DESCRIPTION
Pistol ammunition is issued in the form of a complete round, A complete round (cartridge) consists of all the components
(cartridge case, bullet or shot, propellant powder, and primer) necessary to fire the weapon once.
.38 Special
Ballistic data for .38 Special ammunition.
| Model |
Cartridge Weight |
Cartridge Length |
Propellant |
Chamber Pressure |
Velocity
15 ft (4.6 m) from muzzle |
| M41 Ball |
203 gr (13.15 g) |
1.55 in (39.37 mm) |
SR 7325 |
16,000 psi (1,125 kg/cm²) |
950 fps (290 mps) |
| Wad Cutter |
220 gr (14.26 g) |
1.16 in (29.46 mm) |
Smokeless powder |
16,000 psi (1,125 kg/cm²) |
800 fps (244 mps) |
Cartridge, Caliber .38, Ball, Special, M41
The cartridge is intended for use in personal defense hand guns.
The cartridge has a brass case and a jacketed bullet.
Type Classification: OBS - MSR 08836015
Cartridge, Caliber .38, Wad Cutter
The cartridge is used only in pistol competition firing and marksmanship training.
The cartridge has a brass case. The bullet is designed with a concave forward end to act as a paper punch cutting a clean hole in targets.
Type Classification: Commercial
9x19mm (9mm NATO)
Ballistic data for 9x19mm ammunition.
| Model |
Cartridge Weight |
Cartridge Length |
Propellant |
Projectile Weight |
Pressure |
Velocity
15 ft (4.6 m) from muzzle |
| Ball |
182 gr (11.79 g) |
1.169 in (29.69 mm) |
Commercial |
115 gr (7.45 g) |
*Avg Mid Case: 38,500 psi (2,707 kg/cm²)
*Max Mid Case: 43,000 psi (3,023 kg/cm²) |
1,125 ± 90 fps (343 ± 27 mps) |
| M882 Ball |
179 gr (11.6 g) |
1.165 in (29.59 mm) |
HPC 26 |
112 gr (7.26 g) |
Avg Case Mouth: 31,175 psi (2,192 kg/cm²)
Max Case Mouth: 36,250 psi (2,549 kg/cm²) |
1,263 ± 5 fps (385 ± 1.5 mps) |
| M905 HPT |
179 gr (11.6 g) |
1.165 in (29.59 mm) |
WC 370 |
? |
Chamber: 50,000 psi (3,515 kg/cm²) |
N/A |
*NOTE: Mid case pressures normally run 8,000 to 10,000 psi higher than case mouth pressure.
Cartridge, 9mm, Ball
The cartridge is intended for use against personnel. For use in Modified M3 Submachine Gun or commercial weapons. The use in M9
Pistol is not authorized.
Type Classification: Commercial
Cartridge, 9mm, Ball, M882
The cartridge is used in the M9, M10, and M11 pistols and is Code A, approved for service use. This is a training standard item used
for both training and combat. The ammunition complies with NATO STANAG 4090 and is packed in military type packaging.
The M882 ball cartridge consists of a brass case, a copper alloy jacketed lead core bullet, a two-piece boxer-type primer,
and a double-base propellant. The cartridge is identified by the plain bullet tip.
Type Classification: HQDA (DAMA-CSM). Type Classification Date: 1985.
Unit cost: $0.18 (Fiscal Year 2005).
Cartridge, 9mm, High Pressure Test, M905
The cartridge is intended for use in proofing new pistols and test barrels to demonstrate safety prior to releasing weapons to the field.
The cartridge is identified by a tinned cartridge case and high pressure test head stamp.
Type Classification: HQDA (DAMA-CSM)
Type Classification Date: 1985.
Cartridge, 9mm, Dummy Round, M917
Cartridge, 9mm, Jacketed-Hollowpoint, MK243 Mod 0
For U.S. Army Law Enforcement use in the United States and it's territories only. Brass Case.
