mmP models, the
series. ones which are marketed cover the subject well.
In a way, it would be safe to say Ruger got into the 9mmP
P85 The P85 is Ruger's original 9mmP pistol, and was in its
introductory stage when the first edition of The Gun Digest
Book of 9mm Handguns was written. In typical Ruger tradi-
tion, the P85 is a full-bodied, robust handgun — a real fist-
filler.
It features a 15-shot stagger box magazine, 4-1/2-inch
barrel, weighs 32 ounces (two pounds) empty and is 7.84
inches long overall. Sights are of the square post front and
square notch rear persuasion, complete with white dot inserts
front and back. The rear sight is drift-adjustable for windage.
Elevation is possible only by changing the height of the front
sight. Handles are made of grooved black Xenoy composition
— a material used liberally in Ruger firearms.
Controls on the P85 are classic and in the normal places.
There are ambidextrous slide-mounted safety levers, a slide
release lever on the left side just above the trigger well and
magazine release on the grip handle just aft of the trigger well.
The slide is made of steel and the frame is of aluminum alloy.
The P85 pistols, whether blue or stainless, come with an extra
magazine, a magazine loading tool and a plastic case.
The P85 is single- or double-action on the first shot, then
single-action for subsequent shots. On the test pistol, the
double-action trigger pull was a long proposition, with the
sear breaking at between nine and 11 pounds, depending upon
when the pull was scaled. The difference in readings seemed
to have more to do with the curve of the trigger and the
inability to get the scale's arm in exactly the same place twice
in a row than any apparent difference in the actual amount of
pull from scaling to scaling. For the sake of argument, con-
The author fired the entire Ruger 9mm line during his sider it to have had a 10-pound double-action pull. The single-
evaluation. He also used a variety of factory ammunition. action pull was a legally correct 6-1/2 pounds, and was
somewhat crisp.

The P85, the first Ruger
9mm automatic, also was
available is stainless steel.
The PBS established the

basic design for the Ruger
family of 9mm automatics.
The full range of loads was fired through the P85, with to make precise shooting a real challenge. Typically on Ruger
rather interesting results. There were no excitingly accurate firearms, a litde fine tuning by a gunsmith can put those
loads, and there were no "bad" loads which performed signifi- concerns aside and the firearm probably will perform much
candy differendy from any of the others. Of all the 9mmP more precisely.
handguns fired in the research for this book, the Ruger line However, for the purposes of this writing, there was no
was the most homogeneous when it came to handling different desire to have any retro-work done, because it is the object of
loadings from different ammo manufacturers, or some of the the discussion to investigate the performance of the various
various handloads. makes of handguns as they come from the factory.
For example, groups from the bench at 25 yards through the I have rather large hands with long fingers, and the 9mmP
P85 ranged from three to five inches, with the five-inch groups pistols from Ruger filled them fully. There is nothing small
generally including one or more rounds the author felt may nor dainty about the P85. It is full-bodied in every respect,
have been "pulled," due to the trigger pull. Interestingly, including width. The mechanism itself is the classic floating
group sizes were similar when the pistol was fired from a two- barrel lockup. However, some of the internal parts are uniquely
hand unsupported hold, or when it was fired from the rest on Ruger. This is a pistol designed to be mass produced, and it has
the bench. a reputation for working well. Certainly, the test pistol func-
What this seemed to indicate was that the pistol may not be tioned flawlessly. It fed and fired all manner of loads with
a target proposition out of the box, but it is a consistent equal aplomb.
performer regardless what it is fed. There is something to be Field stripping the P85 for routine cleaning is simple, but
said for such performance in a general-purpose 9mmP hand- slightly different from many other 9mmP pistols. After assur-
gun. ing that the pistol is unloaded, pull the slide all the way to the
As the shooting sessions progressed, I was impressed that rear until it locks open. Remove the magazine, then with
the P85 possesses what has come to be known as a "classic" finger or thumb, reach into the ejector port and depress the
Ruger trigger pull. Accidental discharges are difficult, if not ejector on the left side of the port until it clicks into place in the
impossible, to have happen. And, the pull is just gritty enough down position.

Above, the P8S is a fist-filler because of its staggered
magazine. There's nothing dainty about the Ruger 9mms.
Left, Blaine Huling handles the P85 during range testing.
writing, the fact is that the P85 disassembles quickly and

easily in practice. And, reassembly is equally straight-forward
Then release the slide, allowing it to move forward. (It is a and simple. In fact, I found that the P85 goes back together
good idea to hold onto the slide and allow it to move forward quite easily, and does not have any "secret" or "trick" move-
slowly.) Then, pull the slide just slightly to the rear with one ments needed to accomplish the task. Overall, cleaning of the
hand, while pushing against the end of the slide release, the P85 is easy and simple.
lever pin on the right side of the frame. This can take a little In general terms, the P85 seemed to be a viable general-
fumbling around, but by methodically moving the slide a purpose handgun which readily fills applications from infor-
fraction of an inch at a time and trying to pop the pin mal target or plinking work to home or self-defense. I would
simultaneously, the spot will be found where the pin will not hesitate to consider it a credible choice for use in a defense
move, pushing the slide release lever away from the frame on mode at the normal gunfighting distances. In the out-of-the-
the left side. box configuration, it is not a highly refined target handgun,
This allows the shooter to grasp the slide release lever with and it was not evaluated with that thought in mind.
thumb and forefinger and pull it
out until it will move no further.
The slide release lever does not
come all the way out, as is the
situation with a number of pistols.
Once the lever is pulled out as far
as it will go, the slide can be pushed
forward and lifted off the receiver.
Once the slide group is removed
from the frame, the recoil spring
and guide can be lifted up and out,
a lamost semi-auto 9mmP pistols.
The barrel then can be lifted out of
the slide, and the pistol is field-
stripped as far as it needs to be for
cleaning or normal maintenance.
Reassembly is the reverse se-
quence.
Although it may appear to be a
bit complicated when explained in
Basic field-stripping of the

stainless steel P85 is done
quickly without using tools.

P89 Decock-Only Model
The P89 decock-only model features ambidextrous
decocking levers on the slide which lower the hammer and
block the firing pin when they are pressed downward. Simi-
larly, the P89 double-acdon only sub-model is much the same
as the other Ruger semi-autos, except it fires double-action for
every shot. Size, weight and magazine capacities are virtually
the same for all of the sub-models. Actually, there are five P89
sub-models. They are the P89 safety (available in blue or
stainless), P89 decock-only (available in blue or stainless) and
P89 double-acdon-only (available only in stainless).
The P89 decocker used for this writing had a double-action
trigger pull of nine pounds, and a single-action pull of six
pounds. The characteristics of the pulls were similar to those
on the P85, which meant that the double-action pull was long
and a bit gritty, while the single-action pull was legally
correct, with the sear breaking cleanly.
From a performance perspective, the P85 and the P89
decocker may as well have been twins. Group sizes from a rest
on the bench or held unsupported were virtually identical, and
ranged from three to five inches at 25 yards with the various
loads used. The P89 digested all loadings with equal aplomb,
Blaine Huling evaluates accuracy of the Ruger P89DC. and functioned flawlessly.

The Ruger P89DC (right
and below) disassembles
easily for basic maintenance.
forward, full-size 9mmP handgun, the P89 safety version fills

the bill well. Whether it is blue or stainless is also a matter of
personal, rather than performance, preference. If the shooter
wants or needs a decocking feature, or wants or needs a pistol
which fires only double-action, then there are specific sub-
models available with those features.
Really what is being said here is that Ruger offers one
generally basic 9mmP pistol, with a number of sub-model
feature variations intended to address specific needs and
markets.
Although it had been introduced officially in 1993, the P93
compact 9mmP pistols from Ruger were not available when
this chapter was being written.
"The Ruger Compacts feature a one-piece Zy tel grip frame
that helps them weigh an incredibly light 31 ounces with a
loaded 15-round magazine," Ruger reports. "This tough P-
Series pistol is the ultimate in an easy carry compact designed
for continuous use."
Specifications listed by Ruger are:
"Caliber: 9mm Luger. Mechanism: recoil-operated, double-
action, autoloading. Tilting barrel, link-actuated, as in
After having test-driven the two major variants from the M1911A1. Magazine: Steel, staggered column, 15-shot.
Ruger 9mmP pistol line, I found that the most important Weight: 24 oz. (magazine empty). Barrel length: 3-9/10".
questions a shooter might consider if thinking about acquiring Overall length: 7-3/10". Height: 5-1/2". Width: 1-1/2". Sight
something from this company's offerings should include radius: 5". Sights: Square notch rear, drift adjustable for
matters of function features more than anything else. windage; square post front. Front and rear sights have white
By that, I mean that, if a shooter is looking for a straight- dots for rapid target acquisition."
TheSP101 ounces. Sights are fixed on the 9mmP, and the stocks are made
Ruger's SP101 revolver line is one of the hot models in of Ruger Santoprene (cushioned grip) with Xenoy inserts. All
today's handgun market, and the SP101 chambered for the SP101 revolvers are made of stainless steel.
9mmP is no exception. In addition to 9mmP, the SP101 is The test revolver sported a 3-1/16-inch barrel, and it was
available in .22 long rifle, .32 H&R Magnum (six-shot), .38 fired using both the full-moon, five-shot clips, and without
Special (+P) and .357 Magnum (five-shot). The 9mmP also is clips. The revolver functioned flawlessly with or without the
a five-shot proposition. clips, but ejection could be performed mechanically only
Barrel lengths available in 9mmP are 2-1/4 and 3-1/16 when the clips were used (the 9mmP being a rimless car-
inches. Weight, depending upon barrel length, is 25 or 27 tridge). Extraction without the clips was easy: Either use

thumbnail and fingernail to pull the empties out, or use any
kind of "rod," like a cleaning rod or pencil, to pop the fired
cases out one at a time.
The SP101 features a swing-out cylinder, which is un-
locked via a small button-like release on the left side of the
frame just aft of the cylinder. The ej ector rod is protected when
the cylinder is locked in place, and ejects loaded ammunition
or empties with a single stroke when the cylinder is swung to
the left and into the open position. The SP101 can be fired
single- or double-action.
The double-action trigger pull on the test model 9mmP was
noticeably 1-o-n-g, with the sear break requiring a bit of added
pressure when the trigger was at the rear of the pull. Double-
action pull was more or less 12 pounds (it differed somewhat
from one scaling to another), and the single-action pull was a
nice 4-1/2 pounds.
Trigger pull seemed to contribute significantly to shooting
performance. Groups at 25 yards, whether fired from a rest on
the bench, or in the unsupported two-hand hold, were lateral
strings of four to five inches. Because the sights were fixed
and offered no degree of adjustment, bullet placement was of
particular interest. Convenientiy, the vertical placement was
at or near the point-of-aim, with the variations depending
upon the velocity of the specific loading. The vertical disper-
sion among all loads shot was less than three inches at 25
The short-barreled SP101 is a fast-pointing gun for
close-range work. Here, Blaine Huling tries the snubby.
yards.
The SP101 is not a target handgun. It is designed to be a
handy recreational shooter or a serious defense proposition.
For either application, it is an interesting gun. Forexample, as
much as the groups tend to string left-and-right for four or five
inches, they never strayed farther than that in the test firings.
The Ruger SP101 is made

of stainless steel. It features
synthetic grips, making it
a fine tactical performer.

And, regardless of die load used, bullets printed into an area
three inches deep on the targets. What this means is that,
regardless what loading was used, the composite impact area
on the targets at 25 yards (whether the revolver was held
unsupported or fired from a rest) was in the shape of a
horizontal football, measuring three-by-five inches. That's
not bad for a snubby-type revolver right out of the box.
One thing should be noted here, however. When those
assisting the author fired the S PI 01, it took a number of rounds
for them to achieve that level of performance. Until they
became more familiar with the revolver, they were experienc-
ing groups of about eight inches at 25 yards. Still, this is not
terribly bad for a snubby revolver, but it further demonstrates
that the combination of basic sights and trigger pull can have
tremendous effects on the tactical accuracy which might be
achieved from the SP101. Still, as a defensive "belly gun" at
normal distances, it is not a bad point-and-shoot handgun.
The size and weight of the test revolver fall into the
"handy" category. It felt good in use, and pointed well. The
grip handle configuration is small enough for shooters with
relatively small hands, yet the rig is designed so it works well
when used in larger hands, as well.
As suggested throughout this book, shooters who prefer
revolvers are well advised to consider those in 9mmP as viable
options. It may have been designed as an auto cartridge, but
the 9mmP is an exciting performer in revolvers. In virtually
any revolver barrel length (including the short-barreled
snubbies), the high-intensity 9mmP performs between the
hotter .38 Special and full-house .357 Magnum loadings. This
During range testing, author put many kinds of factory means that when any of the modem high-performance bullets
ammo through the stainless steel Ruger SP101 revolver. are used, the 9mmP is an honest-to-goodness defense car-
tridge when fired in a revolver. The Ruger SP101 is no
exception.
THE BLACKHAWK
Ruger's single-action Blackhawk revolver is available in a
host of chamberings, including a convertible option with two
cylinders — one chambered for the .357 Magnum and the
other for the 9mmP. This particular option is not purely a
9mmP proposition, and it was not judged as such. It is,
however, an interesting way for shooters to be able to use three
different cartridges in the same gun.
Even the Ruger designation for this convertible tells the
story. It is the .357/9mm Convertible, and is available with 4-
5/8- or 6-1/2-inch barrel. The test revolver featured the 6-1/2-
inch barrel, weighed 42 ounces and measured 12-1/4 inches
overall. Stocks were American walnut. Sights were one eigth-
inch ramp front and micro-click adjustable rear. Trigger pull
was a consistent 4-1/2 pounds.
As Ruger's own designation hints, this is really a .357
Magnum revolver with an extra cylinder chambered for the
9mmP cartridge. Its tactical performance echoed this reality,
because it shot .357 Magnum loads much more accurately
than it did the various 9mmP loadings. Such performance is
consistent with most "convertible" revolvers, and is not un-
common among many revolver designs when auto cartridges
are fired through them.
The basic Ruger Blackhawk convertible, single-action Groups at 25 yards off the bench were generally in the six-
revolver is put through its test paces by Blaine Huling. inch category, with some 9mm groups expanding to seven
inches, although I would not rule out pilot error there. Hence,

consider the test revolver to have fired six-inch, rather concen-
tric, groups at 25 yards. By comparison, the same handgun
produced groups less than half that size when the other
cylinder was inserted and .357 Magnum loads were used.
Following more than 100 shots with the various 9mmP
loadings, it appeared as though the convertible Blackhawk
was not stabilizing the 9mmP bullets as well as it was the .357
Magnum loadings. This, too, is not surprising, given the fact
that 9mmP bullets are slightiy (one- or two-thousanths of an
inch) thinner than are .357 Magnum bullets. Also, it might be
appropriate to note that the test revolver also shot .38 Special
loadings better than it did the 9mmP cartridges. Again, this is
consistent with what one might assume.
The desirability of such a convertible revolver is more a
matter of expanding the ability of a shooter to use different
ammunition than anything else. In such a role, the Ruger
Convertible is a good choice.
The test revolver performed well, and both loading and
extraction were simple and easy. Given the general availabil-
ity of totally affordable 9mmP ammunition, such a handgun is
a good bet for anyone who wants to use bargain-priced ammo
for general familiarization and informal shooting, yet also
have a handgun which can perform very well in more serious
roles with other loads.
The convertible I used shot 9mmP, .38 Special and .357
Magnum loadings to different points of impact at 25 yards, so
sight adjustments to the point of impact for the most serious The Ruger SP101 revolver uses a full-moon clip during
loading to be used might be in order. normal operation, however, it will shoot the rimless 9mm
Shooters who want to be able to fire three of the world's cartridges without a clip which doubles as speed loader.
most popular cartridges through the same handgun might well
consider the convertible Blackhawk. It is a serious handgun in performed within standard parameters for general purpose
its own right, yet is fun and easy to shoot. handguns. Their ability to handle a wide range of loads with
Overall, the Ruger 9mmP lineup functioned well and equal effect was impressive.
The Blackhawk convertible has two cylinders. One handles the .38 Special and .357 magnum, the other the 9mmP.

Eleven
THE KOREAN
CONNECTION
T h e D a e w o o 9 m m P P i s t o l Is B u i l d i n g A
Reputation For Excellence!
The Korean Daewoo DP51 gets a workout by Blaine C. Huling during an extensive series of tests of 9mm firearms.

The Daewoo points nicely,
offering a nice-shooting,
handy semi-automatic gun.
I
T WAS A COUPLE, or perhaps several, years ago When he thrust one of the semi-autos into my hand, I recall
when I first was introduced to the Daewoo 9mmP wondering what was so "revolutionary?" Frankly, it looked
pistol. It was at one of the annual Shooting, Hunting and and felt like any of the many generic 9mmP handguns avail-
Outdoor Trades (SHOT) Shows, which are the industry able at the time. But, he had my "divided" attention, so I asked
conventions at which new products are introduced. the generic question: "What's the deal? What's so new?"
I was cruising the miles of aisles of guns and goodies, I knew I had been had when the response was: "What's so
minding my own business, when I happened to stop to look up new? Let me show you."
a booth number for some company which had a new product Somehow I seem to recall having experienced a similar
I wanted to inspect. As I stood there, leafing through the show response from at least one of the many door-to-door vacuum
book, a guy from an adjacent booth, noting my "press" cleaner/encyclopaedia salesmen through the years.
credentials, grabbed my arm, pulled me into his booth and "You've heard of single-action?" the guy continued.
asked whether I'd seen his "new" product yet. "You've heard of double-action? Well, this is a Tri-Action
For those who are unfamiliar with such trade shows, some pistol."
of the more innovative products on the market make their It is not difficult to become somewhat cynical during the
debuts in such places, often without initial fanfare. So it was long and arduous days at the SHOT Show, and since that was
with the Daewoo. Day 3, as I recall, I was in gritty form.
While it has a staggered-box

magazine, the Daewoo does
not have an overly fat grip.

Right, the Daewoo's alloy
frame gives the auto
fast handling characteristics.
Below, the Korean pistol is
imported by Firstshot Inc.
"Right," I retorted. "If a single-acdon has to be cocked

manually each time, and if a double-acdon does it with a pull
Daewoo's squared-off trigger guard permits a steady
of the trigger, then this tri-action must mean the silly gun also two-hand hold, increasing accuracy during rapid fire.
shoots by itself, right?"
I don't want to suggest it was some sort of culture lapse, but
the fellow didn't chuckle. He failed to crack a smile. I know Also, at the time, all of the double-action (on first shot only)
when I've been a wise guy, and that was one of the dmes. After designs featured single-action firing for shots subsequent to
all, here was a businessman who was just trying to get the initial blast. This meant drastically different trigger pulls
someone to pay attention to a product he felt had great merit. for the first and then subsequent shots.
Meanwhile, I also noticed that he and I were the only people The Daewoo, it was shown, precluded such concerns.
in the booth, and that is in a setting where most booths are Certainly, it was double-action for the first shot, and certainly,
packed solid with buyers, peddlers and writers. It wasn't as it was single-action for subsequent shots. But the trigger
though the world was beating a path to this guy's doorstep. linkage had been altered dramatically, changing several of the
So, after committing myself to more proper behavior, I shooting dynamics of the pistol.
watched and listened as he gave me the industrial strength Most notable of those was the feature which gave the
version of his sales pitch. design its name: Tri-Action. When the hammer is cocked to
To explain the situation fully, it is necessary to note that the the rear, it is simple to return it downward. Merely push it
conversation happened at a time before the proliferation of forward with the thumb, and it goes forward, also pushing the
decocker designs in semi-autos. At that time, semi-autos trigger forward — from the single-action mode to double-
which had been cocked had to be hand decocked if they were action.
to be decocked. For pistols with a double-action feature on the Yet, when it is time to shoot, merely pull on the trigger and
first shot, that presented some rather interesting possibilities, the pistol is fired just as though it had always been double-
like fumbling which could allow the hammer to fall harder action. This simply was one of the first action alterations
than intended. which allowed a cartridge to be carried in the chamber totally

The Daewoo comes in a
hard plastic zarrying case
that includes cleaning gear,
extra magazine and loader
plus a lock and two keys.
safely. The only way it could be fired would be to cycle the Eventually, a firm called Firstshot Inc. took those honors.
trigger/hammer system so the hammer could fall hard enough Aside from the unique Tri-Action design, which works
to set it off. very well, the Daewoo is essentially one of the many latter-day
But there was more. The same built-in slip-system which variants of the 1911/Hi-Power concepts initiated by John
allowed manual manipulation of the hammer also gave the Moses Browning earlier this century.
pistol a trigger pull which, at the moment of truth, was It features a stagger-column 13-round magazine, a 4.1-
essentially the same whether it was from the double-action or inch barrel and checkered composition stocks. Weight is 28.2
single-action starting point. That was a good idea, because it ounces empty, and overall length is 7.48 inches. The pistol has
meant that consistent bullet placement from the first through a blade front sight and drift-adjustable rear sight. Safety and
the last shot would be easier. magazine catch (located in the traditional 1911-style places)
At the time, the company was looking for an outfit in the are ambidextrous. The alloy frame features a square-front
United States to handle the pistol which is made in Korea. trigger guard. Finish on the frame is a smooth, shiny black, and
The magazine loader and

extra magazine are handy
for extended range sessions.

The exposed hammer on the
Daewoo can be decocked
by just pushing it forward.
the steel slide is matte black/blued. and Sure Fire. Handloads featuring hardcast 125-grain cast
Disassembly is similar to the procedures for the 1911/Hi- bullets and 115-grain Winchester hollow-points also shot
Power pistols. After assuring the pistol is not loaded, remove within the three-inch limits.
the magazine and allow the slide to go all the way forward. Overall, the pistol seem to have no decided preference for
With one hand, move the slide to the rear until the small cut on one kind of load over another. Groups, however, which were
the bottom of the slide under the ejection port area is even with all five-shot propositions, tended to string somewhat right-to-
the slide release lever. It's located on the left side of the frame left. This characteristic was credited more to pilot error than
just above the trigger area. anything to do with the pistol itself.
The slide release lever then can be pulled out of the frame, It is difficult to describe the feeling of the trigger pull on the
and the slide can be removed by sliding it forward and off the Daewoo. It is different from other pistols — not particularly
frame. The recoil spring and guide then can be removed from better or worse, just different. For example, Star pistols also
beneath the barrel, and the barrel can be extracted. This have unique trigger pulls. They also are not particularly better
completes the normal level of disassembly needed for routine or worse than others, just different. So it was with the Daewoo.
cleaning and maintenance. Because of the Tri-Action feature, the resistance to the
The barrel is belled near the muzzle in the fashion used to trigger finger is most pronounced during the last fraction of an
preclude the need for a separate barrel bushing as is used in the inch of pull. Even though the DP51 is a full-bodied handgun,
1911 design. Lockup is similar to that of the 1911/Hi-Power the author's long fingers resulted in a hold that was most
pistols, and the Daewoo features the same kind of integral feed vulnerable to inconsistency when the trigger was in its rear-
ramp as does the Hi-Power. most position. This meant that at the point where the most
Assembly is the reverse procedure, and the process in- rearward force was needed, the author had the least grip
cludes no negative surprises. It is straight-forward and simple. control.
Overall, the Daewoo is a well made semi-auto, with both This situation was a factor of the author's hand size and
fit and finish typical for commercial-grade (they look nice) shape, and it was assumed that such a situation would be a
service handguns. moot concern if the pistol were shot more — contributing to
In addition to being a nice looking handgun, the Daewoo is a necessary level of personal familiarization.
packaged well. It comes in a hard plastic case which also Even so, all groups fired at 25 yards off the bench went
includes an extra magazine and loading tool, padlock with two inside a six-inch circle, so achieved tactical accuracy would
keys and cleaning brushes. get the job done without problems.
On the range, the Daewoo proved to be a good performer. The overall impression left by the DP51 was that it is a very
It is not meant to be a target handgun, and it did not deliver workable 9mmP handgun which would have no difficulty
target accuracy. However, it did deliver an acceptable level of performing well in the service pistol kinds of applications. For
tactical accuracy for a service-grade firearm. example, it would be a good self or home defense handgun.
In all, more than a dozen different loads, both factory Function was flawless for all of the types of loads used. In
ammo and handloads, were fired through the test pistol. all, nearly 500 rounds were fired through the test pistol. For
Groups ranged from 21/2 inches at 25 yards for Winchester's those who might be interested, it really is necessary to expe-
USA ball ammo to three inches for Winchester's 147-grain rience the Tri-Action features personally to understand and
subsonic hollow-point loading. Three-inch groups, or groups appreciate them fully.
slightly less in size, were achieved with all of the other What it all boils down to in the end, however, is that all one
loadings, which included various bullet weights and configu- needs to do when the pistol is loaded is point it, squeeze the
rations from CCI (Blazer), Federal, Hansen, PMC, Remington trigger and it goes bang. What more is there?

I J /V E JTTI J
v n M r I E r f
Twelve*
THE9MM
HANDGUNS OF
INTERARMS
T h e Walther Leads T h e Pack
For This Importer
W
HENEVER THE topic turns to a discussion 9mmP service handguns in the world. For the price of one of
of the guns of Interarms, several brand names these, a shooter could buy two or more of the less expensive
and a number of different designs come into handguns on the market today.
mind. The reason is simple: Interarms mar- What makes the P88, or any of the other top-dollar pistols
kets firearms from around the world, and the models in that for that matter, able to command such a price? Is it really at
company's stable change from dme to time. least twice as good, say, as one of the more typical 9mmP
Of all the models marketed in the United States by Interarms, pistols? The answer to this question is located directiy be-
Walther 9mmP handguns are among the best known — and tween the ears of the buyer. It is a matter of perception.
among the more pricy names in that firm's long line of guns. From an objective viewpoint, the P88 and its genre are
Leading the Walther lineup are the two P88 variants — the recipients of much more detailed manufacturing and finishing
P88 and P88 Compact. These are totally serious handguns. than are those handguns in the normal run of the mill. Mate-
Among the world's service pistols, the Walther P88 is one rials, of course, are tops.
of the top performers. Its controls are ambidextrous, and it is Time is money, and when it takes longer to produce a
the sort of handgun that points quickly and effectively. product, the price goes up. Similarly, there are economies of
Magazine capacity is 15 rounds, plus there can be another scale, and expensive models of anything rarely sell as well as
round carried in the chamber. Barrel length is four inches, less expensive models. So, there is a bit of a double-edged
making the handgun 7.3 inches long overall. Weight is 31.5 economic sword swinging around.
ounces. Finish, of course, is blue. But as much as anything else, high-priced guns bring big
The P88 Compact is essentially a smaller version of the bucks, because of some perceived edge over the less expen-
P88, incorporating the same general features. The compact's sive offerings. On the surface, it can be things as simple as
magazine holds 14 rounds (one can be carried in the chamber). better fit and finish of parts.
Barrel length is 3.8 inches, making the overall length 7.1 Ultimately, however, it boils down to what the purchaser
inches. The Compact weighs 29 ounces. wants. For example, the buyer may decide that even the
The Walther P88 is one of a few top-notch, top-dollar slightest improvement in fit and finish is worth a lot more

money. Or, there is always the status factor. Put them all The P38 was a World War II model for the German army,
together and the answer becomes clear. and features a locking block system that helped redefine some
It is no different with other things, like automobiles. of the ways handguns were to be designed. It is a full-size
Almost any of them will get a person from Point A to Point B. service handgun with a five-inch barrel. Overall length is 8.5
The real question, then, is how one does it, compared to the inches, and the pistol weighs 28 ounces. The single-column
other. magazine holds eight rounds.
For those who are interested in some of the finer of the The Walther P5 was the winning number in the West
production 9mmP handguns on the market, the Walther P88 German police trials of the 1970s, and remains one of the main
is among them. police handguns on the European continent It is a full-on
service pistol, and the magazine has a capacity of eight rounds.
P38, P5 AND P5 COMPACT Barrel length is 3.5 inches, making the overall length seven
This triad of Walther pistols represents the progression in inches. The pistol weighs 28 ounces.
model development, beginning with the design which started Walther's P5 Compact, a variant of the P5, was designed
the double-action-on-the-first-shotphenomenon. That's right, for concealed carry. As can be seen with the dimensions, it is
the Walther P38 (as in adopted in 1938) was the first of the not a lot smaller than the full-size P5, but just enough to make
handguns to feature double-action on the first shot; subse- it easier to carry concealed. For example, the magazine
quent shots are single-action. capacity is the same as the full-size P 5 — e i g h t rounds. Barrel
110 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK ot 9mm HANDGUNS

length is 3.1 inches, making the overall length 6.6 inches. The
pistol weighs 26.5 ounces.
The author has fired Walther P38 handguns frequently
through the years, and has come to several conclusions about
the design — conclusions which hold for the pair of P5s, as
well.
Grip frames and handles on these pistols are at least full-
size. There is no suggestion that the size and design is counter-
productive. Rather, it is a statement of fact. This feature
dictates the ways in which the pistol is shot. Lacking a better
description, the very design of the pistol dictates deliberate,
technical movements.
Therefore, it is the sort of design which is learned most
quickly by those who have not shot other designs to a great
Much thought went into the design of the Firestar. degree previously. Mastering the effective handling of this
The grip is proportioned well to the slide and barrel design takes effort, but does not take a long time.
Once familiarized with the design, the shooter finds that

Gary Paprocki uses a pair
of sandbags to wring out
the most from the Firestar.
Field-stripped, the Firestar

reveals its compact parts
including the belled barrel.
personal performance levels jump upward quickly. This means These Walthers are not inexpensive. They are really hand-
that a person who shoots one of these pistols a lot can expect guns for very serious shooters who not only know precisely
to become quite proficient with it. The handguns themselves what they want in and from a handgun, but who have need for
are well made, which means that all it takes is a shooter who a handgun of such configuration.
knows how to handle one properly, and accurate hits are the
result. STAR PISTOLS
Although there is a major trend toward stagger-box, high- For Interarms, the Star line of handguns from Spain has
capacity magazines for 9mmP handguns now, the relatively been one of the major names on the market over the past
small capacities of the magazines in these pistols should be several years. Among those sales performers, the Firestar in
considered as no particular handicap for most applications. 9mmP stands out as one of the really hot numbers on the entire
As mentioned above, shooters find that once they have market.
become familiar with these pistols, they can hit well and There are a number of reasons the Firestar handguns have
consistently with them. This means that, in most situations, become so popular. First, they are considered officially as
seven or eight shots is more than enough to get the job done. "ultra compacts," which means they are small and handy. The

The 9mm Helwan Brigadier
receives a workout by Gary
Paprocki. Despite its low
cost, it's extremely accurate.
price tag also is small and handy, and this line is available in achieve groups of three inches or less at 25 yards), and they
three different chamberings—9mmP, .40 S&W and .45 ACP. function very well.
Firestar pistols are single-action, and list a long line of For home or self defense, the Starfire should be considered
tactical features like ambidextrous safety, reverse-taper bar- as a most serious contender. It is not a handgun for serious
rel, four barrel lugs and a combat three-dot sight system. They target work, although it happens to be one of the better bets for
are available in two types of finish: blued or with the weather informal target blasting or just plain plinking.
resistant "Starvel" finish — like brushed chrome. The Firestar is a fun gun. Because of its size, this pistol fits
The Firestars have seven-round magazines in 9mmP. Bar- all sizes of hands, and that means it is a workable choice for
rels are 3.39 inches long, making the overall length 6.5 inches, women who have hands which are not large enough to steady
and weight 30.35 ounces. the full-size service model pistols.
Firestars may be small, but they are big on the performance Another place the Firestar comes into its own is as a carry
front. One major feature is the fact that both the slide and gun. Again, its size and design are just right for this applica-
frame are made of steel. That's nice, and it gives the handgun tion. If there is a small, handy multi-purpose 9mmP pistol on
just enough weight to make it easy and comfortable to shoot. the market, this is it.
Yes, these may be small pistols, but they shoot like the For shooters who prefer a full-size 9mmP, Star also offers
larger varieties. Accuracy does not suffer (it is typical to an appropriate model — the Starfire 3 I P and its companion
Clockwise (from right to left) are the Helwan Brigadier and the Firestars in .45 ACP, .40 S& W and 9mm Parabellum.

The Helwan Brigadier is
a modern day version of
the World War II Beretta.
sub-model, the 31PK. The PK designation is for the same HELWAN BRIGADIER
pistol, but with an alloy rather than steel frame. Of the full-size service 9mmP handguns on the market, the
This line of double-action, high capacity 9mmP handguns Helwan Brigadier is among the more interesting for a number
began with the Model 28, which was supplanted by the Model of reasons. Many consumers find the totally affordable price
30. That design was followed by the Model 3IP, which is a cause for concern. It offers maximum bang for the buck.
offered in 9mmP, as well as .40 S&W. But what are these pistols? They are a combination of one
Will the Starfire hold up? Well, at one California indoor of the older designs which is being produced in Egypt. Older
shooting range, one of the Starfires went through more than shooters probably would recognize the design, because it is a
40,000 rounds without a problem. That's not bad. modem-made version of the old Beretta Brigadier.
The Starfire 3 I P is double-action/single-action (first shot This design incorporates the same type of locking block
can be double-action, with subsequent rounds fired single- design as the Walther P38, but has an outward appearance
action), and has a 15-round magazine in 9mmP. It is available which is decidedly Beretta-ish. It is single-action and of all
in either blue or Starvel finish. Barrel length is 3.86 inches, steel construction.
making overall length 7.6 inches. The pistol weighs 39.4 The single-row magazine holds eight rounds of 9mmP.
ounces. Barrel is 4.5 inches long, making overall length eight inches.
The Helwan Brigadier has

an unusual magazine release.
It is located on the rear of
the grip, near the bottom.

Bill Padget handles the
Helwan Brigadier. He found
the 9mm auto easy to shoot.
The pistol weighs 28 ounces. that it is not as well finished as the more expensive 9mmP
Several features on this handgun are different from things handguns on the market. Milling marks are evident at various
found normally on 9mmP pistols of the '90s. Totally apparent places on the frame and slide. Yet, the pistol not only functions
when one picks up the pistol is the finger rest extension on the well, it shoots well with most 9mmP loads.
bottom of the magazine. This contributes to a firm hold and Shooters who plan to run thousands and thousands of
aids in controlling the pistol when shooting. rounds through their 9mmP handguns might not be too inter-
However, when it comes to removing the magazine, the ested in the Helwan. It is strong and works well, but is not
shooter realizes that he or she has taken a step backward in known for holding up under constant firing — no safety
time. The release is a round button on the lower rear of the left problem, they just shoot loose after a number of thousands of
grip. Compared to more modern designs, this release may rounds. For most consumers, this is not an important factor.
seem a bit out of place, but once one gets used to it, it is actually And, considering the price, this handgun is a viable option for
handy. those who want to have a 9mmP around "just in case."
Similarly, the safety is a round button, located in the upper During a session at the range, a test Helwan Brigadier
rear of the left grip. It is a cross-bolt safety. showed it could shoot with some of the better 9mmP handguns
The pistol has a blue finish, and a close inspection reveals on the market. Groups of two inches (a couple of them a bit
The Helwan Brigadier also

has a through-bolt safety,
located at the top of the grip.

The barrel lock-up system
on the Helwan Brigadier is
the same as the modern
Berettas and Walther P-38s.
While the Helwan Brigadier

is a full-size auto, it presents
a slim, functional profile.
less) at 25 yards off the bench were roudne and predictable. generic USA 115-grain ball loading and PMC's 115-grain
There are a lot of more expensive 9mmP handguns on the hollow-point loading. How about that? A budget-priced 9mmP
market which will not match that performance. handgun that likes budget-priced ammo! Nice combination.
Overall, the author was intrigued with the Helwan. It fills Through the years, Interarms has marketed a number of
a niche due to its affordability, yet offers a level of perfor- other types of 9mmP handguns. Certainly, it would not be
mance that puts it right up there with any of the mainline surprising to see the line expand, or change, in the future, as
models from any maker. well. One thing is certain. The Interarms lineup usually
What it is not is pretty, or cute. Sights are as basic as they includes at least one line of very high quality handguns, one
come: notched rear, post front. Yet, the test Brigadier shot line of popularly priced handguns that perform well, and one
right where it looked. It digested a wide variety of loads with line which fills the needs of the totally budget conscious
aplomb, exhibiting a particular preference for Winchester's shooters. This marketing strategy obviously has merit.

hirteen
THE 9mm STABLE
OF SIG SAUER
T h i s Maker Has Tried T o C o m e U p With
A L i n e T o Meet A l l N e e d s !
Author test fires the SIG Sauer P226. He found it lived-up to the SIG Sauer's reputation for superb-shooting firearms.

A
S THE 20TH CENTURY comes to aclose, Sigarms P220 was introduced — the first of the now totally successful
is evolving as one of the major players in the line of such pistols. Not only was the P220 the first of the
firearms industry, as well as one of the most double-action SIG Sauers, but it was the first commercially
prestigious names in the field of 9mmP handguns. successful autoloading pistol to eliminate the need for exter-
To be specific, it is the SIG Sauer line of semi-auto handguns nal manual safeties. This is accomplished via the patented
which is responsible for this phenomenon. automatic firing pin locking device. It was also the pistol
When it comes to service-grade semi-auto 9mmP hand- which showed the world what a "decocker" was all about.
guns, the various SIG Sauer offerings are among the world Although the suggestion that a pistol might not need an
leaders. Although these handguns offer a number of important external manual safety and that it has a decocking system may
features, the two things thatmake this line of pistols so popular sound routine and mundane in the 1990s, those were totally
are that they are reliable and accurate. In other words, when radical concepts back in the '70s when the design debuted.
the shooter pulls the trigger, the gun goes bang, and when it Currendy, the P220 is avaUable in three chamberings —
goes bang, the bullet hits the target. Yes, that is simple. As 9mmP, .38 Super Auto and .45 ACP. The pistol has the same
importandy, it is all that really matters. overall dimensions in all three chamberings. The dimensions
Accuracy and dependabdity are not accidents. They happen are:
only because the SIG Sauer design is excellent and the Overall Length 7.79 inches.
manufacture is executed with precision. Overall Height 5.63 inches.
In 9 m m P , the SIG Sauer lineup includes the P220, Overall Width 1.37 inches.
P225, P226 and P228. Although the specifics of each model Barrel Length 4.41 inches.
will be discussed in detaU, it is handy to keep in mind that Rifling Twist One turn in 9.84 inches.
essentially they are all the same pistol design, but differ in Number Of
some dimensions and magazine capacity. Rifling Grooves Six.
The actions on all of the models is of the mechanically Sight Radius6.29 inches.
locked, recoil-operated type, and are basically double-action/ Weight (Without Magazine) 26.5 ounces.
single-action in function. However, there are also double- Weight Of
action-only options available on some models for those who Empty Magazine 2.9 ounces.
prefer that system. Weight Of Pistol
And Empty Magazine 29.4 ounces.
Trigger Pull Weight 12.12 pounds (double-action)
THE P220 4.4 (single-action)
It was on America's 200th birthday that the SIG Sauer Magazine Capacity Nine rounds.
Browning imported and marketed the handy SIG Sauer

P220 under their name during the mid-1970s.

The SIG Sauer P225 was made for the West German
police. It is Europe's most widely-issued police pistol.
For the author, one of the most impressive of the specifica-

tions is the rate of rifling twist. At one turn in 9.84 inches, the
twist rate is fast enough to stabilize any weight 9mmP bullet
normally encountered — and that includes the 147-grainers.
For those who have not experienced the problem, there are
anumber of handguns on the market which may shoot the 115-
grain and 124-grain bullets well, but which fall short when the
subsonic 147-grain bullets are used. Not the SIG Sauer. It
devours all bullet weights with equal aplomb.
For those who think a quick look at this pistol is like deja
vue all over again, fear naught. Yes, the P220 was offered in
the United States as the Browning BDA in the 1970s.
The SIG Sauer P225, because of its short barrel and

THE P225 slide, is known for its quick pointing characteristics.
Next, and what might be considered one of the more
interesting of the models when it comes to quick handling and
natural pointing, is the P 225. It is available only in 9mmP, and Sight Radius 5.71 inches.
the dimensions are: Weight
(Without Magazine) 26.1 ounces.
Overall Length 7.08 inches. Weight Of Empty
Overall Height 5.15 inches. Magazine 2.8 ounces.
Overall Width 1.34 inches. Weight Of Pistol And
Barrel Length 3.86 inches. Empty Magazine 28.9 ounces.
Rifling Twist One turn in 9.84 inches. Trigger Pull Weight 12.12 pounds (double-action)
Number Of 4.4 pounds (single-action)
Rifling Grooves Six. Magazine Capacity Eight rounds.

