Heckler & Koch P9S

Heckler & Koch P9S
Heckler & Koch P9S
	H&K P9S 9mm with magazine
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	West Germany
Service history
In service	1969-present
Used by	See Users
Production history
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Specifications
Mass	(31 oz), empty (.45 ACP)
Length	19.2 cm (7.5 in)
Barrel length	10.2 cm (4 in)
Height	(5.4 in)
Cartridge	9x19mm Parabellum; .45 ACP; 7.65x22mm Parabellum
Action	Roller delayed, DA
Rate of fire	Semi-automatic
Feed system	9-round (9x19mm) or 7-round (.45 ACP) single column, detachable box magazine

The Heckler and Koch P9S is a semi-automatic pistol and the first to use a variation of H&K's roller delayed blowback system in a pistol format and polygonal rifling now common in H&K designs. It differs from the earlier P9 by being a conventional double action pistol able to be fired both with a cocked hammer and with the hammer forward on a loaded chamber.

Overview

The P9S is a roller delayed pistol manufactured from a pressed steel frame covered in polymer and a pressed steel slide that contains the precision machined internal parts including a polygonally rifled barrel. High profile fixed sights are fitted with two red rectangles on the rear sight and a white stripe on the drift adjustable front blade sight. Vertical zeroing is accomplished by fitting front sights of a different height. The P9S was adopted by the US Navy for use with a sound suppressor.Dockery, Kevin (2004). Weapons of the Navy SEALs. New York: Berkley Caliber. p. 55. ISBN 0-425-19834-0. The sound suppressors of the period were comparatively large and the model frequently shown with the P9S make the pistol's sights unusable so the suppressor was equipped with sights. The fixed barrel of the P9S allows the pistol to operate reliably with the suppressor attached without requiring the recoil booster. Most long and short recoil designs need to compensate for the added muzzle mass and mechanical movement of a mounted suppressor.

Operational traits

This weapon uses a heel-mounted magazine release. It fires double or single action and uses a lever on the left side of the pistol grip to both decock a cocked hammer or to manually re-cock it for a single action first shot. The hammer is concealed within the slide with a protruding pin at the rear of the slide to indicate whether it is cocked. A manual safety is found at the left rear of the slide.