Traumatic smoothbore pistol parabellum cartridge 9 mm. Military history, weapons, old and military maps
The most important element of a small weapon is the cartridge. Despite the fact that modern weapons science has advanced significantly since the end of the last world war, changes in small arms systems have little affected the appearance of the legendary 9x19 Luger cartridge, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2012.
Origins of the cartridge
The world famous Parabellum pistol had an ancestor, the pistol of the German gunsmith Hugo Borchard. It was called K-93. Its standard ammunition was a 7.65 mm bottle-shaped cartridge with a 9 mm cylinder diameter.
Gunsmiths considered the K-93 pistol successful. However, its production was complex, expensive and material-intensive. Its ammunition was expensive and difficult to manufacture. Borchardt and merchant Luger took steps to improve this pistol. In 1902 they created the legendary Parabellum. Its cartridge was also transformed: to increase power and reduce the cost of production, the bottleneck was cut off.
The pistol cartridge became known as 9×19 PARA. The pistol and its ammunition were adopted by the German Navy in 1904. And in 1908 the entire German army was armed with it. Subsequently, Parabellum became so popular that many countries around the world, including Russia, began to buy it.
The beginning of a long journey
The 9x19 was originally loaded with two types of bullets: flat-top and spherical-top. In 1915, production of flat-tip bullets was discontinued. The option with a bullet with a spherical tip turned out to be the most successful. He maintained the necessary and correct balance between the dimensions of the cartridge and the weapon for them. There are more than a hundred different types and models of small arms that use the Luger 9x19 cartridge.
In 1917, the cartridge case and bullet began to be coated with a special water-repellent varnish. Since that time, the standard 9x19 mm cartridge has remained virtually unchanged.
Its high ballistic performance, as well as ease of production, which was tested in numerous wars of the 20th century, led to the fact that it became the most widespread in the world.
The weapon and cartridge "Luger" 9x19 ("Parabellum") are recognized as the best products of short-barreled weapons intended for self-defense in the 20th century. Shooting from a Luger or Parabellum pistol recorded the retention of lethal force at a distance of up to 100-120 meters. The greatest efficiency was achieved at a distance of up to 50 meters. At a distance of 10 m, a 9x19 mm cartridge bullet, when hitting at an angle of 90 degrees, pierced a steel helmet. The bullet pierced through a pine board 150 mm thick at a distance of 50 meters. At this distance the accuracy was about 50 mm.
In addition to the classic pistol cartridge, Germany produced several varieties of them. The 9×19 Luger cartridge (DWM 480 D) with linear parameters was intended for firing from the Parabellum carbine. The carbine had an elongated barrel and a wooden butt. The DWM 480 D had the same dimensions as the DWM-480 C pistol cartridge, but the gas pressure of the carbine cartridge was 20% higher. They were not allowed to be used in Luger pistols. These ammunitions were distinguished by markings. Moreover, the carbine cartridge had a blackened cartridge case.
World recognition
Since 1910, the Luger 9x19 cartridge began to be widely distributed in European countries, including Russia. Before the First World War, the Minister of War, by his order, allowed Russian officers to purchase a Parabellum pistol at their own expense and use it as a service weapon. Over time, it replaced the Nagan revolver.
Ammunition characteristics
Standard characteristics of the cartridge:
- caliber 9 mm;
- initial bullet speed from 410 to 435 meters per second;
- cartridge length 29.7 mm;
- sleeves 19.15 mm;
- loaded cartridge weight from 7.2 to 12.5 grams;
- the bullet weighs from 5.8 to 10.2 grams.
Currently, the Luger 9x19 cartridge is produced by many countries. They are also made in the Russian Federation. In NATO countries, it is customary that "Parabellum" is the name for live ammunition, and the name "Luger" is assigned to ammunition intended for the civilian market.
Options and modifications
The name 9x19mm PARA refers only to the geometry of the cartridge. More than 2000 modifications of this type of ammunition are known. Cartridge cases are made in steel, brass, bimetallic and plastic. The bullet is also very diverse, including plastic. A standard general use bullet has a jacketed lead core weighing between 7.5 and 8 grams. Shell made of bimetal or steel, clad with tampak (application of a bimetallic coating, mainly containing copper).
Bullets chambered for the 9x19 Luger cartridge are made in a variety of shapes and from a variety of materials. The ammunition is used to solve very unusual problems. Thus, 9x19 mm police bullets made in Finland are a lead bubble, empty inside. Having hit a person, the bullet is crushed, hitting the target with a painful shock, but does not cause bodily harm.
There are also other modifications of 9x19 mm cartridges aimed at guaranteed destruction of a living target. Thus, in which the core is hardened steel and is made like a screw, they not only pierce a bulletproof vest, but are also screwed into it, penetrating very deeply.
There are a lot of varieties of 9x19 cartridges in terms of their classification. They are usually distinguished based on muzzle energy indicators.
In the European market, a reading of 450 joules is considered standard. Cartridges of 550 joules and above are considered strong, intended for equipping military units. Cartridges with muzzle energy below 400 joules are weak ammunition used by specialists. tasks.
In the American market, the standard muzzle energy is 300-400 joules. This ammunition is designated 9x19 Luger. The same cartridges that provide energy above 450 joules are classified as special-purpose ammunition. They are designated 9x19 "Parabellum".
History of the cartridge in World War II
The 9x19 Luger cartridge was used by all warring countries in World War II.
Naturally, it was most actively used by Germany. It was the main cartridge for the MP-18, MP-28, MP-34, MP-35, MP-38, MP-40 submachine guns.
Experiencing a shortage of lead at cartridge factories in Germany, they began to make an iron core, only coated with lead. The bullet had a black jacket. During wartime, they began to produce a non-jacketed version of the bullet, its color was dark gray. It was obtained by sintering iron powder at high temperatures into a solid material.
Germany also produced special 9x19 cartridges, namely:
Beschusspatrone 08 - gunpowder with a reinforced charge, and its power was 75% more.
Kampfstoffpatrone 08 - the bullets were poisoned. SS units were supplied with them since 1944. How many ammunition of this type were fired has not been established.
Nahpatrone 08 - intended for weapons with a silencer. The powder charge was smaller, but the bullet weight differed from the standard one to a greater extent.
Pistolenpatrone 08 fur Tropen - this type is designed for use in tropical climates. He had a heat-protective cartridge case mask to prevent the gunpowder from heating up.
Sprengpatrone 08 - explosive cartridge, an azoimide ball was pressed into the bullet.
Luger cartridges in modern Russia
The 9×19 cartridge has also found use in the modern Russian army. In March 2003, the armed forces and law enforcement agencies received new pistols instead of outdated PMs:
9-mm PYa pistol (Yarygin pistol) chambered for 9×19 cartridge.
9 mm (Gryazeva and Shipunova). Designed for the 9x19 pistol cartridge. Ammunition for the pistol was developed by the designers themselves.
Russian carbines
Russian manufacturers produce only one carbine chambered for the 9x19 Luger cartridge. It is called "Vepr-Luger", the factory GDP index is 132. This weapon is manufactured by the Vyatka plant "Molot".
The domestic one differs from the world famous Luger carbine in almost every way. From the prototype, he inherited only the bolt box. There is no gas release mechanism. The chamber is reloaded and assembled by a freely swinging bolt. The barrel length reaches 420 mm.
According to the technical data of the carbine, the Vepr-Luger is intended for hunting at short distances. The main objects are small predators and rodents. The manufacturer recommends equipping the carbine with 9x19 Luger cartridges, which are manufactured at the Barnaul Cartridge Plant. These ammunition have a lateral dispersion of 85 mm at a distance of 25 m. The cartridge pressure is 2350 bar. Bullet weighing 9.4 g. Initial speed 325 meters per second.
However, the Novosibirsk Cartridge Plant, which produces similar cartridges, offers a much smaller dispersion radius: only 32 mm at a distance of 25 m.
Performance characteristics of 9 mm Luger / Parabellum
Caliber - 9x19 Luger
Real bullet caliber, mm - 9.03
Length, mm - 29.69
Sleeve length, mm - 19.15
Sleeve flange diameter, mm - 9.96
Sleeve base diameter, mm - 9.93
Case neck diameter, mm - 9.65
Diameter of the leading part of the bullet, mm - 9.03
Bullet weight, g - 4.08-9.53
Weight of powder charge, g - 0.46-0.48
Weight of the cartridge case with primer, g - 3.54-3.60
Initial bullet speed, m/s - 310-600
Maximum pressure of powder gases, kg/cm2 - 1300-2800
Muzzle energy of a bullet, J - 380-710
The cartridge was developed in 1902 by Georg Johann Luger to increase the power of the Parabellum pistol. In 1904 it was adopted by the German Navy, and in 1908 by the German Army. Initially, the bullet had a conical shape with a flat head (in the form of a truncated cone).
