Patent ID: 8365453

Claim:
A firearm for implementing an improved 9 mm cartridge having a 9 mm bullet and a cartridge casing, the firearm comprising: a barrel, wherein the barrel is configured to operably interact with a 9 mm bullet; a chamber, wherein the chamber includes at least one chamber portion sized and shaped to operably associate with a .45 caliber cartridge casing, wherein the .45 caliber cartridge casing has a length approximately equal to 0.9880 inches and wherein the length may vary by a tolerance range of approximately ±0.004 inches; and a free-bore, wherein the free-bore includes a first free-bore portion having a first free-bore portion diameter and a second free-bore portion having a second free-bore portion diameter, wherein the second free-bore portion includes a second free-bore portion wall that is tapered between about 1° to about 2° such that the second free-bore portion diameter is smaller than the first free-bore portion diameter, and wherein the free-bore sized and shaped to operably associate with at least a portion of the cartridge casing and the 9 mm bullet, and wherein the 9 mm bullet weights at least 90 grains and is configured for operation with a 9 mm firearm, and the .45 caliber cartridge casing is configured to operate with a .45 caliber firearm, the .45 caliber cartridge casing having a case bottom portion communicated with a case top portion via a case middle portion having a length that is approximately equal to 0.0236 inches and tapered at an angle of 20 degrees relative to a plane disposed parallel to said case bottom portion, wherein said angle may vary by a tolerance range of approximately ±2 degrees, wherein the case bottom portion, the case middle portion and the case top portion define a case cavity and wherein the case top portion includes a top opening communicated with the case cavity, the top opening sized to interact with the 9 mm bullet, wherein the 9 mm bullet is frictionally associated with the top opening such that at least a portion of the 9 mm bullet is disposed within the case cavity, a means for propelling the 9 mm bullet to a velocity of at least 1600 feet per second, wherein the means for propelling is at least partially disposed within the casing cavity, and a cap, wherein the cap is associated with the case bottom portion such that when the cap is engaged, the cap causes the means for propelling the 9 mm bullet to propellingly interact with the 9 mm bullet.