DWalt
Member
9mm NATO M882
The following information should resolve all questions regarding the 9mm NATO M882 round.
The 9mm NATO (M882) velocity acceptance specs are based on a longer barrel (SMG) of 7.848" (20 cm). See the following:
MIL-C-70508 (9mm NATO ammunition specification, 7 Feb 1985) (NOTE: you can Google and find it free as a PDF file - It is there)
Velocity = 1263+/-49 fps average @ 52.5' from muzzle. Chamber Pressure = 34,519 psi max. average (7.848" (20 cm) test barrel) Test temperature is 21 deg. C +/- 2 deg. C. There are also pressure and velocity test requirements at higher and lower temperatures. Average velocity and pressure are based upon 30 shots fired from a test barrel at each of three temperatures.
Winchester Lot Acceptance Test (LAT) Data: Velocity average over the last 5 lots = 1249 fps min. Chamber pressure 32,783 psi average max. (Note: The NATO chamber pressure procedure requires measurement at the cartridge case mouth using a piezoelectric test gauge. Results are not necessarily comparable to chamber pressure measurements obtained using other methods)
Having personally chronographed the "genuine" military 124 grain M882 from a 5" barrel Beretta M9, I found the average muzzle velocity to be about 1175 FPS. Winchester states it to be 1149 fps, but I don't know their test details. It could be slightly greater or less than this depending upon temperature, barrel length, barrel dimensions, and the specific ammo lot. It's probably safe to assume the true velocity of the M882 as being between 1150 and 1200 FPS in a 5" barrel.
At the time I was involved in this sort of thing over five years ago, Winchester was the sole contract manufacturer of the M882 round for the US military. I do not know if they still are. I saw the M882 loading line at Winchester's East Alton IL plant once, and was told that Winchester's civilian 124 grain FMJ 9mm ammunition was exactly the same. The only differences (other than the headstamp) were in the level of quality control and the packaging. Regarding weapon suitability, any pistol equivalent to the Beretta M9 (aka Model 92) should be able to survive on a steady diet of M882 ammo. We had M9s that had been fired in excess of 100K rounds in training with no repairs needed. Once, we magnafluxed a sample of high-mileage M9s, and found no slide, barrel, or frame cracking. In the early days of the M9 (late 1980s), there were several problems with both barrel and slide failures, which were later resolved. The M9 is indeed a tough gun.
I have also seen references to a 115 grain 9mm NATO load, but am unaware of any in recent US service. Maybe some other NATO countries use a 9mm load with a 115 grain bullet. I don't know.
Much M9 and M11 (SIG) training in the US Air Force is currently done with lead-free frangible ammunition, also manufactured by Winchester. This is designated Cartridge, 9mm Frangible, Mark 254 Mod 0, NSN: 1305014428717, DODIC AA16. This cartridge uses a 90 grain Sinterfire sintered copper bullet. This round can be used in the M9 and M11 pistols and also the MP5 SMG, but does not work well in the UZI.
Several years ago, the US Air Force started a program moving toward obtaining a new service pistol to replace the M9, and was considering, among other calibers (such as .45 ACP and .40 S&W), the 9X23mm Winchester at a MV of about 1430 FPS using the same 124grain FMJ bullet as the M882. That pistol program was terminated in 2007. There was a small quantity of this ammunition loaded by Winchester for preliminary evaluation, and I fired most of it. It was a winner in power and accuracy, but was a little stout in recoil compared to the M882.
The following information should resolve all questions regarding the 9mm NATO M882 round.
The 9mm NATO (M882) velocity acceptance specs are based on a longer barrel (SMG) of 7.848" (20 cm). See the following:
MIL-C-70508 (9mm NATO ammunition specification, 7 Feb 1985) (NOTE: you can Google and find it free as a PDF file - It is there)
Velocity = 1263+/-49 fps average @ 52.5' from muzzle. Chamber Pressure = 34,519 psi max. average (7.848" (20 cm) test barrel) Test temperature is 21 deg. C +/- 2 deg. C. There are also pressure and velocity test requirements at higher and lower temperatures. Average velocity and pressure are based upon 30 shots fired from a test barrel at each of three temperatures.
Winchester Lot Acceptance Test (LAT) Data: Velocity average over the last 5 lots = 1249 fps min. Chamber pressure 32,783 psi average max. (Note: The NATO chamber pressure procedure requires measurement at the cartridge case mouth using a piezoelectric test gauge. Results are not necessarily comparable to chamber pressure measurements obtained using other methods)
Having personally chronographed the "genuine" military 124 grain M882 from a 5" barrel Beretta M9, I found the average muzzle velocity to be about 1175 FPS. Winchester states it to be 1149 fps, but I don't know their test details. It could be slightly greater or less than this depending upon temperature, barrel length, barrel dimensions, and the specific ammo lot. It's probably safe to assume the true velocity of the M882 as being between 1150 and 1200 FPS in a 5" barrel.
At the time I was involved in this sort of thing over five years ago, Winchester was the sole contract manufacturer of the M882 round for the US military. I do not know if they still are. I saw the M882 loading line at Winchester's East Alton IL plant once, and was told that Winchester's civilian 124 grain FMJ 9mm ammunition was exactly the same. The only differences (other than the headstamp) were in the level of quality control and the packaging. Regarding weapon suitability, any pistol equivalent to the Beretta M9 (aka Model 92) should be able to survive on a steady diet of M882 ammo. We had M9s that had been fired in excess of 100K rounds in training with no repairs needed. Once, we magnafluxed a sample of high-mileage M9s, and found no slide, barrel, or frame cracking. In the early days of the M9 (late 1980s), there were several problems with both barrel and slide failures, which were later resolved. The M9 is indeed a tough gun.
I have also seen references to a 115 grain 9mm NATO load, but am unaware of any in recent US service. Maybe some other NATO countries use a 9mm load with a 115 grain bullet. I don't know.
Much M9 and M11 (SIG) training in the US Air Force is currently done with lead-free frangible ammunition, also manufactured by Winchester. This is designated Cartridge, 9mm Frangible, Mark 254 Mod 0, NSN: 1305014428717, DODIC AA16. This cartridge uses a 90 grain Sinterfire sintered copper bullet. This round can be used in the M9 and M11 pistols and also the MP5 SMG, but does not work well in the UZI.
Several years ago, the US Air Force started a program moving toward obtaining a new service pistol to replace the M9, and was considering, among other calibers (such as .45 ACP and .40 S&W), the 9X23mm Winchester at a MV of about 1430 FPS using the same 124grain FMJ bullet as the M882. That pistol program was terminated in 2007. There was a small quantity of this ammunition loaded by Winchester for preliminary evaluation, and I fired most of it. It was a winner in power and accuracy, but was a little stout in recoil compared to the M882.
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