The M9 is a light weight, semiautomatic pistol manufactured by Beretta and designed to replace the M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol and .38 caliber revolvers. The M9 has redundant automatic safety features to help prevent unintentional discharges. It can be fired in either double or single action mode and can be unloaded without activating the trigger while the safety is in the “on” position.
The M9 pistol has a 15-round magazine, and may be fired without a magazine inserted. This weapon can have the hammer lowered from the cocked, “ready to fire,” position to the uncocked position without activating the trigger by placing the thumb safety on the “on” position.
The M9 Pistol has a short recoil system utilizing a falling locking block. Upon firing, the pressure developed by the combustion gases recoils the slide-barrel assembly. After a short run, the locking block will stop the rearward movement of the barrel and release the slidewhich will continue its rearward movement. The slide will then extract and eject the fired cartridge case, cock the hammer and compress the recoil spring. The slide moves forward feeding the next cartridge from the magazine into the chamber.
The slide and barrel assembly remains open after the last cartridge has been fired and ejected.
M9 Specifications
| Caliber | 9-mm NATO |
|---|---|
| System of Operation | Short recoil, semiautomatic |
| Locking System | Oscillating block |
| Length | 217 mm (8.54 inches) |
| Width | 38 mm (1.5 inches) |
| Height | 140 mm (5.51 inches) |
| Magazine Capacity | 15 Rounds |
| Weight with Empty Magazine | 960 grams (2.1 pounds) |
| Weight with 15-Round Magazine | 1,145 grams (2.6 pounds) |
| Barrel Length | 125 mm (4.92 inches) |
| Rifling | Right-hand, six-groove (pitch 250 mm [about 10 inches]) |
| Muzzle Velocity | 375 meters per second (1,230.3 feet per second) |
| Muzzle Energy | 569.5 Newton meters (430 foot pounds) |
| Maximum Range | 1,800 meters (1,962.2 yards) |
| Maximum Effective Range | 50 meters (54.7 yards) |
| Front Sight | Blade, integral with slide |
| Rear Sight | Notched bar, dovetailed to slide |
| Sighting Radius | 158 mm (6.22 inches) |
| Safety Features | Decocking/safety lever, firing pin block. |
| Hammer (half-cocked notch) | Prevents accidental discharge. |
| Basic Load | 45 rounds |
| Trigger Pull | Single-action: 5.50 pounds; Double-action: 12.33 pounds |
M9 Manuals
FM 3-23.35
Combat Training with Pistols, M9 AND M11.