Pistol Auto 9mm 1A

Pistol Auto 9mm 1A manufactured in RFI, India.

The Pistol Auto 9mm 1A^[1] is a semi-automatic pistol currently manufactured by Rifle Factory Ishapore, one of 41 production facilities of Ordnance Factories Board of the Indian Ministry of Defence.

History

In 1971,^[2] preliminary works were established to make Pistol Auto 9mm 1A. The first specimen was manufactured in 1977,^[3] while large-scale manufacturing began in 1981.^[2] The Rifle Factory Ishapore manufactures this pistol using stamping dies for the Browning Hi-Power pistol from the former John Inglis manufacturing facility in Toronto, Canada. The pistol is an exact copy of Browning Hi-Power. It is unknown how India obtained the license and why it chose this model.

Design features

It is a recoil-operated, magazine-fed, self-loading, semi-automatic pistol that uses 9×19mm Parabellum ammunition. The magazine has a 13-round capacity.

Specifications

• Calibre: 9 mm
• Sights: Iron Sights, Front sight: blade dovetailed on the slide; rear sight: notched bar integrated into slide
• Weight: With magazine empty: 0.935 kg, with magazine loaded: 1.075 kg
• Length overall: 205 mm
• Barrel length: 120 mm
• Magazine Capacity: 13 rounds
• Ammunition used: Cartridge SA Ball 9 mm MK.2z(Parabellum)
• Rifling: 6 grooves, 1 turn in 254 mm, R.H.
• Muzzle Velocity: 396.23 m/s.
• Number of components: 54
• Range: 50 m

Cartridge

Any standard 9×19mm Parabellum ammunition can be used. (CARTRIDGE SA 9 mm BALL) for this pistol is manufactured by the Ordnance Factories Board.^[4] The specifications of the ammunition is:

Physical Characteristics

• Total length of round: H-29.69 mm, L-28.91 mm
• Total mass of round: 11.94 g ± 0.65 g
• Maximum diameter: 9.96 mm
• Explosive filling in case: 0.450 g (approx) propellant SPA-2 or propellant NC-688
• Cap Composition: 23 mg VH2 compo E1 compo

Performance Characteristics

• Mean velocity at 18 m from muzzle: 397 ± 15 m/s
• Accuracy: 75.2 mm Mean Figure of Merit at 45 m
• Pressure Mean: 201 MPa, Individual 215 MPa; no single round should exceed 216 MPa.

Users

Law Enforcement and Military use

•  India - Widely used by Indian Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces and other Law enforcement agencies such as State Police forces, as a service weapon.^[5]

Civilian use

According to The Arms Act of India, 1959, this weapon comes under the "Prohibited Bore (PB)" category, and possession by civilians is illegal.

OFB still exports few pistols to other countries, however, where gun possession policy is more liberal.^[6]

References