Heckler & Koch P9

Heckler & Koch P9
H&K P9S 9mm with magazine
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	West Germany
Service history
In service	1969-present
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Heckler & Koch Gmbh
Designed	1965-1978
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Number built	485
Variants	P9S
Specifications
Weight	880 g (31 oz), empty (.45 ACP)
Length	19.2 cm (7.5 in)
Barrel length	10.2 cm (4 in)
Height	(5.4 in)
Cartridge	9x19mm Parabellum .45 ACP 7.65x22mm Parabellum
Action	Roller delayed, DA
Rate of fire	Semi-automatic
Feed system	9-round (9x19mm) or 7-round (.45 ACP) single column, detachable box magazine

The HK P9 is a semi-automatic pistol from Heckler & Koch in 9 mm Parabellum and the first to use a variation of H&K's roller delayed blowback system in a pistol format and polygonal rifling now common in H&K designs. Designed in 1965 and produced between 1969 and 1978, only 485 of these pistols were produced.^{[citation needed]} A double action version, the more popular P9S was manufactured in greater quantity. Though Heckler & Koch ceased production of this pistol in 1978, it is still available in a licensed Greek version called the EP9S.

The P9S differs from the earlier P9 by being a conventional double action pistol able to be fired both with a cocked hammer and with the hammer forward on a loaded chamber.

Overview

The P9 is a roller delayed pistol manufactured from a pressed steel frame covered in polymer and a pressed steel slide that contains the precision machined internal parts including a polygonally rifled barrel. High profile fixed sights are fitted with two red rectangles on the rear sight and a white stripe on the drift adjustable front blade sight. Vertical zeroing is accomplished by fitting front sights of a different height. The P9S was adopted by the US Navy for use with a sound suppressor.^[1] The sound suppressors of the period were comparatively large and the model frequently shown with the P9S make the pistol's sights unusable so the suppressor was equipped with sights. The fixed barrel of the P9S allows the pistol to operate reliably with the suppressor attached without requiring the recoil booster. Most long and short recoil designs need to compensate for the added muzzle mass and mechanical movement of a mounted suppressor.

Operational traits

This weapon uses a heel-mounted magazine release. It fires double or single action and uses a lever on the left side of the pistol grip to both decock a cocked hammer or to manually re-cock it for a single action first shot. The hammer is concealed within the slide with a protruding pin at the rear of the slide to indicate whether it is cocked. A manual safety is found at the left rear of the slide.

Users

•  Greece: EP9S variant.^[2]
•  Malaysia:^[2] Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysia Police.
•  Netherlands: Brigade Speciale Beveiligingsopdrachten.^[3]
•  Paraguay^[2]
•  Saudi Arabia^[2]
•  Sudan^[2]
•  United States: U.S. Navy.^[1]

See also

• List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Dockery, Kevin (2004). Weapons of the Navy SEALs. New York: Berkley Caliber. p. 55. ISBN 0-425-19834-0. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
3. ^ http://www.arrestatieteam.nl/bsb/index.php

• Maintenance Manual

External links

• Remtek
• HKPRo website
• HKPro.com on the P9
• Modern Firearms on the P9