The 9mm Luger, which appeared in 1901, remains one of the long-lived calibers that gave way to many other pistols of the same caliber However, few of them can be considered the best in their class.

The 9mm Luger, which appeared in 1901, remains one of the longest-lived calibers, taking part in firefights from the First World War to modern conflicts.

Focus translated  Kyle Mizokami's article on the best handguns of our time.

• Its resurgence in popularity in the 1980s led to improved pistols such as the Glock 19, Sig P226, Heckler & Koch VP9, ​​Smith & Wesson M&P and Springfield XD.
• These modern pistols are characterized by increased efficiency, reliability and versatility. They feature double-action mechanisms, striker-fired triggers, and adjustable grips.

Remaining the standard caliber for NATO pistols, the 9mm Luger remains a vital component in the arsenals of armies and law enforcement agencies worldwide. world.

Top 5 9mm Luger Pistols Dominating Modern Firearms

Invented before the First World War, the 9mm Luger is one of the longest-lived in the history of weapons. After its appearance in 1901, it was used in almost all conflicts to this day. From the German army of the First World War to the British army fighting ISIS in Syria, – the Luger cartridge has served the military for over a century. Despite its age, the 9mm cartridge is now more dangerous than ever, thanks to innovations in ammunition lethality that allow the bullet to get the most out of it.

Quite powerful and compact, the 9 mm Luger cartridge received a new life in the 1980s, when the so-called “Incredible Nine” put an end to the dominance of revolvers and large-caliber pistols on the American market. This caliber remains the standard for NATO member pistols, and many armies use the 9mm pistol already in its second or third generation, and recently it was re-adopted by the US Army for the new M17 modular system. The 9mm Luger cartridge will last for many years to come. Here are the top five handguns that use this cartridge.

Glock G19

The Glock 19 was one of the first variants of the Glock pistol. Released in 1988, it was practically unchanged from its predecessor, except for a shorter barrel and handle. Because of this, the capacity of the magazine had to be reduced from 17 to 15 cartridges, but the pistol became easier to carry concealed. Today, this pistol is recognized by enthusiasts as the best all-purpose Glock model. The Glock 19 was adopted by US Navy SEALs, US Army Rangers, and its modified version participated in the US Army Modular Small Arms Competition.

The overall length of the Glock 19 pistol is 18.7 cm, the length of the barrel – 10.2 cm. The gun has an automatic double-action mechanism, that is, after the cartridge is sent into the chamber, you only need to press the trigger to set the firing pin in motion and fire a shot. Subsequent shots also require only one pull of the trigger. This eliminates the need to cock the trigger before firing, but at the same time slightly lengthens the trigger travel. The basic design of the Glock has three safeties, including a firing pin safety and a drop safety, as well as a trigger safety. No external manual safety.

Sig P226

The Sig P226 pistol was developed based on Sig Sauer's P210 pistol as a replacement for the long-used 1911A1 pistol chambered in .45 ACP. The pistol failed to win the contract, and the Beretta M9 pistol was offered instead. Although the U.S. Navy also adopted the Beretta, problems with the quality of the metal caused cracks to appear in the breechblocks of the first pistols with a large number of cartridges. After accidents involving defects, the SEALs switched to the Sig P226, calling it the Mark 11. Adoption by US police forces further increased the popularity of the P226.

P226 – all metal gun with a metal frame. It has a magazine for 15 cartridges, a total length of 19.6 cm and a barrel length of 10.4 cm. The weight of the gun in a loaded state is almost exactly one kilogram. Like the Glock 19, the P226 is also a double-action pistol, but it also has a single-action mode that allows you to manually cock the trigger. In addition, the gun is equipped with a safety release lever, which allows you to remove the trigger from the firing platoon without pulling the trigger.

Heckler & Koch VP9

One of the newest pistols for the 9mm Luger cartridge – Heckler & Koch VP9. Introduced in 2014, the VP9, ​​like the other pistols on this list, is a double-shot, high-powered pistol with a steel slide and polymer frame. VP9 holds up to fifteen cartridges – as much as the Glock 19. This German-designed pistol has dimensions similar to the G19 and P226, and its barrel is cold-forged, which improves shooting accuracy and barrel life.

Unlike older pistols that use a striker-fired mechanism, the VP9 is a striker-fired pistol. Striker-fired pistols use a spring-loaded trigger mechanism that is partially cocked by pulling and releasing the bolt. Pulling the trigger completes the cocking process and releases the firing pin. Thus, striker-fired pistols are not prone to accidental discharges unrelated to the trigger being pulled, such as when the pistol is dropped on a hard surface.

A new feature of the VP9, ​​which is increasingly common in pistols, is the ability to adapt the pistol grip to different hand sizes. Each gun is equipped with several removable grips and panels for reducing or increasing the width of the grip. A total of 27 configurations are available in different sizes for small and large hands.

Smith & Wesson M&P

Pistol Smith & The Wesson M&P (Military and Police) was first introduced in 2005 and was a hybrid of two previous pistols – Sigma and SW99. Like the rest of the pistols on this list, it has a polymer frame and steel slide, a large internal magazine (for 17 rounds) and a striker-fired trigger mechanism. M&P impresses with its aggressive appearance: the shutter has notches for a better grip, and a Picatinny rail is built into the barrel for attaching lights and laser pointers.

Smith & Wesson claims that the low axis of the M&P barrel reduces muzzle rise and allows the shooter to return to the target more quickly. The pistol is similar to the Glock 17 in many ways, including magazine size, but one reviewer noted that the M&P is slightly larger and heavier. The M&P also features a loaded cartridge indicator that flips up when a cartridge is chambered, left-handed and right-handed controls, and four interchangeable inserts of different sizes for different hand types.

Springfield XD

< p>Developed in Croatia under the name HS2000, the Springfield XD (“Extreme Duty”) pistol is a big hit in the US. Externally, the XD resembles a Glock pistol from neighboring Austria, but has a flatter shape. The standard service model has a four-inch barrel – like everyone on this list, – and a double-row magazine that holds up to sixteen rounds of 9mm Luger.

The Springfield XD combines a number of old and new features from the other pistols on this list to create a pretty unique and surprising set of qualities. The XD features a grip safety, like the Colt 1911A1, that prevents the pistol from discharging if it is not held in the hands. It also features a Glock-like trigger safety, a drop safety that prevents the firing pin from being released, and a loaded cartridge indicator like the Smith & Wesson M&P. Throwing back the lever allows for quick partial disassembly of the cleaning gun.

About the author

Kyle Mizokami – a San Francisco-based journalist who has published in The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, War is Boring, and The Daily Beast. In 2009, he co-founded the defense and security blog Japan Security Watch. You can follow him on Twitter: @KyleMizokami.