^ ^ ^ ^
r>w~AN piSTOL TARGET
Above, of the police units

using the SIG Sauer in the
U.S., the P226 (left) is the
most popular because of its
high capacity. At right is
the P225, the most popular
Hornady
police handgun in Europe.
Right, the SIG Sauer autos
will handle most any type
of 9mm ammo with ease.
Below, the frame of the
gmm LUGER
P226 is built for service.
1
Jim"
The P225 was designed originally for the West German

police, and has become the most widely issued police pistol in
Europe. It has a couple of things going for it, when compared
to the other SIG Sauer models. For example, it is smaller than
the standard-size P220 and the high-capacity P226, which
means that it lends itself better to plainclothes carry or for
undercover work.
Frankly, of all the SIG Sauer 9mmP pistols, the P225 is my
own favorite. For lack of a better way to put it, this model
simple "felt" better in use. However, it is important to note that
this difference in "feel" is subtle at most, because they all felt
good and performed well. It is just that when comparing the
line against itself, the author liked the P225 the most.
Granted, it has the single-column, in-line magazine which
holds "only" eight rounds. That is about half of what some
9mmP handguns hold these days. But, with such a magazine,
the grip frame of the pistol is slimmer, and in this design that
thinness fit the author's hand like it was made for it. What this
meant when it came time to shoot was that the pistol pointed

Above, Geoff Barclay takes
careful aim with a P226,
testing the accuracy of the
factory sights. Left, the
P226, like all SIG Sauer
pistols, is truly well made.
Overall Length 7.71 inches.

Overall Height 5.47 inches.
perfectly and naturally. This, in turn, resulted in quick, consis- Overall Width 1.45 inches.
tent hits. Barrel Length 4.41 inches.
Not only was I able to hit any part of the target at will, but Rifling Twist One turn in 9.94 inches.
the pistol made it easy to "walk" the bullet hits left, right, up Number Of
or down. It was almost like drawing a picture with bullets. Rifling Grooves Six.
How enjoyable, and how such performance boosts confi- Sight Radius 6.29 inches.
dence! Weight (Without Magazine) 26.5 ounces.
Weight Of
THE P226 Empty Magazine 3.4 ounces.
The P226 is SIG Sauer's full-size, high-capacity 9mmP Weight Of Pistol And
semi-auto offering. It might well be considered as the law Empty Magazine 29.9 ounces.
enforcement workhorse of the line. It also has been picked as Trigger Pull Weight 12.12 pounds (double-action)
the preferred model by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 4.4 pounds (single-action)
its hostage rescue teams and for its SWAT (Special Weapons Magazine Capacity (20-round magazine
And Tactics) units. Specific dimensions of the P226 are: available).1 5 rounds

The slide of the SIG Sauer P226 is made of steel and configured to continue performing even during heavy use.
The recoil spring on SIG Sauer autos is made of double wire, making it effective even in extremly cold conditions.
The squared breech end of

the SIG Sauer barrel also
serves as a locking block
The author found the double-action-only option for this they put holes within those rings more or less at random. The
model to be intriguing. It took a few shots to become familiar next few shots saw the author able to put the holes into the 10
with the trigger pull dynamics. They are different from even ring. Then, like with the other models, I was able to "walk" the
the double-action first shot in the other SIG Sauer models. hits around on the target at will.
Quickly, one's trigger finger becomes educated. For ex- There is little doubt that should a shooter use a P226 in
ample, there are no "surprises" with the trigger pull in DAO DAO regularly, it could become one of the most "user-
(double-action only). Yes, it is a comparatively 1-o-n-g pull, friendly" pistols in the entire lineup.
but it is consistent and it always lets off in the same way and As a DAO, however, this is not what one would consider
at the same spot in the finger movement. to be a target shooting proposition. It is a service pistol all the
More than anything else, the trigger pull on the DAO sub- way.
model is akin to an exaggerated two-stage military rifle
trigger. There is a discemable amount of rearward movement THE P228
involved in the first stage, and then a shorter, more precise The SIG Sauer P228 might be considered as the compact
second stage. So it was with the P226 in DAO. version of the P225. It is slightly smaller than the full-
The first few shots remained in the 8,9 and 10 rings, but size P225, yet remains what one would term a "high

SIG Sauer autos are noted for their natural, fast point features which makes them easy to control during rapid fire.
capacity" semi-auto pistol. smallish hands would have no problem handling it. Yet, it fits
Although the major market for such a pistol is in the law larger hands, like the author's, comfortably. That's quite an
enforcement arena, where it lends itself to off-duty and achievement.
concealed carry, this also happens to be the model which was Like all of the SIG Sauer pistols, the P228 is available with
adopted by the U.S. Army for all of its "compact" pistol uses. blue, nickel or K-Kote finish.
The P 228 used by the Army has the K-Kote finish and tridum Another feature available on any of the pistols is the option
night sights. of tritium night sights which are called SIGLITE sights. The
Essentially, the P228 is a high capacity variant of the P225. pistols come standard with fixed sights (drift adjustable for
The only real differences are the magazine capacity and the windage) and the three-dot system. Wood handles also are
grip frame contour to accommodate the larger capacity maga- available to replace the standard composition handles sup-
zine. Specifications for the P228 are: plied with the various models.
It is unlikely that any of the SIG Sauer pistols is about to
Overall Length 7.08 inches. win a beauty contest — they are not what one might call
Overall Height 5.35 inches. "pretty" pistols. They are not ugly, either, but they simply are
Overall Width 1.46 inches. not cosmetically graceful. That's because they are business all
Barrel Length 3.86 inches. the way. This reality sinks in instandy when a shooter grasps
Rifling Twist One turn in 9.84 inches. one of them and takes over at the controls.
Number Of Speaking of controls, there are not a lot of them, and those
Rifling Grooves Six. which are in evidence are where they should be and are both
Sight Radius 5.71 inches. easy and quick to operate.
Weight (Without Magazine) 26.1 ounces. The magazine release button, for example, is a la 1911
Weight Of design—at thumb level j ust aft of the trigger well. The trigger,
Empty Magazine 3.0 ounces. of course, is also one of the controls, and it is located in the
Weight Of Pistol And traditional spot, as well.
Empty Magazine 29.1 ounces. At the top of the handle on the left side of the pistol are the
Trigger Pull Weight 12.12 pounds (double-action) two main controls—the slide release lever and the decocking
4.4 pounds (single-action) lever. The slide release lever is the smaller of the two controls,
Magazine Capacity 13 rounds. and is the most rearward. When the slide is locked to the rear,
simply depress the lever and the slide slams forward.
When a shooter grasps this model, it has a comfortable feel. The decocking lever is in exactly the right spot, and gives
It points about as naturally as any of the SIG Sauer line, and the whole line of handguns its signature identity. Whenever
might be considered one of the better bets for self- or home- the pistol is cocked and the shooter wants to put it back into a
defense. It is configured in such a way that shooters with safe mode, all that he or she needs to do is to depress the

The design of the P226's
grip and trigger guard, gives
the shooter an extra edge.
decocking lever, and the pistol is safe. However, to fire, all that when the slide release lever is depressed, the slide can be
needs to be done is to pull the double-action trigger and it goes moved forward and off the frame (hold onto the slide, or it may
bang. How quick. How handy. go sailing across the room).
Disassembly of the SIG Sauers also is quick and simple. The recoil spring and guide are removed a la any P-35 or
First, assure that the pistol is not loaded. Then, remove the its derivatives. Grasp the spring and base of the guide where
magazine and pull the slide to the rear, locking it rearward by they rest against the bottom of the barrel, pull back slightly,
pushing upward on the slide release lever. then guide the spring and guide up and out of the bottom of the
Next, rotate the take-down lever (located on the left side of slide. Next, jiggle the barrel up and out of the slide. That's as
the frame just above the trigger) clockwise until it stops. Then, far as the pistol normally needs to be disassembled for routine
The SIG Sauer P228 is a

high-capacity compact that
is popular for plainclothes
as well as off-duty carry.

The P-210-6 is the first SIG auto. Any discussion of
firearms with SIG in its name must mention this gun.
Although this entire line is now known as the SIG Sauer

offering, that combination of names may give pause to some
of the old timers. An understandable degree of confusion
might result. Yes, there are SIG firearms, there are Sauer
firearms — and there are SIG Sauer firearms.
THE P-210
SIG firearms are made in Switzerland. By far, the most
famous of the SIG pistols is the original P-210-1 which was
introduced in 1949. This is a single-action semi-auto offered
in .22 long rifle, .30 Luger and 9mmP. It has a polished blue
finish, 4 3/4-inch barrel and is 8 1/2 inches long overall. It
weighs 35 ounces in .30 Luger and 9mmP, and 33 ounces in
.22 rimfire. Checkered wood stocks are standard.
cleaning and maintenance. There are several sub-models of the P-210. For example,
It was the SIG Sauer design which brought an excidng the P-210-2 is similar to the P-210-1, except the finish is dull
variation of an old theme to the gun industry. This design and it has plastic stocks. The P-210-5 Target model is simUar
really doesn't have a classic ejection port as did semi-auto and to the P-210-1, except it has a six-inch barrel, adjustable
auto pistols which preceded it. Rather, empty casings are trigger stop, adjustable rear sight and target front sight. And,
ejected through a square cut which extends all the way across the P-210-6 Target model is similar to the P-210-2, with the
the top of the square-profile slide, and down a bit on the right target features. For owners of any of the P-210 pistols, there
side. also is a .22 conversion unit so the pistol can be used as a
This squared cut in the top of the slide not only serves as an rimfire. It consists of magazine, slide and recoil spring for the
ejection port, but it is an integral part of the locking mecha- caliber.
nism. Corresponding shoulders in the breech area of the barrel While SIG is a Swiss operation, Sauer is a German com-
lock into the slide via this huge cut/ejection port. This form of pany. Originally located in Suhl, but now in Eckenforde, the
lockup has been copied by other companies in the 9mmP move had to do with the division of Germany following World
pistol business since — and why not? It works. War II, but any such concerns would be moot now due to the
A close look at the recoil spring bespeaks the amount of fact that Germany has been re-united.
thought and attention to detail which are common with the J.P. Sauer u. Sohn is a famous gunmaker, and has produced
SIG Sauer line. It is a compound spring, comprised of two some of the world's fine handguns, shotguns and rifles. On the
strands of spring steel wrapped around each other as they were pistol front, Sauer was best known during the early part of the
formed into an elongated coil. Why did they do that? A 20th Century as a maker of a number pocket pistol models,
number of reasons, actually, but primary among them is the beginning with the Model 1913 which was chambered for the
fact that the pistol works more reliably in extremely cold .32 Auto cartridge. Next came the Model 1930, also cham-
weather as a result. bered for the .32 Auto. The Model H double-action auto (made
In fact, there is that level of attention to detail extant from 1938 until 1948 and designated Model 38 when issued
throughout each of these pistols. Where they need to be during wartime) was offered in .25 Auto, .32 Auto and .380
precise, they are. Where the metal needs to be hardened, it is. ACP. Also, the company offered a Pocket 25 Automatic
The result? They shoot, and shoot, and shoot and then keep Pistol, which was chambered for the .25 Auto.
shooting some more. Couple those models with the many classic side-by-side
B ut longevity is not the only concern one would have when shotguns, combination guns and bolt-action rifles produced
considering a 9mmP handgun. Frankly, it is the way in which by Sauer over the years, and the name quite literally stands for
these pistols, individually or as a group, feel, fit and hit the quality — high quality all the way.
target which is most impressive. Hence, the combination of the effort involving both SIG
Indeed, they are world class pistols, and are among only a and Sauer into the SIG Sauer lineup means top notch all the
handful of designs which one might consider totally appropos way. These are major league firearms intended for use under
to take into a gunfight. any conditions anywhere in the world at anytime.

CHAPTER
Fourteen
A FAMILY CALLED
GLOCK
This Unusual Design Has A
9 m m T o Meet V a r i o u s N e e d s !
Rick Kennerknecht puts a Glock 19 pistol in 9mmP through a range test. This is a handy-size pistol that performs well.

O A LARGE degree, Glock pistols have
T
guns.
redefined the way many shooters and
representatives from the law enforce-
ment community view working hand-
Perhaps the best way to describe the entire

Glock line of handguns is to say they are 1980s
pistols. Literally, they came out of nowhere in the
gun world, and have taken a large segment of it by
storm.
However, in much the same way that books
banned in certain places enjoy added sales activity
generally, the controversial beginnings for Glock
did nothing but help make the firm a household
word. That controversy erupted when naysayers
shook in imagined horror that these "plastic guns"
would be able to defeat airport security.
To put it all into perspective, the early 1980s The Glock 17 is the pistol that made Glock famous.
Its length is 7.21 inches with a weight of 21.91 ounces.
were a time when the world was keenly aware of
atrocities foisted upon the world by international
terrorists. The fact that many of the parts of the
Glock pistols were made of polymers (plastics)
made the anti-gunners go ballistic. Actually, Glock
handguns are no more or less identifiable by airport
security systems than about any other kind of
firearm. B ut for those who would allege that the sky
was falling, Glocks represented handguns from
hell.
Granted, the false claims by the antis may have
been unfair and unjustified, but they were not all
bad for Glock, as it turned out. As mentioned
above, the notoriety ascribed by the alarmists gave
the Glock instant identity — something that could
easily have taken several more years under more
normal circumstances.
Gaston Glock, an Austrian engineer, formed
Glock Ges.m.b.H. in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria in
1963 with the manufacturing of commercial appli-
Above, the Glock 19 is a

compact in 9mmP. Left,
the Glock 17L competition
model is serious equipment.

The Glock 9mmP line is composed of three models. From left, they are the Model 17L, Model 17 and Model 19.
ances for the Austrian market. Later, Glock developed a lia, with a stock 9mm Glock 17L competition model.
variety of military and police-related products, including With their square, boxy design and flat black finish, Glock
military knives, training and fragmentation hand grenades, pistols are easily identifiable in the field, but it wasn't their
non-disintegrating machine gun belts and entrenching tools. looks which made them famous. Quite simply, the Glock
In 1980, the Austrian army was searching for a modern pistol was the first in an increasingly long line of "goof-proof'
state-of-the-art 9mm semi-automatic pistol to equip their handguns which are simple to use.
troops with by 1983. Using modern manufacturing methods Glocks incorporate the double-action-only concept, al-
and non-strategic materials such as polymer, Gaston Glock though they are not actually true double-action pistols. It
was able, in 1982, to offer to the Austrian army test samples might be more correct to use another Glock term to describe
of a cost effective 9x19mm semi-automatic pistol. the actions. They are Safe Action pistols.
After passing stringent testing procedures against domes- Perhaps the best way to describe differences between
tic and international competitors, the Glock was purchased by Glock pistols and most others on the market is that the Glock
the Austrian army as their new service pistol. In 1984, the is not a double-action version of a design which began life as
Glock 17 pistol also surpassed all prior NATO (North Atlantic a single-action mechanism. For example, there is no long
Treaty Organization) durability and strength standards and trigger pull which cycles a hammer, as is the case in the more
was chosen by the Norwegian Army as their standard sidearm. traditional designs. Rather, the Glock incorporates a striker
In late 1985, Glock, Inc., was formed in Smyrna, Georgia mechanism with multiple safety devices which are built-in
— an Adanta suburb — to begin servicing North American and automatic.
law enforcement agencies and sport shooters alike with the Evidence of the design difference is apparent on the outside
new NATO-proven Glock 17 pistol. of the Glock itself. There are only three "controls" on the gun
Five years later, by November 1990, more than 2,700 U.S. — the slide release lever, located on the left side of the frame
law enforcement agencies on federal, state and local levels just above the grip area, and the double-duty trigger. Add the
had issued or authorized Glock pistols for duty use by their law magazine release button located just aft of the trigger housing,
enforcement personnel. In October, 1990, a Miami police and that's it.
officer, Armando Vales, captured the world tide of the I.P.S.C. The first of the safety features is the trigger safety. It is the
World Stock Gun Championship in Adelaide, South Austra- small sub-trigger or lever protruding through the middle of the

The Glock 17L has a dot on
the front sight and a white
outline on the rear sight.
trigger itself. When the trigger finger starts to depress the pulls, and the Glock 17L competition model has a trigger pull
trigger, the trigger safety goes rearward and becomes flush right at five pounds out of the box.
with the face of the main trigger. Granted, Glock pistols are not likely to win any beauty
Next on the safety front is the firing pin safety which blocks contests. However, they do have an appeal for many shooters
the firing pin until the trigger is pulled completely to the rear. which transcends surface looks. They tend to shoot and shoot
Finally, there is a drop safety which prevents the pistol from and shoot without problems, and they generally are satisfac-
firing if it is dropped. It, too, is disarmed as the trigger is pulled torily accurate for their intended purposes. Those are certainly
fully to the rear. Further, the striker assembly is not fully two gigantic areas of concern for such hardware. To put it
cocked until the trigger is pulled completely to the rear, so this another way, they go "bang" when the trigger is pulled, and
feature is an added safety function. they probably will hit the target, if the shooter does his or her
All of this results in a trigger pull which is longer than a part.
traditional single-action design, but shorter than the normal To make their point about reliability, the folks at Glock
double-action variety. Trigger pulls on production Glocks showed up at the Raahauge Shooting Sports Fair near Norco,
shot by the author tend to be quite uniform from one handgun California, on Saturday, May 19, 1990, with 20 Glock 17
to another. Glock Models 17 and 19 tend to have seven-pound pistols. That sports fair draws about 25,000 people during its
The Glock 17 has only three

controls: the slide release,
located at the top of the
frame above the slide grip
panel; the trigger and the
magazine release button.

The Glock 17 has vertical
striations and checkering
on the backstrap of the grip.
three-day run each year, with over 10,000 spectators on the

grounds at the time of the Glock demonstration.
Before the shooting began, all 20 pistols were disas-
sembled, and their parts thoroughly mixed. Then, starting
with G-17 serial number MU 421 US (frame), a complete
pistol was assembled from the piles of parts. What that meant
was that the test gun would have been made of random parts
— not parts specifically fitted for the purpose.
Shooting was performed by members of the California
Rangemasters Association and represented eight different
law enforcement agencies. During the next three hours and 47
minutes, that one handgun was fired 10,140 times, using
Federal Hi Power 9mm ammunition (stock #9AP).
The time period included mandatory range cease fires for
target replacement, as the test was conducted on the same
firing line as the public shooting at the fair.
Only one malfunction attributable to the pistol was expe-
rienced. At approximately 4,500 rounds, a trigger spring
broke. A replacement part was drawn from the existing
leftover parts, installed in less than one minute, and the test
continued.
Also, at every 2,500-round interval, the pistol was field
stripped so the chamber and breech face could be cleaned. No
other maintenance was performed during the entire test.
In 9mmP, the Glock lineup is represented by three models.
There is the basic Glock 17 standard pistol, the Glock 19
compact and the Glock 17L competition. By model, the
specifications are:
GLOCK 17
Overall length is 7.21 inches; height, (with sights), 5.16
inches; width, 1.18 inches; length between sights, 6.5 inches;
barrel length, 4.49 inches; rifling, hexagonal profile with
Glock pistols are noted for holding up to extended use. right-hand twist; rate of twist, one turn in 9.84 inches; maga-
To demonstrate this, Glock assembled a Model 17 from zine capacity, 17 rounds standard, (optional 19-round mag.);
parts of 20 pistols and conducted a marathon test. The weight, 21.91 ounces without magazine, (empty magazine is
pistol fired 10,140 rounds in three hours, 47 minutes. 2.08 ounces, or about 9.5 ounces fully loaded.

The Glock 17L is delivered
with an extra magazine and
a handy magazine loader.
GLOCK19
Overall length, 6.74 inches; height, (with sights), 4.92 The 17L, however, did demonstrate that it had an edge when
inches; width, 1.18 inches; length between sights, 5.98 inches; it came to bullet placement
barrel length, 4.02 inches; rifling, hexagonal profile with One factor, however, was noticeable each time the Glocks
right-hand twist; rate of twist, one turn in 9.84 inches; maga- were shot. Perceived recoil is greater with them than with most
zine capacity, 15 rounds standard, (optional 17-round mag.); of the more traditional 9mmP handguns. This seemed to have
weight, 20.99 ounces without magazine (empty magazine is little, if anything, to do with the size and overall shape of the
1.98 ounces, or about 8.55 ounces full). grips. They were generally fist-filling and ergonomically
correct.
GLOCK 17L I suspect the material from which the grip frame is made,
coupled with the relative light weight of the pistols, are the
Overall length, 8.77 inches; height, 5.16 inches; width, reasons for the increased felt recoil.
1.18 inches; length between sights, 8.03 inches; barrel length, Simply put, the grips are hard — made of a hard polymer.
6.02 inches; rifling, hexagonal profile with right-hand twist; Checkering and vertical striations are moulded into the front
rate of twist, one turn in 9.84 inches; magazine capacity, 17 and rear of the handle, as well as on the face of the trigger
rounds standard, (optional 19-round mag.); weight, 23.35 guard. Grip side panels are stippled. All of these features
ounces without magazine; (empty magazine is 2.08 ounces, or contribute nicely to a non-slip grip formula.
about 9.5 ounces full). But the hard surface of the grip area certainly transmits the
During range testing, the Glock 17 performed well. It rather sharp recoil of the 9mmP with aplomb. I would not term
pointed quickly, and the simple combat-style sights made this felt recoil to be overly objectionable, but some form of
target acquisition both quick and easy. Hitting random four- softer covering would be nice for extended range applications.
inch targets at unknown distances ranging from five feet to Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies all over the place
seven yards was boringly routine. There was also no trouble are switching to Glocks, whether the cartridge of choice is the
hitting the same size targets at will at distances up to 25 yards. 9mmP or something else. Acceptable reliability and accuracy,
Trigger pull was consistent, and did not seem to be a factor in of course, are big factors which help the various departments
hitting the targets. decide.
The Glock 19 performed similarly to the 17 and did not However, accidental shootings are things which simply
seem to be a "compact" in use. Rather, it performed much the don't cut it in society these days. And, the Glock's goof-proof
same way one would expect a full-size model to do. However, design is a major plus factor here. Simply put, a shooter has to
recoil was slightly more noticeable with the 19, as compared want to shoot the Glock for it to go off. Yet, when the decision
to the 17. That difference, however, did not affect tactical is made, it goes off every time.
performance adversely. Those are the sorts of things law enforcement administra-
Because of its longer barrel and slide, the Glock 17L tors weigh heavily when it comes to choosing a handgun. In
handled a bit more steadily than did either the 17 or 19. Its fact, the Glock design is really good for people who are not
tactical accuracy was so good that it was almost scary. I merely constant and serious shooters. The simplicity of the design and
needed to point it at the various targets, pull the trigger and hit operation means the handguns can be shot effectively by
them. people who are not serious pistoleers.
From a tactical perspective, all three models were superb. There is no effort here, though, to suggest these pistols are

1
I
This Model 17 is carried in a Glock holster which is

made of synthetic material impervious to weather.
This open-bottom, one-piece holster from Glock places
the Glock 19 in a high carry. The holster is ultra handy.
not serious handguns. They are, but they lack the aesthetic
appeal of the various "pretty" guns. With such an appearance
and feel, these handguns are nothing more or less than their The slide lock has a small, checkered "button-like" head
designer intended: tactical performers. protruding from both sides of the receiver just above the
Although Glock pistols are not as maintenance-intensive trigger housing. Both side of the slide lock need to be pulled
as some handguns, they do require periodic cleaning. To downward simultaneously for the slide to be removed.
disassemble any of the three Glock 9mmP handguns, the same Once the slide lock has been depressed, push the slide
procedure is used. forward and separate it from the receiver.
First, remove the magazine and assure there is no ammu- The slide removed, taking out the barrel comes next. To
nition in the pistol. Next, remove the slide. To accomplish this, accomplish this, push the recoil spring tube somewhat for-
first pull the trigger, then grasp the pistol in either the right or ward with the thumb. Be careful, because the spring is under
left hand in such a way that four fingers rest over the slide and tension. Then, remove the recoil spring tube with recoil spring
the thumb rests on the rear side of the receiver. from the slide and separate them if necessary.
Using the fingers, draw back the slide about 0.12-inch, and Now grasp the barrel on the barrel locking cams, push it
pull the slide lock downward with the thumb and index finger slightly forward, raise it and pull it backward and out of the
of the right or left hand. A special note here will help eliminate slide. This completes the basic field stripping procedure for
a certain degree of potential frustration. the Glock handguns. Reassembly is the reverse procedure.

r
d o c k ' s 9 m m M a c h i n e Pistol A n d T h e L a w
Oregon sheriff's deputy Dwes Huston has a string of expended cases in the air as he fires full-auto with the Glock 18.
In this instance, the officer is using the extended 33-round magazine, but it is hidden by the hand-hold he is using.
I
IF YOU LIKE things presented in orderly fashion, you Spanish arms manufacturers adopted the design and found
probably have noted that there is a hole in the lineup of immediate takers in China, where the war lords still held
Glock 9mm handguns. There is the Glock 17, of course, power despite the fact that revolution was brewing. Noting the
and there is theGlock 19, but what about the Glock 18? success of the broomhandle selective-fire design, several
It's there, too, but it might be said that this particular Glock other European manufacturers entered the market with their
designation is in a world of its own. It's not one you'll find on own version.
the firing line at your gun club or even in most law enforce- Various other makers came up with machine pistol de-
ment weapons inventories at this point. The Glock 18 is a signs. For example, one developed by Star, the Spanish
machine pistol that has a selective-fire capability. company, shortly before World War II, was little more than a
At first glance, the Glock 18 does not look all that different direct copy of the Government Model 1911 auto that incorpo-
from its immediate numerical predecessor, the Glock 17. It rated a selective-fire capability.
has the same general exterior design contouring, except that As one might expect, this particular model was chambered
there is a selector switch on the left side of the Glock 18. for the .45 ACP cartridge instead of the 9mm Parabellum.
The term "machine pistol" is really sort of all-inclusive. Offered with detachable stocks and extended magazines, it
The Germans who developed the concept tend to think of all found a ready market in Latin America. The Soviet Union,
submachine guns as machine pistols, since they are relatively seemingly impressed with the concept, developed its own
small and fire pistol ammunition. The venerable broomhandle machine pistol, the Stechkin, which was chambered for the
Mauser, for example, was reworked in the era of World War 9mm Makarov cartridge.
I to handle sustained fire. You can see that the machine pistol dates back in history
In the period following the War To End All Wars, several and that the Glock 18 is hardly a new concept, but it does take

The Glock 18 with its 19-round
magazine looks much like the
Glock 17, except for full-auto
selector switch on its left side.
#
1
Chuck Karwan had the chance

to fire several hundred 9mmP
* *
rounds, mostly full-auto, with
the Glock 18 machine pistol
and found he appreciated it.
personnel of the Douglas County Sheriffs Department in the
use of the newly acquired machine pistol.
According to Main, training with the Glock 18 for person-
nel of his department has been devoted primarily to use of the
gus as an entry weapon when officers are involved in drug
busts and similar fast-action efforts. The weapons used previ-
ously by the Douglas County Sheriffs department when
going up against drug dealers and others in the illicit trade had
been the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, so the use of
full-auto weaponry was hardly a novelty to the department's
entry-team personnel.
Another plus for this particular law enforcement agency
was the fact that deputies had been issued the Glock 17 as the
official duty handgun. The similarity in feel, balance and
controls between that and the Glock 18 simplified training,
according to Deputy Main. The only difference is the selector
switch on the left side of the Glock 18. It is possible to even use
the same holster and magazines of the Glock 17 with the
selective-fire version.
Chuck Karwan was able to fire the Glock 18 on three
different occasions, expending several hundred rounds in the
advantage of some interesting modem technologies. full-auto mode. He also was able to observe the training of
Combat handgunnery expert Chuck Karwan had heard of department personnel in use and application of the machine
the selective-fire Glock pistol about the time it was introduced pistol in the field.
and admits he had serious doubts as to its usefulness in combat "One of the best applications for a machine pistol either for
and specifically for law enforcement use. the military or police is as a room-entry weapon, particularly
"With its light weight and high rate of fire, I felt certain the for the first person through the door," Karwan wrote in his
Glock 18 would be too difficult to control in the full-auto DBI volume, The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery,
mode to be of real use in a law enforcement situation," he Third Edition. The machine pistol "has several advantages in
recalls. that role. First, it can be operated with one hand just like a
He did have a chance, however, to check out one of the handgun if it becomes necessary. It can be secured quickly in
Glock 18 pistols that had been acquired by an Oregon sheriff s a belt holster should both hands be needed. It also is far easier
department. Deputy Jim Main was in charge of training to maneuver in tight quarters than a shotgun, assault rifle or the

other machine pistol with which they had experience. Chuck
Karwan agreed, comparing it to machine pistols from his own
experience that fire only .22 rimfire ammunition or, perhaps,
the Astra Model F machine pistol. The latter is equipped with
a rate-of-fire reducer, which is meant to make that particular
gun easier to control.
Conjecture among those sheriffs deputies being trained
with the Glock machine pistol was that ease experienced in
controlling the gun in the full-auto mode was bom primarily
of the basic design of the entire Glock line, which seems to
position the gun's bore line immediately over the top of the
shooter's hand.
This means, of course, that the resulting recoil is straight to
the rear, with far less tendency for the gun's muzzle to rotate
upward, as is the case with other pistols and especially full-
auto weapons.
"The tendency of the muzzle to rise is controlled with
Deputy Dwes Huston of Oregon's Douglas County

Sheriff's Department gets field training from behind a
portable barricade utilized in forced entry exercises.
conventional submachine gun."

In firing the Glock 18, Karwan found it operated perfectly.
He also observed members of the sheriffs department entry
team, as they fired several hundred rounds from the pistols.
The only problem noted — not one that could be considered
a malfunction — lay in the fact that, at about the point that 300
rounds or so had passed through the gun, fouling was begin-
ning to gum up the works. This manifested itself in a failure of
the slide to remain in the locked-back position after the last
round had been fired from the magazine.
"Obviously, if kept clean, there is little likelihood of the
Glock 18 being involved in any extended engagement that
would result in enough shooting to cause problems of reliabil-
ity," Karwan opines.
Those deputies who had fired other machine pistols in the
Chuck Karwan was justly proud of the silhouette target
course of their work or training found that firing the Glock 18
he fired full-auto with Glock 18's 33-round magazine.
amounted to a series of surprises, even revelations. All agreed
that the Glock was far easier to control and handle than any

relative ease, when using a solid, two-handed grip," Karwan
discovered.
"Shooting one-handed with the gun in its full-auto mode is
another story," he admits. "The muzzle rise is rapid, even
though it is easier to control than with other machine pistols
I've had the opportunity to check out on the range." Rate of
fire of the Glock 18, with the selector switch set for full-auto,
is in the vicinity of 2,000 rounds per minute.
In Vietnam, where most troops were armed with the
selective-fire M16 rifle, we no longer could boast of being a
"nation of riflemen." We had become a "nation of sprayers"
and the ammunition bills paid by the U.S. Government sub-
stantiate that accusation.
In an effort to reverse that trend, the Pentagon now is
having the M16 built with a three-shot burst capability.
There also are some machine pistols that feature a three-
shot burst. In fact, the VP-70, produced by Heckler & Koch in
the Seventies was limited to a three-shot burst and semi-auto
fire only. There was no full-auto capability for that specific
model.
There is no three-round burst limitation incorporated in the
Glock 18's design, but that is one of the techniques being
taught these days in use of selective-fire arms. With extensive Some of the sheriff's deputies undergoing training with
military and civilian experience with full-auto armament, the machine pistol favored this type of two-hand grip,
Karwan has attempted, over the years, to school his trigger allowing them to use lower area of the longer magazine.
finger to handle a three-round burst without benefit of a
mechanical cut-off. His comment: "It is easier to fire more
rounds than three with die Glock 18, but damned hard to fire it uses the standard 17- and 19-round magazines of the semi-
less!" auto Glock 17. However, the Georgia distributor for the guns
This particular expert, incidentally, does not favor the also can offer a 33-round stick-type magazine. It fits the
burst-control device that has been incorporated in some arms magazine well in the same manner as the shorter standard
designs. "Burst-control devices are a mechanical solution to a magazines, protruding about two inches below the bottom of
training problem," he contends. "They tend to complicate a the mag well.
firearm's mechanism unnecessarily and to compromise its "This extra length can be used to advantage, however,"
reliability and durability.," Karwan found, "as it can be used as a handle for the weaker
A great advantage in design of the Glock 18 is the fact that hand in la two-handed firing position."
Deputy John Strickland was

proud of the skill he acquired
with the Glock 18 during his
department's training sessions.
He favored a low-torso hold so
that any high shots still would
be in kill zone on the target.

Deputy Dwes Huston favored
the two-hand hold with left hand
on lower section of the 33-round
magazine. This system helped a
credible score for full-auto fire.
One of the Oregon deputies with whom Karwan was firing at a range of approximately 25 yards. He feels, based
shooting favored this particular position, claiming that the upon this observation, that he would miss a silhouette target
extra leverage helped him to control the machine pistol when few times during a full-magazine burst — even as impractical
firing full-auto. This individual's use of the long grip made it as that type of firing might be.
possible for him to fire an entire magazine of 33 rounds into "The biggest problem with firing extended bursts is the fact
the chest area of a silhouette target at combat distances. that the gun's sights seem to disappear in the resultant blur as
Karwan, however, found the hold awkward when he tried to soon as the trigger is pulled." He feels that, for close-range
emulate the deputy's performance. combat situations, a laser sight might offer an advantage in
"When shooting at multiple targets with the Glock 18,1 helping to hold the rounds on the target in a combat situation.
couldput a three-round burst into each target nearly as quickly While most machine pistols of the past have had been
as I could put one round into each target while firing semi- designed to handle the capability of adding a shoulder stock,
auto," Chuck Karwan reports. "This, of course, gives the gun/ this is not the case with the Glock 18. There is no such
ammunition combination a far higher probability of deliver- provision. Karwan doesn't feel it needs such a stock, since he
ing an incapacitating wound than does the conventional semi- sees its primary role strictly as a pistol for entry teams where
automatic pistol." the officer probably would want one hand free in any case.
It is his contention that one of the better 9mm jacketed "With the exception of the full-auto selector, this pistol
hollow-point loads offers a 90 percent probability of a one- really is a Glock 17 in nearly every way," Karwan points out.
shot stop with a single torso hit. "A three-round burst to a "In normal use, it would be used in the same manner as the
felon's torso with the same load should have the probability of Glock 17, saving the full-auto capability for special needs and
99.9 percent for a stop. It just doesn't get any better than that!" situations-
Chuck Karwan feels the best method of employing the One exception between the two models is the slide, Karwan's
Glock 18 machine pistol is with the three-shot burst. What this investigations showed. They do not interchange, because the
amounts to is that the shooter aims only once to send three slide rails differ in dimensions. There also are some dimen-
rounds downrange. It becomes a "triple-tap" in effect, but with sional differences in the frames of the two pistols, as well as
one pull of the trigger. His experience shows that a shooter several other parts, a requirement to allow selective fire for the
who has practiced considerably with this particular handgun Glock 18.
can get consistent hits on a torso-size silhouette target at 20 Needless to say, you are not going to find the Glock 18 at
yards or so. your corner sporting goods emporium. Sales are limited
However, Karwan doesn't discount the continuous burst strictly to law enforcement agencies and selected military
potential for the Glock 18. "I found that if recoil caused me to organizations.
track off the target, it was possible to bring the gun back on "Not every entry team will pick such a weapon," Karwan
target in mid-burst just by getting into equilibrium with the states in his final evaluation. "For instance, it probably would
recoil," he explains. "With a lot of practice, one can keep the not be appropriate in a hostage rescue mission. However, even
gun pretty much on the target at a combat range of seven yards in that situation, it would be simple just to switch to semi-auto
or so, even if firing the entire 35-round magazine." fire and use the weapon as a conventional semi-auto pistol.
In firing into a pond from an elevation, Karwan had the "It is not a gun for a person who has not been trained to use
opportunity to see where his bullets were landing during it," he opines, "but those who are trained properly can provide
extended firing of the entire magazine. In this instance, he was a big nightmare for any bad guy!"

CHAPTER
Fifteen
THE 9mms OF
HECKLER 81 KOCH
T h i s G e r m a n M a k e r ' s L i n e u p Is
Short — But A d e q u a t e
The MP5K-PDW (top),

with its stock folded, is
compared to the Beretta
M9, the U.S. service pistol.

H
ECKLER & KOCH is among the world's better volume proposition. Further, the high standards of quality are
known producers of 9mmP firearms, yet actu- well established and virtually never questioned.
ally has relatively few models in that chamber- On the 9mmP front, however, HK has had only a short
ing. It is a situation of quality rather than quan- lineup of models. Certainly, there has been the famous MP5
tity. Yet, as this book was being written, HK was in the process submachine gun, but for most shooters, such a firearm is far
of bringing out a whole new design in semi-auto pistols called from ever being a reality. Rather, it is a law enforcement/
the USP — the letters standing for "Universal Self-loading military proposition.
Pistol." For civilians, there have been the P9, VP70Z, SP89 and the
This is truly a new pistol in a number of respects, starting P7 series. That's really a short lineup, but there are some
with the fact that it is the first HK firearm designed specifically outstanding handguns among them. At this writing, only the
for the American market. Before exploring the USP further, it SP89 and P7 models remained in production.
might be prudent to look back into the recent history of HK
firearms and how they have fit into the overall picture. HK P9
For many Americans, the name HK has been synonymous The HK P9 was manufactured for seven years, ending in
with expensive. Generally, HK firearms in the United States 1984. It was a single-action semi-auto with four-inch barrel,
have been priced at two to three times the amount of other fixed sights and a Parkerized finish. In addition to 9mmP, the
firearms on the market. Hence, they never have been a high- P9 was available also in .30 Luger (7.65P) and (designated
P9S) in .45 ACP.
HK VP70Z
Also discontinued in 1984 was the VP70Z, which was a
double-action semi-auto pistol with 4-1/2-inch barrel. It also
featured a double-column magazine that held 18 rounds.
HK SP89
Although the SP89, introduced in 1989, is technically a
semi-auto handgun, it has the looks of a stockless "hand rifle."
Barrel is 4-1/2 inches, but the firearm weighs 4.4 pounds, and
is 12.8 inches long overall. It is quite similar in many respects
to the HK94, which is a semi-auto rifle in 9mmP (a 9mmP
variant of the famed HK91 in 7.62mm NATO). Magazines for
the SP89 pistol hold 15 or 30 rounds.
Heckler & Koch MP5A2 aubgun might be considered

a distant cousin of the current crop of the maker's
handguns inasmuch as both fire the 9mmP round.

