Lindcott Armory Pistol · SAAMI
9mm Luger
Most popular pistol cartridge in the world.
- Introduced
- 1902
- Type
- Pistol
- Origin
- Germany
- Inventor
- Georg Luger
- Manufacturer
- DWM (Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken)
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Abundant
- Bullet ⌀
- 0.355″
- Case length
- 0.754″
- Overall length
- 1.169″
- Base ⌀
- 0.391″
- Rim ⌀
- 0.392″
- Case capacity
- 13.3 gr H₂O
- Twist
- 1:10
- Primer
- Small Pistol
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 35,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 50 yd
- Recoil
- 5–8 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- Velocity
- 990–1,250 fps
- Energy
- 300–400 ft·lb
- By real loads
- 985–1,450 fps · 1167 loads
- Typical MSRP
- $0.85/rd · price history →
- Parent case
- 7.65x21mm Parabellum
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input, not a measured load. Real published loads span the "by real loads" range above.
Factory loads
In production — 1,167 active loads across 122 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 1,198 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC | $/rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoubleTap | Tactical JHP | 115 | Bonded JHP | 1,450 | 537 | 0.135 | $1.30 |
| Buffalo Bore | JHP +P+ | 115 | JHP | 1,400 | 500 | 0.135 | $1.50 |
| Buffalo Bore | +P JHP | 115 | JHP | 1,400 | 500 | 0.135 | $1.50 |
| Buffalo Bore | Low Flash JHP+P+ | 115 | JHP | 1,400 | 500 | 0.135 | $1.50 |
| Browning | BXP | 115 | X-Point HP | 1,380 | 486 | 0.135 | $1.20 |
| Cor-Bon | JHP+P | 115 | JHP | 1,350 | 465 | 0.135 | $1.35 |
| Cor-Bon | JHP | 115 | JHP+P | 1,350 | 465 | 0.135 | $1.35 |
| Cor-Bon | Self Defense | 115 | JHP | 1,350 | 465 | 0.135 | $1.35 |
| Cor-Bon | JHP +P | 115 | JHP | 1,350 | 465 | 0.135 | $1.35 |
| DoubleTap | Tactical JHP | 124 | Bonded JHP | 1,310 | 472 | 0.167 | $1.30 |
| DoubleTap | Bonded Defense | 124 | Bonded JHP | 1,310 | 472 | 0.167 | $1.30 |
| DoubleTap | Tactical | 124 | Bonded JHP | 1,310 | 472 | 0.167 | $1.35 |
| DoubleTap | Controlled Expansion JHP | 124 | JHP | 1,310 | 472 | 0.167 | $1.30 |
| Buffalo Bore | Standard Pressure | 124 | JHP | 1,300 | 465 | 0.167 | $1.50 |
| Black Hills | EXP | 115 | +P JHP | 1,300 | 431 | 0.135 | $1.35 |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Terminal ballistics
1274 FBI-protocol gel tests on record (Plywood, Bare Gelatin, Heavy Clothing, Denim, Wallboard, Auto Glass) — 824 passed the 12–18″ penetration window.
- Median penetration
- 14.5″ (bare gel)
- Median expansion
- 0.610″
- Protocol pass rate
- 824/1274
Published FBI-protocol results (bare gel + barriers), not Lindcott testing. Pass = 12–18″ penetration with reliable expansion.
Dimensions
Suitable powders
55 reloading powders listed for 9mm Luger, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading cost
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
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 →
Lineage
Drawn to one scale from published dimensions. Bottleneck shape is approximate (shoulder geometry not recorded).
Connected reference
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 0.355″ (9.02 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.
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 1,167 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured; terminal-ballistics figures are published FBI-protocol results. Spotted an error? Report it →