Cartridge 9x19 early release
In 1904, to increase the power of the Parabellum pistol, Luger changed the shape of the 7.65 mm cartridge case from bottle to cylindrical, connecting it to a 9 mm cartridge bullet.
Initially, the 9x19 cartridge had a jacketed bullet with a flat head (in the form of a truncated cone). In 1915 it was replaced by a bullet with an ogive head. The bullet initially had a nickel silver-clad steel shell with a lead core. Since 1917, the steel bullet casing has been varnished with tombak.
9x19 Luger: FMJ; FMJ nick; HP (R-P); HP (CBC); HP nick (from left to right)
The 9x19 cartridge cases are available in both brass and copper-plated steel. The bullet can be of any type, including plastic. General purpose bullet - jacketed with a lead core. The shell is bimetallic or steel, clad with tombac.
Cartridges produced for civilian and police weapons were equipped with almost all types of bullets produced in the world.
The good ballistic properties of the 9x19 cartridge made it the standard ammunition for pistols and submachine guns in most countries of the world after World War II.
The 9x19 Luger / Parabellum cartridge is produced in almost all countries of the world.
9x19 Luger from various manufacturers
In principle, the clarification of the type 9x19 “Parabellum” or 9x19 “Luger” only gives an idea of the geometric dimensions of the sleeve. There is no identity between these designations: in some countries the first abbreviation refers to military cartridges, and the second to cartridges for the civilian market, while in Finland the first abbreviation refers to cartridges with cartridges with a Berdan-type capsule socket, the second to a Boxer-type capsule socket "(the successor to the Berdanov capsule, which almost replaced the Berdanov capsule).
Some European companies still use the designation 9x19mm "Luger" for cartridges supplied to the American market, while for other purchasing countries the same cartridges are sold as 9x19 "Parabellum".
However, the external geometric dimensions of the cartridge case, identical within tolerance, unite thousands of the most diverse cartridges, developed in all corners of the world since 1902, into the 9x19 caliber family.
9x19 cartridges have several basic modifications that differ in power: 9-mm “parabellum” with a standard impulse (i.e. the pressure in the barrel bore does not exceed the norm), the so-called “standard” cartridge, 9-mm +P (i.e. pressure in the barrel bore is high (increased)), 9 mm +P+ (i.e. the pressure in the barrel bore is very high - this type of cartridge is used by the police, less often in “civilian” pistols), 9 mm NATO (used by armies NATO countries).
There are also so-called “automatic” 9x19 cartridges intended for submachine guns, which in the West have the general designation “series B 3” (The use of such cartridges in any pistols is unacceptable, because due to much more, even compared to the 9x19-mm cartridge "NATO" maximum permissible pressure of powder gases can rupture the barrel. They can only be used in submachine guns).
Modern weapons, such as, for example, pistols "", "Beretta-92 FS", etc., are produced taking into account the fact that 9-mm +P+ or 9-mm NATO cartridges will probably be used for firing .
True, experts do not advise owners of such pistols as, for example, Glock-17, Beretta-92 FS, etc., to always shoot with 9-mm +P+ or 9-mm NATO cartridges; it is better to shoot with a “standard” cartridge 9x19, since in the case of firing with a “standard” 9x19 cartridge, the barrel life will be much higher than in the case of firing with 9x19 +P, 9x19 +P+ or 9x19 NATO cartridges.
It is also worth mentioning the fact that Russia also switched to the “European standard”, accepting the 9x19 caliber cartridge (and its modifications) as one of the standard cartridges for military weapons (and also due to the fact that the 9x18 PM cartridge turned out to be powerless against modern means of personal armor protection ) at the Tula Cartridge Plant they developed its improved modification - the 9x19 PP cartridge.