This P9 has a compensator and target grips. While no longer in production, there are many P9s still being used.
HKP7
Despite the fact that the models mentioned above have currently. It incorporates the squeeze-cock design, and the
been well known among several segments of the shooting magazine holds eight rounds. Barrel length is four inches.
public, it has been the variants in the HK P7 lineup which have The P7M13 is similar to the P7M8, except it has a double-
established a mental image for what HK pistols are — an column magazine. Capacity is 13 shots.
image which focuses immediately upon the unique firing For this writing, the author checked out the P7M13 with
system incorporated into these handguns. For lack of a shorter nickel finish. This is the sort of handgun which becomes more
description, these pistols incorporate a "squeeze-cock" mecha- interesting and effective with use. The more one shoots it, the
nism which, among other things, happens to make them more one appreciates its many features. And, the more one
among the safest of the world's handguns to use, and some of shoots it, the more one realizes that it truly is among the
the most effective service/combat models ever made. world's finest ever 9mmP handguns. It is not a target handgun.
It all started with the P7PSP, which also was discontinued Rather, it is the sort of 9mmP one would opt to take into a
in 1984. However, it had the now-famous "squeeze-cock" gunfight if he had total choice in the matter.
system which has typified HK on the American market. That At first glance, the P7 profile is not what one would be
system includes a hinged (at the bottom) front grip strap which tempted to call pretty. It is not ugly, either, but is more in line
can be "squeezed" backward by the shooting hand. That with the "functional" look when it comes to an aesthetic
pressure and resultant movement "cocks," or moves the school of design. This is typical of many mechanical objects
striker into battery, which arms the pistol. Then, a simple which originate in Germany.
single-action pull on the trigger fires the handgun. Add to that the level of fit and precision one would expect
This system affords a level of carry safety which at least from firearms emanating from Oberndorf, and the idea that it
matches (some feel it surpasses) any double-action design, yet works and works well begins to take form. This may be where
allows the comparatively light and easy trigger pull of a many gun designs end. However, with the P7, it is where
single-action on every shot. A live round can be carried in the everything begins. From this point, things become more and
chamber safely in such a design, because the action is not more interesting.
cocked until the grip is squeezed by the shooting hand. For example, the design features a fixed barrel with
Following the P7PSP was the P7M8 which is being offered polygonal rifling that is hammer forged. It is easier to

The P7M8 is the first HK to have the squeeze-cock grip.
handgun that will last virtually indefinitely if treated at all

respectfully. When it comes to the finer firearms, the differ-
ences often are so subtle that they are appreciated by relatively
few shooters. For example, even the magazine for the P7M13
is something to talk about.
First, these magazines are made of much thicker steel than
virtually any others on the market. And, the design, which
goes from staggered double-column at the base to single-
column at the top, accomplishes a number of intriguing things
all at once.
accomplish accuracy with any of the above features, but put Because of its shape, the magazine can be inserted into the
them all together in one pistol, and it would be difficult to grip quickly and smoothly. The shooter need not look at the
make one that didn't shoot at least okay. But there is more. pistol or magazine when inserting the mag into the gun. When
Like other firearms in the HK lineup, the P7 has a fluted the ambidextrous magazine release lever behind the trigger
chamber. In addition to putting lines on the sides of spent area is depressed, the magazine literally pops out and free
brass, the fluting serves a functional purpose. It causes the from the pistol. That also is nice.
handgun to extract and eject empties, even if the extractor But what approached mind-boggling attention to detail
should break or be missing from the handgun entirely. In fact, was the way the 13-round magazine loaded. It was so mysti-
the only real purposes for the extractor are to serve as a loaded fying that I had to disassemble the magazine for closer study
chamber indicator and to make extraction totally smooth and to figure out how the reality had been accomplished.
consistent. For those who are unaware, high capacity magazines can
But there is more. The pistol design also incorporates a gas be thumb-busters to load—especially those rounds which are
system which uses the gases from the burning powder to help inserted when the magazine is already about half full. The
retard the rearward movement of the recoiling slide when a procedure is tough enough that there are a number of little
round is fired. This eliminates the need for a heavy slide or a devices available which help the shooter save skin on thumb
more conventional form of locking mechanism. Functional and forefinger (and preclude blistering when the procedure is
reliability is what this is all about. performed numerous times in short order).
Add to all of this the 110-degree grip angle and weight However, when loading the magazine for the HK P7M13,
distribution of the pistol, and the shooter ends up with a it became apparent quickly that it was not noticeably more
firearm that functions flawlessly and points naturally. In any difficult to load the thirteenth round than it had been to load the
tactical situation, those are, of course, two of the most impor- first one. How does that happen? Simple. The answer is a
tant features any firearm can offer. combination of the spring and the double-to-single column
Although the exacting manufacturing process necessary to housing design. This system is just one more example of the
produce the P7 pistol results in a price tag that blows away degree to which everything about these pistols has been
many prospective buyers, it also affords the creation of a thought-out and executed properly. These are the subtlies that

Author used this P7M13 while writing this book. He considers it to be one of the finest 9mm handguns ever made.
separate world class pistols from other guns. place. It clicks into place easily, and the pistol is reassembled.
The nuances of the design may be legion, but when Frankly, it is so quick and slick that after a couple of practice
executed into the final product, they make for an extremely runs, it can be done without conscious thought.
simple handgun to clean and maintain. Disassembly and Further cleaning and maintenance can be done on the firing
reassembly are incredibly simple and easy. pin assembly and bushing, which is removed from the rear of
After assuring that the pistol is not loaded, remove the the slide. To accomplish this disassembly, merely depress the
magazine and allow the slide to snap forward (whenever the cocking lever until the end of the firing pin is flush with the slot
slide is locked to the rear, snapping it forward is as simple as in the firing pin bushing. Then, with a finger or coin (I found
squeezing the cocking lever, which is the entire front of the the finger works fine), rotate the bushing 90 degrees clock-
grip). Next, push the slide retaining button at the left rear of the wise and it comes loose. Depressing the cocking lever fully
frame while pulling the slide back about three-quarters of an pushes the bushing far enough out of the slide so it can be
inch. grasped and pulled all the way out.
With the slide pulled that distance to the rear (there is a This is all the further one has to disassemble this part of the
"feel" when it reaches that point), lift up the rear of the slide pistol for cleaning. The firing pin assembly does disassemble
and then allow it to move forward and away from the muzzle further, but it is not recommended to do so on a regular basis.
of the barrel. Once the slide has been removed, the recoil Care must be taken to assure that the assembly is put back
spring slides off the barrel, and the pistol is ready for routine together properly should it be further disassembled, however.
cleaning and maintenance. Reassembly is the reverse process. Following extended amounts of firing (like after 500
However, there are a couple of notes to make the process rounds or about every year), there are some other more
slick and quick. When replacing the slide, make certain that detailed cleaning procedures recommended for the pistol.
the gas piston, which is attached to the bottom front of the They are all simple, straight-forward operations, and involve
slide, is aligned with the gas cylinder so it will slide into place cleaning detail work to keep dirt and sludge from building up
smoothly. Then, it is simply a matter of angling the slide so it in critical spots and causing malfunctions.
will move backward against the pressure of the recoil spring The author fired many more than 500 rounds through the
until it is far enough to the rear to be rotated down and into test pistol, using a wide variety of factory ammunition and

Above is a P7M13 service-grade handgun with its distinctive squeeze-cock feature. Below is the gun's magazine.
handloads. All funcdoned flawlessly, and the general level of

tacdcal accuracy was incredible.
From the bench, the pistol fired groups of two inches or less
at 25 yards with virtually all ammo fed to it. Some groups were
in the 1-1/2-inch category, but rarely were five-shot groups
smaller. However, within the groups, it was common to have
two or three holes touching each other.
The author credits the achieved level of accuracy more to
pilot error than anything else. The feeling was that the pistol
is probably capable of one- to 1-1/2-inch groups with high
quality ammunition.
But the P7 is not a target handgun, so that type of accuracy
is more academic than anything else. The accuracy in a service
pistol is that which is delivered under tactical conditions. It
was in this category that the author was totally amazed. It is
difficult to miss a six-inch plate at random distances from
several feet to 25 yards with this gun.
Sights on the test pistol were simple — front post, notch
rear. The rear sight was drift adjustable for windage. The
three-dot system was in place, but could be eliminated with a
felt tip pen for those who like real sights. However, the sights
on the P7 are, in a way, almost academic when it comes to
tactical shooting. They, like the extractor, contribute to con-
sistency, but are essentially unnecessary for successful use.
The secret of using the P7 is to forget many of the habits one
has created with other designs, put the mind into auto-pilot,

The HK USP (Universal Self-loading Pistol) was originally designed for the .40-caliber but it also is available in 9mm.
point the pistol at the target and hit it. It really is that simple. itself in a position of offering a fine handgun, but one which
The P7 design points so naturally that the author was able had a built-in limitation on sales — price. It simply costs a lot
to look only at the target (paying no attention to the pistol) and, to make a pistol like the P7. Devaluation of the U.S. dollar also
while concentrating visually on the target, point the handgun has had its effect.
and squeeze the trigger, hitting the target every single time. Also, there are other matters of concern when it comes to
That's impressive. But even more impressive is the fact that the general pistol market in the United States. Certain types of
this same procedure can be done instantly when turning and features are considered necessary by many individuals and
spotting a target, and it can be done with rapidly repeated agencies, and certain features are required for some of the
shots. various kinds of shooting games conducted here.
Granted, it does take some degree of familiarization with To address that situation, HK went back to the drawing
the squeeze-cock design before shooting the P7 becomes boards and came up with that whole new design which it calls
smooth and quick. But once the shooter is so familiarized, the the USP (Universal Self-loading Pistol). Of course, if one
operation becomes second-nature. Oddly, this is the sort of a were to be globally parochial, the USP also could be consid-
pistol which could be functionally mastered more quickly by ered to stand for "United States Pistol." How vain!
a new shooter than by a shooter who had become familiar with This pistol was introduced officially at the 1993 Shooting,
other designs. For veteran shooters, it is a matter of re- Hunting, Outdoor Trades (SHOT) Show in Houston, Texas,
education. but has not yet been available on a production basis in 9mmP
The pistol comes in a hard box with spare magazine, at the time of this writing. The design was offered first in .40
cleaning rod and cleaning brush. The HK P7 is not a pistol for S&W, to be followed quickly by production handguns in
everyone. But for those who can appreciate and make use of 9mmP.
its many unique features, it truly is a world class 9mmP The author had an opportunity to fire several of the proto-
handgun. type USP pistols in both 9mmP and .40 S&W during a trip to
However, HK happens to be a viable commercial enter- a local Houston range the day before the SHOT Show opened,
prise, and selling firearms is its business. Given the wide- and it truly is a fine handgun.
spread availability of 9mmP handguns in the United States at For lack of a better way to describe it, the USP has all of the
more affordable prices from other manufacturers, HK found "whistles and bells" one would expect from a state-of-the-art

pistol, and it is made of the latest high-tech materials. Also, it
is to be priced more in line with the affordability factor than SPECIFICATIONS USP9 (9mm)
is the P7.
"The HK USP is the first HK pistol designed especially for CALIBER 9X9mm Parabellum
American shooters," the company reported when the new
model was introduced. "Features favored by U.S. civilian, law OPERATING PRINCIPLE
enforcement, and military users provided the design criteria
ACTION TYPE Short recoil Modified
for the US P. Its controls are uniquely American, influenced by
such famous and successful designs as the GovernmentModel Browning type, linkless
1911 pistol.
"The USP can be safely carried 'cocked and locked.'" HK SIGHT Fixed patridge style, adjust
noted. "The control lever, a combinadon safety and decocking able for windage an
lever, is frame mounted and quickly accessible....The USP elevation. Standard 3-dot
control lever has a positive stop and returns to the 'fire'
or optional tritium.
position after decocking."
An interesdng factor about the USP is that it was designed
from the ground up as a .40 S&W handgun. This is the reverse TOTAL LENGTH 194 mm (7.64 in.)
of many gun designs which were first 9mmP propositions, BARREL LENGTH 105 mm (4.13 in.)
then altered to handle the more powerful .40 S&W. In 9mmP SIGHT RADIUS 158 mm (6.22 in.)
terms, this means it is a handgun which should be able to
TWIST LENGTH 250 mm (9.84 in.)
handle the 9mmP forever.
The frame of the USP is made of polymer (plastic) and
metal components are shielded by special corrosion resistant HEIGHT (Total) 136 mm (5.35 in.)
WIDTH
Slide 29 mm (1.14 in.)
Frame 32 mm (1.26 in.)
WEIGHT
Total w/o Magazine 752 grams (26.52 oz)
Empty Magazine 55 grams (1.94 oz)
Cartridge 9.92 grams (.35 oz)
SLIDE FORCE
(to retract slide) 8 kg (17.64 pounds)
RIFLING 6 lands and grooves,

constant right hand twist
MAGAZINE CAPACITY 12 cartridges (does not

include cartridge in
chamber)
SAFETIES
1. Manual safety lever (applicable models only)
2. Double-action mode with hammer intercept notch
3. Firing pin block
4. Disconnector
Hostile Environment (HE) finishes. Outside metal surfaces

are protected by an extremely hard, nitro-gas carburized black
oxide finish. Internal metal parts, including springs, are coated
with a special Dow Coming anti-corrosion process that re-
duces friction and wear.
Even after intentional testing abuse, the HK USP still "By using a modular approach to the internal components,
continued to fire tight groups from 25 yards away. the control lever of the HK USP can be switched from the left

The HK SP89 is a high-capacity, 9mm handgun patterned after the legendary, highly successful HK assault rifle series.
to the right side of the pistol for left-handed shooters," HK "This recoil reduction system was tested and proven in the
reported. "The USP also can be converted from one type of HK .45 ACP handgun designed for the US Special Operations
trigger/firing mode to another. This includes combinadon Command in 1992," HK stated. "Using the same system as the
double-action and single-acdon (DA/S A) modes and double USP, the HK 'SOCOM pistol' fired a steady diet of more than
action only (DA-Only) modes." 27,000 +P cartridges without damage to any of the compo-
In all, the USP will be available in seven different trigger/ nents, including the polymer frame."
firing mode configurations. That's versatility! Suffice it to say that the USP comes onto the market with
"In addition to a wide selection of trigger/firing modes, the high expectations — something typical of firearms from the
USP has an ambidextrous magazine release lever that is German manufacturer.
shielded by the trigger guard from inadvertent actuation," HK Specifications for currentiy produced HK 9mmP pistols
reported. "The grip of the USP is stepped at the rear and are:
combined with the tapered magazine well, makes magazine
changes fast and precise. The sides of the grip frame have USP9
finger recesses that also aid in magazine removal." This is a short recoil, modified Browning action design
"An extended slide release lever is positioned to allow easy with magazine capacity of 16 rounds. Sights are of the three-
operation without changing the grip of the shooting hand," dot type. Barrel length is 4.13 inches, making the pistol 7.64
HK explained. "And the HK USP does not have a magazine inches long overall. Weight is 1.66 pounds empty, and height
lock-out feature. You can still fire a chambered round even is 5.35 inches. It features a polymer receiver with integral
with the magazine removed. grips.
"One of the most important unique design features of the
HK U S P is the mechanical recoil reduction system," HK P7M8 (Nickel or Blue)
continued. "This system is incorporated into the recoil/buffer The action is recoil-operated with retarded inertia slide.
spring assembly located below the barrel. Designed primarily Magazine capacity is eight rounds, and sights of the three-dot
to buffer the slide and barrel and reduce recoil effects on the style. Barrel length is 4.13 inches, and overall length is 6.73
pistol components, the system also lowers the recoil forces felt inches. Weightis 1.75 pounds, andheightis 5.04 inches. Grips
by the shooter. are plastic.

P7M13 (Nickel or Blue) SP89
The action is recoil operated with retarded inertia slide. This firearm features a delayed roller locked bolt action.
Magazine capacity is 13 rounds and sights are the three-dot Magazine capacity is 15 rounds, and sights are square notch
style. Barrel length is 4.13 inches, and overall length is 6.9 rear and hooded front. Barrel length is 4.5 inches and overall
inches. Weight is 1.87 pounds empty, and height is 5.3 inches. length is 13 inches. Weight is 4.4 pounds empty, and height
Grips are plastic. is 8.26 inches. Grips are synthetic.

THE EAA.
WITNESS
In T w o C o n f i g u r a t i o n s , T h e 9 m m
A u t o s A r e Excellent Defense G u n s !
EAA offers two basic 9mm

pistol designs, the Witness
(top) and Compact Witness.

While the EAA Witness is a full-size, high-capacity
9mmP, it still fits comfortably in the author's hands. The checkered rubber stocks on the two Witness models
are thicker than most wood ones, providing a sure grip.
STANDARD WITNESS
Barrel length 4.5 inches.
8.12 inches.
E
UROPEAN AMERICAN Armory, located in Hi- Overall length
aleah, Florida, is a big name in the 9mmP business, Weight (empty) ....35 ounces.
famous for the Witness line of semi-auto hand- Height 5.5 inches.
guns. EAA's Witness pistols, available in several Magazine Double column,
chamberings, including the 9mmP, are imported from Italy 16-round capacity.
and have become some of the favorites among shooters of
various action or shooting gallery types of target disciplines. COMPACT WITNESS
Although the designation of Witness was introduced in Barrel length 3.5 inches.
1991, the general design of these pistols is quite a bit older than Overall length 7 inches.
that. They are the Tanfoglio pistols which, in another life, Weight (empty) ....30 ounces.
were called TZs — interesting, because of their similarities in Height 4.5 inches.
design with the Czechoslovakian CZ handguns. Magazine Double column,
Before anyone gets totally concerned about finer points in 12-round capacity.
the lineage of this design, it is proper to note that they are
modem variants of the John Moses Browning-designed P-35 Stocks on both models are made of checkered black rubber.
(aka Hi-Power). But there is a major difference, and it is that Sights are ablade front and windage-adjustable rear (three dot
difference which has made this design so popular in many of system also present). The trigger guard is squared-off for two-
the shooting disciplines: Unlike its P-35 ancestor, the Witness hand hold.
is double-action/single-action (meaning the first shot can be In addition to a number of chamberings, there is a variety
double-action, followed by single-action firing). of finishes available, as well. However, whether the pistol is
Essentially, there are two basic 9mmP models in the abasic Witness ora full-on race gun, the operation is the same.
Witness line. They are the standard and the compact. Specifi- The only major difference between the standard and compact
cations are: models is size.

The long tang extension on the rear of the EAA Witness' frame prevents the hammer from hitting the shooter's hand.
Witnesses are real guns. By that, I mean they are made of Federal's 125-grain American Eagle Metal Case loading
steel and are designed to last a long time and go through a lot registered a high of 1095 and low of 1050 for a median of 1070
of ammunition. It is in the shooting and handling of the feet per second. Extreme spread was 45, and standard devia-
Witness pistols that one acquires an appreciation for their tion was 19.
many features and characteristics. How did they perform for Winchester's US A115-grain ball loading registered a high
the author? of 1189 and low of 1129 for a median of 1157 feet per second.
Extreme spread was 60 and standard deviation was 27.
STANDARD WITNESS Remington's UMC 115-grain metal case loading regis-
This is one of the most natural pointing 9mmP pistols tered a high of 1072 and low of 1042 for a median of 1060 feet
investigated during the formulation of data for this book. This per second. Extreme spread was 30 and standard deviation
characteristic came as no surprise, however, considering its was 11.
lineage — the P-35 having established a pointability standard The most consistent loading was the author's handload
by which many other handguns are measured. comprised of Hansen brass, CCI small pistol primers, 5.0
Considering that this, in its basic configuration, is a service grains of Hercules Unique powder and 125-grain hardcast
grade handgun and not a bullseye target model, accuracy was bullets. That loading registered a high of 1169 and low of 1142
okay to good, depending upon the ammunition fired. For most for a median of 1155 feet per second. Extreme spread was 27
loadings, groups off the bench were in the two- to three-inch and standard deviation was 10.
category, with the larger groups coming from 147-grain bullet Through repeated sessions at the range over a period of
ammunition. Most of the factory loads and handloads used several months, the standard Witness performed flawlessly
with 115- or 124-grain bullets grouped at two to 2 1/2 inches with all ammunition fed to it — and that included a lot more
off the bench at 25 yards. loadings than were chronographed.
The Oehler 35P chronograph, with triple sky screens After some of the more formal paper-punching rituals were
placed 15 feet from the muzzle, showed that the Witness performed to establish baseline accuracy expectations, the
delivered expected ballistic performance for a pistol with its Witness was shot at random targets located at random dis-
barrel length. tances, stretching from five feet to 40 yards. Smallest of the
For example, for a five-shot string, PMC's 115-grain FMJ targets were six-inch-diameter paper plates, and largest of the
loading produced a high of 1162 feet per second and low of targets were 8 1/2x11-inch computer paper. None of the
1091. That gave a median of 1126, with an extreme spread of targets was missed when shot at quickly and randomly out to
71 and standard deviation of 3 1 . the 25-yard line. Very few of the targets between 25 and 40
150 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK o) 9mm HANDGUNS

With the slide locked to the rear on the full-size EAA Witness, the recoil-spring guide is exposed below the barrel.
yards were missed, and virtually all of those misses could be of the time using this technique. Few handguns were able to
credited with breakdowns in basic shooting technique by the duplicate that kind of performance for the author.
pilot. There were several reasons credited for the good, overall
On one occasion, it became apparent that the pistol was tactical performance. First, the basic design is excellent. But
pointing naturally enough to study hit probability should the beyond that, the checkered, black rubber stocks on the pistol
pistol and its sights be totally ignored while shooting. The are slightly fatter than the wooden counterparts occurring on
author concentrated only on the target, keeping eyes glued to a number of other handguns with the same general configura-
the target and not even consciously seeing the pistol when tion. This beefiness seemed to fill the author's rather large
firing. It was totally instinctive shooting, and the hits were hands with long fingers well, which meant more meaningful
routine at targets from five feet to 10 yards. Beyond 10 yards control of the pistol (the only valid form of gun control, by the
and out to 25 yards, six-inch paper plates were hit about half way).
The Witnesses have thick

grips to accommodate the
staggered 9mmP magazine.

The Witnesses are the same
except for the length of the
slide, and its components.
Best accuracy, of course, was achieved when shooting the COMPACT WITNESS
Witness in the single-action mode. However, results were The compact Witness may be nothing more or less than a
totally acceptable when shooting double-action. In fact, groups small sibling of the standard model, but the handling dynam-
generally grew by only about a half-inch at 25 yards when the ics were so different as to make one wonder if they weren't two
shooting was done double-action with a two-hand hold, com- entirely different handguns from two entirely different mak-
pared to single-action with a two-hand hold. ers.
Tactical accuracy when the Witness was fired double- Performance of the compact, however, was on par with the
action with a one-hand, extended arm hold was considerably standard model. And, for a shorter pistol, the smaller Witness
less than when the same pistol was fired in the same manner retains a pleasurable level of pointability.
in the single-action mode. The author credited that phenom- Also, in a similar manner as its full-size stablemate, the
enon with the noticeably gritty characteristic of the long pull compact Witness demonstrated no outrageous preference or
when the pistol was fired double-action. It simply was more dislike for any particular kind of load. For example, groups
difficult to control the pistol with one hand under those from the bench at 25 yards were quite similar between the two
conditions. However, a six-inch plate was not missed as a pistols with the various kinds of ammo used. The compact
result, so tactical accuracy remained credible in any of the delivered groups ranging from two inches to four inches, with
many modes of firing. the four-inch groups involving 147-grain loadings.
The extended toe on the

magazine plate of the 9mm
compact Witness helps the
shooter to control the pistol.

The stubby dimensions of
the compact Witness (top)
make it easy to carry. The
compact (below) is fairly
thin despite a big magazine.
The difference in barrel length, however, made for some was 56 and standard deviation was 23.
rather interestingly different ballistic performance with the A quick comparison of this data, compared to the data from
various loadings. the standard Witness, reveals what shooters mean when they
PMC's 115-grain FMJ loading registered a high of 1149 insist that different firearms handle ammunition differendy.
and low of 1036 feet per second for a median of 1102. Extreme For example, the author's handload had more than twice the
spread was 113, and standard deviation was 33. standard deviation with the compact gun as it had with the
Winchester's US A115-grain ball loading registered a high standard Witness. Interestingly, the standard deviation for the
of 1114, low of 1077 and median of 1093 feet per second. Winchester USA loading was almost twice as much with the
Extreme spread was 37 and standard deviation was 15. standard model as it was with the compact (cartridges all came
Remington's UMC 115-grain metal case loading regis- from the same 50-round box).
tered a high of 1149 and low of 1104 for a median of 1118. Certainly, the burning rates of the various kinds of powders
Extreme spread was 45 and standard deviation was 19. played some role in the outcome. But other more subde
The author's handload (from the same batch and fired differences, like the smoothness and concentricity of the
within minutes under the same range conditions) featuring the insides of the barrels, also come into play in such situations.
125-grain hardcast bullets registered a high of 1150 and low That is why the author did not attempt to perform a detailed
of 1094 for a median 1120 feet per second. Extreme spread ballistics rundown on each and every 9mmP handgun used for

The concave profile on the
front of the trigger guard is
helpful for controlling the
sharp recoil from the small
Witness (left). The fixed
three-dot sights are standard
on EAA 9mmP Witnesses.
this book. Frankly, there can be great differences between two

seemingly identical pistols, so precisely what the author
experienced with the specific test guns might or might not be
really valid for other shooters with other pistols, even though
the pistols may be the same make and model. Suffice it to say
that such details are akin to a window sticker on an automobile
in car lot — they are based upon which general comparisons
can be made and provide a starting point for further consider-
ation.
The only way to determine precisely how any specific
firearm is going to handle a specific loading is to run that
loading through that firearm and measure the results.
Back to the handling characteristics of the compact Wit-
ness. It carries nicely, but is not equal to the standard Witness
in the overall tactical accuracy department.
For example, there were periodic misses of six-inch plates
at distances beyond seven yards. Hits were still routine all the
way to 25 yards, but out of 10 shots, the author missed an
average of two plates at the 25-yard line. Still, this is excellent
performance.
The problem, as was demonstrated during the controlled repeatable with the smaller pistol — again, that was a factor
bench shooting, was not so much with the pistol itself as it was of the author's hand size, and not of the pistol itself.
with the interaction between the pistol and the pilot. The This point, however, should be considered as one of the
shorter grip of the compact simply did not fit the author's large supreme considerations whenever the subject of handgun
hand quite as well as the standard Witness. acquisition comes to the fore. How a particular pistol fits into
In fact, the difference in fit was enough that there was no a specific shooter's hand is of paramount importance. The
need to try the "no sights" instinctive shooting with the better the fit, the better the pistol will perform for that person.
compact. That is why it is impossible for anyone to suggest an all-round
For what it is, however, the compact is a good performer. "perfect" 9mmP handgun for everyone. There simply is no
How can one go wrong with a smallish pistol that can put holes such thing. Handgun performance is a very personal thing.
within a six-inch circle every time out to the 10-yard line? For The Witness pistols feature the same general barrel/slide
defensive shooting, that is about as far as anyone would care lockup design as the P-35. And disassembly is accomplished
to take the issue anyway. in the traditional fashion. First, remove the magazine and clear
Certainly, the compact Witness functioned as well as did the chamber to make certain the pistol is unloaded.
the standard size model. There were no jams or hang-ups with Next, pull the hammer to the full-back position and align
any of the ammunition used. the two takedown marks (dots—one at the rear left of the slide
The trigger pull felt similar on the compact version, but and one at the rear left of the top of frame). This requires the
because of the slight change in the angle of the muscular pull slide to be moved rearward about 1/4-inch. While the two dots
in the shooting hand, let off was not quite as positive and are aligned, remove the slide stop/takedown lever which is

With slide locked to the rear, the compact Witness from EAA is ready for loading. Controls are in the normal places.
located on left side of the frame just above the trigger. To get used, it can make a big difference with some handloads as well
the lever started, it sometimes helps to push on the lever's as with some of the hotter factory-loaded ammo which is
crossbolt extension on the opposite side of the frame. On the available in 9mmP — a cartridge which is loaded all over the
test pistols, the fit was snug, so it might require a solid push to world and for a wide variety of firearms, including submachine
get it started. However, the manufacturer warns against using guns. The Witness design is of the stronger variety and is made
any tools like a mallet or screwdriver for this purpose. Once to handle the relatively high working pressures encountered
the lever is lifted out a fraction of an inch, it can be jiggled out with much of the 9mmP ammo.
the remainder of the way with the thumb and forefinger. Another factor which has contributed to the popularity of
By sliding the slide and barrel assembly forward, it can be the Witness is the way it lends itself to "smithing." This pistol
removed from the frame in a single unit. Next, hold the slide is the basis for many of the high-tech, high performance "race"
upside down and remove the recoil spring and guide. Once the guns used by serious competitors.
recoil spring and guide are removed, the barrel can be lifted up That means there are a lot of aftermarket options available,
and out of the slide. This is as far as the pistol normally needs and it means that many of the better pistolsmiths are set up to
to be disassembled for cleaning and routine maintenance. do all kinds of procedures, depending upon the specific
Reassembly is the reverse process. desires of individual shooters.
Although the Witness is similar in design to the P-35 and European American Armory itself offers a number of
other like handguns, there are some differences. For example, upgrade and custom options.
they lock up similarly, but the camming mechanism on the However, the basic service grade Witness pistol, whether
bottom of the barrel is slighdy different. It operates under the it is the standard or compact model, continues to offer a lot of
same prinicple, but is executed a bit differendy. performance in a sturdy, well-made package.
Because the Witness has an integral feed ramp in the breech Witness pistols are priced mid-range for their genre, which
end of the barrel, it offers a high level of cartridge support means they also represent a good value. Overall, the Witness
(unlike the Model 1911-type designs). Although this feature pistols from EAA are excellent performers for any 9mmP
is not particularly critical when standard factory loads are application.

H IP IT IE JT\l
eventee
ACTION ARMS
THE CZ
S I
This Importer Now Has A Corner O n

T h i s Top-Selling Czech 9 m m Pistol
The CZ75 (top) and CZ85 are the two full-size

service-grade autos offered by Action Arms.

The CZ75 9mmP, imported from Czechoslovakia by Action Arms, is noted for its natural pointability and reliability.
O
F THE WORLD'S major gunmaking centers, Pointability of these two pistols is superb, and function
Brno in Czechoslovakia is among the better known. throughout extensive testing was flawless. And, this was no
Both military and civilian firearms from this area surprise, given the quality of materials and workmanship. To
in Southeastern Europe have set the pace for both put it blundy, these are full-size, real guns. They are manufac-
quality and function for most of the 20th Century. tured of steel and made well enough to last a lifetime, even if
Currendy, there are two CZ 9mmP pistol models available there is a lot of shooting to be done.
from this famous Czech area. They are the CZ 75 and CZ 85 High quality in both materials and workmanship is an
double-action semi-autos. Actually, the pair of 9mmP offer- assumed standard for firearms out of Brno. Consider the fact
ings might be considered as one basic model — the CZ 75 — that it was the Brno magnum Mauser bolt-action which was
and an updated variation of it — the CZ 85. used for some of the more famous African hunting arms.
For practical purposes, the CZ 75 might be described as a In addition, the military Mauser rifles made at Brno earlier
totally successful double-action descendant of the John Moses in the century were among the more sought after surplus rifles
Browning-designed P-35 (aka Hi-Power). Although there are to be used for custom sporters during the golden age of such
anumber of differences between the P-35 and the CZ 75, both activity in the 1950s. Expect that phenomenon to repeat itself
pistols share the same basic design and function, and their during the 1990s as more and more of the Brno surplus
overall configuration and feel are similar enough to bear Mausers are finding their way back onto the market.
witness to the familial relationship. Dimensions for the CZ 75 Other famous firearms from Brno have included an array
are: of fine shotguns and combination guns — longarms with
multiple barrels which fire both centerfire metallic cartridges
Barrel length 4 3/4 inches. and shotshells.
Overall length 8 inches. With all of that tradition in mind, I had high expectations
Weight (empty) 35 ounces. for the CZ pistols which are imported into the United States by
Sights Fixed. Action Arms, Ltd. Those expectations were not cut short
Magazine capacity 15 rounds. during extended range sessions.
Stocks Checkered wood. Representative groups fired with a variety of factory am-
munition types and handloads divulge the level of perfor-
The CZ 85, introduced in 1986, is essentially the same mance one might expect from the CZ pistols. All groups were
pistol as the CZ 75, except the CZ 85 features an ambidextrous fired from the bench at 25 yards, and were five-shot strings.
safety and slide release. Results included:

Winchester's USA 115-grain FMJ loading produced an
THE CZ 75 almost perfectly circular concentric group which mea-
sured 1-1/4 inches. This is superb performance for a service-
grade 9mmP semi-auto, and the group was repeated several
times during the various sessions at which the CZ 75 was used.
PMC's 115-grain Starfire loading produced a vertical
string for a group, and the string measured three inches.
Interestingly, PMC's generic 115-grain FMJ load produced a
horizontal string measuring 2-1/8 inches. Both groups shot to
essentially the same point of impact
Does that mean that if a person were to load the two types
of PMC ammo alternately in the magazine that the resultant
10-shot group would be about three inches in diameter and
concentric in configuration? Well, I was curious, and tried the
exercise. The answer was yes — the composite grouping was
about three inches in diameter and rather concentric in nature.
Very interesting.
Federal's 124-grain American Eagle FMJ loading deliv-
ered a most impressive 1 - 1/4-inch group. Three of the bullets
produced a single, large hole. The other two holes in the target
were touching each other slighUy above the first three and
provided the ultimate group size. This ammo was tried again,
and the results were almost identical. Why the first three shots
are to one big hole and the remaining two are slightly higher
is somewhat of a mystery, but given the small size of the
group, it is an academic concern, at best.
Like the Browning Hi-Power, the CZ75 doesn 't have a

separate barrel bushing (left), a feature found on the
Colt 1911. The CZ7S comes with a fixed front sight
and rear sight drift-adjustable for windage (below).

Not a compact, the CZ75 is a full-bodied, high-capacity 9mmP that is designed for extended and tough service.
Remington's UMC115-grain metal case loading provided

a vertical string for a group, which measured exactiy two THE CZ 85
inches. Three of the five holes touched each other, which During a range session on the same day, and immediately
means that the group actually was rather impressive. following the session with the CZ 75, the CZ 85 was put to the
One of the author's handloads, which featured a 124-grain test. Results were satisfying.
Winchester FMJ bullet, 5.0 grains of Hercules Unique pow- PMC's 115-grain FMJ loading produced a rather concen-
der, CCI small pistol primer and Hansen case, produced a tric group which measured 2-1/8 inches. The first three shots
horizontal string for a group. It measured 2-1/4 inches. Again, produced a group which measured 1-1/4 inches, and the last
the first three holes touched each other, providing a three-shot two shots hit within a half-inch of each other.
group of one half-inch center-to-center. Does this sound somewhat familiar? Indeed. It seemed as
A second handload then was attempted with disappointing though both the 75 and 85 would put the first three shots into
results. It was the 125-grain hardcast bullet with the same a truly small area, then expand the group with the next two
quantities and other components used in the first handload shots. I attempted to short-stop the mystery by following with
recipe. It was close to being a non-group, with four of the five a 10-shot group, just to see what would happen as the barrel
rounds providing a vertical string of 4-1/4 inches. The fifth got hotter and hotter with successive shots.
shot went to the left, roughly 3-1/2 inches from the center of Interestingly, the first three shots were close, the next three
the vertical string. More shots were fired, and they confirmed also were close, but about an inch away, then the group began
that this particular loading was not workable in this particular to fill in the space between. What resulted was a group of about
pistol. No cohesive group was ever achieved. Obviously, the 2-1/2 inches which was rather concentric. So, it is assumed
pistol did not like that particular handload. that one could shoot the pistol repeatedly and expect ex-
However, given the performance the CZ 75 exhibited with tremely tight grouping for the first three shots, with good
some of the factory loadings, it is safe to declare that this is one grouping regardless how many shots were fired. That is
great-shooting, service-grade handgun. comforting.
Other shooting with the pistol at random targets located at Remington's UMC 115-grain FMJ loading provided a
random distances from five feet to 25 yards during quick rather curious group. The first two shots were overlapping.
shooting sessions revealed that the CZ 75 is as credible under The next two shots were almost touching, but located 2-1/4
"street" conditions as it is off the bench. Six-inch targets were inches lower on the paper. The fifth shot was a flier 4-3/4
hit so routinely that the pistol became somewhat boring to inches low and to the right of the initial two shots. The author
shoot. It was just one of those point the pistol, pull the trigger did not attempt to explain the phenomenon.
and hit the target routines. That is a fulfilling way to be bored. Winchester's USA 115-grain ball loading produced a
THE GUN DIGEST BOOK o( 9mm HANDGUNS 159

The CZ8S fills the shooter's
hand. Its grip size and angle
are economically correct.
vertical group which was 3-1/2 inches high. The first four as they put the first three shots when used right out of the box.
shots provided a rather square group which measured 2-1/4 Even if they didn't, the performance was interesting, because
inches, with the five-shot group expanded to its size by the the best grouping was always with the first three shots. That
fifth shot which went high. would mean that the first three shots would certainly hit any
Federal's American Eagle 124-grain FMJ loading pro- reasonable target — and that is totally comforting.
duced a horizontal string 3-1/4 inches wide. The first three So how did the two pistols handle the various loadings
shots were also horizontally strung, and measured 1-1/4 ballistically? Very similarly, according to the Oehler 35P
inches, with the ultimate size of the group expanded by the last chronograph. The triple sky screens were placed 15 feet from
two shots. the muzzle for the shooting sessions. By pistol, the chrono-
The author's 125-grain hardcast handload provided a con- graph results were:
centric, large group. It measured 3-3/4 inches.
Hence, it might be assumed that the test CZ 75 shot The CZ 75, with Remington's UMC 115-grain metal case
somewhat better than the CZ 85. However, they both shot loading produced a high of 1193 and a low of 1176 for a
quite well. The tendency of both pistols to put the first three median of 1183 feet per second. Extreme spread was 17, and
shots into extremely small groups, then expand group size on standard deviation was 5.
successive shots causes reasons for wondering whether it is a Winchester's USA 115-grain ball loading produced a high
situation which could be addressed with some retro-work. of 1159 and a low of 1126 for a median of 1146 feet per second.
With a little fine-tuning, it might be expected that the Extreme spread was 33, and standard deviation was 13.
pistols would put five-shot groups into about the same space Federal's American Eagle 124-grain metal case loading
Ambidextrous controls are

standard on the CZ85 auto.

The front of the CZ85 (left)
trigger guard is squared and
checkered for added control.
Below, the no-glare rib is a
special feature of the CZ85.
produced a high of 1093 and a low of 1074 for a median 1082

feet per second. Extreme spread was 19 and standard devia-
tion was 6.
PMC's 115-grain FMJ loading produced a high of 1150
andalow of 1121 for a median 1138 feet per second. Extreme
spread was 4 1 , and standard deviadon was 18.
Overall, this is extremely good consistency.
With PMC's 115-grain FMJ loading, the CZ 85 produced
a high of 1139 and a low of 1115 for a median 1129 feet per
second. Extreme spread was 24, and standard deviadon was
10.
Federal's American Eagle 124-grain metal case loading
produced a high of 1110 and a low of 1092 for a median 1099
feet per second. Extreme spread was 18, and standard devia-
tion was 7.
Winchester's US A115-grain ball loading produced a high
of 1163 and low of 1132 for a median 1149 feet per second.
Extreme spread was 31, and standard deviation was 12.
Remington's UMC 115-grain metal case loading produced
a high of 1169 and a low of 1137 for a median 1160 feet per
second. Extreme spread was 32, and standard deviation was
13.
My own 124-grain hardcast handload produced a high of
1294 and a low of 1247 for a median 1262 feet per second.
Extreme spread was 47, and standard deviation was 18.
Again, considering the wide range of makers and loadings,
this is extremely consistent performance. This not only speaks difference between two CZ 75 pistols or two CZ 85 pistols as
well of the quality of ammunition being marketed by die major there was between the two models in the tests.
manufacturers these days, but speaks well of the pistol which With that in mind, it is safe to suggest that either model is
puts them downrange without drastically affecting the inher- a good bet for general 9mmP use. The real question is whether
ent performance of the ammo. the ambidextrous feature of the CZ 85 is necessary for the
Overall, I felt that, as individual firearms, the test CZ 75 individual shooter. If so, then it is the better bet. If not, the CZ
was slighdy better than the CZ 85. This is not to suggest that, 75 is a good bet.
generally, the CZ 75 pistols are better than the CZ 85 models. Simply put, it was felt that with either model it is a can't-
Rather, it was felt that the slight difference had to do with go-wrong proposition. These are well designed and well made
individual firearms. handguns which can hold up over a lifetime or more of
What this means is that there would likely be as much of a shooting.

CHAPTER
Eightee
TESTING THE
TAURUS
All Of T h e s e Models P e r f o r m
Better T h a n J u s t "Well"!
In testing the various Taurus pistol models, Steve Comus discovered that they performed above his expectations.

