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