9x19 PP (GRAU Index - 7N30)- a cartridge with a bullet of increased penetration. Developed in the late 2000s. KBAL named after. L.N. Koshkina together with the Tula Cartridge Plant. Bullet weight is 5.5-5.8 grams at a pressure in the barrel bore of up to 2200 atm. (220 mPa), the initial bullet speed is 420-445 m/s at a distance of 10 meters from the muzzle, which corresponds to a kinetic energy of 714 J. This energy is enough to penetrate a 7 mm steel plate, and a 4 mm plate made of St.3 steel at a distance of 60 m, body armor Zh-86-2 at a distance of 25 m. True, only early 9x19 PP cartridges had such acceptable pressure.
9x19 PST (GRAU Index - 7N21)- a cartridge with a bullet with a steel core. Developed by TsNIITochmash in the early 1990s. Bullet weight - 5.4 grams, initial bullet speed - 445-470 m/s. It is superior in power to commercial 9x19mm Parabellum ammunition and equal to the more powerful military 9x19mm NATO (9x19 +P) cartridges. The bullet penetrates a 4 mm plate of St.3 steel at a distance of 55 m.
However, later, manufacturers, having decided to “build up muscles,” seriously increased the working pressure of serial armor-piercing cartridges 7N21 (developed by TsNIITOCHMash, cartridge designer I. P. Kasyanov), which turned out to be higher than that of 9x19 caliber cartridges, designed for use only in pistols -machine guns.
Armor-piercing cartridge 9x19 PBP (7N31)
9x19 PBP (GRAU Index - 7N31)- a cartridge with a bullet of increased penetration. Developed by the Tula Instrument Engineering Design Bureau in the early 2000s. The semi-jacketed bullet of the 9×19 PBP cartridge has a heat-strengthened steel core, bare at the head. The shirt is made of aluminum alloy. Bullet weight - 4.1 grams, initial bullet speed - up to 600 m/s.
The high speed and design features of the bullet ensure reliable penetration of body armor of the 2nd protection class according to GOST R50744-95. When used in combination with a new cartridge with increased penetration (7N31), it ensures penetration of class 3 body armor or 8 mm steel plate at a distance of at least 20 m.
The later 7N31 cartridge (developed by KBP) has even more “strict” levels of maximum permissible pressure, even compared to the 7N21 cartridge, which leads not only to unnecessary loads on the weapon, but also does not make it possible to achieve acceptable accuracy and accuracy of fire.
It is also worth noting that Russian ammunition manufacturers produce the 9x19 Luger cartridge with “standard” operating pressure with both brass, steel and bimetallic cases.
It should also be noted that the cartridges produced by the Tula TPZ have external sealing of the bullet and an increased (compared to other Russian cartridge factories) thickness of the varnish layer at the barrel of the case.
9x19 P (GRAU Index - 7N35)- a cartridge with a bullet with a lead core. Developed by TsNIITochmash, not mass-produced.
9x19 T (GRAU Index - 7T4)- cartridge with a tracer bullet. Developed by TsNIITochmash, not mass-produced.
9x19 PRS- cartridge with reduced ricochet ability. Developed and mass-produced by Barnaul Machine Tool Plant OJSC. Bullet weight - 7.47 grams, initial bullet speed - 345-385 m/s.
9x19 PSO- sports cartridge. Serially produced by the Tula Cartridge Plant. Bullet weight - 7.46 grams, initial bullet speed - 340 m/s.
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The 9 mm Luger cartridge (aka 9x19 Parbellum) was released in Austria at the very dawn of the last century. In 1902, the famous gunsmith G. Luger developed it specifically for the Luger pistol, which was released in 1900.
General view of the 9 mm Luger cartridge (9x19 Parabellum)
The ammunition has a wafer-shaped cylindrical cartridge case, in which a slight taper is allowed. It is a shortened version of the 7.65x21 Para cartridge, with some changes. For example, the bottle-shaped sleeve was changed to cylindrical, its high taper became barely noticeable and, importantly, the caliber changed.
Initially, the bullet in the ammunition was conceived as conical in shape with a rather flat head, however, this structure often caused delays during shooting, as difficulties arose in feeding the cartridge from the firearm's magazine into its chamber. In this regard, by 1915, a new bullet design was created with an ogive head. Its plating with tombac has been practiced since 1917. Previously, it had a lead core surrounded by a steel shell clad with cupronickel.
The main performance characteristics of the 9 mm Parabellum cartridge are presented in the table below:
The potential of the 9 mm Luger ammunition has not been exhausted. It is constantly undergoing changes and modifications. A huge number of small arms around the world are designed specifically for this ammunition. Below is a far from complete list of models using this cartridge:
- submachine gun;
- gun ;
- pistol, Glock 18, Glock 34;
- submachine gun;
- and its modifications;
- gun ;
- gun ;
- pistol and many others.