The only difference between the Taurus PT92
(right) and the PT 99 model (below) is that the
latter pistol is equipped with adjustable sights.
TAURUS PT 9f AF 9mm row*.
T
AURUS IS a big name in the handgun business, and
that includes pistols which shoot the 9mmP car-
tridge. These Brazilian-made pistols bear a striking
resemblance to models from Beretta in Italy, func-
tion under the same principles and are disassembled and Most impressive was the group from the Sure Fire 115-
reassembled in the same manner. grain full metal jacket loading. Shot at 25 yards from an
unsupported bench position (elbows on the bench), the hand-
MODEL PT 92 gun delivered a group of just over two inches. Three-inch
At the heart of the Taurus 9mmP line is the Model PT 92, groups were the rule for most other loads. Other ammunition
a full-size, 15-shot service grade handgun. It has a 4.92-inch tested included Hansen's NATO Military 123-grain full metal
barrel, is 8.54 inches long overall and weighs 34 ounces. jacket offering, PMC Starfire 124-grain jacketed hollow-
Stocks are of Brazilian hardwood, and sights are fixed (the- point and Winchester's 147-grain Black Talon jacketed hol-
three dot system is also incorporated). low-point. Both the Black Talon and Starfire loadings deliv-
This is a double-action/single-action design, which means ered 2-1/2-inch groups at 25 yards, and the points of impact
the first shot can be taken double-action, followed by subse- were nearly exacdy at the point of aim. Bullet placement with
quent shots in single-action. Or, the exposed hammer can be other loads was three to five inches under point of aim, but
cocked manually for single-action shooting throughout. The horizontally in line.
PT 92 is available in three finishes: blue, nickel and stainless Overall, the full-size PT 92 was the author's favorite
steel. among the Taurus 9mmP pistols tested. It certainly is a
Shooting the Model PT 92 Taurus is a joy. The pistol's grip credible pistol, and feels good when it is shot.
is large enough in every respect to fill the hand, and that means The PT 92 works well when fired from one or two hands.
the right kind of gun control. Out of the box, the test model In fact, a two-hand hold is enhanced as a result of the concave
performed well with every kind of ammunition fired through configuration of the front of the trigger guard. Controllability
it also is eased by the vertical striations on the front and back of

The PT92C, introduced in 1991, has the same
design as the full-size PT 92, but is compact in
configuration. Barrel is 4.25 inches long; pistol
weighs 31 ounces. Magazine holds 13 rounds.
the grip frame. The wood stocks are smooth, and afford a
totally comfortable hold both before and during recoil.
For an out-of-the-box handgun, the double- and single-
action trigger pulls were noticeably pleasant on the PT 92.
During the shooting session, there was no tendency for the
quality of the trigger pull to cause the pistol to be pulled off
target. That's nice.
MODEL PT 99 Black Talon and Starfire offerings putting the bullets the
Taurus also offers the Model PT 99, which differs from the closest to the point of aim.
PT 92 only in that it is furnished with adjustable sights. Overall, this was seen as a fun gun to shoot, and one which
could perform well in some of the more serious applications.
MODEL PT 92C The trigger pull in double-action was a bit gritty at first,
Essentially, this is the same design as the full-size PT 92 then smoothed out. In single-action, the trigger pull was
except in compact configuration. The barrel on the PT 92C is deliciously nice. In fact, for shooters with normal or slightly
4.25 inches long, making the pistol 7.5 inches long overall. smaller than normal hands, this version could be the perfect
Weight is 31 ounces, and magazine capacity is 13 shots. The size. It has all of the same good features of the full-size model,
compact version was introduced in 1991. and simply offers them in a slightly smaller package.
The test pistol wore a nickel finish and is a handsome
handgun. It may be a compact by definition, but I felt its size MODEL PT 908
put it between what might be considered a true "compact" and The PT 908 is somewhat different from the other 9mmP
a full size service pistol. For example, the Taurus PT 908, handguns marketed by Taurus in that it features an eight-
which will be discussed later, is what I would classify as a true round, single-column magazine, is compact in size and does
compact. not have the same profile nor exactly the same action design
Semantics aside, the PT 92C offers a lot of performance for as the PT 92 variants.
its abbreviated size. It feels good in the hand and is easy to Generally speaking, the PT 908 appears to be a type of
control. Groups fired with it were good, but on average about hybrid between the basic 92 design and the Star Firestar
an inch larger than those achieved with the full size Model 92. model. It has a 3.8-inch barrel and weighs 30 ounces. Grips are
Most, if not all, of the accuracy difference was assumed to be black composition, and the three-dot sighting system is stan-
due to pilot error. The author had the impression while dard. The pistol is double-action/single-action and features a
shooting this handgun that it was performing well. manual ambidextrous hammer drop, as well as a loaded
Certainly, it preferred the Sure Fire loads better than any of chamber indicator.
the others, and not because of accuracy. It shot all loads at least This is a nice little pistol. In the author's hands, it produced
as well, some a little better than others. Sure Fire loads are full groups of three to four inches at 25 yards, and it seemed not to
power, and that means they make autoloaders cycle as well as matter which loading was being fired—all groups were about
the design can cycle. the same size and shape. However, the holes in the target were
There's no question that with a 100- or 200-round break- located roughly six inches below the point of aim. This
in period that the PT 92C would cycle even the lightest of loads phenomenon was assumed to be the result of my sight picture;
well. However, it was slightly sluggish with some of the less no doubt, with some practice the bullets would go where they
potent loadings. As with the full-size Model PT 92, the "C" were supposed to.
version shot all loads close to point of aim. The Sure Fire, This little gun likes the hotter loads better and cycles the

The Taurus Model PT 908 differs
from the PT 92 family in that it
has an eight-round, single-
column magazine, is compact in
size and is a bit of a hybrid gun.
more potent offerings with much more enthusiasm. It points latch release (a button on the right side of the frame just above
surprisingly naturally for such a small pistol. Again, best the trigger housing) and at the same dme, with the left thumb,
results were achieved with the Sure Fire ammunidon. Both the rotate the disassembling latch release clockwise until it stops.
Black Talon and Starfire loads shot well through this pistol. Then pull the slide/barrel assembly forward and off the
For a small, convenient-to-carry handgun it represents an frame. Next, turn the slide/barrel assembly upside down and
interesting opdon. Also, it would be a handy handgun for remove the recoil spring and guide. The barrel then can be
anyone with smaller hands. lifted up and out of the slide. That is as far as the pistol
Overall, the Taurus 9mmP pistols are in a similar class as normally needs to be disassembled for routine cleaning and
that company's other handguns. They are solid designs and maintenance Reassembly is the reverse process, and there are
made well. Both double- and single-acdon trigger pulls were no unwanted surprises in the process. The pistols go back
smooth and consistent, making the pistol slick and quick to together easily and simply.
shoot. Taurus handguns are extremely compeddve in the market-
Disassembly of any of the Taurus 9mmP pistols is similar. place and the 9mmP models are a large part of the reason why.
First, remove the magazine and make certain the pistol is not These pistols are both functional and affordable — a nice
loaded. Then, with the left forefinger, press the disassembling combinadon.
The PT908 is double-action/

single-action, has a 3.8-inch
barrel and weighs 30 ounces.
Author found in his testing that
the little gun likes hot loads!

w i l M r I Cii
Ninteen
CARTRIDGE OF THE
CENTURY
T h e 9 m m Parabellum Has Seen More
Action T h a n A n y Other Caliber!
44' "W" T IS IRONIC THAT American police depart-

) I ments only discovered the 9mm in the 1980s. This
rimless 9x19mm round has been common in Eu-
rope since its development in 1902. It has killed
more men in combat than any other pistol caliber — though
mostly when fired from submachine guns," declares David E.
Steele, a long-time law enforcement practitioner.
"Probably the most significant change came when the U.S.
military adopted a 9mm sidearm to replace its aged, mostly
World War II-purchased .45 Colts."
There were several advantages to the adoption of the
9mmP: (1) Ammunition weighs about half as much as .45
ACP with less bulk — important logistic concerns; (2) more
rounds could be carried in magazines without excessive
thickness in the grip; (3) 9mm ammunition is available in most
foreign countries, whether friend or foe; in some nations it is
the only common round for military, police or civilians; (4)
lighter recoil makes the 9mm easier for inexperienced shoot-
ers, including female recruits, to shoot accurately; and (5) the
9mm provides greater penetration than the .45, a significant
military consideration where metal helmets and anti-frag-
mentation (flak) vests have been common for generations. Its
only drawback, compared to the .45 ACP, is lower per-round
stopping power when used with hardball ammunition.
The list of 9mm handguns reads like a litany of the finest
service pistols of the 20th Century: the P-08 (Luger), P35
Steele demonstrates shooting stance using Browning

Hi-Power. It has seen duty as a service pistol since 1935.

The Swedish M45 Carl Gustav model has been built for the 9mm Parabellum like most European submachine guns.
(Browning Hi-Power), P38 (Walther), SIG P210, Beretta drug dealers and armed robbers.
M1951 (Brigadier), BerettaM92,SIG-SauerP226,Glock 17, There has been a gradual "militarization" of American
and Heckler & Koch P7. Smith & Wesson is currently making police departments, starting with the race and anti-war riots of
a name for its line of police pistols, beginning with the M39 the 1960s. SWAT teams set the model for black or cammie-
first developed for the U.S. Army test in 1954, later adopted clad storm troops, copied later by narcotics teams for raids in
by the Illinois State Police in 1967. Police use increased with the "war on drags." While giving lip service to the British
the development of better hollow-point ammunition, and the concept of a lightly armed "citizen constabulary," large U.S.
"competing firepower" carried by the opposition—primarily departments are becoming more and more paramilitary units
Both 9mm submachine guns,

top is the Walther MPK,
the MPL below. The MPK
was used by Munich police
response teams during the
1972 Olympic hostage crisis.

The Australian Owen Mk 1/42 (top) and the Austen Mk 1 fire the standard European 9mm Parabellum cartridge.
like the French gendarmerie, Italian carabinieri or German shoot at policemen, unthinkable just 30 years ago.
GSG border police. Instead of being part of the population, Until recently, U.S. policemen were armed in much the
many policemen now think of themselves as part of an elite same fashion as the civilian population, with revolvers, shot-
group paid to control unruly segments of the society. Of guns and deer rifles being the normal deadly force, with the
course, this "us verses them" feeling is mutual, with teenage wooden night-stick being used for the vast majority of con-
gang members and narcotics traffickers no longer hesitating to frontations.
The H&K MP5K "Personal

Defense Weapon" (top)and
the Beretta U.S. M9 pistol
use the 9mm Parabellum.

The Italian Spectre M4 9mm submachine gun features double handles, high-capacity magazine and a folding stock.
While heavy firepower might have been necessary against officers with submachine guns slung on their backs, like in
mobsters in Chicago in the 1920s, Midwestern bank robbers Italy or South Korea, the apparent answer is a sidearm with
in the 1930s, or border smugglers during Prohibition, most stopping power equivalent to the traditional .38 Special but
policemen could expect to serve their entire career without with greater capacity. While most American cops still carry
shooting anyone or even drawing their sidearm. revolvers, quite a few now carry 9mm Beretta 92s, Glock 17s,
This is still true in many departments, but there is increas- SIG-Sauer P226s or Smith & Wesson 5906s, as well as their
ing concern, perhaps fostered by the media, about highly compact versions.
mobile, well-armed, dope-dealing gangs. Whatever the real- Police departments and federal agencies are also consider-
ity, the perception is that policemen need more individual ing 9mm carbines to replace their shotguns. The caliber
firepower. overlap with sidearms is a logistics plus, just as it was for
Since the public is not yet willing to accept uniformed European armies in World War II with the adoption of Sten
The H&K MPS SF 9mm carbine is used by the FBI. Full-auto does not increase effective for agents greatly.

The H&K VP70 9mm machine pistol with holster/stock attached will fire three-round bursts as well as single shots.
and Schmeisser submachine guns. Also, the 9mm carbine a border kibbutz in 1969,1 rarely saw anyone carrying pistols,
provides pinpoint accuracy, unlike the shotgun loaded with but Uzis were everywhere. The military was well aware that
buckshot, especially important in hostage situations. Further, SMGs account for far more enemy casualties than pistols.
it has almost no recoil, unlike the shotgun which kicks like a Since those days, however, with an increase in Jewish settle-
.375 Magnum elephant rifle, a particularly significant consid- ments in the Occupied Territories (captured in '67), and the
eration for female and small-statured male officers. At present, increase in Arab unrest (the Intifadeh), Israeli civilians are
the Drug Enforcement Administration issues the 9mm version now carrying pistols in profusion. After the terrorist takeover
of the Colt Commando, usually blocked for semi-automatic of a school at Ma'alot, even schoolteachers started packing
fire. The FBI is issuing a semi-auto edition of the Heckler & pistols.
Koch MP5 SMG. Metropolitan Police in London also issue a Israeli combat carry and shooting techniques are standard-
semi-auto MP5 to officers guarding Heathrow Airport from ized for military, police and civilian users. The 9mm semi-
terrorists. Special weapons teams like L.A. Sheriffs SEB, auto is the most common weapon, revolvers being considered
British Special Air Service, German SEK and GSG-9 use the antiquated. The pistol is carried chamber-empty, whether it is
MP5 in its selective-fire form. When the MP5 was first single-action or double-action style, which has drastically
imported to the U.S. in 1970,1 tested it in the course of writing lowered the incidence of accidental discharges. It is cocked by
an IACP tech manual called Submachine Guns in Police gripping the slide with the left hand, then pushing through
Wo rk. In that book, I rated the HK MP5 number one as a police with the right, on the way up to a two-hand shooting stance.
SMG, compared to the Ingram MAC-10, S&W M76, Uzi and Weapons are often worn unconcealed as a warning to terror-
Walther MPK, mainly for its closed-bolt, semi-automatic ists and local Arabs, just as hitchhiking soldiers carry their
accuracy, the primary criteria for a law enforcement gun. This issue assault rifles and submachine guns. Street crime is not a
was all new at the time, and it wasn't until the S AS used MP5s significant factor in Israel, so weapons and carrying styles are
in 1980, during their assault on terrorists holed up in London' s not chosen with that in mind. The preferred holster is the
Iranian Embassy, that police sales, mainly for SWAT teams, inside waistband, worn behind the right hip in uniform or
took off. Some departments and individual officers are now plainclothes. Ammunition tends to be issue hardball or Win-
carrying the Marlin 9mm Camp Carbine in patrol cars. This chester Silvertips. The most common weapons are the Czech
gun has none of the "assault weapon" appearance that some of CZ-75 and the Italian TZ-75, mainly because they combine
the (uninformed) public might object to. Hopefully, they will quality with lower cost than comparable German or American
make a lighter weight, plastic stock version in the future. weapons. Inflation is rampant in Israeli's war economy, and
Most of the other 9mm carbines on the market have tried to there is high duty on most imports.
emulate submachine gun styling, like those made by Sterling, Israeli counter-terrorist teams favor the Browning P35 Hi-
Uzi or HK, sometimes based on their already popular SMGs. Power, no doubt influenced by the British SAS. Other teams
One of the first 9mm carbines on the U.S. scene was the J&R which use the Hi-Power are the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team
M68, now out of production. I had mine fitted with a Thomp- (HRT), and commandos from Jordan, Oman, Colombia, Thai-
son SMG rear sight and an Uzi sling I got from a Druse guard land, Portugal and a half-dozen other nations. The 50-year
in Israel. I had the sling attached to the left side of the gun in headstart as an issue sidearm for a host of countries gave it
European fashion; it worked very well. entre to special units.
Speaking of Israel, which has been a leader in small arms Police departments used to the revolver have often chosen
design, the 9mm has been common there since the British the Glock for special units, which simplifies retraining, as the
Mandate period. When an independent state was formed in Glock has no thumb safety or decocking lever. Such units
1948, pistols were in short supply and there was no standard- include NYPD's ESU (Emergency Services Unit), London's
ization. Eventually, the M1951 Beretta Brigadier became Metropolitan Police PT17 and the Hong Kong Police Special
semi-issue, but the 9mm cartridge was used primarily in Duties Unit.
submachine guns, mainly Uzis and captured Port Saids 03gyp- Outside the Communist bloc the 9mm Parabellum is stan-
tian version of Swedish M45 Carl Gustav). When I stayed on dard for pistols and submachine guns in most of the world's

armies. With the U.S. adoption of the Beretta Model 92, the Compact sub guns include the Mini-Uzi, Beretta M12 and
choice is now almost universal, and this will continue well into M93R, the HK MPSK, Walther MPK and the out-of-produc-
the next century. Some of the finest centerfire combat pistols tion Ingram M10. The M10 was usually equipped with the
in the world are made in this caliber, such as the SIG P210, MAC suppressor; other suppressed guns, occasionally seen in
SIG-Sauer P226, P225, and P228, the Heckler & Koch P7M8 special operations, are the Swedish M45, the British Sterling
and P7M13, the Glock 17 and 19, BerettaM1951 and M92F, L34A1 and the German HK MP5SD. Custom suppressors are
Walther P5 and the Czech CZ75. Even vintage pistols like the supplied by Wilson Arms of Brunswick, Georgia, among
P'08 Luger, the Walther P38 (PI) and Mauser 1896 are still others. These suppressors work best with subsonic 9mm
perking along, showing the longevity of this cartridge and the ammunition like the 147-grain hollow point developed for
quality of pistols made for it. While the service pistol/9mm Navy SEAL teams in Vietnam. SEALs used S&W M39s with
cartridge combination was never admired by target shooters, "Hush Puppy" silencers to take out sentry dogs prior to
the SIG P210, the HK P9S and some Third Generation Smiths assaults on VC camps.
show what this round is capable of, if a pistol is built for While it might lack tack-driving accuracy or optimum per-
competition rather than infantry combat. New designs are round stopping power, the 9mm Parabellum has shown itself
entering the market all the time, such as those by Ruger, Star, to be the best all-around pistol cartridge of the 20th Century.
S&W, Glock and Browning. Some of the finest pistols, submachine guns and carbines have
New 9mm carbines are coming on the market as well. been made for it, and new bullet designs are made in this
Those made in the U.S. will probably follow the Marlin Camp caliber every year. The policeman, soldier and civilian now
Carbine model to avoid the current wave of legislation against have the widest range of effective proven designs offered in
"assaulf'-style guns. New 9mm submachine guns are also modem history. While far from perfect for every conceivable
being developed, although they tend to be geared toward the police or self-defense need, the 9mm has shown itself to be
commando or counter-terrorist role, since the assault rifle has better than most. In fact, "9 millimeter" is is virtually synony-
taken over as infantry equipment in U.S. and Chinese-style mous with "pistol" in some European countries. It has shown
armies. Such SMGs are getting more compact and are often itself to be the most universal round of this century, and
equipped with suppressors for ambush, assassination or fight- probably most of the next.
ing in closed spaces.
There are several variations of the 9mm cartridges and case dimensions do not make them interchangeable for use.

CHAPTER
Twenty
PROPER FEEDING
FOR THE 9mm
T o d a y ' s High-tech H a n d g u n Bullets Offer A
B i g B o o s t In P e r f o r m a n c e .
This modified 9mm TZ 75 88 Series with a 4.75-inch barrel is a full-size service handgun. The author discovered that
the longer barrel did tend to alter the performance — primarily the velocities — of some of the rounds tested.

I
N TODAY'S high-tech world of fiber optics, satellite
communications and space shuttles, the 9mmP car-
tridge is somewhat of an anomaly.
Despite the fact that it was introduced in 1902 — 9mm
making it roughly nine years older than the .45 ACP, and one LUGER
of the first successful cartridges created expressly for smoke-
less powder — it remains the most popular military handgun
and submachine gun round in use today.
Indeed, during the last decade it even made considerable
inroads into the civilian law enforcement community, where
it was hailed as the ideal "new police load."
According to Chris Christain, one-time Navy pistol team Hornady Custom
mm
member, currentcompetitive shooterandhunting guide, "There 9mm LUGER SUBSONIC
are a number of reasons for the continued popularity of the
9mmP. Foremost is the fact that some of the most finely
engineered handguns in the world were designed expressly for 9 MM
this round. Such guns as the Browning Hi-Power, CZ-75 (and
it's Tanfoglio clones) the SIG Sauer P226 and 225 and others
are highly reliable, amply accurate and easy to shoot."
To that, you can add increased magazine capacity. Even a The author gathered an impressive stack of 9mm
rounds for his test. The ammunition represents the
compact gun like the SIG Sauer P225 will tote nine rounds.
latest offerings in the high-tech hollow-point race.
The larger "service-size" guns provide 15 to 18 rounds. When
that runs dry, it takes but a second to slap in a new magazine
and start all over. Among those who have lived through such Training time and training budgets simply aren't sufficient to
an experience, the general consensus is that you can't have too take young, mostly urban recruits with little previous shooting
much ammo in a gunfight! experience and turn them into deadly combat shooters.
Combine both the above with the fact that the 9mmP is a What kind of training is required to produce that goal? By
low-recoiling cartridge that is inherently easy to shoot anyway of example, when SEAL Team 6 was created in 1980 to
way, and it's not hard to see why it finds favor with both become one of premier counterterrorist units in the world,
military and civilian law enforcement folks. their handgun training schedule called for 2500 full-power
"When you get right down to it, the average police officer rounds per week, per man! And, every member of Team 6
is, at best, a semi-trained shooter, while the average military already was a qualified, experienced SEAL who thought he
individual isn't even up to that standard," Christian contends. was a great shot!
"Any gun that makes it easier for them to hit their target with For the average police officer, that 2500 round weekly
marginal training is viewed as an asset." allowance would equal his full academy training and five or
We realize Christian's "semi-trained shooter remark will more years of requalification.
ruffle some feathers, but it won't among police and military "That's why the 9mmP always will remain popular; a semi-
firearms instructors, training officers or those savvy, old trained shooter can handle it," Christian declares.
veterans who have devoted the time required to master the That's also why the 9mmP is a subject of controversy
handgun. They know the harsh realities that Christian learned among many self-defense-oriented handgunners.
during 10 years as a military and civilian handgun instructor: Many big-bore enthusiasts question the stopping power of
Federal Hydra-Shok had explosive expansion at velocities over 1000 fps with only a small core producing penetration.

The SIG Sauer P225 used in author's tests represents the current breed of compact, concealable 9mms that are
becoming a popular choice among plainclothes police officers and civilians. Its performance was flawless.
the mild-mannered 9mmP. One wag even opineed that they tion, design and intended performance parameters of their
call them "Wondernines," because you always wonder if the bullets. This gives the shooter an interesting selection from
bad guy will go down when you hit him with one. which to choose. To aid in your making that choice, we
Other evidence, however—including actual police shoot- decided to have Chris Christian put them all through compre-
ing reports — shows that, with the proper bullet, the 9mmP hensive performance tests. Here's how he went about i t
can be highly effective. The key term, obviously, is "proper
bullet," something that has plagued the 9mmP since its intro- THE LOADS
duction. Hornady was one of the first to introduce a revamped
Originally loaded with a round-nose, full metal-jacketed hollow-point design in the wake of the FBI tests that resulted
(FMJ) bullet, the early 9mmP loads were no great shakes at
ending an unpleasant confrontation. The tough little slugs
would drill a neat .36 caliber hole through the subject of your
attention — who then would continue to do pretty much what
he wanted for a considerable period of time before assuming
room temperature.
Lee Jurras, of Super Vel Fame, attempted to alter that by
producing lightweight expanding bullets that did, in fact, offer
a measure of improvement — but not quite enough. Bullet-
making technology wasn't quite up to the task at the time.
Today, however, that has changed. Within the last six
years, each of the major U.S. ammo makers has taken a long,
hard look at 9mmP hollow-point loads and undertaken serious
steps to improve them. The end result is that, as of this writing,
Federal, Winchester, Homady, Speer, PMC/Eldorado and
Remington all have settled on their own version of a 9mmP
"high-tech" hollow-point for law enforcement and self-de- Remington's Golden Saber showed expansion of more
fense. than .62-inch from both of the test handguns. It also
Each has taken a somewhat different approach in construc- produced what was an almost ideal level of penetration.

Winchester's new Black Talon was one of the better performers, expanding to .65-inch-plus. The bullet maintained
full weight retention from both test guns. The sharp jacket petals undoubtedly contribute to additional tissue damage.
from the infamous "FBI Miami Massacre." Available as Federal's premier bullet is the Hydra-Shok in 124 and 147
loaded rounds in weights of90,115,124, and 147 grains, their grains. This load utilizes an integal center post within the
XTP bullet is designed to expand to a consistent diameter of hollow-point cavity to direct matter contacted by the bullet in
approximately 1.67 times caliber — retaining maximum an outward manner that forces it against the interior walls of
bullet weight — and offer adequate penetration through the cavity and promotes quick bullet expansion. PMC/
intervening obstacles. This is what the FBI tests determined to Eldorado's new Starfire 124-grain JHP was designed by the
be proper law enforcement bullet performance. same man, Tom Burczynski, who developed the original
These bullets also are available as components, and the Hydra-Shok bullet. This round uses internal ribs within the
115-grain version has earned a reputation among competitive hollow-point cavity to accomplish the redirection of matter to
shooters as one of the most accurate 9mm bullets available. aid in bullet expansion.
Winchester offers three different rounds. Their venerable Remington also uses a radical jacket to increase tissue
and effective Silvertip has been slightly re-designed to im- damage. This jacket is of brass instead of the traditional
prove penetration. Their new Subsonic Deep Penetrator is copper alloy. Upon impact, six thick jacket petals expand
intended to perform similarly to the Homady XTP. Their outward to increase initial bullet diameter prior to the actual
newest offering, the Black Talon SXT, is the most radical. lead core expansion. The new Golden Saber round is available
The bullet jacket can contribute to tissue damage in a in a weight of 147 grains.
conventional hollow-point, but it is not normally designed to Speer's Gold Dot bullet is another controlled-expansion/
do so. The Black Talon changes that by incorporating six assured-penetration design. It is intended to expand to a
sharply curved jacket petals designed to rip and tear tissue as consistent diameter while retaining maximum weight for
they open up to allow the lead core to expand. penetration. Available in weights of 115,124 and 147 grains,
Each of the Winchester bullets was available in the 147- this bullet presented somewhat of a quandry.
grain weight for our tests. It is the intention of this chapter to test only factory-loaded
The PMC/Eldorado Starfire

expanded quickly and gave
a big mushroom. However,
its penetration was less than
the other ammunition tested.

TABEL #1
SIG Sauer P225 3.65-inch barrel
LOAD VELOCITY ACCURACY PENETRATION EXPANSION RETAINED

WEIGHT
Hornady XTP JHP

90 gr. #9020 1245 1.45 24 .55 89 grains
115 gr. #9025 1095 1.60 28/core-22/jacket .55 96
124 gr. #9024 1032 . 3.5 29 .63 121
147 gr. #9028 892 2.1 32 .63 140
Winchester
147 gr. Deep Penetrator
#XSUB9MM 909 2.5 29 .61 147
147 gr. Silvertip

#X9MMST147 911 2.4 26 .61 147
147 gr. Black Talon SXT

S9MM 943 2.7 27 .65 147
Federal
124 gr. Hydra-Shok
P9HS1 1063 1.7 20/core-13/jacket .81 82
(A)
147 gr. Hydra-Shok
P9HS2 946 2.8 23 .70 142
Remington
Golden Saber
147 gr. GS9MMC 970 2.5 29 .65 146
Speer Gold Dot

115 gr. #3994 1089 NA 34 .54 113
124 gr. #3998 1041 NA 34 .58 124
147 gr. #4002 930 NA 34 .58 147
PMC/Eldorado Starfire
124 gr. #C9SFB 1037 1.9 22 (B) .68 117
(A) Jacket fragments in first and second bags

(B) Core and jacket separated — found in same bag.
ammunition, and the Gold Dot bullet will be available as such. "The first is my personal TZ 75 88 Series Tanfoglio that
Unfortunately, at test time, it was available only as a compo- was imported originally by the now-defunct F.I.E. Corp. and
nent. currently by European American Armory as their Witness
Christian made the decision to load the bullets to the same model. A full-size, steel frame, 15-shotpiece with a4.75-inch
average velocity as the other factory loads in the same weights barrel, it adequately represents the standard uniformed holster
for penetration and expansion tests. He did not test the bullets gun," Christian reports.
for accuracy, since he made no attempt to produce accurate The second gun is the legendary SIG Sauer P225. This
loads—just those that produced the right velocity. Compar- compactDA auto has a 3.65-inch barrel and is found routinely
ing the accuracy of hastily assembled reloads to factory fodder in the hands of knowledgeable law enforcement officers (and
is not a fair or valid test. civilians) who demand a compact, accurate and reliable piece
for concealed carry.
TEST PROCEDURE "Accuracy testing was conducted from a benchrest at 25
In the real world of the streets, the 9mmP is fired routinely yards. I do not use a mechanical rest, because I have discov-
through either full-size service guns or compact, easily con- ered they can produce inaccurate results with some guns.
cealable models. Differing barrel lengths, however, will affect "Instead, using a two-piece rest, I fired three five-round
velocity and, possibly, terminal performance. To reflect that, groups with each gun and load. The largest and smallest
we chose two different test guns. groups were discarded, the mid-size group being recorded."

TABLE #2
TZ 75 88 Series 4.75-inch barrel
LOAD VELOCITY ACCURACY PENETRATION EXPANSION RETAINED

WEIGHT
Hornady XTP JHP

90 gr. #9020 1359 1.60 24 .60 80 grains
115 gr. #9025 1173 1.45 25 .56 109
124 gr. #9024 1120 2.25 35 .61 120
147 gr. #9028 969 2.35 35 .62 147
Winchester
147 gr. Deep Penetrator
#XSUB9MM 987 2.25 29 .59 145
147 gr. Silvertip

#X9MMST147 993 3.5 30 .63 130
147 gr. Black Talon SXT

S9MM 991 1.9 28 .66 147
Federal
124 gr. Hydra-Shok
P9HS1 1134 1.45 40 .37 (C) 62
147 gr. Hydra-Shok

P9HS2 1021 2.30 44 .38 (C) 70
Remington
Golden Saber
147 gr. GS9MMC 1064 2.0 34 .62 140
Speer Gold Dot

115 gr. #3994 1160 NA 30 .55 113
124 gr. #3998 1130 NA 34 .56 124
147 gr. #4002 990 NA 34 .58 147
PMC/Eldorado Starfire
124 gr. #C9FSB 1135 1.75 19 .71 115
(C) Core and jacket separation. Jacket fragments scattered along entire bullet
path. Expansion figure denotes recovered core only.
Christian feels this procedure offers a better feel for the size and density that encapsulate organs and muscles that vary
gun's real world capabilities, although, in actual practice, all quite a bit in their consistency, as well. A bullet that strikes
the group sizes with the same load were quite close in size. heavy bone will behave quite a bit differently than one
Groups were reported via a center-to-center measurement. impacting soft, fluid-filled tissues. The difference between
Velocities were recorded by an Oehler 35P chronograph with those two impacts may be as little as one inch of bullet
the start screen ten feet from the muzzle. placement!
Given that, the choice of an artificial test medium needs
PENETRATION & EXPANSION only be one that can be applied consistently, and bears a
No artificial test medium will accurately duplicate the relationship to how a bullet may perform in the soft tissue
passage of every bullet through the living tissue of a mammal. comprising the greater part of the body and its vital organs.
None. Period. The reason for that is simple. The three most commonly accepted are 10 percent ballistic
For any artificial test medium to be valid, it must be gelatin, wet paper and pure water.
consistent. Each and every bullet passing through it must Gelatin is the preferred choice, but must be used under
encounter the exact same substance and degree of resistance. strict temperature controls. If one varies too much from a
If not, you can throw your test results out. gelatin block temperature of 39 degrees F., the consistency of
Yet, the body of any mammal is anything but consistent. the medium changes and so does the validity of the results. "I
The support structure consists of numerous bones of varying ruled this out since the 85 to 95F heat of a Florida summer

made gelatin impractical," Christian reports. "Also ruled out, clearly determine if any fragments came off the bullet — and
for the same reason, was wet newsprint. This must be used in precisely where it happened. They would be in one of the
a uniformly-soaked condition, which could not be guaranteed punctured bags. That is important, because a bullet that
in that kind of heat. So, I used pure well water." fragments in the first one or two bags obviously expanded
Some may criticize that choice, but Evan Marshall and Ed quickly, while one that shed fragments along the entire bullet
Sanow, authors of Handgun Stopping Power: The Definitive path was merely coming apart."
Study, relied primarily on ballistic gelatin for their results. On The penetration figure achieved must be viewed as com-
page 169 of their book, the authors make their feelings on parative only; the degree of penetration achieved by one bullet
water, as a bullet test medium, known. as compared to another in the same test medium.
"Expansion in water gives excellent correlation with ex- It is logical to assume, however, that the relationship
pansion in living soft tissue...," they write. In simple and direct between the various penetration depths of the different bullets
terms, if a bullet expands in water, it will expand to some would remain relatively constant in other mediums.
degree no matter what living tissue is involved. If the bullet For those not satisfied with that, Marshall and Sanow note
does not expand in water, the bullet will need to strike bone to in their book that the Federal 9mm Nyclad 124-grain RNJHP
expand to any significant degree." consistently penetrated to a depth of 12.5 inches in 10 percent
The authors conclude: "Overall, water as a test medium, ballistic gelatin.
gives excellent results on the probability and degree of expan- Prior to his oWn test, Christian ran five penetration tests
sion." through the water box using this round from the TZ 75. All five
To facilitate Christian's use of water, a wooden box — rounds penetrated to a depth of 29 to 30 inches.
more precisely, a trough open at one end — was constructed Table #1 shows all pertinent performance data from the
and sized to hold one gallon Baggie-type storage bags full of SIG Sauer 225, while TZ 75 data is shown in Table#2. Results
water. are quite interesting. And, while it is not the intent of this piece
In use, the trough was packed with filled bags, a bullet fired to find the "magic bullet," some observations are inescapable.
through the open end, and when the spray settled, it was a Some bullets showed a marked difference in performance
simple matter for Christain to work his way through the from the two different barrel lengths. The Federal Hydra-
punctured bags until he arrived at the one holding the bullet. Shok was noticeable in this respect. From the TZ, both bullet
The interior of the trough was spray-painted red. This would weights showed instant, almost explosive, expansion that
show whether a bullet had hit the wood at any point in its fragmented the bullet. When the 147-grain version was re-
travels. It didn't happen, but had it been the case the round duced to subsonic velocity by the SIG, however, it expanded
would have been invalidated and retested. to .70 caliber and retained virtually all its weight while
A distance scale (in inches) was marked on the surface of providing excellent penetration .It's something to think about
the trough that showed how far the bullet had penetrated. if you tote a short-barreled 9mm.
"One advantage of using multiple bags is that I was able to Some bullets showed little change. The Speer Gold Dot

According to the author's findings, the SIG Sauer P225 proved comfortable with most of the ammunition he tested.
was remarkably consistent from both guns, as was the Win-

chester Black Talon. In fact, its performance was most im-
pressive. Penetration and expansion were consistent with both
guns. And. when Winchester talks about sharp jacket talons,
they aren't kidding. Christian pricked my fingers several
times while handling expanded bullets, until it dawned on me
that I had to handle them carefully. They are sharp! Imagine
the damage they are doing to the target!
Another interesting factor was the penetration and expan-
sion of most of the 147-grain loads, especially the Winchester
and Federal products. This bullet weight has been critized by
some for offering too much penetration and too little expan-
sion. In fact, some of the lighter weights penetrated more.
Performance of the new Remington Golden Saber was
good, but there was a slight problem.
"It is my habit to examine fired cases, and those from the
Golden Saber showed a definite primer wipe — a proper
primer indentation with a slashing edge. This happened with
both guns and indicates a condition called premature unlock-
ing — the gun moving out of battery before the firing pin has
retracted from contact with the primer," Christian reports.
"The cause could be the wrong burning speed powder, too
much powder or a characteristic of the brass jacket. Regard- The short-barrelled SIG 225 was capable of excellent
less, it needs correction, because premature unlocking can accuracy. The 90-grain Hornady JHP was its favorite.
(and at some point, probably will) damage or break a firing
pin. Since these rounds are intended for law enforcement and
self-defense, that is simply an unacceptable risk. Remington among the best in that category. Each of these high-tech
needs to consider this condition. 9mmP rounds offers its own performance characteristics.
If you worry about excess penetration, note the perfor- "All you have to do to boost the performance of your gun
mance of the PMC Starfire. If your scenario requires assured is decide what characteristics you require, then feed your 9mm
penetration, you'll find the Gold Dot and Hornady XTP properly," Christian insists.
THE GUN DIGEST BOOK o) 9mm HANDGUNS 179

RELOADING THE
9X19mm
It's A P r o j e c t N o t U n f r a u g h t W i t h
Complexities, But T h e r e A r e S h o r t c u t s
A r o u n d Most O f T h e m !
S
INCE SOME point in 1957 or so, Dean Grennell has .380-inch. The .38 ACP and .38 Colt Super have nominally
been serving as what we might term a reloader's Ann identical case dimensions, with a case length of .900-inch and
Landers, and a great many readers have inquired as to a uniform diameter of .384-inch from just ahead of the groove
a good choice in calibers for the launching of their to the case mouth, with a rim diameter of .406-inch. The
reloading careers. Grennell's usual response has been the .38 dimensions are quoted from the current Homady Handbook
Special, with the .357 magnum as a fairly close second. Other and may vary slightly in other sources.
handgun calibers with cases having sides that are straight and A reloaded cartridge needs to end up with its bullet base
parallel serve almost as well, including the .41 magnum, .44 held in a fairly secure and tenacious grasp by the case neck. As
Special, .44 magnum and .45 Auto Rim or Colt. most 9mmP ammo ends up getting used in autoloaders, the
"Personally, I cut my reloader's teeth on the .45 ACP, back stresses of getting stripped from the top of the magazine and
in the early Fifties. A friend and I used a Lyman No. 310 tong slammed up the feed ramp and into the chamber tend to seat
tool and I recall we were heavily perplexed upon encountering the bullet a bit deeper into the case, and you don't want that to
some Frankford Arsenal cases that had primer pockets smaller happen. It can boost the peak chamber pressures and the
in diameter, for use with FA's own primer. Normal large pistol 9mmP operates at a high level, even under the best of condi-
primers are .210-inch in diameter and there was just no way tions.
you could cajole them into the FA case primer pockets. It's obvious you're not going to be able to obtain much of
"Much as I've come to respect and admire the .45 ACP, it's a press-fit of case mouth against bullet base with a tapered
not a round I'd suggest as the reloader's first project. Much the case. With some manual/handbook loads for the 9mmP, you
same in cards, spades and Big Casino can be said of the start out with the case about level-full and compress the charge
9x19mm Luger/Parabellum/whatever. The 9mmP—as we'll to seat the bullet, and such loads provide a reasonable amount
term it henceforth — has a straight-sided case with a slight of support against deeper seating.
amount of taper and, as the Genie remarked to Aladdin, that's One possible approach consists of resizing your spent
where the rub comes in." 9mmP cases in a 9mmP resizing die, then going on to pass
The 9mmP has a nominal case length of .754-inch. The rim about the front one-third of the case up into a .38 ACP/.38
diameter is given as.394-inch. It's .391 -inch just ahead of the Super die to iron the mouth down a bit farther. Dillon Preci-
extractor groove and the outside diameter at the case mouth is sion Products, Inc., 7442 East Butherus Drive, Scottsdale, AZ

This is an old Lyman tong tool like one author used in
getting started reloading the .45 ACP in the early Fifties.
The 9x19mm (left) and the .45 ACP are two of the moat
widely used military and police cartridges of all time.
85260, can furnish a carbide 9mmP resizing die that puts a

short area of parallel-sided brass at the case mouth, giving the
effect of a faint amount of bottleneck. Reportedly.that works
quite well.
"I have become quite partial to the Lyman M-die for
expanding case mouths," Grennell tells us. The lower end of
the expanding punch has a diameter about .003-inch smaller
than bullet diameter, fairing into an upper portion about .002-
to .003-inch larger than bullet diameter. By careful adjustment
of the M-die in the loading press, you can flare the mouth just
enough to accept about the first .020-inch or so of the bullet
base. That lets you seat the bullet without cocking or scraping,
but provides a useful length of case neck that is slightly less
than bullet diameter to provide the badly needed friction-fit."
If you don't happen to have a set of .38 ACP/.38 Super dies
on hand, you might have a sizing die for the .380 ACP/9mm
Kurz/Corto/Short, which has a mouth outside diameter of
.373-inch and that can be used for the same purpose.
The effect we've been trying to achieve by all this effort is
to provide the 9mmP case with an inside diameter at the neck A small cartridge loading block is handy and easy to
that is some few thousandths smaller than the bullet base over make. After charging, powder levels can be checked.
a reasonable distance for the sake of a secure grip to prevent
bullet migration during the feeding cycle.
The 9mmP is one of those cartridges that benefits consid- idea to mash their mouths with a pair of Vise-Grip pliers to
erably from intent and careful sorting of the spent cases, prior make sure they'll not find their way back into the chain of
to reloading. The first and foremost thing to do is to cull out production again. If present in quantity, recycle by selling
all the Berdan-primed cases, readily identifiable by the pres- them to the scrap dealer.
ence of two small, off-center flash holes. Once you've gotten your supply of cases down to nothing
Once you've pulled them out of the main herd, it's not a bad but the Boxer-primed variety, with the single, centrally lo-

RCBS shell holder No. 16 is used for the 9x19mm.
cated flash holes, it's still an excellent idea to sort them by

headstamps. A considerable amount of dimensional variation
can be expected from one producer to the next. The situation
is not as bad as it used to be, but it's still bad enough. I can
recall when I had to stock three different shell holders to The free Winchester Reloading Components Catalog
contains load data on handgun, rifle and shotgun ammo.
handle all the Boxer-primed 9mmP empties and it was nearly
that bad for the .45 Colt brass," Grennell admits.
"If you' ve yet to purchase your set of 9mmP reloading dies,
I'd recommend you get the kind with a tungsten carbide insert will remove the stamp-crimp for easy seating of the new
in the resizing die. Redding uses a titanium carbide insert in primer.
their dies. Either kind does not require application of lubricant The 9 m m P uses small pistol primers and, due to the
before sizing, nor removal of the lube after doing so. That can limited amount of available powder space, Grennell
save you an enormously useful amount of fuss, work, time and usually uses the standard, rather than magnum-type small
bother. The tapered case of the 9mmP, like that of the .30 GI primers, regardless of the powder he's using.
Carbine, means that carbide dies will cost substantially more The primers need to be seated firmly for the sake of lightly
than dies for parallel-sided cases such as the .38 Special, but pre-stressing the wafer of priming compound, but without
it's still a bargain if you attach any significant value to your excessive force that might crack the wafer and result in a
person hours." misfire or hangfire. It's a simple matter of educating your
If your empty cases are from military loads, some or most wrist muscles and maintaining a uniform seating pressure,
may have the primers stamp-crimped into place for the sake of according to the old pro. *
better performance in full-auto weaponry. You need to re- Reloading presses are to be had in a great many designs and
move the stamp-crimp for the sake of easy seating of fresh formats. There are single-station presses in which you install
primers. That can be done in any of several approaches. The one die at a time to perform one or perhaps two operations.
one Grennell prefers is to use one of the inside/outside case There are turret presses with three or more stations that can
neck deburring tools, held in a crank-operated base, as avail- handle the given number of operations and there are progres-
able from Forster Products. Three or four turns of the crank sive presses, either manually or automatically indexed, to

Berdan-primed cases such as CCI's Blazer have two
off-center flash holes which can break decapping pins.
Another resource available on request is Scot's manual.
Carbide resizing dies, like this one from RCBS, have a

tungsten carbide insert and don't require case lube.
perform all the needed operations with each stroke of the

operating handle.
If you have a hard need for producing many thousands of
rounds per day, there are fully automatic presses that only
need to be fed with primers, powder and bullets as production
goes along. If one of these catches your fancy, be soberly
advised the price tags run to five digits and a bit.
"Quite candidly, I am what a contemporary once termed an
Experimental Ballistician, because they didn't care to men-
tion the publication that employs me. I make up a few rounds
of these, a few more rounds of those and take them to the range
for testing," Grennell explains.
"I don't indulge in practice because I've not fired a round
in competition since some point back in the mid-Seventies.
It's not for a lack of interest but due to a sharp shortage of time.
"For that basic reason, much of my reloading can be
handled quite nicely on a single-station press. I produce a
batch of load-ready cases, consult my data sources, adjust Here is a look at the tugnsten carbide insert in the die.

