The pistol is 8 5/8 inches in length and weighs 3
pounds fully loaded, with a maximum range of 1,500
yards, and a maximum effective range of 50 yards.
THE 9MM SERVICE PISTOL
In 1985, the armed forces selected a 9mm pistol to
replace the .45-caliber pistol. The pistol selected is a
single- or double-action semiautomatic hand weapon.
As soon as the pistol is fired, either in single or double
action, the slide automatically comes back and cocks
the hammer. To fire the pistol again, all you have to do is
pull the trigger. The 9mm pistol has a large magazine
capacity—it can hold 15 rounds in the magazine. Slots
in the magazine help the user know the number of
rounds that remain.
Description and Technical Data
As you know, the 9mm service pistol is a semi-
automatic, magazine-fed, recoil operated, double-
action pistol. The pistol fires one round each time the
trigger is pulled. The energy needed to operate the pistol
comes from the recoil, which is created by the rearward
force of expanding gases of a fired round. The double-
action feature lets you fire a weapon when the hammer
is in the forward position, the safety is in the fire
position, and the trigger is pulled. The magazine holds
15 cartridges. When the last cartridge from the mag-
azine is fired, the slide remains locked to the rear. Look
at the following chart for the technical data of the 9MM
service pistol.
Safety Devices
The 9mm service pistol is equipped with three types
of safety features—the ambidextrous slide safety, the
firing pin block, and the half cock notch.
AMBIDEXTROUS SAFETY.—This safety
allows for safe operation of the pistol by both right- and
left-handed users. It lowers the hammer safely without
causing an accidental discharge. When the hammer is
cocked, it may be safely lowered by moving the safety
to the safe (down) position. When the safety is in the fire
(up) position, a red dot will be visible indicating that the
pistol should be handled with caution (red you’re
dead).
FIRING PIN BLOCK.—This safety prevents any
motion of the firing pin and is only overcome by pulling
on the trigger. Both the firing pin and the firing pin block
have a notch cut into them. The firing pin block remains
in the firing pin notch and prevents any motion of the
firing pin. When you pull the trigger, the firing pin block
is pushed upward and aligns its notch with the firing pin
so that the firing pin can move forward to strike the
primer of a round.
HALF COCK NOTCH.—This safety prevents
accidental discharge. The half cock notch is located on
the hammer. If a cocked hammer should fall forward
because of a mechanical failure, the half cock notch
would catch on the sear before the hammer strikes the
firing pin and prevent an accidental discharge of the
pistol.
Loading
The 9mm service pistol incorporates single- and
double-action modes of fire. With the safety in the
FIRE position, in the double-action mode, squeezing
11-13
Student Notes:
COMPONENT
TECHNICAL DATA
Caliber
9 x 9mm (9mm NATO)
Diameter of bore
.356 in.
Length
217 mm (8.54 in.)
Width
38 mm (1.50 in.)
Height
140 mm (5.51 in.)
Weight with 15-round
magazine
1,134 g (2.50 lb.)
Weight with empty
magazine
960 g (2.12 lb.)
Barrel length
125 mm (4.92 in.)
Muzzle velocity
375 m/sec (1,230 ft/sec)
Maximum effective range
50 m (45.7 yd)
Cyclic rate of fire
1,100 rpm
Trigger pull
4 to 6.5 lb single action
and7.5 to 16.6 lb double
action
