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Life Extension: These 5 Pistols are Keeping the 9mm Luger Round Going Strong
nationalinterest.org ^ | Nov. 16, 2020 | Kyle Mizokami

Posted on 11/17/2020 3:20:11 PM PST by PROCON

Here's What You Need To Remember: The Smith & Wesson M&P (Military and Police) was first introduced in 2005 and as a hybrid of two previous guns, the Sigma and the SW99. Like the rest of the guns on this list, it has polymer frame and steel slide, a large internal magazine (seventeen rounds) and a striker-fired operating system.

The 9mm Luger, invented before the Great War, is one of the longest-serving gun calibers in history. Introduced in 1901, it has served in virtually every conflict since then up until today. From World War I’s German army to the British army fighting ISIS in Syria, the Luger round has served militaries for over a century. Despite its age, the 9mm is more dangerous than ever before, due to innovations in ammunition lethality that squeeze greater performance out of the bullet.

Adequately powerful and compact, the 9mm Luger round received newfound popularity in the 1980s when the so-called “Wonder Nine” pistols upended the dominance of revolvers and large-caliber handguns on the U.S. market. It is the standard handgun caliber for NATO members, with many armies on their second or third generation 9mm pistol, and was recently re-adopted by the U.S. Army for its new issue M17 Modular Handgun System. The 9mm Luger round will be around for many more years. Here are five of the best guns the round is used in.

Glock G19

The Glock 19 was one of the first Glock variants produced. Released in 1988, it was basically the same handgun albeit with a shorter barrel and grip. This reduced the magazine capacity from seventeen rounds to fifteen, but also produced a pistol that was easier to conceal. Today, it is generally acknowledged among handgun enthusiasts as the best Glock model for all-around use. The Glock 19 has been adopted by the U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. Army Rangers and a modified version competed for the U.S. Army’s Modular Handgun System competition.

The Glock 19 has an overall length of 7.36 inches and a barrel length of 4.01 inches. It is a double-action pistol, meaning that after a round is chambered the pistol only requires pulling the trigger to set the firing pin and fire. Subsequent shots will also only require a single trigger pull. This eliminates the need to cock the hammer prior to firing but does introduce a slightly longer trigger pull. The basic Glock design incorporates three safeties, including a firing pin and drop safety, as well as a trigger safety. It does not have an external manual safety mechanism.

Sig P226

The Sig P226 was originally developed from Sig Sauer’s P210 pistol as a replacement for the long-serving .45 ACP 1911A1 handgun. The resulting pistol failed to win the contract, which went to the Beretta M9 instead. Although the U.S. Navy also picked up the Beretta, early problems with metal quality resulted in cracked slides among pistols with high round counts. SEALs, who experienced defect-related accidents, turned to the Sig P226 instead, calling it the Mark 11. Adoption by U.S. police forces further raised the P226’s profile.

The P226 is an all-metal handgun with a metal frame. It has a fifteen-round magazine, an overall length of 7.72 inches, and a barrel length of 4.11 inches. Loaded, the gun has a weight of 2.28 pounds. Like the Glock 19 the P226 is also a double-action pistol, although it also has a single action mode allowing the pistol to be manually cocked. It also features a decocking lever to lower the hammer without pulling the trigger.

Heckler & Koch VP9

One of the newest 9mm Luger handguns is the Heckler & Koch VP9. Introduced in 2014, the VP9 is like the rest of the handguns on this list a high capacity, a twin-stack handgun with a steel slide and polymer frame. The VP9 carries up to fifteen rounds—as many as a Glock 19. This German-designed pistol has dimensions similar to the G19 and P226 and uses a cold hammer-forged barrel for increased accuracy and barrel life.

Unlike older pistols that utilize a hammer, the VP9 is a striker-fired pistol. Striker-fired pistols use a spring-loaded firing pin that is partially cocked by pulling back and releasing the slide. Pulling the trigger completes the cocking action and releases the firing pin. As a result, striker-fired pistols are immune to any accidental discharge that does not involve pulling the trigger—such as dropping the handgun on a hard surface.

A new feature—increasingly common in handguns—of the VP9 is the ability to tailor the pistol’s grip to a wide variety of hand sizes. Each pistol comes complete with a number of removable backstraps and grip panels to reduce or enlarge grip width, with a total of twenty-seven different size configurations available for small to large hands.

Smith & Wesson M&P

The Smith & Wesson M&P (Military and Police) was first introduced in 2005 and as a hybrid of two previous guns, the Sigma and the SW99. Like the rest of the guns on this list, it has polymer frame and steel slide, a large internal magazine (seventeen rounds) and a striker-fired operating system. The M&P has aggressive good looks, with serrations on the slide to promote a better grip, and a built-in Picatinny rail under the barrel for mounting lights and laser pointers.

Smith & Wesson claims that the M&P’s low bore axis reduces muzzle rise and allows the shooter to get back on target faster. In many respects, it is similar to the Glock 17—including magazine size—but one reviewer has pointed out that it is slightly larger and heavier. The M&P also features a loaded-chamber indicator which tilts upward when a round is in the chamber, ambidextrous controls and four interchangeable palm swell inserts of different sizes to accommodate different hand types.

Springfield XD

Originally developed in Croatia as the HS2000, the Springfield XD (“Extreme Duty”) handgun has enjoyed considerable success in the United States. The XD externally resembles a Glock, from nearby Austria, though is somewhat blockier in appearance. The standard service model features a four-inch barrel—par for the course on this list—and a double-stack magazine that holds up to sixteen rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition.

The Springfield XD combines a number of older and newer features from other guns on this list to create a fairly unique and impressive package. The XD has a grip safety like the one on the Colt 1911A1 handgun, that prevents the gun from being discharged unless gripped properly. It also features a trigger safety, like the Glock, a drop safety that prevents the striker from being released, and a loaded chamber indicator like the Smith & Wesson M&P. A flip of a lever allows the pistol to be quickly field stripped for cleaning.