The decaping stem is removed Midway Arms, Inc. supplies numerous needs for serious handloaders. These
from this resizing die from Pacific. gummed labels are convenient for identifying different loads quickly, easily.
Such labels were used in developing the loads reported on in this chapter.
measures to dispense suitable powder charges, drop them into It is a good idea to put the reloads in some manner of
load-ready cases, scan the powder levels with akeen eye under package and label the package as to the makeup of the loads.
good light and go on to put bullets into the slightly flared case Several manufacturers offer ammo boxes or you may be able
mouths. Then I seat the bullets and take them out for testing." to use the boxes in which the factory loads were packed. Some
It is not too early to note the extreme importance of suppliers—Midway, for one—can furnish printed, self-adhe-
maintaining a comprehensive set of records of all the reloads sive labels for such purposes.
you make up. You need to specify the case headstamp, make "In my own informal system, using the spiral-bound note-
and type of primers, type and charge weight of powder, make/ books, I number the pages and the lines down the page. When
weight/type of bullet and its seating depth or cartridge overall a notebook gets filled, I buy the next one with a different color
length (COL) and, after test-firing, you need to add the of cover. I've gone through notebooks with red, yellow and
performance data. green covers and am working with a blue-covered one at the
"Various suppliers offer excellent books for controlling moment.
such records. Personally, I just use an informal system of "That makes identification of the given reload a conve-
spiral-bound notebooks, due to my innate birth defect. You niently simple matter. For example, I could use a grease pencil
see, I was born without the soul of a bookkeeper or the soul of to label a box, "B-27-14" and, if needed, could turn to page 27
a filing clerk. My system works well enough for my personal in the blue-covered notebook, scan down to line 14 and learn
needs, provided I don't lose track of the blasted notebooks, as all the pertinent particulars. When the reloads are used up, a bit
sometimes happens," Grennell explains.
With non-carbide dies, lube is applied before resizing

The seating die is used in the final step of reloading. and removed after the job is done. It's time-consuming.

9 mm 124 GR
.355" JSP
Speer's 124-grain JSP bullets offer excellent expansion.
be approached with appropriate caution. The same source lists

IMR's SR 4756 as giving the highest velocity with the 95-
grain Speer bullet; 1309 fps. For the 100-grain Speer JHP,
they top out with Winchester 231 powder at 1295. Hodgdon
HS-6 hits the peak of 1315 fps for 115-grain bullets. For 124-
grain bullets, Blue Dot beats Accurate Arms No. 7 by a narrow
nose: 1226 against 1225 fps.
For dope on the heavier bullets, we consulted the data
booklet from Accurate Arms and find their No. 7 powder rated
For those who need a lot of reloads, progressive
for the highest velocities with bullets weights of 130,132/135
presses like the Dillon Precison RL 1050 save time.
and 147 grains. AA-7 powder was developed expressly for use
in the 9mmP cartridge, so that's hardly surprising.
As we get into longer barrels, such as the Colt or Marlin's
of lighter fluid on a facial tissue removes the grease pencil Camp Carbine, Hodgdon H-l 10 becomes a remarkably good
markings. A problem with using paper labels is the build-up performer. With 10.8 grains of H-l 10 behind the 115-grain
in the course of time and the difficulty of removing them." Hornady No. 3554 JHP bullet, ballistics were a modest 1162/
Choosing the best powder will depend somewhat upon the 345, but five rounds at 25 yards went into a group with a
length of the barrel through which the reloads will be fired. center-spread of only 0.25-inch; good for .954 minute of
The faster-burning powders usually give best results in the angle.
shorter barrels while longer barrels develop their best ballis- Hensley & Gibbs currently lists 18 mould designs for use
tics with powders that are somewhat slower in burning rates. in the 9mmP and Grennell is inclined to include a nineteenth:
With the IMR powders, as tested in a four-inch barrel, their their No. 333, which is a little wadcutter only 0.25-inch from
SR 4756 powder delivers the highest velocities; 1175 fps with front to back, weighing 66.5 grains in typical casting alloys.
a 115-grain bullet and 1160 with a 124-grain bullet. The As you'd suppose, the wadcutter design rarely feeds well in
charge is the same in both examples: 6.3 grains of SR 4756, a semi-auto pistols, but it can be used effectively in revolvers,
compressed charge. The chamber pressures, respectively, are single-shots or hand-chambered in autos. Out of the Marlin
30,600 and 32,400 cup. Camp Carbine, with 10.3 grains of Accurate Arms No. 7
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Insti- behind it, the little 333 H&G wadcutter averaged 1874/519;
tute — SAAMI— decrees a maximum industry working hand-chambered, of course.
pressure of 35,700 copper units of pressure (cup) for the When Lee Jurras was running Super Vel out of Shelby ville,
9mmP and most commercial loads are somewhat below that Indiana, he worked up a 9mm JHP bullet weighing only 80
figure. SAAMI also specifies 1.169 inches as the maximum grains. The lightest currently available is Speer's No. 4000
cartridge overall length. JHP at 88 grains. Weights of jacketed bullets range upward
The eleventh edition of Speer's load data book shows from there to 147 grains, but H&G can furnish mould blocks
Hercules Blue Dot as the powder that delivers the highest for two cast bullets at 150 grains. Mindful of the short 9mmP
velocity with the 88-grain Speer JHP bullet—1486 fps out of case and the restriction to an overall length of 1.169 inches, it's
a 4.9-inch barrel on 10.9 grains, which is a maximum load to obvious that's about the end of the line.

Twenty-Two
AFTER THE
WORKUP
When You've Found Which 9mm Load
Is B e s t , It's T i m e T o P r o d u c e !
Mb
Lyman offers a four carbide die set for reloading straight-walled 9mm cases. Shown with the dies is a S&W auto.

W
HEN IT comes to reloading for the 9mmP,
there are a number of theories extant in
Gundom. Some say it is among the world's
most difficult and frustrating cartridges to
load correctly and consistently. Others say it is more or less
like a lot of other cartridges. Relatively few preach that it is
easy to reload — few except for the author, who feels it is
among the easiest ever encountered.
Although such a supposition might be tantamount to blas-
phemy in some circles, it happens to have been the way it
worked out for me. But before going too far into the particu-
lars, some explanation is necessary.
Making consistent home-brewed handgun ammunition is
tricky. It requires total attention to a number of details, and
those details are not necessarily so critical when loading
centerfire rifle ammo. Perhaps that is one point where others
have assumed the 9mmP is a tough nut to crack when stationed
at the loading bench.
Because of a host of dynamics, handgun ammunition
generally is in a totally different league than rifle ammunition.
Among the easiest explained of these dynamics is the burning
characteristic of the powder. Pistol powder is generally much
faster burning, and has a totally different power "curve" and
pressure "curve" than does rifle powder.
Some shooters have imagined that this dynamic is inexpli-
cably tied to the shorter barrel lengths. This supposition may
not be entirely wrong, but it really isn't always correct in every
way, either. Frankly, more arguments centered around fire-
arms related topics are tied to matters that aren't totally correct
than those which are actually wrong.
There will be no effort here to engage in a dissertation
about the various dynamics of rifle and handgun cartridges,
because that could be the subject of an entire book by itself.
However, there are some dynamics which can make the
difference between consistent loads and inconsistent ones —
dynamics over which the handloader himself or herself has
much control.
In all handloading, uniformity is a paramount requirement
if the loads are to be as good as they can be. The difference is
that a little bit of non-uniformity makes a bigger discernible
difference in handgun ammo than it does in most rifle ammo.
As much as this is true for handgun ammunition, it be-
comes even more critical when the ammunition happens to
possess two of the features of the 9mmP. This cartridge is
relatively small with relatively little internal case capacity,
and it is designed to operate at relatively high pressures (high
intensity). To a degree, these two factors work at odds with
The Redding powder measure accurately dispenses
each other when it comes to cooking up some really consistent
propellant while speeding the reloading of 9mm cases.
loads.
But there is more. Since everything about 9mmP ammo
and handguns is manufactured routinely at all manner of
places all over the world, there can be and is a tremendous doing the loading must pay total attention to every detail. First,
range of actual sizes and dimensions involved. This phenom- let's discuss some of the considerations which are applicable
enon is predictable whenever an item is truly a high volume to loading in general, handgun cartridge loading itself, and
proposition, and since the 9mmP is the world's single highest finally, 9mmP loading specifically.
volume centerfire handgun reality, it naturally takes top Since the brass case is the first component a handloader
honors for having available the most widely diverse combina- deals with when preparing loads, it is the logical place to
tion of actual dimensions of anything involved with it. begin. General advice holds that all of the brass used in a
To load really consistent 9mmP ammunition, the person particular batch of handloads should be from the same manu-

facturer, and from the same manufacturing lot, when possible.
It is true for the 9mmP, as well as for any cartridge.
But there is more. Not all manufacturing facilities which
crank out 9mmP brass are guilty of good quality control.
When selecting brass, first segregate it by maker, then get out
the calipers. I have experienced cases from the same produc-
tion run of 9mmP which have varied as much as .005-inch in
length. That may not sound like a lot of variance, but remem-
ber that pluses and minuses are relative.
The 9mmP case is supposed to be .754-inch long (that's
ever so slightly more than three forths-inch). Or, put another
way, it doesn't take much imagination to turn a few thou-
sandths of an inch into another cartridge. There are a number
of cartridges which are quite close to the 9mmP, and much
slop in the dimensions department can make one more like the
other than to other loadings in its own designation.
But more to the point, a .005-inch difference among cases
in a single production run says quite a bit about the kinds of
variances one can encounter from one production run to
another at a given factory, or among various production runs
atnumerous factories. And anyone who thinks relative dimen-
sions in the Land of the 9mmP don't make a whole lot of
difference might note a statement which has appeared in the
Speer reloading manuals for a number of years: "But more
important, loads that produced 28,000 cup went to 62,000 cup
when bullets were purposely seated .030-inch deeper!"
This points up the need to stress another reality in reload-
ing. Although any handload is no better than its weakest or
worst component, every handload is the composite of all of its
components, working in concert with the firearm through
which it is fired. The operative term here is "composite."
If pressures can more than double when a bullet is seated
30 thousandths of an inch deeper, it doesn't take much of a
dimensional difference here and there to add up to a similar
sum. There is no suggestion here that unsafe loads necessarily
will happen every time, if everything isn't within a thousandth
of an inch of what it is supposed to be every single time.
However, there is no room for sloppiness in reloading the
9mmP, either.
Above, even the moat basic
single-stage press will work
well for reloading 9mmP.
Left, RCBS's Accessory
Kit provides the needed
gadgets for the reloader.

In the instance cited by Speer, it was shown that by seating
the bullet deeper, the pressures skyrocketed. This is the
product of powder charge relative to interior case capacity.
The deeper the bullet is seated, the less working capacity there
is. That is why many reloading manuals stress that there is a
"minimum" suggested overall length when assembling spe-
cific components. If those same components which make a
safe and effective loading at one length are assembled into a
cartridge which is shorter overall, then the pressures will go
up, and they can go up dramatically. Not only is this poten-
tially unsafe, but it makes for inconsistent performance of the
ammunition.
Although the interior dimensions of most cases from a
particular manufacturer are generally consistent, there is no
necessary consistency from one manufacturer to another. For
example, the cases from Company A may have thicker walls
near the base than those from Company B. That means that
cases from Company A have less internal volume, assuming
equal lengths with cases from Company B.
Those differences may not be much, but they are both
measurable and important. They become even more impor-
tant when one considers that not all cases are the same length
—even from the same production run at the same factory. By
now, some picture about the interrelationships of various
dimensions should be taking form. It doesn't take much
imagination to suggest that there could be, and indeed there
are, situations in which several of the components in a particu-
lar cartridge, when assembled together, could represent a
significant difference in the final case capacity, which makes
a significant difference in the pressures at the moment the
cartridge is fired.
Although most of these plus and minus production differ-
ences aren't generally enough, even in combination, to make
an otherwise safe loading unsafe in a particular pistol, they
absolutely are enough to make individual cartridges in a batch
Author used the multi-stage Ponsness-Warren

Metal-Matic for reloading all the cartridges used in the
development of this book. With the press are theRCBS
powder measure and Lee carbide reloading dies.

Primer trays, like this one
from RCBS, are useful for
keeping primers handy and
their right sides facing up.
inconsistent in performance. Again, it is important to stress long to work in the pistol, nor too short. In 9mmP terms, it is
that the 9mmP is a high intensity cartridge with relatively little generally held that maximum case length should be .754-inch,
capacity. This means a relatively slight difference in compo- and that minimum case length should be .751-inch. Unlike
nents can make a decided difference in how the load performs. many centerfire rifle cartridges, 9mmP cases do not stretch
Anyone whowantstobefanatic about the matter could take significantly from one firing to another, although they do
case segregation still another step. Each case could be filled stretch a little each time.
with a uniform substance to determine its exact capacity. Assuming the cases to be loaded are all of like and proper
Then, only cases with precisely the same capacity could be length, the sizing operation comes next. There is no real secret
included in a particular batch of reloads. Some truly serious here, except to note that the sizing die needs to be adjusted
target shooters (generally of rifles) do exactly that. They use properly, and that the sizing stroke should be the same for
water, and measure each case. This is really not practical for every case in a lot. One other note about sizing dies: When
most 9mmP applications, but it would work. considering the purchase of any at this date, it makes sense to
Within reason, variations in case length can be remedied by opt for a carbide die. The reason is simple. Carbide dies
the handloader via the use of a case trimming device. For preclude the need for case lube, and that eliminates a number
example, all cases in a particular batch can be trimmed to of potential problems, as well as the time needed to lube the
precisely the same length, so long as the length is neither too cases before sizing, and then removing the lube following
Author had a wide variety

of spent cases to use in the
9mmP load development.

The author believes in taking as
many short-cuts as possible in
turning out shootable ammo. As a
result, he found the RCBS Rifle/
Pistol Ammo-Crafter-2 a great aid
in giving him the loads he wanted.
sizing. It is simply quicker and cleaner with carbide dies. Priming a case may appear to be so simple and inert as to
Depending upon the design of the equipment and dies be a "given." For consistent loads, it is important that all of the
being used and the ways they might be adjusted, the next steps primers be seated uniformly. There are gauges available for
of the reloading procedure become increasingly important if those who want to be able to measure such things as primer
consistent ammunition is to be achieved. seating depth. However, so long as the primers are seated
Logically, the cases need to have been cleaned somewhere deeply enough to preclude slam-fires or pistol malfunction, it
during the process. And, it is assumed here that they will have is more important to make certain that they are all seated to the
been cleaned before they are re-primed. Some handloaders same depth than it is to determine a specific depth. We are
prefer to deprime old cases before doing anything else, then talking about some very small potential variations here, but
cleaning them. Others clean the cases with the old primers in they are measurable and can make a difference.
place, then deprime them with the sizing die and follow up by Assuming the cases have been primed properly, it is time
cleaning the primer pocket separately. Whatever technique is to charge the case with powder. For many years, I scaled every
employed, it is important that the cases be clean when the new single powder charge of every single cartridge I handloaded.
components are being assembled. And, for some cartridges, I still do. But for most 9mmP loads,
A little reloading every day

provided author with the
9mmP ammo needed for
his extensive evaluations.

selection of powder can result in a situation in which the Lyman is famous in the industry for its "M" die which
powder will meter through a measure consistently enough to features an expander that, rather than belling the mouth,
work well. For example, it is not uncommon for me to load 500 expands it slighdy and to a determinable depth. This aids in the
9mmP cartridges and have the variation from any one to loading of cast bullets, because it does not deform the outside
another anywhere in the batch be noticeably less than one- of the bullet, and contributes to uniform and straight sealing of
tenth-grain. In performance matters, there can be more differ- the comparatively soft bullets. Such a die should be consid-
ence between manufacturing lots of a specific type of cannis- ered mandatory for the effective loading of cast bullets for the
ter powder than would be noticed in such a small powder 9mmP.
weight difference. It may sound strange, but when the differ- The next step often is referred to as the crimping step. There
ences are so small, the powder charge has less overall effect is need for some discussion about both the terminology and
on consistency and accuracy than do several of the other actual function of this step when it comes to loading 9mmP
considerations. ammunition.
The next step is to prepare the case to receive the bullet. One of the single most critical factors in loading consistent
This is one of the absolutely critical stages in the entire process 9mmP ammunition involves a concept called "bullet pull."
if consistency is to be achieved. This is when the expander This is the amount of force needed to pull a bullet from a
plug determines exactly how much and how deeply the case loaded cartridge. In the industry, it is used to measure crimp
mouth area will be expanded. Remember, when the case is amount and consistency. The idea is that the more consistent
sized initially, it is sized to less than its final diameter in the the pull amount is from one cartridge to another, the more
area of the case mouth. The expander die, then, works the brass consistently the cartridges will perform.
back out to the proper dimension. Although this concept is important in any kind of cartridge,
Die sets come with expanders which will work. However, it is more important in handgun cartridges than in many rifle
not all expanders are the best choices for all bullet designs, nor cartridges, and it is even more important among the high
for all bullet compositions. At the very least, the expander will intensity, small volume cartridges — like the 9mmP.
form a slight belling at the mouth of the case so the base of the As was pointed out above, pistol powder is "fast" when
bullet can be guided into the case when it is time for the seating compared to rifle powder. And, since the 9mmP has relatively
process to be performed. This works fine with jacketed litde case capacity, it uses some of the faster of the pistol
bullets, but effective loading of cast bullets calls for a different powders for most loadings. What this means is that by the time
type of expander. the bullet is beginning to go down the barrel, peak pressures
IP
The RCBS Rock Chucker Master Kit is a major league reloading set up for everything from handguns to big-bore riles.

either have been achieved or are at the verge of being achieved. acceptable dimension. Yet, most 9mmP ammunition will
This also means that every micro-second from the time the function and shoot through most 9mmP firearms. How does
primer ignites until the bullet is going down the barrel is this happen?
critical, and that the exact way each case releases each bullet In many instances, the extractor in the firearm is strong
can and does make a noticeable difference in performance. enough to hold the cartridge in place for the firing pin to dent
Hence, how snugly each case holds the bullet makes a differ- the primer and set off the cartridge. This reality is demon-
ence in how the powder actually burns, and how that bullet strated sufficiently whenever someone accidentally fires a
will be propelled down and out the barrel. .380 ACP cartridge in a 9mmP firearm. There is no effort here
Back to crimping. There is crimping, then there is crimp- to suggest that anyone purposely try it — indeed, I strongly
ing. When it comes to 9mmP ammunition, the subject of suggest that it not be done.
crimping becomes critical, since supposedly the case However, on occasion shooters have put .380 ACP ammo
headspaces on its mouth, which means very much crimping in 9mmP handguns, pulled the trigger and the gun goes
can cause added headspace concerns. "bang." The bullet goes out the barrel (the bullets, by the way
Granted, in theory the 9mmP headspaces on the mouth of are the same .355-inch diameter for both cartridges). How-
the case. However, in reality there are situations in which the ever, when the .380 case is inspected following such a firing,
case either doesn't "headspace" at all, or in which anything it is bulged out, because it is thinner than the 9mmP. The base
that approaches headspacing happens with respect to the base diameter of the .380 is .374-inch, while the base diameter of
area of the cartridge rather than the mouth. the 9mmP is .394-inch. And, the .380 case is .680-inch long,
This all relates to the wide range of plus and minus compared to the .754-inch length of the 9mmP.
dimensions mentioned earlier. For example, there may be What this means then is that the .380 ACP could not
industry standards which are quite precise, but when one possibly headspace on its mouth in the 9mmP, because there
considers the enormous number of places where 9mmP guns is a difference of .074-inch in length. And even if the lengths
and ammunition are made, and the vast disparity in the were similar, the diameter of the .380 at the mouth is .373-
conditions under which they are made, it is not difficult to find inch, compared to the 9mmP at .380-inch at the same place.
examples of guns and ammunition which are significantly That would be enough, in theory, to preclude practical
"out of specification." And, it is not odd to find a situation in headspacing on the mouth. But even more noticeable is the
which ammunition that is on the minus end of acceptable difference at the base. It is .020-inch. Yet, the extractor of the
dimension is shot in a chamber which is on the plus end of 9mmP obviously held the thinner .380 case securely enough
The author's reloading set up includes (from right) empty cases, CCI primers, Ponsness-Warren Metal-Matic press,
Hercules Unique powder and finished cartridges. The primers and powder contributed to extremely consistent loads.

to set it off. If such a huge degree of slop can allow an entirely careful to focus attention in the proper areas right from the
different cartridge to fire in a 9mmP, then there obviously is start. This meant that many of the kinds of consistency errors
a lot of room for "error" from one 9mmP cartridge to another, one makes early in a handloading career were precluded, and
yet still have it function. that meant that the loads tended to be more consistent.
But back to the consistent loading of the 9mmP. Since Handloads developed to create data for this book generally
crimping is suggested to be kept to a minimum, because the were acceptably consistent. It was not uncommon for the
case headspaces on the mouth, then some form of taper crimp Oehler 35P chronograph to record standard deviations within
is better than the more radical bending crimp used on other five-shot strings of less than 10, with standard deviations of
cartridges like the .44 Magnum. Crimps which actually bend three to five achieved on numerous occasions.
the mouth of the case inward only work well when a bullet Although gun writers routinely try all kinds of different
with a cannelure is used, and such bullets are the exception combinations of components when working up loads for
rather than the rule when it comes to the 9mmP. specific firearms, loads prepared for this book were limited
In practice, the 9mmP is probably handloaded best when severely. The reasons for such limitations might also have
no crimp as such is used at all. Rather, it is important merely merit for many 9mmP shooters should they decide to load
to adjust the die so the bullet is squeezed quite snugly by the their own ammo.
case. It can take a degree of experimentation when using When comparing relative performance characteristics of
specific combinations of brass and powder to come up with many different firearms, it is generally a good idea to establish
the best adjustment, but time spent focusing on this part of the certain benchmark, or baseline, loads. To that end, specific
reloading procedure is extremely well spent. Major advances factory loads and specific handloads were chosen.
in consistency generally can be experienced more quickly However, given the tremendous number of powders which
here than at any other single step of the entire reloading will work in 9mmP cartridges, as well as the number of
procedure when it comes to 9mmP ammunition. different primers, cases and bullets, there literally are thou-
Face it, the manufacturer of the dies determines when the sands of different combinations possible. Compound that
dies are made just how much a case will be sized (when they with the large number of different guns, and the matter could
are adjusted properly). And, the manufacturers of the various get totally unmanageable in a hurry.
components determine the specific dimensions and character- As a result, for most data-gathering chores, my loads used
istics of them. The only real control the handloader has over only a few different bullet weights and designs, a couple of
such things is in the initial selection process. different kinds of primers, not many different kinds of cases
But the handloader does have control over the adjustment and only one kind of powder: Hercules Unique.
of the dies, and that includes both the depth to which a bullet With respect to the choice of powder, I confess to being
will be seated and the degree to which it will be crimped in arbitrary. There are many in the handloading fraternity who
place. So, those are the two factors which should warrant argue — and justifiably so — that there are "better" powders
critical focus when handloading. Consistency in those two for any number of the loads. They are probably not wrong.
areas will go a long way toward the making of consistent However, Unique is one of the powders which is credible
loads. for just about any 9mmP loading, and it is a powder which, in
Back to the discussion about what cartridges are hard to my experience, has been incredibly consistent from one lot to
load and which ones are easier. I didn't reload 9mmP car- another over the years.
tridges until fairly late in my handloading career. This meant There is no effort here to suggest I used Unique from a
that I already understood the various dynamics and was number of different lots. For this book, I used powder from
A powder scale is essential for reloading. This Lyman scale is easy to use, providing quick, accurate measurements.

only two separate lots. However, readers likely will be using
powder from many different lots, and if the results are to be
similar, it seemed logical to use a powder which is probably
very close to the same Unique powder that any reader might
be using. Keep in mind, though, that the difference between
lots in some powders can be more than the differences be-
tween two closely related powders.
There is one more area of concern when it comes to loading
consistent 9mmP ammunition. It is the press itself. Trying to
decide what kind of press is right can be frustrating. However,
it need not be terribly difficult to determine just what is
needed, if logic rather than passion dictates action.
It is never a bad idea to have a good, solid single-stage
reloading press. Such equipment lasts virtually forever, and it
is good for all kinds of loading and loading-related functions.
For shooters who plan to load a lot of different kinds of
cartridges, a big, solid single-stage press should be considered
mandatory.
Some of the better single-stage presses on the market are
the Hornady 00-7, Lyman Orange Crusher, RCBS Rock
Chucker and Redding Model 721 "The Boss."
Multi-station, single-stage presses which are credible in-
clude the Lyman T-Mag Turret, Ponsness-Warren Metal-
Matic, RCBS 4x4, and Redding Metallic Turret.
Most of the major manufacturers also market some form of
full-progressive press. They include the Hornady Pro-Jector
and RCBS Ammomaster Auto.
However, if the only cartridge to be loaded is the 9mmP,
then there might be some other options which make better
sense. A multi-station single-stage press might be the answer,
or the better bet might be a full-progressive. A note of caution
here, however. Full-progressive reloading presses are right The goal in handloading any ammo is to be certain that
only for those who load a whole lot of ammunition in a given the finished cartridges are uniform — inside and out!
cartridge.
They are complicated, and can take a while to learn to use presses are capable of producing a lot of ammunition effi-
effectively. But, once they are set up properly they can really ciently. But more important, they are not the challenge to the
help crank out the ammo — hundreds of rounds per hour. concentration that the full-progressives are.
For this book, I opted for one of the many multi-station Whether the press is a multi-station or a full-progressive,
single-stage presses for a number of reasons. First, such there is one advantage over time that simply does not exist
For top accuracy, cases must be trimmed to the proper length. Lyman's Power Trimmer makes fast work of the chore.

with a single-stage press. It has to do with die adjustment.
Once the desired load has been worked up and the dies on a
multi-station press (and full-progressives are also multi-sta-
tion propositions) are adjusted and set, the same load can be
created in large numbers then or any time in the future. It is the
epitome of repeatability.
It is important to stress, however, that when working up
particular loads, it is often handier to do such work on a single-
station press. This is because subtle adjustments are easier and
quicker on such a piece of machinery. But, once the load is
determined, and it is time to crank out large supplies of ammo,
then the multi-stations and full-progressives come into play.
For the handloads used in this book, I opted for the
Ponsness-Warren Metal-Matic multi-station press. Ponsness-
Warren is perhaps best known for its shotshell loading presses,
but the company also markets two highly effective multi-
station models for metallic cartridges. One is the Metal-Matic,
which is both compact and heavy duty, and the other is a
somewhat larger model called Metallic II. The Metallic II is
excellent for handgun cartridges, and is somewhat better
suited for some of the rifle cartridges than is the Metal-Matic.
Although there are enough threaded stations on the top
turret of the Metal-Matic to handle two complete sets of dies
(for two different cartridges), I used only the one side and
devoted the press entirely to the 9mmP. Dies were Lee's
carbide offerings. Although the expander die (second in the
series used, with the resizing/depriming die being the first) is
equipped to accept Lee's own version of a powder measure, I
The Lyman turret is handy for high volume reloading.
opted to mount an RCBS Uniflow powder measure by itself at

the third station. On the fourth station, I mounted a Lyman M
die (for cast bullets), followed by the seating die in the fifth
station. The seating die was adjusted not only so it would seat
the bullets to the proper depth, but also so it would barely
begin any kind of crimp. I didn't want to crimp the bullets
heavily, since I would be loading both jacketed and cast
bullets interchangeably, and wanted to bypass the need for
fine tuning adjustments each time I wanted to load.
For example, with the press so configured, I can put the
empty case into the shell holder, resize it (and deprime it
simultaneously if I have not done the depriming procedure
independently before when getting the brass ready for clean-
ing), then move the shell holder with deprimed and sized case
to the next station where it is re-primed.
At that point, I have a choice. If I am loading jacketed
bullets, I can run the case directly up and into the standard Lee
expander die, then move it to the next station to drop a powder
charge into it, followed by still another move to the seating
station where the bullet is put into the case and seated. Presto,
a completed round! If loading cast bullets, I merely re-prime
the case at the second station and then bypass the third
Major manufacturers like Winchester offer shooters (powder measure) station — stopping instead at the fourth
a wide variety of high quality reloading components. station where the case is pushed up and into the Lyman M die

Redding is one of the makers
that turns out a line of tools
that can be used to custom-
build the cartridges you want.
for the proper expansion for such bullets. Next, I move it back Indeed, in other chapters, some of them are discussed. How-
from the fourth to the third station, drop the powder charge, ever, as working standards to be shot through every kind of
then move directly to the seating station to complete the load. 9mmP used, those were the handloads. Incidentally, they
This way, with a minimum of movement, I can load either happen to be very good loads for most 9mmP handguns.
jacketed or cast bullets any time I want, without ever having Brass used was somewhatmore varied. However, the loads
to readjust any of the dies. Something interesting happens used for any specific handgun always used brass from the
when equipment remains set-up in this manner. It is quick and same manufacturer. Brass used included Federal, Hansen,
easy to get started, which means that the loading procedure PMC, Remington and Winchester. One note here, however.
happens, rather than procrastination. Very few of the 9mmP handguns fired delivered the level of
Here is another place where a powder like Hercules Unique accuracy it took to notice any significant difference in perfor-
becomes very handy. I could use the same 6.0-grain Unique mance of loads which were similar, except for the type of
powder charge for 115-grain jacketed, 124-grain cast (hardcast) brass.
and 124-grain jacketed bullets and still have totally credible When it comes to what I call "shootin," ammo for semi-
loads in each weight class—loads which were within industry autos like 9mmP handguns where informal target work or flat-
standards and which would function well in a wide variety of out plinking is the order of the day, mixing and matching brass
handguns. from different manufacturers while keeping all other compo-
During some of the loading sessions, however, I did change nents consistent usually will deliver acceptably consistent
the powder charge a little for certain shooting. For example, accuracy. However, for those who want to squeeze out more
I dropped back to 5.0 grains of Unique for entire runs of cast performance, segregate the brass and keep it set apart by
bullets, and used the same powder charge for some of the 115- specific manufacture.
and 124-grain jacketed bullets. These loads were used in some Since I knew I would be shooting a huge amount of ammo
of the handguns when the faster loads did not perform well. and had copious supplies of brass from all of the manufactur-
Sometimes the lighter loadings improved accuracy, some- ers mentioned above, and since the other components were all
times they didn't. the same, I merely loaded the thousands of cases from a single
Also, to keep things simple and consistent, I used CCI No. hopper, and then sorted them out by maker of brass later. It
500 Small Pistol primers for all handloads. Jacketed bullets accomplishes the same thing, and can simplify life.
were Winchester 115-grain jacketed hollow-points, Winches- So, there are ways to be totally consistent, and there are
ter 124-grain metal jackets, Winchester 147-grain jacketed ways to crank out large volumes of ammunition. If care is
hollow-points and 124-grain hardcast round-nose bullets. taken, both qualities can be accomplished simultaneously.
Granted, these are arbitrary choices, but for standardization The point is that when it comes to loading for the 9mmP, it is
certain things have to be dictated. probably a good idea to plan on loading a lot. After all, 9mmP
That is not to say that there weren't other loads used. handguns tend to have voracious appetites.

CHAPTER
Twenty-Three
THE OTHER NINES
Concerning Cartridges That Are
Contemporary To The 9x19mm,
From left are the 9mm Win. mag. .38-45 Clerke, .38 Super, 9x19mm, 9mm Federal, 9x18mm Ultra and.380 ACP.
S
EVERAL OTHER cartridges are designed for use .358-inch diameter, .359-inch, if cast.
with bullets of .355-inch diameter, if jacketed, .356- Two nominal 9mm cartridges, the 9x18mm Ultra and the
inch if cast, the same as the 9x19mm Parabellum. The 9x18mm Makarov, utilize bullets of .364- or .365-inch diam-
.38 Special, .357 Magnum and .357 Remington Maxi- eter. Both of these are spinoffs of a treaty stipulation that the
mum use jacketed bullets of .357-inch diameter, .358-inch for given country was not allowed to use guns and cartridges of
cast. Rifle cartridges such as the .35 Remington, .350 military persuasion. Let us discuss the more significant of
Remington Magnum and .358 Norma use jacketed bullets of these examples, under suitable subheadings.

L.A.R. Grizzly is one of the
autos that has been made in
9mm Winchester magnum
as well as other calibers.
9 M.M. WIN. MAG

147 GR. J.H.P.
IAI, now known as AMT, manufactured 9mm Win. mag,

147-grain jacketed hollow-point ammunition.
THE OTHER LUGER

This is known variously as the .30 Luger, 7.65mm Lugeror
7.65mm Parabellum, and the nominal case length is .850-inch,
compared to the .754-inch length of the 9mmP. Winchester
loads at least one factory round for it, their No. X30LP, with
a 93-grain FMJ bullet. Various bullet makers offer .308-inch
bullets in the 90- to 93-grain weights for reloading it.
It is possible to pass a 9mmP case up into the .30 Luger full-
length resizing die to produce a case with a vestigial neck that
may function after a fashion in various guns chambered for the
.30 Luger. RCBS (601 Oro Dam Boulevard, Oroville, CA
95965) can supply dies for making true-scale .30 Luger cases
from .223 Remington brass.
Load data listings for the .30 Luger are few and far
between. It's covered on page 366 of the 47th edition of the
Lyman Reloading Handbook for a 93-grain FMJ bullet and an
84-grain cast bullet from the Lyman No. 313249 mould Winchester currently only offers unprimed empty brass
blocks. The 25th edition of the Hodgdon Manual lists a small in 50-count boxes, for the 9mm Winchester mag.
block of data on page 380. The 26th edition has considerably
more, with listings for Hodgdon, IMR, Winchester and Her-
cules powders on pages 612 to 614. reloading the .30 Luger. That may change soon because, for
The latest data booklet from Winchester has one load the first time, a domestic gunmaker is tooling to produce
listing: 4.2 grains of their No. 231 powder behind a 93-grain pistols to handle the cartridge. Sturm, Ruger & Company
FMJ bullet for 1085/243 at a pressure of 25,500 cup. The recently announced they'll be making the P93, a revised
Vihtavuori booklet has one listing: 5.4 grains of their No. version of their P89 to be supplied with an auxiliary barrel and
N340 powder behind a 93-grain bullet for 1001/207 at a recoil spring to handle the .30 Luger.
pressure of 260 megapascals. One megapascal (MPa) equals
145.0376 pounds per square inch (PSI), so that works out to THE .38-45 CLERKE
37.710PSI. One PSI, incidentally, is not precisely equal to one This is the .45 ACP case, necked down to accept bullets of
copper unit of pressure (CUP). One may be greater than the .355-inch diameter. It was conceived by John A. "Bo" Clerke
other, or both may be identical. It is one of the more confusing — pronounced "Clark"— to offer owners of .45 autos a
aspects of ballistics. cartridge with pleasantly modest recoil they could use for
Apart from the foregoing, there is little information on practice purposes.

The popular AMT Automag III ia still in production.
Sierra now makes .363-inch bullets for the Makarov. pistols and fit the barrels to the owner's frame. RCBS can
supply case-forming and reloading dies. You will not find
suggested load data for the cartridge anywhere. It is a number
for those who have reason to feel convinced they know what
they are doing.
THE 9x21 mm
This is a wildcat, like the .38-45 Clerke, meaning commer-
cial loads for it are not generally available. Load data listings
for it are about as commonly encountered as Genghis Khan at
a Tupperware party. Its ostensible mystique is that it may be
at least theoretically possible to concoct loads that will make
major power factor (MPF). MPF is obtained by multiplying
muzzle velocity in feet-per-second times bullet weight in
grains and dividing by 1000. Most competitive events that
hinge upon MPF require a minimum figure of 175, which is
difficult to achieve safely with the 9 x l 9 m m P . It is not all that
easy and simple to achieve with the 9x21mm.
From left, 9x18mm Ultra, 9x18mm Makarov, 9x19mm. THE .38 ACP/.38 SUPER
The .38 ACP was developed by John M. Browning early in
Unfortunately, the vast majority of the shooting public the present century, and the .38 Super was introduced in the
seemed to regard it as a cartridge to be hotrodded to the latter Twenties. Load data for the .38 Super is given in most,
firewall. Being based upon the .45 ACP, with its SAAMI- if not all, data sources. Data for the lower-pressure .38 ACP is
specified pressure limit at 19,900 CUP, the upper limits of safe all but impossible to locate. Old Western Scrounger (12924
performance are depressingly low. It is possible to make up Highway A-12, Montague, CA 96064) manufactures and
cases from .45 Winchester Magnum parent brass that will markets loaded ammunition for the .38 ACP that does not
withstand somewhat higher pressures. exceed its pressure limitations. Most makers of ammunition
Bar-Sto Precision (Box 1838, Twentynine Palms, CA offer one or more loads in .38 Super, sometimes terming them
92277) can supply barrels in .38-45 Clerke for M1911-type .38 ACP +P.

From left are the .30 Luger, 9x19mm, 9mm Action Express, .40 S&W necked to .355-inch and the .38-45 Clerke.
By following listed .38 Super load data, is it reasonably

simple and possible to put together loads that will meet and
slightly exceed the 175 MPF figure.
THE 9mm ACTION EXPRESS (AE)

This is a spin-off of the .41 Action Express (AE), a
cartridge with the head dimensions of the 9x 19mmP, scaled to
accept bullets of .410-inch diameter. It was introduced by
Action Arms Ltd. (P.O. Box 9573, Philadelphia, PA 19124)
some while before the appearance of the .40 Smith & Wesson
with its .400-inch bullet diameter. The two cartridges are
virtually identical in case capacity and some sources say data
for the two are interchangeable.
After the .41 AE made its debut, Evan Whildin and Bob
Olsen collaborated to work up a cartridge that remains a
wildcat to the present. It is the .41 AE necked down to accept
a bullet of .355-inch diameter and known as the 9mm Action
Express.
Bar-Sto Precision can supply barrels in 9mm AE for
M1911-pattem pistols, possibly others, as well. RCBS can
supply reloading dies for the 9mm AE. The good news is that
no case-forming dies are required. It is simply a matter of
running a .41 AE case up into the full-length resizing die of the
9mm AE, followed by a pass into the neck-expanding die and
it's ready to reload.
The .41 AE case, unlike the .45 ACP case, is not tethered
to a limited pressure level. Thus, the 9mm AE can exceed
performance levels of the .38-45 Clerke by a useful margin.
The exact peak of performance has yet to be established. To
the best of our knowledge, there are no data listings whatever
A 9x19mm is dwarfed by the 9mm Winchester magnum.

The .38 Super, introduced
by Colt in the Twenties,
was made by loading the
older .38 ACP to higher
pressures and beefing up
the pistol to handle it.
for the 9mm AE. It is unlikely that any will ever be published. production of the Wildey pistols, in either caliber.
If you have a solid basis for believing you know what L.A.R. Manufacturing (4133 West Farm Road, West Jor-
you're doing, the 9mm AE is a remarkably intriguing avenue dan, UT 84084) has produced a few of their Grizzly autoload-
to explore. It is not a cartridge for the beginning reloader. Dean ing pistols in 9mm Winchester magnum, along with a larger
Grennell confides he has gotten 88-grain Speer No. 4000 JHP number in .45 Winchester magnum.
bullets out of the five-inch barrel of my Colt at 1920/721 and Arcadia Machine & Tool (6226 Santos Diaz, Irwindale,
he regards that as respectable. The ejected cases showed no C A 91702) has produced some of their Automag III autoload-
symptoms for concerned alarm, but we prefer not to specify ing pistols in 9mm Winchester magnum with 6.5-inch barrels,
the actual powder charge. as well as loaded ammunition with a 147-grain JHP bullet. To
the present, Winchester only supplies empty, unprimed cases
in the caliber.
THE 9mm WINCHESTER MAGNUM The AMT load puts 15.0 grains of Winchester 296 powder
Like the .45 Winchester magnum, the 9mm Winchester behind the 147-grain JHP bullet at a COL of 1.552 inches.
magnum was designed for use in a gas-operated autoloading Case length of the 9mm Winchester magnum is 1.155 inches,
pistol designed by Wildey — pronounced "Wil-dee" — the same as the .38 Special. In the 6.5-inch barrel, the AMT
Moore several years ago. There has been no more than limited load averages 1275/531.
1 I V I L C I A PASCAL ***• 145*0376 PSI

Vihtavuori quotes its load
pressures in megapascal
and provides a conversion
example to aid reloaders. EXAMPLE: 350 Pa =
350 X 145.037 OR 50,763.16 PSI

THE 9mm FEDERAL
This was a rimmed look-alike of the 9x 19mmP, introduced
and produced for a short time by Federal Cartridge Company
of Anoka, Minnesota. It was intended for use in revolvers, and
it delivered ballistic performance approximately on the same
level as the regular 9x 19mmP. It was discontinued after a short
while, perhaps because it could be chambered and fired in
revolvers drilled for the .38 S&W, few, if any, of which can
cope with pressures generated by the 9mm Federal.
THE .380 ACP

This cartridge, widely used all over the world, sometimes
is termed the 9mm Browning Short, 9mm Corto or 9mm Kurz.
It has a case length of .680-inch and an overall length of about
.984 or less. The industry maximum chamber pressured is
18,900 cup and most loads develop somewhat less. Typical
Thankfully, Vihtavuori's Reloading Guide is in English.
performance for factory loads is 955 for a 95-grain bullet for

190 foot-pounds. Jacketed bullets larger than .355-inch diam-
eter may cause bulged case walls when seated, leading to
stoppages.
THE 9x18mm MAKAROV

Unlike most so-called 9mm cartridges, the 9x18mm uses
jacketed bullets of about .363-inch diameter, with cast bullet
sized to .365-inch; diameters equal to slighUy more than
9.2mm. The cartridge has a case length of about .695- to .697-
inch and its head dimensions are virtually identical to those of
the 9x19mm, enabling the reloader to use the same shell
holder for both rounds. Cartridge overall length is about .967-
inch and any load much longer than that may not fit into the
magazine. Load data given for the .380 ACP seems to function
Vihtavuori's N 330 powder works favorably in 9x19mm.
well in the 9x18mm Makarov and typical factory loads de-
velop about 929 fps and 182 fpe.

