The Brügger & Thomet MP9 (B&T MP9) is a submachine gun based on Steyr TMP chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. Although it is very similar to the original Steyr TMP, the Brugger & Thomet company has undergone full reconstruction of the weapon making over 19 engineering changes in addition to the Austrian model.
Introduction
In 2001, Brügger & Thomet purchased TMP design from Austrian company Steyr. The B&T MP9 is a further development of the Steyr TMP. Differences from the Steyr TMP include a stock that folds to the right side of the weapon, an integrated Picatinny rail, and new trigger safety.
While it kept the compact design and lightweight, additions made the weapon more in line with a submachine gun than a bulky automatic pistol, making it very popular with police and tactical units.
Design
The B&T MP9 is a blowback-operated, selective fire weapon that fires from a closed bolt. This submachine gun is chambered for standard 9×19 mm Parabellum ammunition. The Brugger & Thomet submachine gun is more compact than the German Heckler & Koch MP5 or similar designs.
However, this SMG offers more controllable fire than automatic pistols. It falls in the same niche as the Mini Uzi and MAC-10. Its compact size and light weight make this weapon suitable for law enforcement teams and special operations units. The MP9 can be easily concealed. However, it loses to bigger submachine guns in terms of range and accuracy.
The Brugger & Thomet MP9 has an integral front grip and thus is more controllable during fully automatic firing. Users can fire this SMG single-handedly. The housing of this weapon is made from lightweight polymer materials. The MP9 has new trigger safety and an ambidextrous safety/fire mode selector button behind the trigger. An ambidextrous cocking handle is located at the rear of the receiver. It resembles the M16 assault rifle. It does not reciprocate when the weapon is fired.
Eighty percent of the entire weapon is made of an advanced polymer composite, with an overall weight of just 1.4kg. Three full 30-round magazines weigh more than the whole weapon does. Several belts and drop leg holsters are available, as are a selection of concealment bags for discreet carriage, both in suppressed and unsuppressed configurations.
Variants
Later variants (TP9-N, TP9-US, MP9-N, MP45) have newly designed ambidextrous two/three-position selectors. The old Steyr style cross-bolt push button selectors are replaced with new “HK” style selectors. With the TP9-N, B&T added an empty socket (which also includes the hand-stop) for the foregrip instead of a Picatinny rail as with the old TP9.
It also comes without stock but with an attachment point that can fit various folding or telescoping braces and stocks, should a customer register it as a short-barreled rifle and add one. This version is named the TP9-US. The regular TP9-N is identical to the MP9-N, just without full-auto capability.
Brugger & Thomet TP9
It is a semi-automatic civilian variant of MP9. Its design is similar to the Steyr SPP, but its differential feature is an under-barrel MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny Rail, which is installed in front of the trigger guard in place of the forward grip. This was done to comply with US firearm import laws.
Brugger & Thomet TP9SF
It is superficially similar, though it is selective-fire rather than semi-auto only. A version chambered in 6.5×25mm CBJ was developed in 2010, requiring only a barrel change to accept the new caliber.
Technical specifications
| Country of origin | Switzerland |
| Manufacturer: | Brugger & Thomet |
| Entered service | 2004 |
| Caliber | 9×19 mm Parabellum |
| Weight (unloaded) | 1.4 kg |
| Length | 523 mm |
| Length (with folded stock) | 303 mm |
| Barrel length | 130 mm |
| Muzzle velocity | ~ 370 m/s |
| Cyclic rate of fire | 900 rpm |
| Practical rate of fire | 40 – 100 rpm |
| Magazine capacity | 15, 20, 25, 30 rounds |
| Sighting range | 100 meters |
| Range of effective fire | 50 – 100 m |
