9mm R&D

Research notes

The 9mm R&D originated from the pistol trials conducted by the Ammunition/Small Arms group in the AF Armament Lab at Eglin AFB during the early 1980’s. The biggest problem encountered was accuracy and the team used computer programs they had developed to optimize the design of 20mm and larger ordnance and applied it to the 9mm and came up with two designs, the first being a truncated bullet and the second a blunt round-nose bullet. These bullets were ordered from Federal and was loaded by a company called G&S Munitions Inc, from Hereford AZ. The Airforce decided to go with the blunt ogive RN bullet and contracted with Olin Corporation for the loaded ammunition. The project managers were two civilian contractors (Jack Robbins and Dale Davis) and had their initials placed on the headstamp.