GLOCK
ARMORER'S
SCHOOL
T h i s C o u r s e Is S p e c i f i c T o
T h e B r e e d , B u t In S o m e R e s p e c t s ,
Relates T o All 9 m m P A u t o s !

incredibly efficient that wearing one out could take a lifetime,
or more, of deliberate effort.
It is difficult to be around Gundom very long without
accepting the fact that there are mystic forces involved in the
ultimate success or failure of designs and models of firearms.
Some seem to be conceived under a friendly star, while others
are apparently snake-bitten right from the get-go. In the case
of the Glock, it was sweetness right from the start — a start
which brought worldwide attention to the gun for reasons
other than those which later put it into the law enforcement
driver's seat.
The Glock is the original "plastic pistol" which, when
introduced, was condemned by many social architects as a
terrorist special which could defeat airport security systems.
Although such a rap was totally unjustified (85 percent of a
Glock handgun is metal, and 15 percent is plastic), it put the
pistol on the map, so to speak. It was Gundom's equivalent of
a book being banned in Boston. The attacks upon the gun
spotlighted it, and gave it an identity which might have taken
years to achieve, if ever, under the normal processes.
Identity may be enough to put a particular gun into the
collective consciousness of shooters, but it is not sufficient to
catapult the design into world prominence. Having the right
stuff is important, but so is timing. And, the Glock came onto
the scene at precisely the right time to make it such a success-
ful phenomenon. Frankly, the same design a decade earlier
well may have been relegated to relative obscurity. The fact
that the Glock pistol became a reality at precisely the moment
At left and above, Bob McCracken, an instructor with
dock's armorer's school, answers questions, points
out major components and operation of the Glock 17.
G
LOCK PISTOLS LITERALLY, have taken over
the American law enforcement community, to
say nothing of making major inroads into mili-
tary and civilian shooting fraternities around the
globe. What is there about the Glock 9mmP which has
triggered such an unprecedented phenomenon? To answer
some of the questions, the author attended one of Glock's
armorer schools to get an up-close and personal view of the
gun and what makes it tick. It was as necessary to comprehend
the "ethic of Glock" as it was to understand the mechanical
workings of the design.
The Glock pistol is the brainchild of Austrian engineer
Gaston Glock, whose company also makes a number of other
basic military items like knives and entrenching tools. In fact,
Glock never had been involved in the firearms industry when
he came up with one of the winningest pistol designs of the era.
Although Gaston Glock himself is a bona fide genius, close
examination of the Glock pistol reveals that if Glock wasn't
part of the firearms business before he designed the gun, he did
his homework and researched the situation well before firing
up the production line. In fact, the Glock pistol is a variant of
John M. Browning's basic recoil design. It is really a sophis-
ticated combination of Hi-Power/SIG features with the firing
characteristics of a trigger-actuated zip gun.
This is far from a condemnation of the design or the gun.
Hardly. It is merely recognition that Gaston Glock had the
insight to incorporate the simplest and most efficient systems
McCracken reviews the finer details of the Glock 17.
the gun industry has ever known into a space age package
which works, and works, and works. In fact, these guns are so

During the one-day course,
McCracken explains how to
get the most from the Glock.
in time when law enforcement agencies were switching from they view them merely as basic gear in the same way they view
something else to 9mmP high capacity pistols meant there was a flashlight as a piece of standard equipment.
a gigantic market potential — one which did not exist before, Concurrently with the emergence of the Glock pistol upon
and likely will not happen on the same one-time grand scale the world scene was a new phenomenon involving law en-
ever again. forcement agencies in the United States. It was a matter of
To understand the gun and the popularity among law accountability and liability. Accidental shootings were never
enforcement circles, it is first necessary to understand that popular, but the price tag for such unplanned shootings
Gaston Glock did not set out to make the world's most popular skyrocketed significantly as the nation became one of litiga-
cop gun when he designed his pistol. Rather, he was chal- tion first. At the same time, American law enforcement
lenged to come up with a gun for the Austrian military. agencies were changing their handgunnery, going from the
Anyone who has spent more than a few days in any of the time-despised revolver to the semi-auto.
world's military organizations understands well that the best Law enforcement officers found themselves facing a new
equipment for soldiers is the simplest and easiest to use gear breed of bad guy — a bad guy who was much more heavily
— items which are literally "idiot proof." The more widely armed than his counterparts before, and bad guys who were
accepted term is: "soldier proof." less reluctant to shoot at those who wore the badge of author-
The Germanic countries have a centuries-old tradition ity.
when it comes to military matters. Soldiers there, it is always Double-action revolvers, which had been used for years in
assumed, have no prior civilian background in the handling of law enforcement, inherently were rather "safe" when in the
weaponry. It is assumed that literally everything they know hands of officers who generally didn't know much about guns.
about shooting is taught to them when they go through their But semi-auto handguns, in the traditional sense, are a differ-
various levels of training after joining the military. ent proposition. They can be dangerous in the hands of
Such has been the case with most militaries of the world, careless or inattentive officers.
and is a fact of life even in the United States now. There was Enter the double-action, semi-auto handgun. This type of
a time in the U.S. when it was somewhat different — a time pistol, many argued, was the best of both worlds. It could hold
when the Second Amendment to the Constitution was real and a lot of ammo in a double-column magazine, yet offer the
citizens practiced their responsibilities to keep and bear arms. relative safety of the double-action revolver. Gun companies
Granted, the military in the U.S. always has had to conduct quickly jumped on the bandwagon and offered variants of
specialized instruction to bring everyone into a state of uni- their designs which were double-action for the first shot, and
form competence, but there was a time when the military was then single-action for successive rounds. Then came the
an organization of experienced riflemen. double-action-only design which meant that every shot was
When the basic assumption is that equipment has to be accomplished in a double-action mode.
soldier proof, and that all the soldier ever knows about As all of this was happening, Glock was there in the
weaponry will have been taught in the military, the simplest background with an action which already offered precisely
design is the best. So it was with the Glock pistol in Austria. what law enforcement administrators wanted in an age of
The same ethic holds true for law enforcement agencies liability litigation.
around the world. Most police officers are not gun people. Glock terms the system "safe action," and it truly is
They may carry firearms as part of their duties, but as a group differentfrom the traditional double-action designs. Although

the author was aware of the phenomenon, it became obvious
that a broader understanding of the internal workings of the
Glock was needed to be able to relay meaningful information
about it.
To accomplish this, it was off to Glock's one-day armorer's
school — an intense instructional program designed to show
law enforcement armorers and gunsmiths how the Glock
works, how to work on those pistols, and how to keep the guns
which go over their benches in action.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Glock Armorer's
School is the fact that armorers can keep these handguns in
action without a lot of "gunsmithing." It means that for law
enforcement purposes, it is a parts replacement proposition.
When something goes wrong with any part of the firearm, pop
out the bad part and replace it with a new one. Evidence of this
is the fact that there are only three tools required for the
maintenance of Glock pistols: a 3/32-inch pin punch, a 1/8-
inch blade screwdriver and a pair of long nose pliers. Most of
the maintenance can be performed with only the punch. In
fact, for the armorer's school, the punch was the only tool
used.
It wasn't until this fact of life about Glocks was pointed out
most clearly during the school that an unresolved question
deep in the recesses of my mind became answered. There is a
major trend in handgun manufacture now which truly sepa-
rates many of the current products from those that came
before. It has to do with the concept of "disposable" products
and parts.
This phenomenon has been a factor in other industries for
years, and has been creeping into the gun industry so slowly
and quietly that it is all but undetected in many quarters.
As computerized manufacturing processes evolve into an
age of advanced robotics, the making of precision products
without the hassles of human involvement has become reality.
Likewise, the design of parts and products which are never
intended to be "repaired" has grown as a logical offshoot of
such mind boggling mechanization.
Although a number of recent firearms design changes have
begun to incorporate this philosophy, nowhere in the gun
industry is it more apparent than with the various Glock
handguns.
For example, the complex trigger and trigger bar are
considered to be a single item, and should anything go wrong
with any part of that assembly, the entire assembly is replaced
by the armorer. This theme is consistent with regard to any of
the parts for Glock pistols. They simply are not designed to be
altered, and, in fact, altering some of the parts on Glocks can
really harm them. From top are the Glock 19, Glock 17 and Glock 17L.
For example, the major steel parts of the handgun — slide They are the basic Glock 9mms. Sharing the same basic
and barrel, feature a finish which is more than simply a matte design, many of their parts are totally interchangeable.
black. It happens to make the surface almost diamond hard.
That is nice when it comes to things like eliminating wear or
inadvertent scratches, but it spells potential problems for As much as this parts replacement approach to keeping
those who would want to change things a bit. handguns in service may very well be great news for most law
As much as the outer surfaces are totally hard, the steel just enforcement agencies from a number of perspectives, there is
under those surfaces is on the soft side. That means that if no free lunch. Keeping Glock handguns functioning is fairly
someone meddles with the part and in doing so gets below the simple—so long as all one wants to do is keep standard Glock
extremely hard surface, there is a good chance the gun could handguns functioning. Anyone who might want to do some
literally wear itself out in quick order. Most shooters never creative "slicking" up of the gun likely is going to be discour-
need to worry about such an occurrence, because in order to aged.
get through the tough surface, a person really has to want to do That is what was meant earlier when it was suggested that
it and use some exotic means to accomplish it. Glock handguns do not lend themselves to "gunsmithing." In

EXPLODED DRAWING AND PARTS LIST FOR GLOCK 17
NATO Stock. No. 1005/25/133/6775
Optional (for part #25):

Standard (cal. .40,10mm, .45 ACP): Cal. .9mm, .40, .45 ACP: 25A New York Trigger Spring
34 Locking block pin 32A Magazine insert 25B New York Trigger Spring Plus
1 Slide 14 Spring-loaded bearing 25 Trigger spring

2 Barrel 15 Slide cover plate 25-A New York Trigger Spring
3 Recoil spring 16 Rear sight 25-B New York Trigger Spring Plus
4 Recoil spring tube 16-A Front sight 26 Trigger with trigger bar
5 Firing pin 17 Receiver 27 Slide stop lever
6 Spacer sleeve 18 Magazine catch spring 28 Trigger pin
7 Firing pin spring 19 Magazine catch 29 Trigger mechanism housing pin
Spring cups 20 Slide lock spring 30 Follower
00
9 Firing pin safety 21 Slide lock 31 Magazine spring

10 Firing pin safety spring 22 Locking block 32 Magazine floor plate
11 Extractor 23 Trigger mechanism housing 32-A Magazine insert
12 Extractor depressor plunger with ejector 33 Magazine tube
13 Extractor depressor plunger spring 24 Connector 34 Locking block pin

other words, it is highly unlikely that any Glock handgun ever price and performance front, Glock handguns should be able
will have anything that approaches its own personality. To a to pass the tests. Still, those two features alone have not been
most measurable degree, then, a Glock is a Glock is a Glock. responsible for the extremely widespread switch by law
If the Glock phenomenon was genius on the manufacturing enforcement agencies to Glock pistols. There is a third factor
front, it was nothing short of fine art in the law enforcement which serves as a trump card, all other factors being even
marketing arena. After all, Glock pistols are three things: remotely equal. It is the " S " word — SAFETY.
Functional, safe and relatively inexpensive. Bureaucratic administrators almost never actually see a
When any agency looks at potential Firearms to be used for street shooting of any kind. While officers within their depart-
standard issue, there are actually relatively few major points ments are taking care of business in the real world, they are
which determine winners and losers. To understand the phe- snuggled behind a desk in some headquarters building, justi-
nomenon completely, consider that most of those who decide fying their existence by juggling paperwork and crunching
upon what model or models will be used by the agencies are numbers. It is in the numbers game that Glocks come to the
not shooters or firearms enthusiasts themselves. It means that fore.
non-gun people make the call. Administrators will always opt for equipment which will
What does a non-gun bureaucrat look for in an issue reduce, if not totally eliminate, accidental discharges and any
handgun? First, the price has to be within budget constraints related injuries. To address that sort of concern, the Glock
or there is no need to pursue anything further. For example, the pistols are designed so whoever is holding one really has to
world's absolute best firearms are never standard issue at any want to shoot it, or it won't go off.
agency. They simply cost too much for any public agency to Again, the features which make this possible are the same
afford. things which cause consternation for firearms enthusiasts. B ut
There are always, however, a number of competing models the fact is that most law enforcement officers are not gun
of handguns which fall into the affordability parameters. It is fanciers. They carry a handgun on the job in the same way they
from among those that the issue model will be chosen. carry a flashlight and a notebook. So the object of those
What this means from the Glock perspective is that the use deciding upon firearms hardware is to end up with equipment
of polymers and automated manufacturing techniques made it which will preclude as many accidents as possible.
possible to market the pistols in the line at very competitive Glock pistols have three safety devices built into them.
prices, while maintaining an acceptable institutional level of First is the trigger safety, which is built into the trigger itself.
quality and a favorable profit line. But that alone would It is the small lever in the middle of the trigger which, in its
account for only a small share of the market. untouched state, blocks the trigger from being moved back-
Function is perceived to be all-important to gun people, ward.
and it is somewhat important to the bureaucrats who ulti- "To fire the pistol, both the trigger safety and the trigger
mately make the decisions. Without question, Glock hand- must be depressed at the same time," Glock notes in its
guns were used in a number of tests and demonstrations which literature. "If the trigger safety is not depressed, then the
showed they will work. However, here is where there needs to trigger will not move to the rear and the pistol will not fire.
be a Utile of bit of an explanation. They work fine, so long as This is designed to prevent the trigger from going to the rear
exactly the right ammunition is used. when dropped."
Again, from an institutional standpoint, whether a firearm The second safety system on the Glock is the firing pin
will handle a wide range of types of ammunition is somewhat safety. It is a spring-loaded pin which projects into the firing
moot. It only matters that it be able to handle the kind of ammo pin cutout and blocks it. It is released only when the trigger is
that agency uses, and it is relatively simple for an agency to opt pulled.
for whatever firearm/ammo combination happens to go well Third is the safety function of the trigger mechanism
together. Couple that with the fact that such agencies almost housing, which might also be described as a drop safety. With
universally use factory-loaded ammunition, and it becomes this system, the trigger bar is pushed onto the safety ramp by
an easy choice. the firing pin. Although the safeties are designed to keep the
However, from a gun person's viewpoint, the ability of a handgun from accidentally discharging when dropped from a
particular kind of handgun to handle a variety of different distance of 6.5 feet, which exceeds NATO standards, the
loads interchangeably may be very important. But not at the pistols are not known for going off unintentionally when
agency level. dropped from all kinds of distances. Perhaps some of this is
Since the original Glocks were 9mmP and designed to be due to the fact that there is not just one type of safety system,
used with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) speci- but three operating both independently and in tandem.
fication ammunition, they generally work best with some of Another factor which helps preclude accidental discharges
the more potent loadings. Minimum (lower limit) specifica- is the way the entire firing system works. The action is not
tions for 9mmP ammunition in Glocks are a 115-grain bullet cocked until the trigger is pulled. This also makes a big
at 1180 feet per second. Maximum pressures should not difference when it comes to the gun not going off when it is not
exceed 43,500 pounds per square inch (3000 BAR). What this intended to do so.
means is that the Glocks function well with factory loads, So, there were a number of factors which helped put Glock
including the +P+ and 147-grain subsonic ammunition cur- handguns into the big-time, and there are several factors
rently being marketed by major manufacturers in the United which have enabled that line of pistols to stay there. Without
States. However, Glock goes beyond discouraging the use of question, the combined safety devices, functional reliability
reloads in its firearms. Not only is such practice not suggested, and price point are the big three items that have been respon-
it voids the factory warranty on the gun itself. sible for this design to take over much of the law enforcement
From the agency level, then, it would appear that on the interest, and a lot of the civilian attention, as well.

H j^™^ j^l fi^
i
Twenty-F ive
FIELD HUNT1m
WITH THE 9n imP
It D o e s n ' t D o w n E l e p h a n t s , B u t It
D o e s H a v e It's P r o p e r U s e s !
Steve Comus took this 250-pound ram with a single round of Winchester's Black Talon
9mmP ammo with the 147-grain bullet. The handgun used was his own Browning Hi-Power.

The Browning Hi-Power autoloader was the original model to feature a high-capacity staggered magazine. The author
has found it and other 9mmP handguns to be more than adequate for hunting small game, varmints at short ranges.
T
h e 9mmP can be the best hunting cartridge in the high-capacity magazine all the way and pull the trigger as fast
world. And I can prove it. as I could until it was empty. It was then that as a young shooter
Yes, 9mmP handguns show up in the damdest I learned how hot a handgun could get. Subsequent shooting
places! When one considers the millions of 9mmP sessions were more reserved, involving the expenditure of one
handguns and billions of rounds of ammunition extant in the or perhaps a couple of expensive shots at a time. Keep in mind
world, it is logical to imagine where all they may be used, and that at that time and in that place (rural Ohio), the 9mmP was
for what purposes. a rare cartridge. Ammo had to be special ordered, and at
Obvious applications include military and police. Also a premium prices.
"given" are uses like self-defense, business defense and home Yet, I put a lot of rounds downrange over time. The P-35
defense. Some scribes have even gone so far as to suggest that was almost a constant companion. Youngsters in rural areas
the 9mmP might be credible for small game. Actually, legiti- experience frequent close encounters with a wide variety of
mate uses for the 9mmP go far beyond those few listed above. critters. The P-35's first "hunting" experience in my hands
I know. I've done it. involved a turtle — a big turtle. I was visiting a friend on his
My first personal exposure to the 9mmP came in the 1950s grandfather's farm when we spotted the turtle atop a log in the
and constituted one of my first gun deals. It was a P-35 middle of a creek which cut through the cornfields.
(wartime production Browning Hi-Power) and a handful of Before embarking on our safari, my buddy had grabbed the
ammo for $10. That was a bargain price even then, but the little Winchester Model 99 Thumb Trigger rifle from beside
particular handgun was far from pristine. Sometime in its life, the back porch door at the farm house. With it, he had grabbed
the pistol had been rusted heavily, leaving some serious pits on a partial box of .22 shorts (the rifle was chambered only for
the slide. In an attempt to remedy the situation, someone had shorts, and was used normally for farm pest control). I had the
tried to nickel-plate it, but the coating didn't stick well in some P-35, considered locally to be a semi-useless war souvenir.
spots. To put it mildly, it was (and is) an ugly handgun — but Almost universally, it was assumed around the community
only "skin deep." that I had become a hopeless gun nut, and that I had been
Mechanically, the P-35 was in great shape, and it shot well. "taken" in the deal for the P-35. After all, it was made for
The handful of cartridges went quickly, forcing me to learn an killing humans and had no credibility for the gathering of
important lesson about semi-autos: It costs a lot to feed them. game, right? Not only that, but one could buy a whole box of
I scoured the countryside filling the basket on my bicycle with .22 long rifle ammo for the price of three or four 9mmP
pop and beer bottles, turning them in for two-cents each and cartridges at the time.
using that money to buy ammo. I'll have to admit that there were times when I wondered if
Only once did I afford myself the entertainment to fill the perhaps the others were right. I had little experience with

Laboratory shooting tests into ballistic gelatin showed the effectiveness of the Black Talon 9mmP in this medium.
Usefulness of this particular round since has been proved in the field for some types of small-game hunting.
handguns by that time in my life, and was far from an original concerns about such matters surfaced anyway. Nei-
accomplished shooter of them. It had taken me many hours ther of us was sophisticated enough to realize that the ammo
just to figure out how to disassemble the pistol (no instruction I was shooting was military ball, which meant that it wouldn't
booklet came with it, and no one else around town knew tear up any meat at all — at least nothing much beyond the
anything about the pistol). But I was determined to make it .355-inch wound channel.
work. The turtle, located a full 100 feet or so away, remained
But on that hunt, as the two of us slithered along the cut unaware that its future might be in jeopardy. The sun glistened
bank of the creek, my buddy drew first "blood" with the .22 off its shell, and its beaked head was profiled in the morning
rifle. It was a large, black beetle which happened to be light.
slogging up the cliff. Around the next bend, we encountered During our debate, it was decided that we would sneak
a blacksnake. It was a magnum-size snake, but it slid into the behind the thick creekside foliage to a willow tree near the
bushes before either of us could decide whether to cap off a turtle, use the trunk of the willow for cover and see if the
round, or not. amphibian was still there when it would be time for the shot.
Then we saw it. This huge turtle was sunning itself mid- If so, I would try to hit it.
stream on a half-submerged log. The situation called for a To that point, I had been carrying the P-35 unloaded and
serious discussion. I argued that my buddy's rifle wouldn't do with its slide locked to the rear. It had seemed the logical way
the trick, because he was not a good enough shot to hit the to do things. So, when it came time to launch the stalk, it was
turtle in the head, and the .22 short would doubtless not the moment to load the firearm — an example of the way
penetrate the shell and dispatch the turtle quickly enough to tradition does not always keep up with technology. It had
keep it from diving into the water and out of sight. He opined never occurred to me to carry the pistol loaded, and, as was the
that I probably couldn't hit the turtle with the P-35, and that tradition of the era, when it came time to take an animal, the
even if I did, it doubtless would blow the critter apart and ruin hunter would load a cartridge and go for the kill. So, that's
any meat that otherwise might be salvaged — and his grand- precisely what I did. I slid a single 9mmP cartridge into the
parents truly did enjoy eating turtle meat. chamber, depressed the slide release lever and allowed the
We may have been too young to engage in a meaningful slide to slam forward. I then activated the manual safety, and
debate about ballistics and bullet performance, but the ab- became point man on the stalk, my buddy following in my

bare-footed and I was wearing a pair of canvas tennis shoes
with holes in the sides large enough for my small toes to stick
out. We did not indulge in ceremony. Rather, we slogged
through the water (knee-deep) to the log and took a look.
There was a perfectly round hole in the log, right where the
turtle had been.
The log was closer to the far shore than it had been to us,
and the thick foliage choked all the way to water's edge there.
As we visually scoured the area around the log, I spotted the
turtle. It was belly-up and motionless in the shallow water at
the far edge of the creek, slightly downstream from the log. I
lunged to it, and grabbed the huge shell with both hands,
dropping the P-35 into the water in the process. Excitement of
the moment had made me forget I had the unloaded pistol in
my hand. In a fitful moment of panic, I dropped the turtle,
scrambled for the pistol in the muddly water and fell face-first
into the creek. My hand located the pistol, and as I was shaking
the water from it, my buddy retrieved the turtle.
He held the lifeless turtle to the sky, admiring the magnifi-
cent trophy. We stood knee-deep in the creek for what seemed
an eternity, inspecting the entry and exit holes. I had center-
punched the shell, killing the turtle instantly. We opined that
the turtle must have bounced from the impact of the bullet and
flipped through the air to the spot where I had recovered it
initially. Actually, it probably just fell off the log and turned
upside down as the slight current of the water carried it to the
spot where I found it. But we were hearing nothing of
mundane — it had to have been spectacular!
The javelina, a native of the Southwest, is the type of
game that is ideal game for capabilities of the 9mmP. I forgot all about being drenched. Two prouder boys could
not have been found. Our safari had ended, because we wanted
to waste no time taking the turtle back to my buddy's grand-
mother so she could prepare it for supper. I couldn't stay for
footsteps with the Winchester .22, which also remained un- the feast, but I heard it was a tasty turtle. In fact, that escapade
loaded and open whenever it was not actually being shot. had made the both of us heroes, of sorts. The grandmother
We made it to the tree, and as I peered around the side, I mentined the turtle every time I saw her for several years,
could see the turtle was still on the log, and that was no more recalling how impressed she was that her grandson and I had
than 20 or 30 feet away (it seemed farther at the time, but it bagged it with that "strange foreign pistol from The War."
wasn't). In fact, that was the way almost everyone around the area
Using the bark of the tree to help steady the P-35,1 took referred to the P-35. It was a nameless piece of hardware that
careful aim, aligning the fixed battle sights with the center of had been dragged off a battlefield by a GI. And for them, it
the turtle's shell. I took a deep breath, flipped the safety lever obviously had little meaning in the world. After all, it had been
to the "fire" position and double-checked the sight alignment. an implement in someone else's army and was so foreign it
Gnats were swarming around my head, and one went up my didn't even shoot "regular shells." For me, however, it was
nose as I inhaled, but it failed to break my concentration. My becoming more of a treasure all the time.
blood pressure skyrocketed, and my ears began to ring as I put As I peddled my bicycle back home that day, I replayed the
increasing pressure on the trigger with my right index finger. shot over and over again. Those flashbacks continued as I took
Just when I thought my head was going to explode, the P-35 the pistol apart, used one of my mother's best towels to dry it
went off. off, and then drenched a rag with oil and wiped down every
My buddy and I learned another pair of lessons in a part. It was bedtime and I continued to admire the P-35. The
heartbeat right then and there. I had not considered the fact that pistol had proven its worth as a hunting tool.
the P-35's slide would shoot to the rear simultaneously with Over the remainder of that summer, the P-35 continued to
the recoil. I learned all about that as some tiny specks of bark show its stuff, taking a ground hog on one outing, a frog on
from the tree sprayed into my eyes. And, my buddy learned another and a seemingly endless array of bugs and dirt clods.
that semi-autos eject empties with a vengeance. He had been Cottontail rabbit hunting in that part of the country was serious
standing just to the right of the handgun, peering through some stuff back then, and the accepted practice was to take the
bushes, and was jolted when the spentcartridge casing bounced bunnies with a shotgun. Also standard operating procedure
off the side of his head. was to take along a handgun to pop the critters when they
Neither of us actually saw the hit. But by the time we decided to sit tight, rather than try to hop away.
regained our composure, one thing was certain: the turtle was The hunting season began in the late fall and continued into
no longer atop the log. My buddy was convinced that I had the period of cold weather. The first rabbit claimed by the P-
missed. I didn't have a clue, but standard procedure was to 35 happened on a November afternoon. I was hunting with
inspect the impact zone — up-close and personally. He was another friend on a different farm, and as we walked through

An area such as this stretch of
Arizona desert not far from
Mexico's border illustrates
good javelina-hunting country.
For the most part, the terrain is
barren except for cactus,
requiring the hunter with any
handgun to stalk carefully.
the knee-high cut corn, our boots crunched through the crusty other kinds of implements. The thought of returning to the
snow. It was unseasonably cold that fall, and the rabbits were 9mmP for serious hunting didn't recur until I found myself on
sitting tightly on most occasions. So it was that day when I a rocky mountainside in south-central Arizona. The occasion
spotted the bunny's eye looking at me from under a snow- was one of that slate's HAM hunts for javelina. HAM is an
covered clump next to a cornstalk. He was no more than 10 acronym for "Handgun, Archery, Muzzleloader," because
feet away. I froze in my tracks and waited for a moment to see hunters are limited to those implements on such special hunts.
if the rabbit would break from cover. He remained motionless. For the occasion, I was armed with a Thompson/Center
I handed my shotgun to my buddy, reached into the game Contender with a 14-inch barrel chambered for the .30-30
bag on the back of my tan canvass hunting coat and pulled out Winchester cartridge. It was topped with a4x Bausch & Lomb
the P-35. I pulled the slide to the rear, inserted a single scope. The rig had been used successfully on Santa Cruz
cartridge, released the slide and took careful aim. By then, I Island off the California coast for rams, on the mainland in the
had a degree of confidence in the pistol's performance, so Golden State for wild boar and blacktail deer. What had
when it went off, there was no question that the rabbit would proven to be so successful on a handful of hunts in California
be mine. It was. In fact, the exercise was unceremonious that turned out to be less than ideal in the hills of Arizona that time.
day. But would it be any other way? Already, the talk around The javelina were few and far between, and they were on
school was that the P-35 was a superb shooting instrument. In the move. We either spotted them fairly close and moving
fact, it was well enough known that one day I had taken it to through the brush, or running full-out across a canyon after
class and shown it proudly to the teachers and fellow students. they had been spooked. The problem I had was that the 4x
After admiring it, the principal instructed me to put it into my scope was too powerful to allow meaningful use on the close
locker and not take it class where it might distract the other javelina, and too jiggly on the running animals at longer
students from the lessons of the day. Yes, it was a different distance. I spent a couple of truly frustrating days on that hunt,
time back then. A 9mmP in a school locker now is an entirely and vowed never to be improperly gunned again.
different matter. But back to uses for the 9mmP. The following year when I showed up in camp, fellow
For several seasons, the P-35 accompanied me on "hunts" hunters chuckled at first, giggled a bit and then broke into
around the area. I tried several times to bag tree squirrels with outright laughs. I've never cared much how I look on a hunt,
it, but never connected. It remained home when I went off to but in retrospect, it probably was a bit of a sight. When it came
college, and waited there during my stint in the Army during time to hike out after the javelina, it took me several minutes
the 1960s. I shot it a few times after being discharged, but put to "suit-up."
it away again when I headed West to get on with my life. First, I buckled on a Tex S hoemaker tan leather rig contain-
Hunting with a 9mmP was put on hold for a couple of ing a Smith & Wesson Model 29.44 Magnum with 8 3/8-inch
decades or so. My interests changed, and I found myself using barrel. Then, in a Michael's of Oregon nylon web rig, I had a

These two Winchester Black Talon bullets were taken from game downed by Comus and Winchester personnel.
Browning Hi-Power (not the original P-35, but a new pistol duced its Black Talon handgun loads.
with adjustable sights) in a cross-draw position. Then, around The scene was the Bighorn Canyon Ranch near the com-
my neck and hanging in front of my chest was another Uncle munity of Moreno Valley, inland in Southern California.
Mike's rig containing the scoped Contender in .30-30. Over Operator Chuck Wagner accompanied Mike Jordan and John
the huge, camo-colored T/C holster dangled a pair of Steiner Falk from Winchester and me on the expedition which was
7x50 Military & Marine binoculars. intended to check out the performance of the then-new bullet
All of that gear in place, I flipped a backpack/aluminum design.
pack frame rig onto my shoulders. In it were my hunting tag, Jordan, a superlative shooter with any kind of firearm,
pair of Bausch & Lomb 20x80 binoculars, tripod, canteen, carried a scoped Thompson/Center Contender chambered for
first aid kit, rope, red marker ribbon, two knives, spare socks, the .40 S&W cartridge. Falk had a Smith & Wesson semi-auto
other odds and ends and a couple of candy bars. After chambered for the same round, and I carried my trusty
adjusting everything properly, I grabbed my pair of shooting Browning Hi-Power in 9mmP.
sticks and was ready to assault the mountain. Candidly, I got the impression that Jordan and Falk wanted
Maybe I looked like a walking sporting goods store, and I' 11 to steer away from overt suggestions that the 9mmP might be
assure anyone who asks that all of that gear is heavy, but rest used seriously for anything that hinted of big game hunting.
easily that I was ready for whatever happened! There simply Given the traditional "wisdom" of gunwriters, such trepida-
was no way a pesky javelina was going to show itself and not tion is understandable. There are "politically correct" car-
have lead flying at it! tridges for the different disciplines, and 9mmP has not been
As much as my technique has since become a standing joke known as a big game cartridge. However, I was totally
in the industry, it actually made sense then and continues to be confident.
logical for me now. The game plan was simple: If I spotted a I had used the Hi-Power on a number of wild boar hunts in
javelina walking through the brush at close range, I would California, pressing it into service to finish off hogs which had
dispatch it with the Hi-Power. If a javelina occurred from 25 been wounded and stopped but not killed quickly by fellow
to 50 yards away or so, I'd pop it with the Model 29. And, if rifle hunters. Performance with standard bullets on the several
the shot was farther, the Contender would be pressed into hogs had proven the 9mmP could do the trick if the bullet went
service. into the right spot.
Further, if I happened to encounter a javelina while sitting Even so, no one could fault someone representing an ammo
and glassing, I could use the shooting sticks to take careful aim company officially for taking care not to raise unneeded
and have several options of handguns, depending upon the controversy.
precise circumstance. As the hunt was taking shape, Jordan explained that the .40
When it comes to firearms taken afield, I have a basic S&W Black Talon loading had shown that it definitely had the
philosophy: If hunting with one gun is fun, then hunting with stuff to take animals at reasonable distances. It wasn't long
more guns is more fun. And isn't it supposed to be enjoyable? before he had an opportunity to show what he meant.
Meanwhile, I have found myself on a number of other There was a billy goat atop a cliff about 100 yards away.
hunts, carrying a 9mmP—either as the primary firearm, or as The cliff was actually a sharp finger of ground which jutted up
a backup/coups de grace implement. One such hunt occurred between where we were and another, higher cliff just beyond.
when I accompanied representatives from Winchester ammo Jordan took as steady a position as he could on the steep
(Olin) on a hunt for exotics shortly after that company intro- hillside, resting the pistol as much as possible on the thin

Winchester's Mike Jordan was reluctant to consider the 9mmP as a hunting round, as are the custom among ammo
makers, who can be conservative. He took this wild boar with scoped Thompson/Center Contender in 10mm Auto.
branch of a bush, the base of which he was using to keep from the shot, it would have expired quickly due to massive
sliding downhill. hemorrhaging along the wound channel. But that had not
I put my binoculars to my eyes and concentrated on the happened. Relatively little blood had leaked out, indicating
billy as I waited for Jordan to cap off the round. At the report, that death had been extremely fast, and that the animal's heart
the goat shuddered and fell to its right, tumbling from view as had not had time to pump more than once or twice following
it went. Not only had I seen the quake from the impact of the the hit.
bullet, but the projectile had made that unmistakable "thwap" Later on the hunt, it was my turn. W e spotted a huge ram
when it connected with the animal. Judging from the tremors in a small herd atop another steep cliffy finger on the ranch.
on the animal, I congratulated Jordan for having made a With the Hi-Power in hand, I began a stalk. The last many
perfect shot — right at the shoulder. yards were straight uphill, and I used the sparse brush there for
The recoil had precluded Jordan from actually seeing the cover, eventually getting into position for a shot about 15
hit, and he was somewhat uneasy when we couldn't spot the yards away from the animal.
downed animal. I had no doubt, insisting that we would find The herd was uneasy, and, as is the want of most big rams,
it just on the far side of the finger, hooves up. he used other animals for cover. It seemed like an eternity as
Although the air distance to the goat was only about 100 I held the pistol ready, waiting for a clear shot at the ram. The
yards, it took us a full 15 minutes to reach it in the totally animals began to move away slowly. It was beginning to look
rugged terrain. When we got there, the goat lay motionless, like they might disappear over the other side before I could get
just on the far side of the top of the finger. The shot had been a shot. But then it happened. The other animals allowed a
perfect and the animal never knew what hit it. A postmortem slight window of opportunity. I could see the ram's shoulder
examination revealed that the performance of the bullet had clearly and took the shot.
been classic. And, the mushroomed projectile looked pre- For those who have never had the opportunity to go along
cisely as it was supposed to—almost like it had been shot into on a genuine "field test" of guns and/or ammo, there is a lot
ballistic gelatin at the factory test lab. more on the agenda than merely bagging an animal. It is
We were particularly pleased with the size and nature of the assumed the participants can do that, or they wouldn't be
lengthy wound channel, as well. The bullet had cut, ripped and along in the first place. In fact, the real work begins once the
torn its way through flesh and bone, leaving a sizeable animal is down. It is then that the detailed postmortem
permanent wound channel. Even if the animal had not died at examination begins, with particular attention to the slightest

There long has been a tendency to compare ballistics of the Browning Hi-Power 9mmP (top) with those of the
venerable Goverment Model 1911A1.45 ACP, but the former's magazine carries a greater number of cartridges.
details of performance. The 147-grain bullet had splintered the near shoulder,
It is also common on such expeditions for the shooter to opened up and continued through the chest cavity, leaving a
place the bullet in a particular spot, because such placement is sizeable wound channel on the way. It continued its path
intended to provide new and meaningful information. So it through the animal, breaking the far shoulder and cutting
was with that particular ram. through muscle before coming to restjust under the hide on the
First off, it was decided that I should take it with the 9mmP far side. The performance surprised even Jordan. It made me
because of the kind and size of animal it was. The dirty, oily, feel good.
thick wool would be a meaningful challenge for the bullet in We continued the hunt, and Falk bagged a goat before we
that it would enable us to see whether the hollow-point cavity concentrated on pigs. In a coups de grace mode, the 9mmP was
would clog up and cause the projectile to fail to open up as it used for further testing, finishing off animals from the side and
is supposed to do. front-to-back. Penetration was 12 to 13 inches or so, depend-
Secondly, such rams have dense muscles and hard bones in ing upon what it encountered, in each of the animals shot, and
their shoulder area, again offering a meaningful challenge for wound channels were uniformly impressive.
the new design of bullet. And, finally, such big rams are noted Whether one could take that information and justifiably
for their ability to take a heck of a hit and still trot off—even apply it to hunting something else like deer is questionable.
when hit with standard centerfire rifle bullets. However, within effective range, there is little doubt that the
When the shot rang out, the other sheep scampered off, but 9mmP could work.
the big ram stood still. Eventually, he rolled over and down the There are other normal game animals, however, that can be
opposite side of the mountainous finger. The postmortem taken effectively with the 9mmP. I know, because I've done
examination revealed that the 9mmP Black Talon had per- it.
formed in a manner one would expect of a full-power .357 Over the years, I have bagged most of the smaller game
Magnum with 158-grain hollow-point bullet under the same species with a 9mmP — like raccoon, opossum and muskrat.
circumstances. But some of the more exciting hunts with a 9mmP have

1 Jokingly, Steve Comus refers to the Browning
Hi-Power Reniassance Model with overall
engraving, mother of pearl grips, gold inlays
as his "ideal" handgun for smaller game.
auto which happened to be loaded with military ball car-

tridges?
Later that day, I learned the answer. He used it as a signal
gun, because there was no need then to waste any of the more
expensive centerfire rifle ammo just to make a little noise.
On such hunts, it is common for participants to use shots in
the air to signal others in the party should there be an animal
on the ground, or should the hunter get into some kind of
trouble. The sound of a shot travels a long way in that open
tundra country. The code is simple: two quick shots if an
involved predators — coyotes for the most part. animal is downed, three quick shots if there is a problem. On
Occasionally, when calling coyotes, hunters encounter other hunts in the Rockies, we have used single shots in the air
what are known as "shark dogs." These are the coyotes which at night when we are trying to close in on the location of a
come running full-bore, right at the call. When not shot at or fellow hunter who has been injured and cannot move. Under
spooked in some other fashion, these coyotes literally can end such situations, we would shoot once in the air, and the other
up in a hunter's lap. They are on a beeline, answering the hunter would answer with a single shot. That would allow us
dinner bell. to head into the right direction. After travelling for a few
Hence, it is not uncommon to find coyote hunters arm minutes in that direction, we would cap off another single shot
themselves not only with rifles, but also with shotguns, into the air and listen for the answering shot. By doing this
knowing that the smoothbores will be just the ticket for the several times, we could reach another hunter, even if he
shark dogs. originally had been a long way off.
It doesn't take a lot of times in the field after old wily coyote Meanwhile, with respect to the Alaska system of signal-
for a person to realize that from time to time there are ling, if one of us would hear a rifle shot (or more), we would
opportunities to use a regular handgun to bag one of these listen intently. If, after a couple or several minutes, we heard
challenging animals. two quick shots, it meant the other hunter had an animal down,
So, now when I go out for a coyote shoot, I generally carry and we would know to head that way to help out. Consider that
some form of regular handgun along — often a Hi-Power or processing a downed moose is a big job, and that the hunter
other pistol in 9mmP. My hit percentage is not bad, consider- who shot it can use all the help he can get from his buddies,
ing that I don't fire the pistol unless the animal is quite close. both in the carving up of the animal and in the packing out. So,
Interestingly, at distances of about 25 yards or less, the the signalling system works well.
9mmP is quite effective as a coyote killer. It has enough Through the years, I have been involved in a host of
diameter to make a meaningful hole, and has no trouble handgun hunting experiences. Some have become legends of
penetrating enough to get the job done. And, with the right sorts, like the Arizona javelina expedition when I carried all of
bullets, it doesn't tear up the hide much at all —just an entry the hardware, or the handgun hunt in South Texas one time
and an exit hole. that involved a now-famous raccoon (but that is another story
Of all the places I have encountered the 9mmP on legiti- for another time).
mate hunts, even I was surprised when an outfitter in Alaska Although not all of these expeditions have involved 9mmP
slipped a Taurus 9mmP into his day pack during a moose and handguns, enough of them have to establish that cartridge/
caribou hunt on the Alaska Peninsula one year. Yes, we were pistol combination as credible in a number of situations. I may
also in big bear country, but traditional wisdom suggests that never have learned some of things I have about the 9mmP,
even the .44 Magnum is marginal in such places. Why, then, however, had it not been for a tidbit of wisdom passed on to
would the outfitter bother with a high-capacity, 9mmP semi- me by a very old hunter when I was a very young lad.