Marking on the bottom of the sleeve:
![](https://i0.wp.com/lockwork.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/9mm-lyuger-dontse.jpg)
Production of a commercial domestic version of this ammunition began in the 90s of the last century, exclusively for export. Closer to the 2000s, the defense department placed an order for the production of 9x19 mm cartridges as a new standard ammunition for the army and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
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The cartridge, together with the naval model of the Parabellum pistol, was adopted by the German navy in 1904. It was adopted by the German army in 1908, which explains one of the names of the cartridge - R.08. Initially, the cartridge was equipped with two types of jacketed bullets: a conical bullet with a flat tip and a bullet with a spherical tip. In 1915, the production of cartridges with the first type bullet was reduced. During the Second World War, the cartridge was produced with a jacketed lead-core bullet (P.08), a jacketed steel-core bullet (P.08 m.E) and a non-jacketed surrogate bullet (P.08.SE). The shell bullet had a cupronickel or steel shell clad with tombac. The surrogate bullet was made by pressing from a metal-ceramic mass. Its production was subsequently discontinued.
The dimensions of the Parabellum pistol cartridge correspond to the carbine cartridge of the same name (DWM 480 D). But since the pressure of the powder gases of a carbine cartridge is 20% greater than that of a pistol cartridge, it is dangerous to use a carbine cartridge for firing a pistol. The 9 mm Gliscnti cartridge for the 1910 model pistol of the same name is characterized by lower powder gas pressure than the Parabellum cartridge. Therefore, using the latter for shooting from early-release Glisenti pistols is also dangerous. These cartridges are distinguished by markings. In addition, the carbine cartridge is distinguished by the fact that its brass sleeve is blackened.
A sports cartridge differs from a regular pistol cartridge, in addition to ballistic data, in slightly different dimensions. In the former German army, the Parabellum pistol cartridge was used not only with pistols of the same name, but also with other weapons. Thanks to such qualities as sufficient power, accuracy and a flat bullet trajectory, the cartridge has become widespread. After 1910, it began to be used by most European countries, including Russia. Russian army officers were allowed to have a Parabellum pistol, which they could purchase.
On the American continent, a cartridge called Luger appeared much later. Only in 1951 did Colt and in 1955 Smith & Wesson begin to produce weapons chambered for this cartridge, which began to be used by the US Air Force. In 1965, the cartridge was adopted by the NATO countries. Currently produced by a number of companies.
The most famous weapons chambered for this cartridge are:
pistols:
Austrian "Steyer" mod. 1911, Pi-18; Belgian "Browning" mod. 1935;
Spanish "Astra" mod. 600, "Star"; Italian “Beretta” models 93, 1923, 1951, “Brixia”;
German “Parabellum”, “Mauser”, “Mauser-Parabellum”, “Walther P.38”, “Walther HP”;
Czechoslovakian CZ-75;
Indonesian PI A; Rhodesian "Mamba";
Polish VIS-35; Swedish "Lahti" mod. 1940;
Swiss "Browning" mod. 1943, "Neuhausen" models 44/8, 44/16, P 222;
American “Colt Commander”, etc.;
submachine guns:
Australian “Austen” models 1, 2, “Owens” models 1, 2;
English STEN Mk1, Mk11, MkIII, MKV, “Sterling” L2A3 and L34A1;
Czechoslovakian "Vgipp", 02744, Vz23, Vz25;
Danish “Madsen” models 45, 46;
Finnish "Suomi";
German "Bergmann" MP 34-1, MP-35, "Egta", "Schmeisser" MP 18-I, MP 28-II, MP-38, MP-40, MP-41, "Steyr-Soloturn" MP-34 ;
Israeli "Usi";
Italian “Beretta” models 18, 38, 38-49, TZ-45, “Villa Perosa”;
Swedish "Suomi" m/37-39;
Swiss "Neuhausen" MP 1943/44;
French MAT 49; American “Sedgley”, M3A1, “Ingram” MAC 10; Rhodesian LDP;
Japanese SCK 65, SCK 66; Italian self-loading carbine “Beretta” mod. 1918-30;
American rifle “Smith & Wesson Light Rifle”, etc.