The 9mm or 9×19 Parabellum was first made in Germany in 1902. Designed by Georg Luger for the 9mm Luger semi-automatic handgun, it was manufactured by Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken.
This cartridge is not confused with the 9×18 Makarov or the 9mm Browning, which is a .380 cartridge. The 9mm ammo found today one of the most commonly used cartridges for military applications worldwide. Newsweek reported that 60% of the police officers in the United States use 9mm cartridges.
Many consider the 9×19 to be the best ammunition for personal self-defense and police applications. This has made the semi-automatic pistol far more widely used than revolvers. Another contributor to its popularity is a large amount of ammo manufactured in this caliber and its availability as cheap 9mm ammo.
There are three bullet types to choose from in the 9×19: hollow point, full metal jacket, and lead (unjacketed.) Another reason the 9mm is a preferred caliber weapon is that there are many compact handguns with large-capacity magazines made for the 9mm round, making them easy to carry and easy to conceal.
The 9×19 cartridge has a moderate amount of recoil and travels in a flat trajectory. Although it can travel further, its design intention was lethal shots at 50 meters or less. Premium bullets in this caliber have excellent penetration and expansion capabilities. Of course, these cartridges are available in a range of weights that will affect all of these factors.
In the 1990s, some improvements were made to the 9×19 cartridge referred to as the +P variant that gave a moderate amount of ballistic performance improvement. The jacketed hollow point bullet was also redesigned to be more effective by providing better expansion and less fragmentation than the previous hollow points available. It is considered to be superior ballistically to the .38 Special.
While the 9×19 parabellum is the most common 9mm ammunition and used by the military and police, there are several different types. Rounds used by the military are designed to be armor-piercing. Military applications include the semi-automatic pistol and submachine guns which both use 9mm ammunition.
All 9mm cartridges are not the same caliber and do not fit all 9mm weapons, nor are they interchangeable. They come in 9×17, 9×18, 9×19, 9×21, and 9×23. The 9×17 is short and is the one that is technically .380 auto. The 9×18 is the 9mm Makarov; the 9×21 is a 9mm IMI, and the 9×23 is the 9mm Largo or Long.
The 9×19 is the 9mm Luger or 9mm parabellum. If you are unsure which of the 9mm cartridges is the correct match for your weapon, then it is best to consult a gunsmith rather than take a chance on purchasing the wrong type of 9mm ammunition that does not fit your gun.
If you have not previously used a 9mm weapon, the low cost of the ammo makes it a good choice these days. A quality 9mm has a legendary reputation for accuracy, making it great for target shooting and self-defense. Its moderate recoil property can be an advantage to more minor, lighter-weight shooters.
The compact versions are well-suited for those with a permit to carry a weapon, and the more significant magazine types available cut down on reloading frequency. The 9mm is just one of the best all-around choices, as evidenced by the fact that well over half of US police forces now prefer them over any other handgun or ammo type.