Following the dictates of
corporate caution, John Falk of
Winchester did not consider
the 9mmP Black Talon round
for his own test hunting. He
opted for the .40 S&W, fired at
50 yards in S&W Model 4006.
However, both he and Jordan
were surprised at effectiveness
of the 9mmP in Comus' hands.
Each time I encountered that character, it seemed as though the initial spit at a leaf on the ground and the ceremonial
he was hefting a different gun. Yet, each time he insisted that wiping off of the side of his mouth with the cuff of his flannel
he was holding "the best gun in the world." shirt, he continued:
After a number of such encounters, I mustered the courage "You see, young fella, for me right now, that Marlin there
to ask: "How can that be the best gun in the world when each is the best gun in the world. For you, the best gun in the world
of the guns you had the other times were also the best guns in is that (Stevens) Favorite you are holding (we were squirrel
the world? There can't be that many best guns, can there? hunting at the time). What you have to understand is that the
Doesn't one have to be the best, and the others not quite so best gun in the world is always the one you happen to have
good?" with you at the time. No other guns count right then and right
He chuckled, put his leathery palm where my shoulder and there. Do you understand?"
neck met, looked toward the sky and sighed, warning me I nodded in the affirmative, but, frankly, I failed total
ahead of time that what he was about to reveal what had been comprehension, perhaps due to my age at the time. Over time,
told to him sometime in the distant past, and that he reckoned however, I came to understand the concept a lot better. For
it probably had been passed on from one generation of hunter example, pilots are well aware of the opposite truth: For them,
to another since time began. there is nothing more useless on takeoff than the runway
"Kid, I'll let you in on a secret," he said as he reached into behind them.
the back pocket of his bib overalls, retrieving a crumpled bag So, whenever the subject of 9mmP comes up in a discus-
of Mail Pouch chewing tobacco with one hand as he released sion around a hunting camp or at the range, and someone
his semi-grip on my shoulder with the other. He leaned against suggests everything isn't "the best" thing to use, excuse me if
an adjacent oak tree, crammed the wad of tobacco strands into I smile and take on a modified form of the thousand-yard-
his mouth and began to chew, forming the dark brown sub- stare. In my mind I see two boys, a turtle and a P-35. Yes, the
stance into a cud as he leaned his Marlin 39 against the tree 9mmPcan be the besthunting gun in the world. It was then and
beside him. With the plug properly positioned, and following there, at least.

w r l M r I t-It
Twenty-Six
OF AMMO &
HANDGUNS
Here's A Trio O f Relatively U n k n o w n 9 m m P
Launchers That S h o w Special Talents!
The Thompson/Center Contender has been around for decades, but 9mmP barrels for this single-shot are rare.

Contender handles the 9mmP
well enough in the single-shot
barrel. Extraction presented
no problems during the tests.
D
URING THE course of developing data for this During extensive range sessions, the Contender served as
tome, I encountered literally scores of handguns an instrument to establish ammunition benchmarks when it
chambered for the 9mmP cartridge. Although spe- came to consistency, and it helped demonstrate a factor of the
cific focus has been put upon the product lines of 9mmP which is discussed rarely among shooters or gun
a number of companies, there were other 9mmP handguns writers.
which, for several reasons, did not fall into a stand-alone This factor is the performance latitude of a cartridge that is
category. In most instances, it was because they were quite so small and compact, yet which delivers one of the most
different, or because they were alone in a particular company' s diverse levels of performance in the firearms world. Barrel
line of products. length determines performance levels for any cartridge, but
few in the world are as diverse when it comes to varying barrel
THOMPSON/CENTER CONTENDER lengths than is the 9mmP. For example, the 9mmP establishes
The Thompson/Center Contender may be one of the most high performance levels in handguns with very short (like two
easily identified handguns in the world. This break-open, or three inches) barrels, achieves normal working perfor-
single-shot pistol is found around the globe, filling roles as a mance levels in barrels of four to five inches and keeps getting
target firearm, a serious hunting instrument or an example of even more impressive as the tube length grows.
plinking perfection. Even more varied than its uses are its Granted, with judicious handloading, it is possible to make
chamberings. I made no attempt to count all of the chamberings, many different cartridges perform thusly. However, with
but they total well over 100 if one considers the many respect to the 9mmP, this latitude is experienced with normal
wildcats. factory loaded ammo. Put another away, the 9mmP — fired
Oddly, there are relatively few Contenders shooting the through the T/C nine-inch barrel — delivered near .357
9mmP cartridge. The reason is simple: Thompson/Center has Magnum performance with standard factory loadings of the
made relatively few 9mmP barrels, compared to those made 9mmP cartridge. Talk about efficiency! Yet, with those same
for other cartridges. Yes, at one time there was a 9mmP barrel factory loadings in a snub-nose revolver, the 9mmP again
in the T/C lineup, but it was dropped over a decade ago. Since rivals the performance of the .357 Magnum. Intriguingly, it is
then, almost no 9mmP barrels have been made, and the ones only in the realm of "standard" length barrels that the .357
which have been produced were the result of the T/C custom Magnum shows a particular tactical edge.
shop operation. Hence, it is safe to suppose that the 9mmP cartridge, even
So it was my own 9mmP barrel. When the assignment to in its least comparatively effective role, falls squarely be-
write this book was made, I contacted the folks at Thompson/ tween hot .38 Special loads and the many .357 Magnum loads.
Center, explained the situation and arranged to have a barrel How does this happen? The answer is rather simple,
made especially for this work. It is a nine-inch (why not have actually. It has to do with standard working pressures. The
a barrel of 9 for the 9?) tube sans sights. A T/C 2.5-7x 9mmP operates at relatively high pressures, and because of the
telescopic sight in a T/C mount was attached, putting the entire relatively small case volume, it is loaded with powders which
rig among the world's most accurate 9mmP handguns. develop high working pressures quickly. Yet, when loaded

Stamped as 9mm Luger, this Contender barrel was a special order by the author to conduct tests outlined here.
with anything but the fastest of pistol powders, there is enough PMC's 115-grain hollow-point loading delivered a high of
gas expansion power to continue to offer more and more boost 1335 and low of 1319 for a median 1326 feet per second.
to velocities as the barrel lengths get longer and longer. Extreme spread was 16 and standard deviation was 6.
Most 9mmP ammunition offered by the various factories is
loaded with powders which are slightly slower than the really PMC's 115-grain Starfire JHP loading delivered a high of
fast-burning varieties. For handloaders, this means, for ex- 1324 and low of 1291 for a median 1307 feet per second.
ample, that in a general sense it is a better idea to use Hercules Extreme spread was 33 and standard deviation was 12.
Unique powder than it is to use Hercules Bullseye powder, if
one is to concentrate on that company's line of cannister CCI's Blazer 115-grain JHP loading delivered a high of 1452
and low of 1424 for a median 1440 feet per second. Extreme
powders.
spread was 28 and standard deviation was 11.
If the concept remains mentally unresolved, take a look at
some of the data developed by the author during the various CCI's Blazer 124-grain JSP loading delivered a high of 1363
range sessions. All ballistic data was checked by an Oehler and low of 1308 for a median 1350 feet per second. Extreme
35P chronograph with its three skyscreens located 15 feet spread was 55 and standard deviation was 23.
from the muzzle. The measurements involved five-shot groups.
Results with the various loads through the T/C Contender with CCI's Blazer 147-grain TMJ loading delivered a high of 1229
nine-inch barrel were: and low of 1221 for a median 1221 feet per second. Extreme
Winchester's 115-grain Silvertip load delivered a high of
1409 and low of 1382 for a median 1397 feet per second. Remington's UMC 115-grain Metal Case load delivered a
Extreme spread was 27 and standard deviation was 12. high of 1410 and low of 1388 for a median 1399 feet per
second. Extreme spread was 22 and standard deviation 9.
PMC's 115-grain FMJ load delivered a high of 1334 and
low of 1271 for a median 1314 feet per second. Extreme Yes, those are some pretty impressive ballistics for factory
spread was 63 and standard deviation was 25. loaded 9mmP ammunition. But how do they compare with the
numbers established from other barrel lengths? Using one of
Winchester's USA ball loading delivered a high of 1399 and the Remington factory loads as an example, the high velocity
low of 1341 for a median 1378 feet per second. Extreme numbers were:

The Baby Eagle is a compact version of the original and is chambered in 9mmP, .40 Smith & Wesson, .41 AE.
REMINGTON UMC 115-GRAIN METAL CASE at a number of cartridges fired through those two handguns
helps establish a pivotal bit of data.
T/C CONTENDER
9-inch barrel: 1410 fps. S&W 6906 S&W 940
GLOCK 17L
6-inch barrel: 1267 fps. USA 115-grain ball 1075fps 1083 fps
BROWNING BDM UMC 115-grain MC 1045fps 1051 fps
4.73-inch barrel: 1197 fps. AMERICAN EAGLE
CZ75 124-grain MC 1046 fps 1014 fps
4.7-inch barrel: 1193 fps. PMC 115-grain FMJ 1104fps 1106 fps
SMITH & WESSON 915
4-inch barrel: 1077 fps. Several factors are at play here. First, the designated barrel
SMITH & WESSON 6906 length of the revolver is somewhat deceptive. Although the
3.5-inch barrel: 1045 fps. barrel is two inches long, the actual length from the rear of the
SMITH & WESSON 940 (Revolver) chamber to the muzzle of the barrel is longer — longer by the
2-inch barrel: 1051 fps. length of the cylinder to be precise. After all, the barrel length
of the auto is measured from the breech of the barrel to the
A quick look at those numbers reveals what one might be muzzle, and that includes the entire chamber length. So, in
tempted to term a statistical anomaly. As the barrel lengths actuality, the effective tube length of the revolver is longer
become shorter, the velocity continues to drop until the than the tube length of the auto — ending up being almost
shortest barrel length when the trend is reversed. Further, that identical for those two handguns.
velocity trend is reversed when the shorter length barrel is in But there is a more interesting factor which pops up in the
a revolver as compared to an auto, and that means the in- data above: Although the revolver (with its measurably longer
creased velocity occurs despite any gas bleed-off due to the length of free-bore) has a tiny edge over the auto with 115-
gap between the cylinder and breech end of the barrel. How grain loads, when the bullet gets heavier, the auto goes into the
does one answer this seemingly contradictory question? It is lead. This, too, is logical and continues as the weights get
simple, actually, but before revealing the answer, a quick look heavier — within reason, of course.

The Wilkinson Linda was named for one of the designer's daughters and was built originally as a selective-fire
handgun. This 9mmP semi-auto was possibly the most accurate of all the guns checked out in our tests.
However, what the numbers indicate is that if one assumes Magnum has more room for powder and thus has more ability
the "typical" muzzle velocity for a 9mmP 115-grain load is to be loaded more heavily. However, the point which is being
approximately 1100 feet per second (just about exactly the made is that when a shooter uses a 9mmP with a longer barrel,
speed of sound), then it is meaningful to discover that velocity actual performance can approach that of the .357 Magnum —
does not drop off significantly when the barrel length is and at much lower degrees of muzzle blast and noise.
shortened: to roughly 1050 feet per second with the 3.5 or 2- For example, Remington's factory data indicates that the
inch barrels. muzzle velocity of its various 158-grain bullet loadings is
What this means is that the actual performance of virtually 1235 feet per second through a four-inch-barrel. That is the
any typical 9mmP handgun is more or less the "standard" number many shooters use when comparing one cartridge to
established in most data bases. The same does not hold true for another. Yet, through the nine-inch T/C Contender, CCI's
some of the other cartridges. For example, in a snub-nose Blazer 147-grain 9mmP loading went 1229 feet per second.
revolver, actual velocities achieved by the .357 Magnum are Yes, the 9mmP bullet was 11 grains lighter than the .357
essentially those obtainable from a hot .38 Special and near or Magnum bullet and, yes, the 9mmP barrel was five inches
even slightly under some 9mmP loadings through the same longer. This establishes clearly that when the .357 Magnum is
length barrel. The reason is simple: With really short barrels, shot through a barrel long enough to make use of its powder
the powder charge in the .357 Magnum has not had a chance charge properly, it has performance superior to the 9mmP.
to develop standard working velocities. Or, considered from However, as the numbers indicate, the 9mmPdoes not always
another perspective, anyone shooting a .357 Magnum re- trail by much — certainly not by enough to put it into a
volver with a very short barrel may be putting .357 Magnum significantly different league.
ammo into the chambers, but in effect is shooting nothing Viewed from a different angle, the actual difference is not
more than a .38 Special. This comparative difference doesn't necessarily as much as it might appear were a person to make
occur with respect to the 9mmP. comparisons based solely upon data offered by commercial
This means that when the 9mmP barrel gets longer, the ammo companies. In the case of data from Remington, for
actual ballistic performance approaches that which is achieved example, the 125-grain .357 Magnum loading from a four-
with a .357 Magnum when it is shot through a"standard" four- inch barrel is listed with a muzzle velocity of 1450 feet per
inch barrel. Again, it must be stressed that there is no effort second, compared to the same company's 124-grain 9mmP
here to suggest that the 9mmP is capable of superior perfor- loading (one grain difference) at 1115 feet per second through
mance when compared to the .357 Magnum, because the .357 a four-inch barrel.

Comus found the Wilkinson
Linda a real blast to fire in his
desert testing grounds. This
particular gun has belonged to
Dean A. Grennell for decades.
So what does all this really mean for most 9mmP shooters? world's finest service-grade 9mmP semi-auto handguns. Fol-
Not terribly much, because most 9mmP shooters use hand- lowing hundreds of rounds of every imaginable kind of 9mmP
guns with barrel lengths in the four- to five-inch category. ammo, the Baby Eagle was found to be flawless in operation,
Hence, they achieve velocities which are typical. while offering superior tactical accuracy.
However, those who use 9mmP handguns with signifi- To put it bluntly, whenever I pointed the pistol at a target
cantly shorter barrels actually are getting ballistics very close from five feet to 25 yards, the target was hit (six-inch diameter
to those using standard length barrels. And, those shooting plates). Accuracy off the bench at 25 yards was equally
9mmP handguns with the longer barrels actually are experi- impressive. Groups routinely ranged from slightly over an
encing "Super 9" performance. inch to 2-1/2 inches, depending upon the loading. That ap-
There is no effort here to allege that the 9mmP is anything proaches target-grade accuracy from a service-grade hand-
it is not. However, the discussion above might help establish gun. And, the pistol shot all bullet weights, including the 147-
that the 9mmP is far more versatile than most shooters know. grainers, with equal aplomb.
Frankly, this is one of the reasons why the 9mmP, when Yes, the Baby Eagle is an impressive handgun.
fired through submachine guns, seems to take on a whole new
personality. The answer, as was shown here with the WILKINSON LINDA
longer T/C barrel, is that when put through such lengths Dean Grennell provided one of the more intriguing 9mmP
of tubes, the 9 m m P is truly a different cartridge! firearms used during my quest for the limits for the cartridge
It always has been a mystery to the author why more and firearms to shoot it. The handgun in question is called the
shooters who invest in custom barrels for 9mmP handguns Wilkinson Linda, a semi-auto that looks more like a mega-
haven't opted for significantly longer tubes. capacity submachine gun than a "normal" 9mmP pistol.
That's not surprising, because the Linda appears strikingly
BABY EAGLE close in configuration to the Wilkinson M-9-S full-auto fire-
In 1992, Magnum Research introduced the Baby Eagle arm.
semi-auto pistol which, among other cartridges, is chambered The Linda is 12-1/4 inches long overall, and that includes
for the 9mmP. This is a full-size, high-capacity service-grade the 7-5/8-inch barrel. Magazine capacity is 31 rounds. That's
9mmP handgun similar to the Jericho 941 pistol. a bunch.
The Baby Eagle has a 4.37-inch barrel, weighs 33 ounces On a trip to the range, the Linda showed its stuff in fine
and is 8.12 inches long overall. Sights are blade front and form, delivering groups of one-half- to three-fourths-inch
notched rear (drift adjustable for windage). It is a double- with a variety of 9mmP factory loads. For the session, a
action/single-action pistol, meaning the first shot is double- Bushnell 2.5x scope was mounted, and shooting was done off
action, followed by successive shots in single-action, or the bench at 25 yards.
single-action for all shots, depending upon whether the ham- The scary part of the range session was that I came away
mer is cocked before the first round is shot. Like other convinced that pilot error had resulted in the groups being so
handguns in the Magnum Research line, rifling in the Baby large! This was without question the most accurate 9mmP
Eagle is polygonal. firearm I had ever fired — and the author has fired a whole
It was the author's feeling that the Baby Eagle is among the gaggle of 9mmP firearms!

HAPTER
TOOLS OF THIS
TRADE
T h r e e H a n d l o a d s , 27 D i f f e r e n t F a c t o r y
9 m m R o u n d s A n d A Batch Of
A c c e s s o r i e s W e n t Into T h i s V o l u m e !
Various bullet configurations were used during the test series. From left are: round-nose full metal Jacket, the
traditional flat-point, a jacketed hollow-point and a round with a cast lead bullet. All these 9mms shot well.

The author cleaned out his ammunition locker for various brands, weights of 9mm for his test firing.
C
OMPILING THE mounds of data necessary to In all those thousands of rounds, there were only three
complete a book about the 9mmP requires a lot failures to function with respect to ammo. All three of those
more than just time. It demands the firing of involved the author's handloads, and these were deemed as
thousands of rounds of ammunition through scores suspect before firing. They were shot just to see if rounds so
of different firearms. And, it requires a number of specialized out of form might still work. They did not.
fixtures, jigs and technical equipment—all of this to arrive at The remainder of the track record speaks highly of the
the numbers, statistics and other data necessary to put the ammunition and the firearms used. Not only did all of the
items of discussion into some meaningful form. factory ammunition fire and function the pistols, but readings
over the Oehler 35P chronograph indicated that most loadings
were extremely consistent. Granted, some loads shot better
AMMO through some individual guns than others, and some pistols
For this book, the author used 27 different kinds of factory were more accurate. But, from an ammunition standpoint, I
9mmP loads and three different handloads, bringing the total could not be more pleased.
number of loadings to 30. Not every loading was fired through It is reasonable that factory ammunition for the 9mmP
every firearm. However, virtually all pistols shot during the would be good overall. This is a high volume production
compilation of data for this book saw several hundred rounds proposition for any company which chooses to load the
of ammo go through their barrels. cartridge.

The Ransom Rest, discussed at length in text, was used to test accuracy of this Baby Eagle, all the others. This
particular mechanism is able to maintain the same hold from shot to shot, if the gun has been mounted properly.
By company, the types of factory ammunition used in- The 124-grain JSP loading is one of the "sleepers" in the
cluded: industry. This is a snappy loading with a flat-nose, soft-point
bullet that is great for self defense.
CCI/BLOUNT The 147-grain TMJ loading proved to be extremely inter-
esting. It offered high speed for such a heavy bullet, and
accuracy was superior. It could be considered a good all-
Blazer 115-grain jacketed hollow-point.
around bet for just about any 9mmP use, except perhaps for
Blazer 124-grain jacketed soft-point.
hunting of medium-size animals where an expanding bullet
Blazer 147-grain total metal-jacket (TMJ). might be preferable.
All of the CCI ammunition used was from the Blazer line, FEDERAL
which features casings made of aluminum with Berdan prim-
ers. This means they are not meant to be reloaded. Function Premium 124-grain Hydra-Shok jacketed
was superlative with all of the loadings.
hollow point.
The 115-grain JHP is a good choice for self-defense,
because it features an expanding bullet. This particular load- Classic 115-grain Hi-Shok jacketed hollow point.
ing also lends itself well to informal shooting. It is a good all- Match 124-grain Metal Case SWC.
around offering. American Eagle 124-grain Metal Case.

Blaine Huling indicates some
of the thousands of holes
punched by 9mm ammunition
in preparation of tech data for
this volume. The frame was
lightweight but stable and was
built so damaged wood parts
could be replaced quite easily.
Of the Federal ammo used, the highest quantity involved of the 115-grain bullet with the expansion characteristics of a
the rather generic American Eagle loads. These were among jacketed hollow-point bullet.
the most consistent performers encountered, and should be For self-defense among the Federal lineup used, there is no
considered superlative loads for general use. The bullet, being question that the Premium 124-grain Hydra-Shok JHP load-
a round-nose metal case proposition, does not expand when it ing is the "premium" choice. It offers a mid-weight expanding
penetrates a target. bullet which has been designed specifically for defensive
The Federal Match loads worked well, but, frankly, were purposes. This is one of the several "wonder bullet" loads
not noticeably more accurate than were the American Eagle being marketed by the several major manufacturers, and is
loadings. Perhaps, in specific target grade pistols, the match totally workable as a 9mmP defense proposition. Accuracy
loads would give an edge, but not a lot. This is not a negative also was as good overall with this loading as it was with any
comment on the match ammo, however. Rather, it is a glowing of the other Federal offerings.
comment on the generic offering which delivers match or near
match-grade performance at an affordable price. HANSEN
The Classic 115-grain JHP loading was another winner. It
was not only consistent, but the bullets opened up well in test COMBAT 9 115-grain full metal jacket.
media. This might be considered a most viable self-defense
NATO MILITARY 123-grain full metal jacket.
loading for those who want to combine the higher velocities

-• ", inn i, - V , f .nilrli', *T '
This handgun bench rest was built by Com us' co-worker, Dean A. Grennell, for tests. It is simple, exceedingly strong.
Both of the Hansen loadings are military-type round-nose because the box is camo-patterened. This is good, basic ammu-
offerings, with bullet weight being the most noticeable differ- nition for the 9mmP. It is snappy, and functions very cleanly.
ence. This is solidly good general purpose ammunition and is The No. 9B loading with its 115-grain jacketed hollow-
loaded to full potency, which means that in some cases it is point bullet is PMC's main line expanding bullet loading for
"hotter" than some of the domestic civilian offerings. This the 9mmP. It performs similarly to the No. 9A FMJ loading,
means that for pistols which have excessively strong recoil except it offers the added performance of an expanding bullet.
springs, or for military surplus pistols which tend not to cycle It is a good, overall choice for informal shooting or for serious
the less potent loads, this ammo might be considered for trial. self-defense.
For example, some of the surplus Walther P-38 pistols extant Speaking of self-defense, the two Starfire loadings from
in the world function better with loads like these. PMC/Eldorado are among the best on the market for such
purposes. The jacketed hollow-point bullet is specifically
PMC/ELDORADO designed for such purposes, and is one of the "super" bullets
on the market from the major manufacturers. Both loadings
performed admirably. About the only question the shooter
No. 9A 115-grain full metal jacket.
might have is which bullet weight he or she prefers. Certainly,
No. 9 B 115-grain jacketed hollow-point. if a particular pistol likes one of the loadings better than the
Starfire 115-grain jacketed hollow-point. other, then the gun has spoken. However, assuming similar
Starfire 124-grain jacketed hollow-point. accuracy and function reliability experienced during my many
range sessions, it is merely a matter of personal preference.
The most frequently fired loading from this source was the Either would get the job done.
generic 115-grain FMJ offering. I refer to it as "camo ammo,"

Assisting Comus, Blaine Huling attaches a steel leg to shooting table the two devised especially for the 9mm hand-
gun tests. The table weighed a lot when completed, but didn't move during the data-gathering sessions.
The UMC loading is Remington's generic full metal jacket

PROLOAD offering, and it is credible overall loading for general 9mmP
purposes. The same can be said of the main line 115-grain
124-grain jacketed hollow-point +P. metal case offering. The author found little, if any, difference
in performance between the two. And, the 115-grain jacketed
This is a really good loading for general use, as well as for hollow-point falls squarely into the same performance cat-
specific self-defense applications. The bullet used is Hornady's egory, but with the added offering of an expanding bullet. For
XTP, which has established itself as a superb performer, both a general-purpose expanding bullet, this one is a good bet.
in the accuracy department and in target media. Remington's 147-grain subsonic jacketed hollow-point
offering is aimed primarily at the law enforcement market,
REMINGTON which means it also makes a good choice for civilian self-
defense purposes. This loading shot well in the various tests,
UMC 115-grain metal case. and could be considered a good all-around proposition.
115-grain metal case. The Golden Saber loading is the company's entry into the
"wonder" bullet arena. This brass-jacketed hollow-point of-
115-grain jacketed hollow-point.
fering is designed as a top-notch self-defense loading. Al-
Subsonic 147-grain jacketed hollow-point. though introduced after much of my testing had been com-
Golden Saber 147-graln brass jacketed pleted, when it was used it performed well and, as might be
hollow-point. expected, is a top level product.

the technological explosion of the past few decades, and even
SAMSON the most accurate equipment is within the economic reach of
serious shooters.
Match Grade Carbine full metal jacket loads. For gathering 9mmP data, I used an Oehler 35P chrono-
graph. One of the major reasons this particular model makes
These were used only in the "carbine" type of firearm, sense to anyone who does a lot of chronographing is that it uses
because this ammunition is designed for use in submachine three rather than two sensors (sky screens) which, when
guns and not in normal pistols. For example, it was used in the connected to the computerized unit, act like two separate
Wilkinson Linda pistol. Yes, this is powerful stuff, but it chronographs — one checking the other to make certain
would not be advisable to shoot it in most pistols. everything is as it should be. And, that is what the " P " stands
for in the unit's designation —"proof."
SURE FIRE It is not uncommon for a chronograph to register a grossly
false reading. All kinds of things can cause the problem,
including birds flying overhead. Radically angled lighting is
115-grain round-nose full metal jacket.
another culprit — and the list goes on. What the Oehler 35P
115-grain jacketed hollow-point. does is measure velocities between two sets of sensors, then it
automatically alerts the user if one of the readings is signifi-
This is a line of commercially loaded ammunition being cantly different from the other. This feature alone saves a lot
marketed by a relatively new firm in the Los Angeles area. of time and effort on the range, because it is easy for a shooter
Essentially, this company uses a number of generally avail- to miss one errant reading in a string, and not be aware of the
able components to make the ammo — like Remington cases problem until the session is over or until it is too late to re-
in the lot used by the author. shoot the string.
Overall, Sure Fire ammunition performed superbly. The Another handy feature on the 35P is the printout it pro-
only noticeable difference between the two loadings used was vides. This makes tallying the information much easier later.
that one featured a hollow-point bullet, and the other had full In addition to each individual set of readings, when the
metal jacket bullets. operator hits a button, the machine automatically computes
These are full-potency offerings, which means they func- the fastest and slowest velocities in the string, then computes
tion well even in firearms that might have problems with some the median velocity (this would take a rather long time to do
of the more sedate loads. separately). Italso automatically computes the extreme spread
in velocities within the string, as well as the standard devia-
WINCHESTER tion. Again, this saves a whole lot of time and trouble.
Further, the 35P operates on a standard 9-volt dry cell
USA 115-grain ball. battery, each battery good for several hours of continuous use.
Super-X 115-grain Silvertip hollow-point. In real world terms, this means each battery is good for many
Subsonic 147-grain jacketed hollow-point. trips to the range, because the chronograph is turned on only
Supreme Black Talon 147-grain SXT. when actual chronographing is being done.
It is difficult to imagine a better generic loading than

Winchester'sUSA 115-grain ball offering. These loads worked RANSOM REST
great in any and all of the pistols which were shot. For general Regardless how good or bad a particular shooter is when it
purpose applications, this is a great bet.
comes to shooting for group, no human is as repeatably
The Super-X 115-grain Silvertip is an interesting loading. accurate as a machine. The Ransom Rest is a machine rest
Some pistols really liked it, others did not. Accuracy was which allows the shooter to return the pistol precisely to the
never really bad, and in some specific pistols, it was outstand- same spot, shot after shot.
ing. This is a high performance loading meant for self- This means a particular pistol's precise accuracy potential
defense, and the author feels it is a great choice for such can be determined by using the machine rest. Although the
purposes. author did not use the Ransom Rest for each and every pistol
Winchester's 147-grain subsonic loading is used by many shot during the research period for this book, many of the
law enforcement agencies across the country, and its perfor- handguns were clamped into the device and given a thorough
mance has been rated good to outstanding by officers who wringing out.
have been involved in actual shootings. The most necessary times to call upon the Ransom Rest
The Black Talon loading offered by Winchester is among were when a particular pistol was behaving extremely well, or
the best in the industry for self defense. It was one of the first extremely badly, when fired from a more common bench rest
of the "wonder" bullet offerings, and continues to be as good setup.
as it can be. If the pistol showed extreme accuracy promise, the author
would clamp it into the Ransom Rest to see just what that
potential really was. If a pistol seemed to be shooting badly,
CHRONOGRAPH the Ransom Rest was called upon to help rule out problems
It is impossible to write seriously about firearms perfor- caused by the shooter rather than those inherent with the gun
mance without the services of a reliable chronograph. It is itself.
necessary to determine precisely how fast bullets are going. For example, it can be terribly difficult to achieve mean-
Fortunately, chronographs have benefitted tremendously from ingful accuracy at 25 yards with a handgun that has a hard,

gritty trigger pull. Those factors do not affect performance wood screws to clamp the two sheets of plywood together,
when the firearm is clamped into the Ransom Rest, thereby eliminating any future warpage.
allowing the inherent accuracy of the pistol to be known. The massive table top then was bolted with half-inch bolts
For pistols which were behaving well when shot off the to four heavy legs which were made from one-eighth-inch-
normal benchrest, groups improved little when the gun was thick steel angle iron that was four inches on a side. An eighth-
clamped into the rest. This is because the pilot error with them inch-thick square plate of steel six inches on a side then was
was not so significant. However, rest assured that no human welded to the top of each of the four legs — but not before the
is capable of the same level of repeatable objectivity that proper size holes were drilled near each corner for the half-
machine rests like the one from Ransom puts right at hand. inch bolts which would hold the legs to the top.
There is need to develop proper technique when using a On the bottom of each leg, an eighth-inch-thick triangle of
Ransom Rest. First, it has to be mounted solidly, and the steel was welded to form a false "foot." There was a five-
operator has to develop a repeatable routine when putting the eighths-inch hole drilled in the middle of the false foot and a
pistol back into battery if the results are not to be affected foot-long section of half-inch threaded rod was inserted with
adversely. It takes only a little practice to get the feel for using double-nuts above and below the false foot. Already welded
the rest. Once that is accomplished, it is consistent. to the bottom of the rod was another eighth-inch-thick steel
plate that was six inches on a side. Before being welded to the
rod, the plate had a half-inch hole drilled near each corner.
TARGET STAND This design—brainstormed by Huling—allowed for fine
Due to the huge numbers of shots that would have to be adjustment of each leg to match the ground where it was set up.
fired over the course of the research for this book, I con- After all, we knew we would be using the equipment in a
structed a wooden target stand that was "modular" in design number of different places, including the open desert. By
— any and all parts of it could be replaced quickly and easily using a two-way level, the table top could be made perfectly
without the use of sophisticated tools. level on any terrain by merely adjusting the massive steel feet.
I did not want to have to cut short a range session just Once they were adjusted, foot-long spikes could be used to
because the target stand took a blitzing. And, when the anchor the individual feet into the ground. What resulted was
shooting involves scores of handguns fresh out of the box and a table that simply would not budge — not even a little bit. It
30 different ammo loadings, not all bullets are going to go weighed over 100 pounds total, but that was okay. It worked.
right into the 10-ring. Fortunately, the stand never was shot This table was used to anchor the Ransom Rest and to hold
down, but it did suffer a number of hits. the massive piles of equipment needed during the full-on
The stand was made from 2x3-inch pine (it was the cheap- range sessions. It also held reloading presses and scales and all
est such wood available). The base is 4x4 feet, and the uprights of the gear needed to make handloaded ammo right on the
are six feet tall with a cross-bar on top. spot.
Holes were drilled every foot throughout the center stretch At times, it was handy to have still another "bench" which
of each upright, and bolts with metal " L " pieces were used to could be more mobile or which could be used by one shooter
hold a 2x4-foot piece of Masonite which served as the target while another was using the main table. This was accom-
holder. A staple gun was used to attach the target paper to the plished with a three-legged portable shooting bench made for
Masonite. Target paper included everything from official the author by Tucson gunmaker David Miller. Although the
NRA targets to paper plates to computer paper. initial purpose was for lengthy prairie dog shooting sessions,
In fact, the computer paper was used extensively when this portable bench proved valuable during the research ses-
taking pistols to the range for the first time. Two rows of three sion for this book, as well.
sheets of the paper (still connected on each row) were stapled No portable chairs were used — empty plastic five-gallon
to the backboard, then one-inch orange target pasters were buckets and empty plastic cases which once held four gallon
placed in the center of each sheet. That way, if a particular jugs of milk are much more productive. Not only could we sit
pistol was shooting way off target, the holes still would on them when wringing out the guns and ammo, but we could
register on paper, and as long as the author maintained the carry the mounds of gear to and from the bench in them.
same aiming point, the group would form — regardless of To extend effective time in the field on hot summer days,
precisely where it happened to be on the paper itself. This we created a 12-foot-square tarp awning that was held up by
saved a lot of time during initial shooting sessions. a modular frame of lightweight plastic PVC pipe. Once up, the
Handguns that either showed great promise or were caus- entire rig was guy-roped to stakes in the ground, withstanding
ing problems then were returned for other sessions at the range some fairly stiff breezes in good order.
as I attempted to put everything in order. Usually, things Experiences gained during the research period offered
worked out fine. some handy tips for others who want to get more serious about
their shooting, and who have access to places other than
established ranges.
SHOOTING B E N C H First, create an entirely separate tool chest with everything
With the help of fellow shooter Blaine Huling, the author needed for every piece of equipment to be used. Unless there
made an industrial-strength shooting table that served many is a dedicated, self-contained tool box, the shooter will forget
purposes, depending upon the order of the day. something sometime — or several things — often.
We started out with two three quarter-inch plywood sheets Also, never forget to take a cooler with water, sodas or
(4x8 feet) and glued them together, making a table top which something else to drink. Shooting sessions get long and
was almost 4x8 feet on the sides and more than a full inch thirsty. Sunglasses are a must, as is a good hat. Sunscreen
thick. Before the glue could dry, we also used several dozen doesn't hurt, either.

CHAPTER
"NINES TO
THE LINE!"
A f t e r Y e a r s O f N e g l e c t , T h e 9 m m Is
Getting Competitive Attention!
Most 9x19mm guns can be converted to the more potent 9x21 with nothing more than rechambering. This E.A.A.
Witness in 9x21 meets Major caliber requirements and is becoming the choice of many discerning shooters.

The 9mmP is the preferred tool for Steel Challenge-type matches. This full-blown E.A.A. Witness race gun combines
excellent accuracy, light recoil, lots of rounds in the magazine. Christian has found this an excellent handgun.
I
N WHAT can only be considered one of those para- serious use unless the NRA establishes a specific 9mm cat-
doxical twists of gundom, one of the hottest selling egory. Most observers feel that is not likely in the foreseeable
handguns extant is the 9mm semi-auto. Yet, when it future."
comes to that bastion of recreational shooting—com- Another case of "circumstantial doom" occurs in the excit-
petitive events — the 9mm has been conspicuous by its ing game of NRA action shooting (a la the Bianchi Cup). In
absence. this contest, the 9mm has a lot going for it due to more than
In some cases there are good reasons. The relatively slow- adequate accuracy and soft recoil. Some competitors use it
paced, but precise NRA bullseye shooting is a good example. with some success.
In this game, competitors attempt to punch out X-rings with Unfortunately, the top competitors have discovered that,
three different required calibers: rimfire, centerfire and .45. due to the time limits involved in the various stages of the
The latter category is nothing more than a holdover from the contests, a revolver offers an advantage over a semi-auto.
days when the .45 ACP was the service caliber of our armed "A smooth double-action revolver trigger offers an easier
forces. On the surface, that would seem to indicate that each 'surprise break' under the quick but still generous time limits
competitor would require three handguns to compete, but than does a crisp single-action semi-auto trigger," Christian
that's not the case. contends.
"The 9mm certainly has the accuracy to be a competitive With the long, smooth pull you are less likely to break the
cartridge in the centerfire class. It is not, however, any more shot while your sights are off the critical X-ring of the target.
inherently accurate than a properly built .45 ACP wadcutter Among top shooters, the .38 Special revolver has become
gun. Since the .45 is also a centerfire — and quite legal to use the tool of choice — and shooters tend to follow the leader
in that class—many of the top competitors avoid the expense when it comes to equipment use. In this case, it is not the
and logistics of a third gun and shoot centerfire with their cartridge that is wanting —just the launching pad.
existing .45," reports Chris Christian, a long-time competitive One area where the 9mm cartridge — and the guns that
competitive marksman. shoot it — becomes the perfect choice is in IPSC-style action
"Circumstances doom the 9mm here, and while it is cer- shooting. When faced with an array of targets at varying
tainly a viable choice, it is one that is not likely to see any distances, and your score becomes a combination of how

The 9x21 case (at right) is nothing more than a longer version of the 9x19mm Parabellum. It is slightly stouter in con-
struction to handle the higher pressures at which it works. The 9x21 qualifies for Major caliber competition easily.
quickly you can deliver accurate hits, the 9mm may have no "The lighter 9mm bullets also have less bore mass, which
peers. translates into less recoil and torque. You get back on target
Given the round's velocity, its trajectory is relatively flat. quicker. If the gun is compensated, the higher pressure gener-
Your hold on a 60-yard target isn't much different than for a ated by the 9mm provides more gas with which to work. In a
10-yard target. That's not the case with a slower round like the properly designed compensator, more gas makes for a more
.45 ACP. efficient comp. The difference in muzzle rise between a
H A N D G U N EVENT
In such competitions as The
S p o n s o r e d By: Sportsman's Team Challenge,
meticulous records are kept by
A c c u r a t e A r m s Co., Inc. means of electronic equipment.
This registers times, accuracy
Smith & Wesson and effectiveness of the various
cartridges used in the series of
Taurus International shooting events held annually.

This 9mmThompson/Center
Contender offers performance
that almost equals that of
popular NRA Hunter Pistol
round guns such as the .270
Ren and the .32-20, yet the
9mm is often overlooked
when choosing a gun for this
particular competitive event.
comped 9mm and a comped .45 ACP is noticeable." penalizes its use. To understand that, you need to understand
Last, but certainly not least, is magazine capacity. The Power Factor.
9mm is the hands down winner in this respect. The more The Power Factor is a simple mathematical formula that
rounds you have in the gun the fewer times you have to reload. takes bullet weight, in grains (mass), and multiplies it by
Even if you can swap mags in just one second that's still a velocity, in feet per second (speed), to come up with a final
second you save on your score. figure that gives us, in essence, a measurement of momentum.
Yes, the 9mm is the perfect action gun. Unfortunately, the To keep things simple, the product is divided by a constant of
IPSC has recognized that and deliberately adopted a rule that 1,000.
The lone 9x19 (extreme left) will not qualify for Major caliber competition. All of the varous 9x21 loads shown will do
so easily and are short enough to work through most 9x19 guns. A rechambering job is the only requirement.

