The 9mm Glisenti (9×19mm) is a pistol cartridge of Italian origin.
History[]
The 9mm Glisenti was developed for the Glisenti Model 1910 pistol, and had also seen use in the Beretta Model 1915, Beretta Model 1919, and Model 1922 pistols. The M47 Medusa revolver is also capable of firing this cartridge.
M.1915 Glisenti[]
A special version of the 9mm Glisenti cartridge with a larger load was developed for use in the Villar Perosa submachine gun. It was also used for the Beretta Model 1918 carbine and OVP submachine gun. This version of the Glisenti cartridge fired at a higher velocity, comparable to 9×19mm Parabellum.
Design Details[]
The 9mm Glisenti is based on and is dimensionally identical to the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. However, the 9mm Glisenti has a smaller powder charge (reduced by 25% compared to the Parabellum), making it much decidedly less poweful.
The reason being, is that the cartridge was meant for use in blowback-operated pistols, which were easier and less expensive to produce than locked breech firearms. This meant that the cartridge will chamber in 9×19mm firearms at the risk of improper cycling and causing malfunctions. However, it also meant that 9×19mm cartridges would chamber and fire in 9mm Glisenti, presenting a risk of catastrophic failure to the weapon and of injury to the shooter.
The cartridge is nowadays obsolete, but Fiocchi Munizione does manufacture occasional batches of it.