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Hobbies; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: 9mmluger; ammo; banglist; fmj; glock; hk; luger; sigsauer; springfield; sw
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To: Zhang Fei

I bought a bunch of 9mm ammo a couple of years ago when it was on sale. Trying to find some .380 ammo for my lady’s guns, but no luck, but she has enough for 3-4 more times to the range.


61 posted on 11/17/2020 6:17:25 PM PST by dirtboy
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To: Mean Daddy

Bought 5000 rounds in 1997... None since...

Neither of my 9mm's (Taurus & FEG) are comparable to any on this list of five...
However, all my rifles (several calibers) and the Winchester Model 1300 Defender are high quality and cover most situations from 1000-to-5 yards...
IAC, when you are 87, if they get inside the wire, you're toast anyway...

62 posted on 11/17/2020 6:19:12 PM PST by SuperLuminal (Where is Sam Adams now that we desperately need him)
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To: Secret Agent Man

There was also a 93 9mm.


63 posted on 11/17/2020 6:21:23 PM PST by riverrunner
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To: cll

“I still love my Beretta 92 FS...”

I liked my Beretta 92 FS so much I bought a 96A1 (.40) and the 84FS (.380). A very happy family.


64 posted on 11/17/2020 6:21:51 PM PST by moovova
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To: PROCON

I used to read Mad Magazine, back in the day (’64 ish).

In one issue, they did a spoof of mail order ads in the back of magazines:

So you see a cluttered page, with a small add for a genuine German Luger, with firing pin removed for safety.

Then another small add on the same page, offering genuine firing pins for German Lugers.


65 posted on 11/17/2020 6:28:49 PM PST by JohnnyP (Thinking is hard work (I stole that from Rush).)
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To: Lurker

Yup! XDs are the best!


66 posted on 11/17/2020 6:32:31 PM PST by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: JohnnyP

Good grief, I read MAD magazine in the same era, had a subscription, great humor.

Also from that era I remember in the back of comic books you could buy all sorts of cool stuff including 'ingredients' to make M-80's and other dangerous fireworks, fun times! (Yeah I still have all of my fingers).

67 posted on 11/17/2020 6:40:29 PM PST by PROCON (Molon Labe)
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To: PROCON

I went .40 before the 9mm round was transformed into the lethal round it is today. I’ll see if that works for me, or against me. 9mm seems to disappear off the shelves much faster. Today nobody had either caliber.


68 posted on 11/17/2020 7:04:18 PM PST by AlaskaErik (In time of peace, prepare for war.)
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To: dirtboy

“I own 2 M&P Shields.”

A fine weapon. Very compact, super reliable.

I just got an M&P 9, 4.25” barrel, full size. Got the cop version. 3 x 17 rd mages in the box, factory trijicon night sites. From Gunbroker.com. I am very axcurate wuth those, for some reason. Had a couple glocks, couldn’t hit a barn door. This one just points well for me. Most accurate 9 I’ve ever shot. Trigger is OK, they hype it, but there is definite creep. Trigger job on the horizon.


69 posted on 11/17/2020 7:15:24 PM PST by Basket_of_Deplorables (This is all a Soros funded communist insurrection! )
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To: PROCON

What, me worry? :)


70 posted on 11/17/2020 7:23:25 PM PST by JohnnyP (Thinking is hard work (I stole that from Rush).)
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To: Lurker

I find the xds too big for edc. Yeah, it works, but I’m always monkeying around to get comfy.


71 posted on 11/17/2020 7:28:57 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (Biden: Senile, pedophile, grifter, extortionist, thief.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

The XDS too big? I can understand an XD. I have one of those. But the XDS is a single stack about an inch thick. I’m 5’8” and 160 and I have no problem with an XDS fitting my hands.

I’m surprised to say the least.

L


72 posted on 11/17/2020 7:32:27 PM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: Lurker

xd then. double stack. 16+1.

Went p938 to single stack small.


73 posted on 11/17/2020 7:38:23 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (Biden: Senile, pedophile, grifter, extortionist, thief.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

Yep. The XD is the double stack. The XDS is the single version. If you can find one check it out. Superb little carry piece. Just superb.

Good luck.

L


74 posted on 11/17/2020 8:32:29 PM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: Lurker

mini 1911

75 posted on 11/17/2020 8:36:45 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (Biden: Senile, pedophile, grifter, extortionist, thief.)
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To: Uncle Miltie


76 posted on 11/17/2020 8:39:22 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (Biden: Senile, pedophile, grifter, extortionist, thief.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

That’ll do.

Good luck

L


77 posted on 11/17/2020 8:41:53 PM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
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To: Zhang Fei

I have a “bring home” p-38 that is the sweetest shooting 9mm I’ve ever held in my hand. Aside from the Nazi markings...it’s a beautiful piece of metal.


78 posted on 11/17/2020 8:48:34 PM PST by Vermont Lt (We have entered "Insanity Week." Act accordingly.)
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To: Vermont Lt

[I have a “bring home” p-38 that is the sweetest shooting 9mm I’ve ever held in my hand. Aside from the Nazi markings...it’s a beautiful piece of metal.]


That’s a feature, not a bug. You have in your possession not just a tool, but a curio.


79 posted on 11/17/2020 9:02:05 PM PST by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room.)
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To: Zhang Fei

I took my future son in law shooting one day. We started with his ruger, then my M&P...and the I put the P38 in his hands. It was like going from Jack Daniels to a single malt scotch.


80 posted on 11/17/2020 9:05:32 PM PST by Vermont Lt (We have entered "Insanity Week." Act accordingly.)
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