Although the 9mmP has the accuracy to compete in NRA Bullseye Matches, the venerable .45 ACP is favored for the
centerfire classes. The author is among those who sees no change in this trend in the foreseeable shooting future.
If the resulting figure — bullet weight multiplied by The theory behind that — at least, according to the found-
velocity divided by 1,000—equals or exceeds 175, you have ing father of practical pistol craft—is that it takes a big bullet
a Major caliber. If the figure falls between 174.9 and 125, you to do "man's work," and anything less is "wimpy" and should
have a Minor caliber. Some matches use 120 as the Minor be punished.
caliber lower end. If the figure falls below 125 (or 120) you No 9x 19 load can make Major caliber at safe pressures. So,
have no caliber! The round is not considered powerful enough the 9x19 remains a Minor caliber. Nobody has won a major
to be legal in that match. IPSC match with a Minor caliber in recent memory; the point
Notice that nothing has been mentioned about bullet shape, drop for rounds outside the A zone is just too severe. This has
caliber (frontal diameter) or bullet construction (FMJ, hol- caused a lot of misconception about the Power Factor.
low-point, SWC, et al). Among naive gun writers, the term has come to meai. "good
This is strictly a measurement of mass multiplied by speed round" versus "poor round." There is a tendency to divide all
equaling momentum. As such, it is right out of the rather out- handgun rounds into "Major" or "Minor" calibers. It's trendy,
dated Hatcher theories. But, even then, it is not complete, and it makes some individuals sound like they actually know
because even Hatcher recognized that certain bullet shapes what they are talking about. "If I need a self-defense gun, I'll
were more — or less — efficient at transmitting their energy pick a Major caliber. I wouldn't bet my life on a Minor
and he assigned modifier values to bullet shapes. caliber." Such a train of thought has no bearing on the real
"Major caliber cartridges are rewarded by a higher score world.
for rounds that impact outside of the A zone on the standard Consider this: Let's suppose you are sitting on the front
IPSC target, than are the Minor caliber rounds. In effect, porch sipping one of those marvelous chilled beverages that
Minor caliber shooters are penalized for anything less than a made Milwaukee famous and you happen to see Jeffrey
perfect hit," Christian explains. Dahmer charging up the driveway with a meat cleaver in one

There is plenty of discussion, pro and con, about the contesting capabilities of the 9mmP in action shooting circles.
hand a bottle of catsup in the other. Would anybody in his right solely to beat the Power Factor, two new 9mm cartridges have
mind pick up a six-inch barreled .44 Special revolver loaded come into being — the 9x21 and the .356 TSW (Team Smith
with the standard 246-grain RN lead slug at 770 fps...in & Wesson).
preference to a 15-shot 9mm stuffed with one of the proven The 9x21 already is well-established in Europe where it
law enforcement loads like the Federal 9mm 115 JHP+P was created to beat government bans on civilians shooting
#9BP-LE? In actual shooting, the latter load had been proven military calibers. By lengthening the 9x19 case by two milli-
significantly more effective than the old round-nose .44. meters, the new round becomes "not a military cartridge."
"I'd grab the 9mm in a heartbeat. Yet, a look at the power Yet, it is short enough to function perfectly in standard 9x19
factor for the two loads would show I was wrong!" Christian guns and magazines. Virtually any full-size and some com-
admits. The .44 Special load (246 multiplied by 770 divided pact 9x19s can be adapted to the 9x21 with nothing more than
by 1000) has a power factor of 189.4. The "Minor caliber" a quick rechambering job.
9mm comes out at 115 multiplied by 1300 divided by 1000— Additional case length easily allows 9mm bullets in the
only 149.5! 150-grain weight range to be driven to velocities that will
"That's the problem with the IPSC Power Factor—bullet make Major caliber.
technology has rendered it as obsolete as the dinosaur. Yet, Brass, as well as chambering reamers, loading data and
those who refuse to believe that the 20th Century actually does even drop-in barrels (for Colt 1911 and CZ-75 clones) are
exist continue to cling to it. And that's the reason the 9x 19 has readily available. RCBS and Lee also offer dies. One source
not made greater inroads into the one area of popular compe- for 9x21 components and information is CP Bullets, 1814
tition where it is not only ideal, but eminently practical. Mearns Rd., Warminster, PA 18974.
Fortunately, that is changing. The advantages of increased Although the round is relatively new, in this country it is
magazine capacity, more efficient compensator performance already supplanting the .38 Super as the IPSC caliber of
and lighter bore mass — reduced recoil, again — have made choice.
the .38 Super the winning gun in IPSC competition. Using The .356 TSW is even newer. In essence, it is a 9x21-1/2.
specially built guns, bullets in the 135- to 160-grain range can Developed for the Smith & Wesson shooting team, it is not
be driven fast enough to make Major. This still does not offer nearly as established as the 9x21, and its future is less certain.
the increased magazine capacity of a basic, double-column Although it is too new to truly gauge its potential, it would
mag 9mm. Even with the high-capacity 1911 frames, the appear this cartridge will not be incorporated as easily into
cartridge rim can cause feeding problems. existing 9mm guns as is the 9x21. The round is being loaded
The .38 Super does offer advantages over the .45 ACP, but by Federal Cartridge Company with an initial match load
not nearly the advantage a 9mm does. So, in a move intended using a 147-grain FMJ bullet at approximately 1230 feet per

The action shooting sports have made accuracy with heavier bullets a requirement the 9mmP meets only partially.
second from a five-inch barrel, easily making Major. Guns for velocities in the 950 to 1050 range with these same bullets.
the new round will be available from Smith & Wesson. Those who have rechambered their 9x 19 to 9x21 will find they
But what of the lowly 9x19? It, too, is alive and well. Pure have essentially the same versatility as those who shoot the
speed shooting, a la Steel Challenge, is one of the fastest- .357 magnum revolver — the ability to create a wide variety
growing competitive handgun matches in the country, and the of power levels in their loads.
sponsors here decided to drop the outdated Power Factor. Another area where the 9mm is seeing increased competi-
In this relatively new game, the 9x19 is the tool of choice. tive use is in bowling pin matches. On the surface, this seems
In fact, some of the most popular loads are much lighter than quite illogical, because bowling pin matches — in which the
standard factory loads! pins must be driven completely off the table — are one of the
In speed shooting, it is important to actually hear the bullet few scenarios where the old Hatcher/Momentum/Power Fac-
strike the plate in order to confirm a hit, since the plates are not tor theory actually works. A big, heavy bullet does a much
always designed to fall on impact. better job of driving pins to the ground than does a lightweight,
That is accomplished most easily by driving the bullet at high-speed hollow-point.
subsonic velocities. The crack of the bullet breaking the sound Yet, due entirely to the popularity of high-capacity 9mms
barrier interferes with hearing it strike the plate. As a result, and the desire of their owners to shoot them, special 9mm Pin
most competitors load bullets in the 115-grain range to veloci- matches are held frequently. Generally, there will be nine
ties of about 950-990 fps. This is noticeably less than the bowling p i n s — b u t sometimes eight—that the shooter must
standard 1150 fps with the 115-grain bullet offered in factory clear. This often requires the full services of an overstuffed
9x19 rounds. Quick-burning powders like Winchester 231 magazine!
will accomplish this with charges as light as 3.6 grains, and One of the best loads for this is one of the 147-grain hard
recoil is virtually nil. cast flat point bullets driven to a velocity of over 1000 fps. In
Two popular bullets are the Hornady 115-grain XTP hol- my TZ-75,4.4 grains of Unique will produce 1050 fps with no
low-point and the new 115-grain Speer Gold Dot. These are pressure signs whatsoever. It's one of the best 9mm loads for
proving to be some of the most accurate 9mm bullets made and clearing pins I've found.
rival the best match loads in virtually any other centerfire Another competition where the 9x19 truly shines is, sur-
pistol caliber. prisingly, one in which it often is ignored completely—NRA
Interestingly, the 9x21 can be loaded down easily to Hunter Pistol Silhouette.

77?e 9mmP has plenty of power for the lighter metal silhouette targets, such as the chicken, which are shot at closer
ranges. A plus for the 9mmP cartridge for this segment of silhouettes is the high degree of accuracy it offers.
In this game, half-sized silhouettes—ram, turkey, pig and with cast or jacketed bullets in the 115- to 124-grain range.
chicken — are engaged from an offhand position at ranges of Christian's Contender will hold five rounds into three to
40 yards (chicken), 50 yards (pig), 75 yards (turkey) and 100 four inches at 100 yards with many different loads.
yards (ram). Like any silhouette event, targets must be knocked "Performance differences are slight, yet 9x19 brass is
completely off their stands to score a hit. These silhouettes, considerably less expensive than the other two rounds and is
unlike some others, don't take much knocking over. made more stoutly. That means more loads per case," Chris-
The game is shot as a rimfire and centerfire event and the tian has found. Brass, as well as a wide selection of bullets, is
silhouettes are lightly constructed. A .22 rimfire magnum will also easier to find. If a shooter already owned a 9mm, and was
drop the centerfire ram at 100 yards! Because of that, competi- loading for it, entering the NRA Hunter Pistol game would be
tors are restricted to modestly powered, straight-walled car- as simple as obtaining a scoped Contender in 9x19.
tridges. Not surprisingly, the game is dominated by the accu- Compare that to what the shooter opting for the .270 Ren.
rate, moderately-priced Thompson/Center Contender hand- goes through: obtain dies, shell holders, et cetera, then pay
guns, with scope. through the nose for expensive .22 Hornet brass. Expending a
Top cartridges in NRA Hunter Pistol are the .270 Ren, a bullet, primer and powder charge is required just to make the
wildcat made by fireforming a .22 Hornet case to straight- case, which will have about half the reloading life of the 9x 19.
walled configuration. It launches a .277 caliber 100-grain And, all for a very marginal performance edge!
grain jacketed slug at about 1400 fps. The .32-20, with a 100- In reality, the 9mm makes a lot of sense for a lot of
grain slug travels at 1500 fps. Both sets of velocity figures are competitive games. One reason it has been held back is what
average for a 10-inch Contender barrel, and both calibers are can only be called reluctance on the part of some rule makers
capable of between two-and three-inch groups at 100 yards. to abandon the venerable .45 ACP as a required round (NRA
That's more than enough for the rams. bullseye) or to abandon rules that favor the .45 (IPSC).
From a nine-inch Contender barrel, the 9x19 will spit out As the 9mm becomes even more popular among American
a 90-grain Hornady XTP at 1500 fps, making 1250-1300 fps shooters, however, chances are good that will change.

Twe
THE BIG
SWITCH
Training Trauma Has Been Reduced
With Ultimate Acceptance Of T h e 9 m m P
For Law Enforcement

The Smith & Wesson Model
15 revolver was replaced by
the Beretta 92F. Both of the
handguns are roughly the
same in overall dimensions.
44,
C
ONTROVERSY IS one issue that always According to FBI statistics, violence toward police officers
remains constant in law enforcement circles, continued to rise during the 1970s. In fact, in the United States,
especially when dealing with firearms and there were over 1,100 law enforcement officers killed in line
ammunition. Along with controversy, 'not of duty during one 10-year span. Thataverages to over 100 per
being very receptive to change' is another trait that runs year; about double the number, 54, killed in all of 1992. With
consistent. No matter what the department says, no matter this increased aggression, police officer survival finally began
what data they show you, there always will be those individual to get some attention. One of the areas that generated contro-
officers and deputies who have their personal preferences. versy back then and remains a subject of debate today is the
"When dealing with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs officer's sidearm.
Department, any decision for change of any type is cosUy. The criminal element was reportedly armed with large-
Supplying approximately 8,600 sworn members with any capacity firearms while most of law enforcement still was
piece of equipment costs plenty, especially if specialized using the six-shot wheel-gun.
training is necessary to facilitate the change. With a depart- Many agencies began to look at semi-autos with large
ment of this size, changes don't come easy. capacities as a replacement for the revolver. Smith & Wesson
"Scheduling alone is a major obstacle to ensuring everyone made early inroads with their Model 39. It was followed
gets the proper training. Unlike some businesses in which shortly thereafter with the somewhat similar Model 59 with
things can stop for a day or two while a change-over takes nearly twice the capacity as its predecessor.
place, law enforcement service never stops. It keeps on These two semi-autos were adopted eventually by the Los
ticking, 24 hours a day, seven days a week." Angeles Sheriffs Department for off-duty use only. Person-
Having been a member of the law enforcement community nel who opted to carry one off-duty had to attend an eight-hour
for over twenty years — primarily with the Los Angeles department training, familiarization and qualification course
County Sheriffs Department — Pete Fosselman has wit- on their own time. The S&W Model 59 became the standard-
nessed many changes first hand. Fortunately, most of them issue sidearm for many municipal agencies, even though it,
have been for the better, he feels. like the Model 39, had a sporadic history of problems.
The crux of this chapter on revolvers being replaced with As the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department ap-
9mmP semi-autos — is based on personal points of view and proached the 1980s, still mandating a revolver for on-duty
information gathered from various department members. The use, many law enforcement agencies across the United States
text should be considered Fosselman's personal points of had made the switch from revolvers to semi-automatics. The
view based on experiences, observations and conversations 9mmP and the .45 caliber ACP cartridges were the rounds of
with fellow deputies, but not policy of the Los Angeles County choice. The 10mm Auto and .40 S&W rounds had not yet
Sheriffs Department. emerged. Even though the 9mm bullets of the time were not

The 15-round Beretta magazine has firepower advantages over a six-shot speed-loader meant for the revolver. The
magazine also is a great deal easier to load in a poor light situation, according to reports from actual incidents.
and the Heckler & Koch system was considered superior for
this specialized work. This became the department's first
official acceptance of a semi-auto handgun.
For SWAT activations, the H&K semi-auto 9mm pistol
chosen to replace the revolver was the P7-M8. The Benelli
shotgun replaced the standard-issue Ithaca Model 37. When
Special Enforcement Bureau members were not on a SWAT
call-out and were augmenting regular uniform patrol assign-
ments, they had to revert back to the standard .38 revolver and
Ithaca shotgun.
In 1987, after the military and the Los Angeles Police
Department began switching to the Beretta 92F 9mm semi-
auto pistol, the sheriffs department began giving serious
thought to a change. The initial steps weren't easy; some
department executives were not convinced the change was
necessary.
After much debate, the department finally gave the stamp
of approval, but not before a complete "system" of safety
involving the pistol and holster could be found. This was not
going to be a selective-use situation. The sheriff s department
would mandate the exact pistol and holster that must be used
at all times.
"The criteria in selecting a sidearm for everyday use in
uniform patrol varies quite a bit. Revolvers, as opposed to
semi-autos, are easier to teach people how to shoot and
The Safariland hoster is standard issue for deputies of operate. They are less mechanical and routine maintenance is
LASD. They are not allowed to use personal holsters. not as critical. To overcome a misfire, one only has to squeeze
the trigger again," Fosselman points out.
With a semi-auto, one needs to check the magazine, oper-
ate the slide and check the safety. Reloading a revolver with
producing the desired results relative to expansion and pen- speed-loaders is just about as fast as inserting a magazine into
etration, they survived. Fortunately, ammunition suppliers a semi-auto, if lighting conditions are good. But, you are
began to conduct serious testing, along with the FBI, in an adding only six rounds to your firepower versus up to 19 for
effort to develop a more effective 9mm round. some large-capacity semi-autos.
In 1982, two years before Los Angeles was to host the '84 "In poor lighting conditions, reloading with a magazine is
Olympics, the sheriffs department's Special Enforcement easier, because this can be accomplished by feel. With a
Bureau was outfitted with a complete Heckler & Koch weap- revolver, the individual rounds in a speed-loader must line up
ons system. Members of the SEB handle all SWAT call-outs with the empty cylinder; good lighting is helpful, otherwise

HHHHE! 9mm L
UG
ER
S
UBSON
C
I
147 gr. J
A
CKE
TE
DC
-ONT
ROL
LE
DEX
PA
NS
O
IN In 1990, after the FBI and the Los
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY Angeles Sheriff's Dept. con-
N O T FOR RETAIL SALE ducted extensive testing, the
latter entity switched to the
Winchester sub-sonic 147-grain,
Jacketed Controlled Expansion
round, with had good results.
this feat can be time consuming. The thought process to Various problems like stove-piped rounds and misfires were
operate a revolver is much simpler. The shooter can remain staged to create fairly realistic malfunction situations. Today,
focused on the target rather than directing his thoughts to the staged malfunctions are set up to occur while the shooter is
mechanical operation of the semi-automatic." running through a PPC course. The shooter has to clear the
Fosselman's observation is that, "when looking at the 9mm competently and once again engage the target success-
semi-automatics, firepower or capacity wins hands down. The fully. All of the practical drills and the qualification courses
average officer with a large-capacity semi-auto like the Beretta are timed, so some expediency and weapon familiarization are
92F and a pair of magazines has around 45 rounds at this necessary to pass.
fingertips. The revolver user has only 18, unless carrying The Beretta will not pick up a round from the magazine if
more than two speed-loaders. The semi-auto is less bulky and it is not fully inserted into the magazine well. This stands to
offers greater concealment than a revolver. And, if the semi- reason, since the slide will not engage a round between the
auto is not a double-action-only model, accuracy tends to magazine lips if it is not in the proper plane as the slide returns
increase after the first shot due to the semi-auto's single-action to battery.
trigger mode." The magazine release can be switched to accommodate
In 1988, the Los Angeles County Siieriff s Department right- or left-handed shooters. For either shooter, it is possible
began issuing and conducting in-service conversion training to hit the magazine release button inadvertently while using a
with the Beretta 92F. A Safariland break-front holster was two-handed combat grip. Should this occur, the magazine will
chosen. Two extra 15-round magazines were issued to each drop anywhere from an eighth of an inch to completely out of
deputy, along with a double magazine pouch. The pouches the magazine well.
could be worn either vertically or horizontally, depending on Because this could happen, training sessions grind the "tap,
the deputy' s wishes. Departmental regulations require that the rack and lever up" message firmly into your brain. This means
magazine pouches be worn on the Sam Browne belt, opposite that, when a malfunction occurs, you first must tap the bottom
the side of the holster. A few problems developed on some of of the magazine to ensure it is inserted completely into the
the pouches being worn horizontally. As a result, subsequent magazine well. You then rack the slide to the rear manually by
pouches were modified to fit only in the vertical position. grasping it between your index and middle fingers and resting
Initial Beretta conversion training consisted of a 16-hour your thumb against the back of the slide below the rear sight.
training block. Once the 16-hour course was completed, the When the slide is all the way back, you let it return on its
deputies could not revert back to their revolvers. The Beretta own via the recoil spring. "Lever up" refers to pushing the
became their mandated duty sidearm. ambidextrous safety to the off-safe position since it usually
Half of the first day was spent in the classroom learning gets pushed into the safe position while racking the slide in the
how to assemble, disassemble, clean and maintain the new prescribed manner.
semi-automatic pistol and its magazines. The second half of "During the past five years, over 6,000 sworn and reserve
that day was spent on the firing line for weapons familiariza- LASD deputies have been converted. Most of them like the
tion, shooting and qualification. Today, a qualification score Beretta, but some have reservations. Many old-timers —
must be attained before the deputy is permitted to carry the including yours truly—still like our old revolvers, and we use
Beretta as an on-duty or off-duty weapon. the Beretta daily simply as a matter of policy. The majority of
The second day of training was spent at the sheriffs all- the revolver diehards attribute liking the revolver to the fact
purpose outdoor range. Training consisted of shooting and that we have had an on-going relationship for several more
reloading drills, as well as clearing a jammed handgun. years than those with the Beretta. Maybe with time, we'll

overcome that feeling," Fosselman concedes.
He questioned several deputies immediately after return-
ing from their yearly PPC course training. Questions con-
cerned their feelings toward the Beretta. When asked about
the thought process required to get through the day's training
using the Beretta, most agree that a semi-auto handgun re-
quires more concentration. Knowing a staged malfunction is
going to occur while running the PPC, deputies concentrate on
the "tap, rack and lever-up" sequence, instead of sight picture
and the target. They know it's bound to happen and due to time
penalties assessed by the range staff, they must tap, rack and
lever up in the proper order to avoid a penalty.
With a revolver, the thought process was much less de-
manding. If the hammer fell and went click instead of bang,
one merely squeezed the trigger again and continued.
Pete Fosselman was working in the sheriffs public infor-
mation bureau when the initial deputy-involved shootings
utilizing the Beretta 92F started to occur, and he mentally
noted the number of rounds fired in the confrontations. "With-
out a doubt, the number of rounds fired by deputy personnel
was much higher than those deputy-involved shootings where
revolvers were used.
"In revolver training, we were trained to 'double-tap'
(shoot twice) and assess the situation, then double-tap again if
necessary and so on. During Beretta training, time always was
ticking during live-fire training and we were encouraged to
shoot, shoot, shoot! At least, my class was rushed this way. If
this held true for other classes, it only stands to reason that
when the deputies got out onto the streets and needed to use
deadly force, they reverted to the shoot, shoot, shoot training
and fired more rounds.
"Our Homicide Bureau investigates all deputy-involved
shootings. I requested some data regarding revolver versus
Above: The double magazine

pouches fit vertically on the
Sam Browne belt on opposite
side from the leather holster.
(Right) Monthly qualification
is mandated and can be done
in a three-stall indoor range.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has 10 of these 40-foot trailers that have been turned into portable
pistol ranges. They are moved weekly to various sheriff's facilities throughout the county for firing qualifications.
Beretta shootings. I was looking strictly for revolver-only or To help accomplish the monthly qualification require-
Beretta-only shootings. Throw out all the SWAT shootings or ment, the department purchased several 40-foot trailers and
those in which a combination of revolver and/or shotgun and/ converted them to three-stall indoor ranges. The trailers are
or Beretta rounds were fired. I wanted to keep it simple and moved from facility to facility on a weekly basis to give
strictly look at one as opposed to the other." personnel the opportunity to qualify. Once the ranges are set
Results were not as alarming as Fosselman expected, partly up, sheriff s personnel can shoot 24 hours a day, thus eliminat-
because the survey years used for the Beretta shootings were ing overtime pay for personnel working odd shifts. The
1991 and 1992. The higher numbers of rounds fired on which trailers are completely self-contained and the course of fire at
he had made mental notes were 1987 and 1988, the inaugural these indoor ranges is the same as an outdoor ranges. To
years of using the Beretta. compensate for the shorter distance — 1 0 yards in the trailers
Also, the '91-'92 two-year time frame was after some rather than the 25 yards of the outdoor ranges — silhouette
adjustments had been made in the training program. Beretta targets are reduced proportionately in size.
conversion training was expanded to 24 hours instead of 16. The standard course of fire is to load 15 rounds in each of
Monthly qualification for those issued Berettas was man- two magazines for a total of 30 rounds. All courses of fire are
dated, instead of the initial trimester qualification. These two timed. The first course is six rounds in 60 seconds. The next
factors alone would create more familiarity and confidence in course is 12 rounds in 40 seconds, necessitating a magazine
this firearm. change after 9 rounds. The final course is to shoot the remain-
In 1985 and 1986, deputies using revolvers fired a total of ing 12 rounds in 30 seconds. Each course of fire is started from
340 rounds in 87 suspect verses deputy shootings. This the double-action mode.
averages out to 3.9 rounds fired per deputy. In 1991 and 1992, Department-issued 9mm ammunition selected initially for
deputies using the Beretta semi-automatics fired a total of 742 the B eretta use was the Federal 115-grain hollow-point. As the
rounds in 144 suspect vs. deputy shootings. This averages out FBI experienced in their unfortunate and tragic Dade County,
to 5.2 rounds fired per deputy. Florida, shootout, the Los Angeles Sheriff s Department also
"From this simple survey — and I do mean simple — the discovered that the light 115-grain round — even though it
numbers indicate that more rounds are fired with semi-autos "eventually" proved fatal in several shootings — provided a
than revolvers. Even though there's only a little over one large temporary cavity upon impact, but not enough penetra-
round difference, there is still a difference." tion and too little knockdown.

Deputy Sheriff Phil Luna uses a car door for partial concealment, knowing it protects little against incoming rounds.
Through testing — largely attributed to the FBI's Wound loss of night vision when involved in night-time shooting.
Ballistics Workshop in Quantico, Virginia — researchers "With over 6,000 Beretta 92F semi-auto pistols in use by
determined that larger, slower-velocity bullets produced more the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, I've been told there
desirable results in stopping suspects than higher velocity have been approximately one dozen broken trigger springs.
lightweight bullets that had a tendency to fragment. As a This does not make the pistol inoperable, but should this
result, the Winchester 147-grain sub-sonic JHP round was happen during a gunfight, you must return the trigger forward
phased in around 1990 and the Federal 115-grain HP phased manually to engage the sear and fire again. The department
out. also has experienced a couple of broken firing pins. This is a
This brings us back to the earlier mentioned apparent simple item for an armorer to replace, but it immediately
decline in the number of rounds fired in 9mm shootings shown removes one from a gunfight. It can't be remedied on the spot
in Fosselman's statistics, as opposed to the number of rounds like the trigger springs. But revolvers were known to break
he vividly recalls being fired before the adoption of the 147- their firing pins occasionally, too."
grain sub-sonic rounds. In the aftermath of the Rodney King civil unrest in Los
"If the original issue 115-grain round was not producing Angeles, many deputies wanted to have additional loaded
the stopping power needed to put a suspect down, and the magazines in their patrol bags. Loading a staggered magazine
suspect continued to advance when shot — and I know it is time-consuming. By pre-loading additional spare maga-
happened—then it only seems reasonable to assume deputies zines at a convenient time and place, they always would be
would shoot more rounds to stop an aggressor. ready for immediate use. This is an excellent idea — if one
"Since the issue round in 1991 and 1992 was the sub-sonic thinks 45 rounds will not be enough.
147 grain, it would seem reasonable that my earlier mental "My concern developed when several deputies purchased
notes of more rounds being fired during the late 1980s was after-market magazines for their Beretta pistols, then started
possibly due to the 115-grain round's ineffective stopping having problems with over 50 percent of them. Instead of
power. I have nothing official on this subject; only observa- buying Beretta factory magazines, they struck a deal with a
tions, experiences and speculation on my part." local supplier to save a few bucks. Unfortunately, the few
Muzzle flash from the Winchester sub-sonic 147-grain bucks saved could have cost them their lives."
JHP is much greater than that of the Federal 115 -grain hollow- The following problems were encountered in this situa-
point. This can cause some serious distraction and a temporary tion:

The magazine springs were stiff and, oftentimes, no more
than five rounds could be loaded without severe effort on the
part of the loader. In some cases, the magazines were as-
sembled incorrecdy. The welded seams on the back sides of
the magazines were not milled properly, and the exposed spot
welds caused friction when the magazines were inserted into
the magazine well. This often resulted in the magazine getting
stuck, then it failed to "free fall" from the gun when the release
button was pushed. In some cases, they had to be forced out of
the magazine well by using a wooden dowel inserted through
i
the ejection port.
In still other "bargain" magazines, the lips that grip the
rounds at the top of the magazine were not machined or
aligned properly. This prevented the magazine from being
inserted far enough into the magazine well, thus preventing it
from being locked into place. When the magazine isn't locked
in place, the slide can fail to pick up a fresh round during the
course of fire.
These instances of magazine failure were encountered
only with the after-market magazines. None of these prob-
lems, to the best of reported knowledge, have been encoun-
tered with factory-supplied Beretta magazines. We know
what they say — "caveat emptor'" or "let the buyer beware."
There you have it: a working deputy's opinions, observa-
tions and experiences on the handgun changeover of the
largest sheriffs department in the nation.
"Even though I pointed out some pluses and minuses,
remember that whichever sidearm or ammunition you're
using, bullet placement is one of the most important aspects of
a gun fight," Fosselman insists. "With that in mind, practice
officer safety, wear your vest — and keep your head down!"
Above: Deputy Phil Luna can

insert a fresh magazine of 9mm
ammo into the magazine well of
his Beretta 92Fby feel. He does
not have to see what he is doing
should it be in the dark. (Left)
Deputy John Rodriguez, wearing
the recently approved campaign
hat, talks to a citizen on the
street. Note that he keeps his gun
side away, the butt of the auto
covered by his arm.

CHAPTER
Thirty
A TIME FOR
CHOICES
With Dozens Of Calibers Available,
W h y Settle F o r T h i s A g e d C a r t r i d g e ?
This long-barreled Luger was designed for use of the German military and even boasts swivels for a sling. It is not
exactly the pistol one would choose today as a back-up gun. It is considered a prized item among arms collectors.
W
ITH SCORES of differenthandgun cartridges earth that is used more widely, nor available more extensively.
available, why choose the 9mm Parabellum? But simple access isn't the entire story. There are phenom-
The answer to this question is as personal as ena involved under the overall convenience umbrella which
each shooter's own desires, yet there are make the answer much more meaningful.
universal replies which can make sense for anyone — begin- For example, because the 9mmP is so incredibly universal,
ner, intermediate, expert or veteran. it is a mass production proposition, both on the gun and
Convenience rates high in recommending a 9mmP for ammunition fronts. Bottom line? The 9mmP is among the
shooters at any and all levels. With the possible exception of most inexpensive of all centerfire cartridges to shoot.
the .22 rimfire, there is no single cartridge on the face of the Further, because there are so incredibly many models and

Professional marksman Rick Kennereknecht tries out a Smith & Wesson Model 915 in 9mm Parabellum for accuracy.
sub-models of 9mmP handguns on the market, there are more the 9mmP cartridge which fits their hands well enough to be
guns within the financial reach of anyone at any level than any controllable and enjoyable to shoot. Again, this factor by-
other kind. passes the behemoth proportions of some firearms that can
By category of shooter and by application by the various inhibit the development of operational familiarity.
shooters, here are some of the reasons why it makes sense to If representing affordability on the gun front is good, then
opt for the 9mmP when considering a handgun/cartridge the ammunition picture has to be beautiful. Budget-priced
combination. ammo for the 9rnmP is available just about anywhere and
about anytime. That means someone who is just entering the
shooting sports doesn't have to mortgage the ranch just to play
BEGINNER the game. Oddly, something as simple as a few cents per round
When it comes to anyone being introduced to a new can be enough to keep many people from becoming shooters.
activity, there are certain critical tests which much be passed To that end, the 9mmP comes to the rescue again.
if the neophyte is to enjoy the new activity enough to keep at Add the affordability of the gun and the ammunition
it, or even become ardently involved with it. On the firearms together and the package looks even better—so good, in fact,
front, it means using a firearm/ammunition combination that that there is a likelihood a new shooter will stay with the sport
does not intimidate the new user. The 9mmP fills the bill well. long enough to become serious about it.
All too often, some shooters, enamored with the brute So what kind of 9mmP handgun is right for a newcomer to
power of some kind of firearm/ammunition combination, the shooting sports? It can be a tough question. Most 9mmP
decide to impress newcomers by showing them just how handguns are semi-autos, and semi-autos can be intimidating
awesome such a rig can be. This is the Dirty Harry complex! for those who are unfamiliar with firearms in general or
As much as such an exercise might fuel the mentor's handguns in particular.
machismo psyche, it too often causes the opposite reaction One alternative could be for them to invest first in a 9mmP
with the student. The 9mmP comes to the rescue. Although revolver. There are a number of them available and, as
this is a potent little cartridge, neither its report nor its recoil discussed elsewhere in this book, the 9mmP lends itself to use
are enough to intimidate any but the most recoil-sensitive in revolvers quite well.
people. However, a quick reality check would indicate that new-
Beginner shooters also can find a handgun chambered for comers to shooting are more likely to opt for a model that is

—
While the autoloading pistol

seems the true home of the
9mmP cartridge, a number of
revolvers — some of them
custom reworks — have been
outfitted to handle the round.
"on sale," or in some other way discounted in price to the when they actually start putting rounds downrange.
extremely affordable level. New shooters cannot be blamed Therefore, the best 9mmP with which to begin is the one
for some degree of trepidation, because they do not yet know that is at hand when one begins to shoot. No, that's not a cop-
whether they are going to enjoy shooting enough to make a out. It happens to be true. Should the 9mmP at hand happen to
larger investment. be of the semi-auto persuasion, though, there are some bits of
Fortunately, there is a growing number of shooting facili- advice that might be in order.
ties which offer specialized instruction for new shooters. This First, learn and follow firearms safety procedures. Guns
is good, not only from a safety standpoint, but also for the are not toys, and when misused they can wreck lives in a
enjoyment levels that might be realized by the new shooters heartbeat. When used properly, they can offer a lifetime of
This Smith & Wesson Model 940 is chambered for the 9mm Parabellum, using half- or full-moon cylinder clips.

Left: Smith & Wesson's Model
3914LS, with fixed sights, is one
of that maker's guns chambered
for the venerable 9mmP round.
(Below) Browning's BDM is a
double-action pistol that has
been chambered for 9mmP. It is
designed primarily as a self-
defense type of carry firearm.
fun. Within those safety parameters, it is a good idea for most
newcomers to use the handgun as though it was a single-shot
at first, even if it happens to be a semi-auto.
Single-loading cartridges into a 9mmP is simple, and
assures the action will be open and safe after each shot. And,
there are advantages to this procedure which transcend mere
safety. This procedure forces new shooters to pay close
attention to operating the action, and it also forces them to
actually work the action every time the handgun is fired.
Such repeated working of the action contributes to famil-
iarity with the firearm for the new shooter, and that is part of
the object of initial practice. Once the shooter is more familiar
with the pistol, it's time to load two rounds into the magazine
and shoot it that way for at least a few hundred rounds. This
is effective practice, because it helps the new shooter become
familiar with the feel of a semi-auto as it operates as a semi-
auto. Yet, the pistol is empty after every two shots, and that
means there is no need for the shooter to try to hold onto a
loaded firearm when the hand or arm begins to tire.
A person doesn't have to hang around shooting ranges for
long to notice the roots of some of the most typical unsafe
movements committed by new shooters. These are the shoot-
ers who, with a loaded firearm in hand, try to do something
other than pull the trigger. Since they are not familiar with
handling loaded firearms, they tend to look away and get
involved in something else without paying terribly close
attention to where the firearm is pointing.
Such activities are much more likely to happen if the new
shooter is holding a pistol with many rounds in the magazine
than if there is initially one, and then just two.
By the time a new shooter has put several hundred rounds
downrange — one or two shots at a time maximum — there
should be a degree of familiarity that will allow them to create
an "instinctive" or subconscious tendency to handle the fire-
arm in a safe manner. Ultimately, every shooter needs to
develop such habits, and for newcomers, there is no time like

Above: The Beretta Model 92 is
manufactured in half a dozen or
more configurations, but all are
chambered in 9mmP. (At left)
Israel Military Industries has
made a big thing of the heavy-
weight , big-bore Desert Eagle
pistols marketed in this and
other countries, but they don't
ignore guns chambered for the
familiar "nine." They make
them, too, meeting a demand.
at the beginning. not being used. For semi-autos, this means action open and the
Next, it would serve the new shooter well to load no more magazine removed from the gun. For revolvers, it means open
than three or five shots into the handgun at a time while cylinder and no ammo in the chambers. In the case of single-
shooting informally. Actually, one can go entirely through a action 9mmP revolvers, make certain all chambers are clear
shooting career without loading any more ammo than that into and then leave the loading gate open.
a firearm at a time, so such advice is not really bad for
intermediate or advanced shooters during informal sessions,
either. INTERMEDIATE SHOOTERS
Regardless what kind of 9mmP handgun a new shooter Most active shooters fall somewhere in the intermediate
might be using, it needs to be in a "safe" condition when it is category. They have used firearms periodically, are fairly

The stainless steel Smith & Wesson Model 5946 was another entry in the 9mmP sweepstakes for a market share.
familiar with their operation and shoot rather infrequently and category if they had the time and money to do it.
usually only informally. Whether someone is a good shot or Hence, shooters in this category can appreciate the fea-
not is not part of this discussion. Rather, the degree of tures, construction and materials that separate the more ex-
familiarity and frequency of use are determinants in classifi- pensive models from the basic handguns. And, that apprecia-
cation as intermediate. tion really should not be denied. After all, by the time a shooter
Why would an intermediate shooter opt to get a 9mmP has joined the intermediate ranks, he or she also has become
handgun? Assuming the shooter did not acquire a 9mmP as a serious about shooting.
beginner, there are many reasons why someone who shoots For an intermediate shooter, it is worthwhile to consider
recreationally would be interested in having such a pistol. the main line, substantial models available. It is also at the
Recreational shooting does not require the use of ex- intermediate level that a shooter might want to reload ammu-
tremely expensive target equipment, and most 9mmP hand- nition —both as a cost-saving measure and as a way to expand
guns on the market are general purpose pistols which are the fun factor of the overall shooting sports.
priced accordingly. The intermediate shooters would be well advised to inves-
Also, intermediate shooters, as recreationalists, are shoot- tigate some of the full-size 9mmP handguns. Among them are
ing for the fun of it. This means the widespread availability of some of the older collectible models. Again, at this level of
affordable ammunition for the 9mmP is particularly appropri- shooting, one finds very many serious collectors. In fact, this
ate for this kind of shooter. is really the level of shooter which makes the entire sport and
The specific choice of the proper 9mmP handgun for an industry tick. It contains the largest numbers, and it also
intermediate shooter is more complex than for the beginner. contains some of the most serious collectors who spend most
The reason is that the intermediate shooter has had enough of their time collecting and less time actually shooting.
experience with firearms to be able to formulate an idea about As a measure of where one might fit into the spectrum,
what design and size rig he or she might really want to use. virtually all members of the military and virtually all law
As mentioned previously, this part of the selection process enforcement officers are, at most, intermediate shooters.
is entirely personal. Intermediate shooters should not rule out
consideration of the more expensive models. By the time a
shooter is at this level, he or she already has a commitment to ADVANCED, FREQUENT SHOOTERS
the shooting sports. In fact, most of those in the intermediate Why would an advanced, frequent shooter want a 9mmP?
category would likely be in the "frequent flier" advanced For all of the right reasons, of course. Of all levels of shooter,

Smith & Wesson's Model 915 double-action auto was introduced in 1992. It has a 15-round magazine for 9mm. With a
side-mounted decocking lever, four-inch barrel and weighing only 28.5 ounces, it has found favor with the author.
the fewest are in this category. These are the people who shoot, For example, the 9mmP is not used widely in some of the
on average, at least once or twice a week all year long, and who "practical" types of target shooting. Interestingly, this is due,
shoot thousands of rounds of ammo every year. Not all are in some instances, to the insistence of the architects of the
particularly good shots, but virtually all are credible shooters. disciplines that the 9mmP possesses insufficient power.
What this means is that the advanced, frequent shooters Yet, when law enforcement agencies alleged they were
would be hard pressed not to have at least one 9mmP in their encountering larger and larger numbers of suspects, espe-
repertoire of handguns. cially drug dealers, who were armed with high-capacity
Again, regardless of shooting level, cost remains a consid- 9mmP firearms, they cried out that they were "out-gunned"
eration. And, for those who shoot very much, cost is also and that they, too, needed to be armed with such weaponry.
important. But more than that, those who shoot a lot generally Very interesting.
keep current with developments within the sport and industry. The 9mmP is not exactly common when precision handgun
This means that the rapid escalation in the popularity of the target work is in progress. Other cartridges seem to have won
9mmP over the past decade will have captured their curiosity, that battle.
if not imagination. So what sorts of applications are accepted and proper for
the 9mmP? Those which more or less call for the qualities that
caused the cartridge to be designed in the first place.
TYPES OF SHOOTING The 9mmP is at home in the hands of more militaries
Having established that the 9mmP is, by definition, a prime around the world than any other single handgun cartridge. The
candidate for any kind of informal shooting exercises, what 9mmP is found in the hands of more law enforcement agencies
about the more serious applications? around the world than any other cartridge. And, within the past
The 9mmP is used in some of the various target games, but decade, the 9mmP has been finding itself more and more in
not to the degree that it is used in real life situations. This is at more homes in a self-defense role.
least curious. What does all of this mean? The 9mmP and the handguns
Somewhere in the development of shooting disciplines which shoot it are affordable, fun, handy for informal shooting
during the 20th Century, the 9mmP ended up taking a back and ready to serve in any of the many real life applications of
seat to other cartridges for a number of reasons, some of which firearms. Come to think of it, where else would any cartridge
are even contradictory. really want to be?

An In-Depth
Study of the 9mm
Luger/Parabellum
Cartridge and the
Guns That Fire It •

Gun Digest Book of 9mm Handguns PDF

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The Gun Digest

DBI Books, Inc.

Efficient That's probably the best way to describe both

3. THE 9mm STAYS AT HOME — As a home-defense gun, its faults seem

4. FOUR LIVES OF THE 9mm PARABELLUM — nearly a century old, this

5. OF GADGETS AND GEAR — Accessories for 9mm handguns meet virtually

8. BERETTA'S MODEL 92 SERIES — This 9mm is now available in numerous

10. RUGER'S 9mm HANDGUNS — Limited models meet most needs 95

11. THE KOREAN CONNECTION — The Daewoo 9mmP pistol is building a

19.CARTRIDGE OF THE CENTURY — The 9mm Parabellum has seen more

2 1 . RELOADING THE 9x19mm — It's a project not unfraught with complexities,

26. OF AMMO & HANDGUNS — Here's a trio of relatively unknown 9mmP

27. TOOLS OF THIS TRADE — Three handloads, 27 different factory 9mm

Good shooting to all,

6 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 7

8 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 9

Right, this is a Husqvarna

10 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

Left, the 9mm has been

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK ol 9mm HANDGUNS 11

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

Field-stripped, the Mitchell

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 13

The stainless steel sideplate

14 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

Mitchell, and the grip strap at the bottom of the frame,

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 15

16 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

warn VJT /fy

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 17

18 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

linkage, to move forward and off the frame. By removing the

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 19

WHY THE 9mm?

20 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

Two 9mmP pretenders are

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 21

The Bren 10 launched a

22 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

Remington's .40 S&W, 180-grain carries a jacketed

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 23

armorers saw the full-house 10mm cartridge as too much of a

24 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

The .40 S&W

The 10mm Auto

The .45 ACP

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK ol 9mm HANDGUNS 25

26 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

In late 1990, Winchester

.- jff > . • "...

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 27

28 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK ot 9mm HANDGUNS 29

30 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK ol 9mm HANDGUNS

THE GUN DIGEST BOOK of 9mm HANDGUNS 31

Above, the smaller 9mmP

32 THE GUN DIGEST BOOK ol 9mm HANDGUNS