Revisiting the 9mm Luger Cartridge

A CZ 75 BD in 9mm Luger with Hogue tulipwood grips.

I can remember when it was almost sacrilege to carry a pistol chambered for the "puny and ineffective" 9mm Luger (9x19 Parabellum) cartridge. Published experts and gun shop sages were quick to point out a long history of ballistic disappointment, including over penetration and failures to stop. Those who rejected conventional wisdom were likely to be dismissed with an arcane warning that went something to the effect of: "Well, it's your life."

Some criticism of the 9mm Luger is not without merit. Introduced in 1902, the cartridge was originally loaded with a 115 gr. truncated cone bullet at a relatively high velocty of 1,200 FPS. For much of the Twentieth Century, non-expanding, FMJ and lead bullets were standard loads for handguns and small to medium bore handguns became notorious for providing poor to marginal stopping power. This reputation still haunts the 9mm Luger today and it has been further fueled by lackluster performance of the non-expanding M882 NATO cartridge used by the U.S. Military because expanding bullets are prohibited in international conflict  by the Hague Convention of 1899.

Large bullets at moderate velocities can yield reasonable stopping power without expanding but smaller bullets need to expand to be effective. In the past, hollow point bullets did not always feed well in semi-automatic pistols and expansion was not always reliable at typical handgun velocities. This is why the .45 ACP achieved immense popularity among those who preferred semi-automatics. Improvements in ammunition design have yielded expanding bullets that feed properly, perform well even at modest velocities, and increased the effectiveness of most defensive cartridges. Information credited to the FBI Training Division: FBI Academy, Quantico, VA, states: "Contemporary projectiles (since 2007) have dramatically increased the terminal effectiveness of many premium line law enforcement projectiles (emphasis on the 9mm Luger offerings)[.]" (LooseRounds.com)

Last year, the FBI issued a Pre-Solicitation Notice for semi-automatic pistols in 9mm Luger caliber, fueling speculation that it might switch back to this cartridge, and there seems to be a trend of law-enforcement agencies trading .40 S&W and .45 ACP duty pistols for new ones in 9mm Luger. Significant agencies like Columbia, SC; Wichita, KS; Sioux Falls, SD; St Paul, MN; and Colorado Springs, CO have made the change. Some of the reasons for this include better performing 9mm Luger ammunition, less recoil, faster follow-up shots, and lower training costs. (Guns.com and THE BANGSWITCH) 

Perhaps history is repeating itself. When the .357 Magnum was the standard of the day, many found it difficult to master and it was not uncommon to shoot qualification courses with mild mannered, .38 Special cartridges and then load up with magnums. When law enforcement experimented with .41 Magnums and 10mms, it was not long before they were replaced with milder cartridges.  As a matter of fact, the more controllable, reduced load that the FBI specified for the 10mm gave birth to the .40 S&W cartridge, which is known for snappy recoil. While most shooters would not consider either the .40 S&W or .45 ACP abusive, both provide more recoil than the 9mm Luger when fired from similar duty pistols.

It should be remembered that those who carry firearms, professionally and otherwise, may safely and competently handle them but are not necessarily firearms enthusiasts or accomplished marksmen. Heavier recoil intimidates some shooters to the point that it adversely affects accuracy and slower recovery delays follow-up shots. Accuracy is critical in defensive situations since poorly placed shots may not stop an assailant and misses can endanger by-standers. Efficiently delivering well-placed, follow-up shots is also important as assailants do not always stop the first time that they are hit and it sometimes takes multiple shots to stop an attack, regardless of the caliber employed.

The pleasant shooting 9mm Luger cartridge remains the least expensive duty and defensive round on the shelf and less expensive ammunition lowers the cost of training and routine qualification for law enforcement officers and other professionals who must carry defensive sidearms. For civilians, especially those who do not who do not reload, cost factors which impede practice are reduced, especially when the performance of premium, defensive ammunition should be verified in a pistol that will be carried for defense. Regular practice is necessary for anyone who expects to be able to effectively use a firearm for self defense.

I personally like the 9mm Luger cartridge for the reasons that law enforcement agencies seem to be returning to it. In many ways, it is the .38 Special of semi-automatic pistols: it is an accurate, pleasant shooting cartridge that provides effective stopping power with appropriate ammunition and it is controllable, even in sub-compact pistols designed for concealed carry. Despite bad press that originates from ammunition designed at the turn of the last century, when semi-automatic pistols were in their infancy, it has much to offer armed professionals and civilians who carry firearms for self defense.