PistolAmmunition

Gary'sU.S.InfantryWeaponsReferenceGuide

DESCRIPTION
Pistolammunitionisissuedintheformofacompleteround,Acompleteround(cartridge)consistsofallthe
components(cartridgecase,bulletorshot,propellantpowder,andprimer)necessarytofiretheweapononce.
.38Special
Ballisticdatafor.38Specialammunition.
Model
M41Ball

CartridgeWeight
203gr(13.15g)

WadCutter 220gr(14.26g)

CartridgeLength

Propellant

1.55in(39.37mm) SR7325

ChamberPressure

Velocity
15ft(4.6m)frommuzzle

16,000psi(1,125kg/cm) 950fps(290mps)

1.16in(29.46mm) Smokelesspowder 16,000psi(1,125kg/cm) 800fps(244mps)

Cartridge,Caliber.38,Ball,Special,M41
Thecartridgeisintendedforuseinpersonaldefensehandguns.
Thecartridgehasabrasscaseandajacketedbullet.
TypeClassification:OBSMSR08836015
Cartridge,Caliber.38,WadCutter

Thecartridgeisusedonlyinpistolcompetitionfiringandmarksmanshiptraining.
Thecartridgehasabrasscase.Thebulletisdesignedwithaconcaveforwardendtoactasapaperpunchcuttinga
cleanholeintargets.
TypeClassification:Commercial
9x19mm(9mmNATO)
Ballisticdatafor9x19mmammunition.
Model

Ball

Cartridge
Weight

182gr(11.79
g)

Cartridge
Length

1.169in(29.69
mm)

Projectile
Weight

Propellant

Velocity
15ft(4.6m)from
muzzle

Pressure

*AvgMidCase:38,500psi(2,707
kg/cm)
Commercial 115gr(7.45g)
*MaxMidCase:43,000psi(3,023
kg/cm)

M882
Ball

179gr(11.6g)

1.165in(29.59
mm)

HPC26

AvgCaseMouth:31,175psi(2,192
kg/cm)
112gr(7.26g)
MaxCaseMouth:36,250psi(2,549
kg/cm)

M905
HPT

179gr(11.6g)

1.165in(29.59
mm)

WC370

Chamber:50,000psi(3,515
kg/cm)

1,12590fps(34327
mps)

1,2635fps(3851.5
mps)

N/A

*NOTE:Midcasepressuresnormallyrun8,000to10,000psihigherthancasemouthpressure.
Cartridge,9mm,Ball

Thecartridgeisintendedforuseagainstpersonnel.ForuseinModifiedM3SubmachineGunorcommercialweapons.
TheuseinM9Pistolisnotauthorized.

TypeClassification:Commercial
Cartridge,9mm,Ball,M882

ThecartridgeisusedintheM9,M10,andM11pistolsandisCodeA,approvedforserviceuse.Thisisatraining
standarditemusedforbothtrainingandcombat.TheammunitioncomplieswithNATOSTANAG4090andispacked
inmilitarytypepackaging.
TheM882ballcartridgeconsistsofabrasscase,acopperalloyjacketedleadcorebullet,atwopieceboxertype
primer,andadoublebasepropellant.Thecartridgeisidentifiedbytheplainbullettip.
TypeClassification:HQDA(DAMACSM).TypeClassificationDate:1985.
Unitcost:$0.18(FiscalYear2005).
Cartridge,9mm,HighPressureTest,M905

Thecartridgeisintendedforuseinproofingnewpistolsandtestbarrelstodemonstratesafetypriortoreleasing
weaponstothefield.
Thecartridgeisidentifiedbyatinnedcartridgecaseandhighpressuretestheadstamp.
TypeClassification:HQDA(DAMACSM)
TypeClassificationDate:1985.
Cartridge,9mm,DummyRound,M917
Cartridge,9mm,JacketedHollowpoint,MK243Mod0
ForU.S.ArmyLawEnforcementuseintheUnitedStatesandit'sterritoriesonly.BrassCase.
CartridgeLength:1.150in(29.21mm)
CartridgeWeight:147grain(9.17g)
.45ACP
Ballisticdatafor.45ACPammunition.
Model

Cartridge
Weight

CartridgeLength

Projectile
Weight

Propellant

Pressure

Velocity
25.5ft(7.8m)from
muzzle

M1HPT

332gr(21.51
g)

1.275in(32.39
mm)

