9x19 mm
9x19 mm, also known as 9mm Luger and 9mm Parabellum, is the most common centerfire handgun cartridge in the world. Because of its popularity, it is also (usually) the least expensive handgun cartridge available.
9x19 mm refers to two dimensions: the diameter of the bullet (9 mm) and the height of the loaded round (19 mm).
9x19 mm is smaller in frontal striking area than two other very popular centerfire handgun rounds, 45 ACP and 40 S&W. Despite this it is still the top-selling handgun round in the United States.
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Popular weapons
- Glock 19, 17 and 26
- Beretta 92 series
Ubiquity
- 9x19 mm is the NATO standard sidearm chambering
- The US Army's official sidearm is chambered in 9x19 mm
- The 9x19 mm is the most common chambering for police sidearms in the world, and in the United States
- More 9x19 mm ammunition is manufactured in the world than any other centerfire pistol ammunition
Stopping power debate
After the FBI Miami firefight of 1986, the stopping power of the 9x19 mm round came into question.
9x19 mm is not the most powerful handgun cartridge available. Therefore it may not be the ideal tool to stop an armed attacker. However, the more power a handgun round has, the more recoil, blast and noise are associated with it. (Also more powerful rounds tend to be larger, limiting the ammunition capacity of the handgun.)
For many police forces, military organizations and private civilians, the 9x19 mm represents a near-ideal combination of portability, power and controlability.
Recommended ammunition
- Barnes XPB 105 & 115 gr JHP (copper bullet)
- Federal Tactical 124 gr JHP (LE9T1)
- Speer Gold Dot 124 gr +P JHP (53617)
- Winchester Ranger-T 124 gr +P JHP (RA9124TP)
- Winchester Partition Gold 124 gr JHP (RA91P)
- Winchester Ranger-T 127 gr +P+ JHP (RA9TA)
- Federal Tactical 135 gr +P JHP (LE9T5)
- Federal HST 147 gr JHP (P9HST2)
- Remington Golden Saber 147 gr JHP (GS9MMC)
- Speer Gold Dot 147 gr JHP (53619)
- Winchester Ranger-T 147 gr JHP (RA9T)
