Wonder Nine

A Wonder Nine is a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum with a staggered column magazine and a double-action trigger for at least the first shot.^[1]

The term was coined by firearms author Robert Shimek, and became popular in American firearm-related magazines during the 1980s and 1990s by those advocating their use by police forces.^[1] At the time most American police departments were still using revolvers, with the majority chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum.^[2]

The simplicity of being able to fire the first shot just by pulling the trigger (a prominent feature of double-action revolvers), larger ammunition capacity, and faster reloading of ammunition with the use of box magazines are the "wonderful" features of a semi-automatic pistol.

Examples include the Heckler & Koch VP70 (1970), Smith & Wesson Model 59 (1971),^[2][3][4] CZ 75 (1975), Star Model 28 (1975), Beretta 92 (1976),^[2] Steyr GB (1981), Glock 17 (1982), FN HP DA (1982), SIG Sauer P226 (1984), Ruger P85 (1985),^[2] Walther P88 (1988), IWI Jericho 941 (1990), Vektor SP1 (1992), Heckler & Koch USP (1993), Bersa Thunder 9 (1994), Walther P99 (1997), and Steyr M (1999).

Gallery

• 
  A FN Browning BDA-9.
• 
  Heckler & Koch VP70.
• 
  S&W Model 59.
• 
  CZ 75BD variant, with 19-round magazine.
• 
  A Beretta 92FS Inox stainless steel pistol.
• 
  A "fourth-generation" Glock 17.
• 
  A SIG Sauer P226 pistol.
• 
  A Ruger P89.
• 
  A first generation Walther P99.

See also

• Machine pistol