9mm case length

Johnny Peppers · 04-16-2002, 09:18 AM

Rick,

If you have a copy of "Hatcher's Notebook" by Gen. Julian Hatcher, it has an interesting section on headspace. He reports firing .380ACP in the Luger with excellent accuracy. When the cartridges were fed from the magazine the extractor held the cartridge against the breechface and fired reliably. The .380ACP did not have enough power to work the action and had to be cycled by hand.

Headspace is measured differently for the type of cartridge being used. A rimfire cartridge or a rimmed centerfire cartridge has the headspace measured from the breechface to where the rim seats against the back edge of the chamber. The .38ACP or .38 Super also headspaces on the rim. Rimless cartridges such as the 9mm Luger or .45ACP are headspaced from the face of the breechblock to the forward shoulder of the chamber. A rimless rifle cartridge such as the .30-06 or 8mm Mauser headspaces from the breechblock to the contact point on the shoulder of the cartridge. The belted magnum cartridges headspace from the breechface to the forward edge of the belt.

04-16-2002, 09:18 AM	#5
Johnny Peppers User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Calion, Arkansas Posts: 1,042 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: 9mm case length Rick, If you have a copy of "Hatcher's Notebook" by Gen. Julian Hatcher, it has an interesting section on headspace. He reports firing .380ACP in the Luger with excellent accuracy. When the cartridges were fed from the magazine the extractor held the cartridge against the breechface and fired reliably. The .380ACP did not have enough power to work the action and had to be cycled by hand. Headspace is measured differently for the type of cartridge being used. A rimfire cartridge or a rimmed centerfire cartridge has the headspace measured from the breechface to where the rim seats against the back edge of the chamber. The .38ACP or .38 Super also headspaces on the rim. Rimless cartridges such as the 9mm Luger or .45ACP are headspaced from the face of the breechblock to the forward shoulder of the chamber. A rimless rifle cartridge such as the .30-06 or 8mm Mauser headspaces from the breechblock to the contact point on the shoulder of the cartridge. The belted magnum cartridges headspace from the breechface to the forward edge of the belt.