Cartridge Length: 1.150 in (29.21 mm)
Cartridge Weight: 147 grain (9.17 g)
.45 ACP
Ballistic data for .45 ACP ammunition.
| Model |
Cartridge Weight |
Cartridge Length |
Propellant |
Projectile Weight |
Pressure |
Velocity
25.5 ft (7.8 m) from muzzle |
| M1 HPT |
332 gr (21.51 g) |
1.275 in (32.39 mm) |
SR 7970 |
? |
22,000 psi (1,547 kg/cm²) |
N/A |
| M9 Blank |
104 gr (6.74 g) |
1.108 in (28.14 mm) |
SR 4990 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| M26 Tracer |
331 gr (21.45 g) |
1.275 in (32.39 mm) |
SR 7970 |
? |
19,000 psi (1,336 kg/cm²) |
885 fps (270 mps) |
| M1911 Ball |
331 gr (21.45 g) |
1.275 in (32.39 mm) |
SR 7970 |
234 gr (15.16 g) |
19,000 psi (1,336 kg/cm²) |
885 ± 25 fps (270 ± 7.6 mps) |
| M1911 Match |
334 gr (21.64 g) |
1.275 in (32.39 mm) |
SR 7970 |
? |
19,000 psi (1,336 kg/cm²) |
885 ± 25 fps (270 ± 7.6 mps) |
| M1921 Dummy |
305 gr (19.76 g) |
1.275 in (32.39 mm) |
N/A |
? |
N/A |
N/A |
| Wad Cutter |
330 gr (21.38 g) |
1.255 in (31.88 mm) |
Smokeless powder |
? |
18,000 psi (1,265 kg/cm²) |
765 fps (233 mps)
15 ft (4.6 m) from muzzle |
Cartridge, Caliber .45, High Pressure Test, M1
The cartridge is for proof testing caliber .45 pistols and submachine guns during manufacture, test, or repair.
The cartridge is identified by a stannic-stained (silvered) cartridge case.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .45, Blank, M9
Used to simulate fibre and for salutes. This cartridge can be fired single shot only in the pistol.
The brass-cased cartridge can be identified by the absence of a bullet and by its tapered mouth.
Type Classification: STD - AMCTC 505
Cartridge, Caliber .45, Tracer, M26
Used for observation of fire. Secondary uses are for incendiary effect and for signaling.
Brass case. The bullet consists of three parts: a copper-plated or gilding metal-clad steel jacket, a slug of lead hardened with
antimony and a R256 tracer mixture in the rear portion of the jacket. The bullet is painted red for a distance of approximately 3/16
inch from the tip.
Type Classification: CON - MSR 11756003
Cartridge, Caliber .45, Ball, M1911
For use against personnel and light material targets.
The ball bullet consists of a metal jacket surrounding a lead alloy core. The bullet tip is unpainted. Brass case.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .45, Ball, Match, M1911
The cartridge is to be used only in those weapons designated as competition pistols.
Brass case with head stamping on base of cartridge: NM (National Match) or MATCH.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .45, Dummy, M1921
The cartridge is used for training personnel in the operation of loading and unloading the pistol, during simulated firing exercises
to detect flinching of personnel when firing, and to inspect and test the mechanism of the weapons.
The cartridge is identified by the drilled holes in the cartridge case and the absence of a primer.
Type Classification: STD - OTCM 36841
Cartridge, Caliber .45, Wad Cutter
The cartridge is used only in pistol competition firing and marksmanship training.
The cartridge has a brass case. The cartridge is identified by the bullet shape which has the general appearance of a truncated cone.
The ogive of the bullet has a sharp shoulder that acts as a hole punch to cut a clean hole in the target.
Type Classification: OBS - MSR 08836015
Cartridge, Caliber .45, High Density Shot, XM261
Used against personnel. It employs 16 spheres incased in a sabot similar in shape to the ball bullet.