9mm AUPO

Research notes

This was a Fiocchi development during the 1980’s and was used in the Benelli CB M2 semi auto carbine. It is not a caseless cartridge, but a self-contained round as the powder is loaded inside the case with the “primer” located in a chamber the entire circumference of the cartridge, as can be seen from the image below. The whole cartridge leaves the barrel when fired and as such, there is no empty case that is ejected after firing. Although claiming a much more simplified mechanism, the Benelli was more complex as the gun had to have an ejection port located at the bottom to eject misfires. In the end nobody was interested in the project and was discontinued after a few years. There was a discussion on the IAA Forum on the 9mm AUPO.