Why is automatic pistol cartridge case so long?

alvin · 06-29-2009, 03:18 PM

I thought the historical reason that Vlim mentioned earlier again.

There is still one unexplanable.... say early automatic pistol cartridge was shrinked down version of rifle cartridge, so came the longer than neccessary length. Why did those late auto cartridge, e.g. 9x18 Markarov, still being long ?

And, Phil mentioned air space is not good. Could there be something else? All those designers go long cases, there must be a reason...... Is there any change in smokeless powder formula over years, so old filled case now becoming empty because more new powder being used nowadays ?

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06-29-2009, 03:18 PM	#10
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	I thought the historical reason that Vlim mentioned earlier again. There is still one unexplanable.... say early automatic pistol cartridge was shrinked down version of rifle cartridge, so came the longer than neccessary length. Why did those late auto cartridge, e.g. 9x18 Markarov, still being long ? And, Phil mentioned air space is not good. Could there be something else? All those designers go long cases, there must be a reason...... Is there any change in smokeless powder formula over years, so old filled case now becoming empty because more new powder being used nowadays ?