SR7970

22,000psi(1,547
kg/cm)

N/A

M9Blank

104gr(6.74g)

1.108in(28.14
mm)

SR4990

N/A

N/A

N/A

M26Tracer

331gr(21.45
g)

1.275in(32.39
mm)

SR7970

19,000psi(1,336
kg/cm)

885fps(270mps)

M1911Ball

331gr(21.45
g)

1.275in(32.39
mm)

SR7970

234gr(15.16g)

19,000psi(1,336
kg/cm)

88525fps(2707.6
mps)

M1911
Match

334gr(21.64
g)

1.275in(32.39
mm)

SR7970

19,000psi(1,336
kg/cm)

88525fps(2707.6
mps)

M1921
Dummy

305gr(19.76
g)

1.275in(32.39
mm)

N/A

N/A

N/A

WadCutter

330gr(21.38
g)

1.255in(31.88
mm)

Smokeless
powder

18,000psi(1,265
kg/cm)

765fps(233mps)
15ft(4.6m)frommuzzle

Cartridge,Caliber.45,HighPressureTest,M1

Thecartridgeisforprooftestingcaliber.45pistolsandsubmachinegunsduringmanufacture,test,orrepair.
Thecartridgeisidentifiedbyastannicstained(silvered)cartridgecase.
TypeClassification:STDOTCM36841
Cartridge,Caliber.45,Blank,M9

Usedtosimulatefibreandforsalutes.Thiscartridgecanbefiredsingleshotonlyinthepistol.
Thebrasscasedcartridgecanbeidentifiedbytheabsenceofabulletandbyitstaperedmouth.
TypeClassification:STDAMCTC505
Cartridge,Caliber.45,Tracer,M26

Usedforobservationoffire.Secondaryusesareforincendiaryeffectandforsignaling.
Brasscase.Thebulletconsistsofthreeparts:acopperplatedorgildingmetalcladsteeljacket,aslugoflead
hardenedwithantimonyandaR256tracermixtureintherearportionofthejacket.Thebulletispaintedredfora
distanceofapproximately3/16inchfromthetip.
TypeClassification:CONMSR11756003
Cartridge,Caliber.45,Ball,M1911

Foruseagainstpersonnelandlightmaterialtargets.
Theballbulletconsistsofametaljacketsurroundingaleadalloycore.Thebullettipisunpainted.Brasscase.
TypeClassification:STDOTCM36841
Cartridge,Caliber.45,Ball,Match,M1911

Thecartridgeistobeusedonlyinthoseweaponsdesignatedascompetitionpistols.
Brasscasewithheadstampingonbaseofcartridge:NM(NationalMatch)orMATCH.
TypeClassification:STDOTCM36841
Cartridge,Caliber.45,Dummy,M1921

Thecartridgeisusedfortrainingpersonnelintheoperationofloadingandunloadingthepistol,duringsimulated
firingexercisestodetectflinchingofpersonnelwhenfiring,andtoinspectandtestthemechanismoftheweapons.
Thecartridgeisidentifiedbythedrilledholesinthecartridgecaseandtheabsenceofaprimer.
TypeClassification:STDOTCM36841
Cartridge,Caliber.45,WadCutter

Thecartridgeisusedonlyinpistolcompetitionfiringandmarksmanshiptraining.
Thecartridgehasabrasscase.Thecartridgeisidentifiedbythebulletshapewhichhasthegeneralappearanceofa
truncatedcone.Theogiveofthebullethasasharpshoulderthatactsasaholepunchtocutacleanholeinthe
target.
TypeClassification:OBSMSR08836015
Cartridge,Caliber.45,HighDensityShot,XM261
Usedagainstpersonnel.Itemploys16spheresincasedinasabotsimilarinshapetotheballbullet.

Lastupdated:20AUG2004
Copyright2004GaryW.Cooke
TothebestofmyknowledgeallmilitarydataandimagespresentedinthesepagesareUNCLASSIFIED,NONSENSITIVE,andapprovedforpublicrelease.
Sources:
TM9100521112M1911A1Operator'sManual.
TM9100531710M9Operator'sManual.
TM9130520120&PUnitMaintenanceManualforSmallArmsAmmunition.
TM43000127ArmyAmmunitionDataSheetsForSmallCaliberAmmunition.
2005ARMYPROCUREMENTOFAMMUNITIONBudgetEstimate.