MP9
Summary
| Country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Submachine gun |
| Manufacturer | Ruger |
Technical specifications
| MP9 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 550 - 650 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 9 x 19 mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 32 rounds |
| Length | 556 mm (21.9 in) |
| Weight | 3.0 kg (6.6 lb) |
| Range | 25 m (82 ft) |
Description
The Ruger MP9 is a 9×19mm submachine gun/machine pistol introduced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. in 1995. Designed by Uziel Gal, the creator of the Uzi, the MP9 was an attempt to improve upon the original Uzi design. In the late 1980s, Gal refined his Uzi design, and Sturm, Ruger & Co. acquired the rights. Despite being marketed as an "improved Uzi," the MP9 did not achieve commercial success and was not adopted for its intended purpose of arming American government agents.
The MP9 features a hammer-fired, closed-bolt system with a blowback operating action similar to the Uzi. Simplicity was a design priority, leading to its designation as an "improved Uzi". The lower receiver and pistol grip are made from Zytel polymer, and the polymer butt-stock is connected to the frame via a polymer hinge. The MP9 includes:
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a three-position selector lever for safety and firing modes
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a firing-pin block to prevent accidental discharge
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a detachable barrel cushioned by a spring to reduce recoil
The three-position selector lever integrates safety and firing modes: "safe" (upper position), semi-automatic fire (middle position), and automatic mode (bottom position). In automatic mode, the MP9 is capable of emptying a 32-round magazine in approximately three seconds. The cocking handle is located on top of the stainless-steel receiver.
The Ruger MP9 saw operational use during the Burundian Civil War and was used by Burundi forces.