9 X 66 FRENCH MAS XPL

Research notes

This was a French experimental cartridge in the period between the 1st and 2nd World Wars. The French experimented with various infantry and anti-aircraft designs ranging from 9 – 14mm. During the 1930’s they developed a 9mm cartridge as an anti-tank, anti-personnel, anti-aircraft weapon with the initial project including barrels ranging from 7,5mm up to 11mm. This 9mm version resembles a scaled up 7,5mm M1929 round. When hostilities broke out in 1939 these rifles and cartridges were still under development, but the advances made in armour by the Germans meant that this and other experimental cartridges were never adopted.