Beretta M9
| M9 Pistol | |
|---|---|
 The M9 pistol | |
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin |  Italy,  United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1990-present |
| Used by |  United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length | 217 mm (8.5 in) |
| Barrel length | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Cartridge | 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Action | Mechanically locked |
| Muzzle velocity | 1160 ft/s or 353.568 m/s |
| Effective firing range | 50 m |
| Feed system | 15 round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights |
The M9 handgun, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9x19mm Parabellum pistol of the U.S. military adopted in the 1980s. It is essentially a mil-spec Beretta 92F, later the 92FS.
It won a competition in the 1980s to replace the M1911A1 as the primary handgun of U.S. armed forces, beating out many other contenders. Some other models have been adopted to a lesser extent (namely the M11 Pistol), and older, or different, models remain in use in certain niches. It officially entered Army service in 1990 according to the official Army website. It was scheduled to be replaced under an Army program, the Future Handgun System (FHS), which was merged with the SOF Combat Pistol program to create the Joint Combat Pistol (JCP). In early 2006, the JCP was renamed Combat Pistol (CP), and the number of pistols to be bought was drastically cut back.
The M9 has been modified as the M9A1, adding, among other things, a tactical rail for the attachment of lights, lasers, and other accessories to the weapon. The U.S. Marines have ordered large numbers of M9A1 pistols in the last year. Additionally, a contract for 70,000 M9 pistols was signed in 2006 by the U.S. military.
Technical description
A locked breech, semi-automatic, single-action / double-action recoil-operated pistol, the M9 uses a 15-round staggered magazine with a reversible magazine release button that can be positioned for either right- or left-handed shooters.
Specifications:
- Caliber: 9x19mm NATO (FMJ 9x19mm Parabellum)
- Length: 8.54" (217 mm)
- Barrel length: 4.92" (125 mm)
- Weight: 2.1 lb (unloaded); 2.56 lb (1.145 kg) (with loaded magazine)
- Capacity: 15 + 1
- Feed device: 15 round box (larger capacities available)
- Modes of Fire: DA/SA
- Muzzle velocity: 1160 ft/s (353 m/s)
- Safeties: Ambidextrous manual safety/de-cocker, rising firing pin block, half-cock notch
- Sights: Blade front w/ notch rear (dovetailed to slide)
- Maximum Effective Range: 50 m
The M9 is used with the M12 Holster (Part of the Beretta UM84 Holster System), though other holsters are often used.
Adoption: JSSAP, XM9, and XM10 trials
Under the Joint Service Small Arms Program which was run by the U.S. Air Force, a number of 9 mm pistol designs were trialed in the late 1970s to find a replacement for the 1911. The 9 mm round was selected for compliance with NATO standardization. In 1980, the Beretta 92S-1 design was chosen over entries from Colt, Smith & Wesson, various FN models, the Star M28, and Heckler & Koch models. The result, however, was challenged by the Army and new tests were to be done (this time run by the Army rather than the Air Force). In 1984, the trials started again with updated entries from S&W, Beretta, SIG-Sauer, H&K, Walther, Steyr, and FN. Beretta won this competition but there was a new trial, the XM10 competition, in 1988. This resulted in two different trials that were more limited, but resulted in the Beretta design being kept (with an update to it happening during the same time frame).
Controversy
Prior to its widespread adoption by the US military, questions were raised in a Government Accounting Office report regarding a small number of incidents where slide failures caused injuries to Naval Special Warfare personnel and were later observed in additional testing. These failures included both military and civilian Beretta models with very high round counts and after investigation they were deemed the result of ammunition supplied by the US army which exceeded the recommended pressures specified by NATO and by Beretta, but nonetheless provoked a modification in the M9 design to prevent slide failure from causing injuries.
- 63% reported confidence in the M9.
- Soldiers had problems with the magazine springs becoming too slack.
- 50% reported rust and corrosion problems, especially with the barrel.
Many of the magazines (including the springs) issued for use with the M9 are not produced by Beretta, but are made by aftermarket manufacturers such as Mec-Gar, Checkmate Industries, and Airtronic USA, Inc. Many firearms experts maintain that the only reliable magazines to use with any pistol are those produced by the pistol's manufacturer (also called "OEM", or "Original Equipment Manufacturer"). In 2003-2004 there were reported failures with the government contracted 9 mm magazines. After extensive testing and actual testimony given by the troops it was concluded that the failures were due to the heavy phosphate finish called for in the government contract, combined with the unique environmental conditions in Iraq. After corrections to the government required specifications for the magazine finish, almost two million new magazines have been distributed without any further malfunctions.
In the competition to find a new vendor, three finalists were chosen; these three were Airtronic Services, Inc. classified as a "Moderate Risk", PHT Supply (partnered with Triple K Mfg.) also classified as a "Moderate Risk" and Check-Mate Industries, Inc. classified as a "Very Low Risk". Of the three Airtronic Services, Inc was chosen due to their low bid of "$22,471,600" (Source: GAO). Airtronic Services delivered the first 900,000 magazines with zero failures, while costing less than the previous supplier Check-Mate Industries (source GAO and US Court of Federal Small Claims).
The Marine Corps Times reported plans in July 2007 to transition all officers below the rank of lieutenant colonel and all NCOs from being issued the M9. Instead, they will be issued M4A1 carbines to better meet the needs of modern warfare.[1]
See also
- M9 Bayonet A U.S. bayonet for the M16 rifle introduced in the same period
- M9 Armored Combat Earthmover A U.S. armored bulldozer
- GIAT BM92-G1 (PAMAS-G1) A French service sidearm adopted in same period
References
- Army Factfile on the M9 Pistol
- GAO Report NSIAD-89-59
- GAO Report NSIAD-88-213
- GAO Decision
- Court of Federal Claims