The right question should be how many bullets does a 9mm magazine hold? After all, 9×19 Parabellum is the name of the caliber, not really the quantity of the magazine. The naming of the 9mm bullet is quite nice.
Originating from an old Roman phrase si vis pacem, para bellum, the translation of this sentence is quite solid. “If you want peace, prepare for war”. Well, you are not here for war I believe, let’s find out how many bullets a 9mm magazine can realistically hold.
Why Is 9mm Used So Much?
Instead of 45 ACP, a lot of shooters will still prefer 9mm to shoot with. Why is that? Well, one clear answer would be the muzzle velocity. A 9mm bullet is capable of generating a muzzle velocity of 1,225 ft/s at 383 ft-lb.
The 9mm bullet is also capable of doing close-range hunting and it is also a really good self-defense caliber. But one dilemma that was always with the caliber was the maximum capacity.
So, How Many Bullets Can It Hold?
Now that you know a bit about what the bullet is like and how big of a punch it can provide, how many punches can your magazine hold? Well, depending on your gun, the magazine size will vary.
While most 45 ACPs can extend up to 15 calibers, a 9mm is generally equipped with 12 rounds out of the box. And depending on the gun models or the extended magazine models, you can extend it up to 15 shots.
But if we are talking about a Glock drum magazine, then it can hold up to 50 rounds! That’s insanely high and easily puts it up to the SMG and pistol-like caliber category.
Does 9mm Have High Recoil?
A 9mm has quite a bit of recoil for a pistol caliber. But it’s not higher than 45 ACP for example. Then again, something like the Glock 17 has quite a small amount of recoil while holding 17 rounds of the 9mm caliber.
Should I Get A 9mm Gun Or A 45 ACP gun?
That my friend depends on what you want. While most will vouch for a 9mm gun due to the higher velocity and muzzle energy, a 45 ACP gun has its vintage design and performance value.
While 9mm is more readily available and cartridges are kind of cheaper as well, that’s why it’s easier to recommend between 9mm vs 45 ACP.
Conclusion
It’s quite obvious to want a higher capacity magazine with their weapon, I hope you now know the limits. If you are using a 9mm Glock and want the highest possible magazine capacity, then go for the Drum magazines for Glock.
They will give you an insane capacity upgrade at the cost of having a heavier weight at the back of your gun. This might make the recoil a bit harder to control but a small price for salvation.
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading as always, hope you had a great time reading it. I certainly did. Hope to see you on the next one.
