9 mm PAK

9mm P.A.
9×22mm P.A. cartridge with brass case.
Type	Semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	Germany
Specifications
Parent case	9×19mm Parabellum
Rim diameter	9 mm
Case length	22 mm
Primer type	Small pistol

9mm P.A. (Pistole Automatik, German for "automatic pistol"), 9×22mm or 9mm P.A.K. (Pistole Automatik Knall, "automatic blank pistol") is a firearm cartridge for a non-lethal gas pistol noisemaking gun. Caliber 9mm P.A. includes various blank, gas or rubber ammunitions made for different use.

9mm P.A. Blank has also been used for theatrical purposes, including as a modification to muzzle-loading firearms, allowing early-modern muskets and the like to be fired on-stage without the actors learning the complex steps of loading with loose powder.

Each of the 9mm P.A. cartridge variants are distinguished by a proper color: green, yellow, blue, red, etc.

9mm P.A. ammunitions can be used for different purposes depending on the legislation, these include military training, cinema props, self-defense (rubber bullets can be used only in Russia), dog training, historical reenactment, holiday or new year celebration (mostly in Turkey and Germany).

The use of this ammunition also depends on the 9mm P.A. gun's barrel which can be of three kinds depending on the country's own gun legislation that can be more or less restrictive.

Fully obstructed barrel are called "top firing" (or "top venting") for they have a long hole on the barrel's top while the muzzle is closed. "Front firing" (or "front venting") guns have a semi-obstructed barrel that allows for a flame, smoke or tear gas to be ejected out of the muzzle. According to American federal laws, both "front firing" and "top firing" new guns must be idenfified by a red plastic tip fixed on the muzzle.

Russia's guns legislation allows civilians self-defence hence local 9mm P.A. guns can have a clear barrel that can fire non-lethal rubber bullets.

These blank cartridges can also be used to fire pyrotecnics (single or multishots) or non-lethal "self-gomm" rubber bullets with the proper adaptor attached to the barrel.

Cal. 9mm P.A. Blank (a.k.a. «9mm P.A.K.») are blank cartridges made for semi-automatic pistols.

Semi-automatic 9mm P.A. ammunitions are not compatible with gas pistols 9mm R. (.380) or 9mm R NC designed for blank-firing revolvers.

Cal. 9mm P.A. CS are cartridges loaded with tear gas CS (80 mg).

Cal. 9mm P.A. CN are cartridges loaded with tear gas CN (160 or 220 mg).

Cal. 9mm P.A. PV are cartridges loaded with pepper spray (20, 30 or 45 mg) and intended to be used for self-defense against dangerous animals.