What twist rate does 9mm Luger use?

9mm Luger typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.

What bullet diameter is 9mm Luger?

9mm Luger uses a 0.3549″ (9.014 mm) diameter bullet.

Is 9mm Luger still in production?

9mm Luger is active; typical availability is abundant.

What is 9mm Luger used for?

9mm Luger is primarily used for self defense, military, target, competition.

What is 9mm Luger based on?

9mm Luger is derived from the 7.65x21mm Parabellum case.

What are the best powders for 9mm Luger?

Reloading powders commonly listed for 9mm Luger include No. 2, N310, Bull's-Eye, Red Dot, among 55 suitable options.

Pistol · SAAMI

9mm Luger

9x19mm Parabellum9mm NATO9mm Para9x19mm

Most popular pistol cartridge in the world.

Caliber: 0.3549″ · 9.014 mm
Introduced: 1902
Case: Rimless
Parent: 7.65x21mm Parabellum
Primary use: Self Defense, Military, Target
Status: Active

Velocity990–1,250 fps

Energy300–400 ft·lb

Typical grains115 · 124 · 147 gr

Identity

Introduced: 1902
Type: Pistol
Origin: Germany
Inventor: Georg Luger
Manufacturer: DWM (Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken)
Standard: SAAMI
Status: Active
Availability: Abundant

Build

Case capacity: 13.3 gr H₂O
Twist (typical): 1:10
Primer: Small Pistol
Case type: Rimless

Pressure & range

Max pressure: 35,000 psi
Eff. range: 50 yd
Recoil: 5–8 ft·lb
Subsonic: Capable

Ballistics

Real trajectory computed from a representative load — Hornady Match 124 gr, 1,120 fps, BC 0.112 G7 · 25 yd zero.

Compare tooverlay up to 2

Range	Velocity	Energy	Drop (in)	Drop (MOA)
0 yd	1120	345	-0.9″	—
25 yd	1072	316	0.0″	0.0
50 yd	1042	299	-1.0″	-1.9
75 yd	1018	286	-3.9″	-5.0
100 yd	998	274	-9.0″	-8.6
125 yd	978	263	-16.3″	-12.4
150 yd	960	254	-25.8″	-16.4
175 yd	943	245	-37.7″	-20.6
200 yd	926	236	-52.0″	-24.8

Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →

Performance

Best for HuntingAllegiance OneStrike100 gr · Frangible HP · 1,600 fpsBuy now →

Best for DefenseBuffalo Bore Outdoorsman147 gr · JHP · 1,175 fps · BC 0.197 G1Buy now →

Best for TargetFederal Gold Medal Berger OTM130 gr · Berger Hybrid OTM · 985 fps · BC 0.271 G7Buy now →

Buy links open 9mm Luger ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.

Terminal ballistics

686 FBI-protocol gel tests on record (Plywood, Bare Gelatin, Heavy Clothing, Denim, Wallboard, Auto Glass) — 448 passed the 12–18″ penetration window.

Median penetration: 14.5″ (bare gel)
Median expansion: 0.610″
Protocol pass rate: 448/686

Published FBI-protocol results (bare gel + barriers), not Lindcott testing. Pass = 12–18″ penetration with reliable expansion.

Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds

Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.

CIP TDCC · approximate

Measure	mm	in	✓
Bullet ⌀	9.01	0.355	~
Neck ⌀	9.65	0.380	✓
Shoulder ⌀	n/a
Shoulder angle	n/a
Base ⌀	9.93	0.391	✓
Rim ⌀	9.96	0.392	✓
Belt ⌀	n/a
Rim thickness	1.27	0.050	✓
Neck length	n/a
Case length	19.15	0.754	✓
Overall length	29.69	1.169	✓

Size vs familiar rounds

Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 9mm Luger is highlighted below.

Factory loads

In production — 885 active loads across 123 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 915 →.

Brand	Load	Grain	Bullet	FPS	ft·lb	BC
DoubleTap	Tactical JHP	115	Bonded JHP	1,450	537	0.135 G1
Buffalo Bore	JHP +P+	115	JHP	1,400	500	0.135 G1
Buffalo Bore	+P JHP	115	JHP	1,400	500	0.135 G1
Buffalo Bore	Low Flash JHP+P+	115	JHP	1,400	500	0.135 G1
Browning	BXP	115	X-Point HP	1,380	486	0.135 G1
Cor-Bon	Self Defense	115	JHP	1,350	465	0.135 G1
Cor-Bon	JHP +P	115	JHP	1,350	465	0.135 G1
DoubleTap	Bonded Defense	124	Bonded JHP	1,310	472	0.167 G1
DoubleTap	Tactical	124	Bonded JHP	1,310	472	0.167 G1
DoubleTap	Controlled Expansion JHP	124	JHP	1,310	472	0.167 G1
Buffalo Bore	Standard Pressure	124	JHP	1,300	465	0.167 G1
Black Hills	EXP	115	+P JHP	1,300	431	0.135 G1
Armscor	JHP+P	115	JHP	1,250	399	0.135 G1
Black Hills	Ammunition EXP	124	JHP+P	1,250	430	0.167 G1
Federal	Guard Dog Expanding FMJ	105	Expanding FMJ	1,230	353	0.138 G1

Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.

Suitable powders

55 reloading powders listed for 9mm Luger, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →

No. 2 N310 Bull's-Eye Red Dot S070 e3 CSB2 Vihtavuori N320 American Select Titegroup Shooters World Action Pistol International Clays Zip No. 4 RS20 N330 AS S121 CSB3 Competition

Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory

Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.

Powder $/lbCharge (gr)Bullet $/eaPrimer $/eaBrass reusesBrass $/ea

Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.

Firearms chambered in 9mm Luger

12 models in the database chamber 9mm Luger. Browse all →

Glock G17 Gen6Daniel Defense H9SIG Sauer P365 AXG LegionSIG Sauer P365 FuseRuger RXMHenry Repeating Arms Homesteader 9mm 16.5-inch Glock MagSmith & Wesson ResponseTaurus G3 10mmSpringfield Armory Hellcat Pro ContourWalther Hammerli SF PDPTaurus GX4XL 9mmShadow Systems MR920L Elite 9mm

Lineage

Immediate parent

7.65x21mm Parabellum

Direct descendants (5)

9x21mm IMI 9mm Federal 9mm Winchester Magnum 9x21mm

Family TreeOpen 9mm Luger in the interactive cartridge family tree↗

Connected reference

Loads915 factory loads for 9mm Luger↗Reloading55 suitable powders — cross-reference↗FirearmsFirearms in 9mm Luger↗ToolCompare ballistics↗

History

Designed by Georg Luger in 1902 for the Luger pistol. Adopted by German military in 1908. After decades of .45 ACP dominance in US, the 9mm surged in 1980s-90s with high-capacity wonder nines.

FAQs

What twist rate does 9mm Luger use?: 9mm Luger typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.
What bullet diameter is 9mm Luger?: 9mm Luger uses a 0.3549″ (9.014 mm) diameter bullet.
Is 9mm Luger still in production?: 9mm Luger is active; typical availability is abundant.
What is 9mm Luger used for?: 9mm Luger is primarily used for self defense, military, target, competition.
What is 9mm Luger based on?: 9mm Luger is derived from the 7.65x21mm Parabellum case.
What are the best powders for 9mm Luger?: Reloading powders commonly listed for 9mm Luger include No. 2, N310, Bull's-Eye, Red Dot, among 55 suitable options.

Sources & provenance

Manufacturer sources for verified factory-load figures on this page:

Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 885 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured; terminal-ballistics figures are published FBI-protocol results. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →