![\"Shooting](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/uploads\/Brian-shooting-9mm-ammo.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
A Source of Confusion<\/h3>\n
To the novice shooter, dealing with all these different aliases can be rough. The trouble is compounded by the fact that there are many other rounds that are designated with \u201c9mm\u201d in their names that are not interchangeable. For instance, the 9mm Luger and 9mm Parabellum are the exact same thing. But, 9mm Makarov and 9mm IMI are two completely different rounds!<\/p>\n
This makes choosing ammunition and understanding proper loads a headache. Our customer service team often receives calls \u00a0from newer shooters. They’re frustrated, trying to decide whether or not a certain cartridge can be safely fired from a new pistol.<\/p>\n
With the right information on all the names for 9x19mm ammo, as well as an understanding a few of the other \u201c9mm\u201d cartridges, you can find the right rounds and enjoy your shooting sports for years.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s in a Name? The SAAMI and CIP<\/h3>\n
While gun owners can call different cartridges just about anything they want, most people will settle on two or three different nicknames.<\/p>\n
However, to bring some consistency, cartridges in the USA are given official names by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers\u2019 Institute<\/a> (SAAMI.) This is a non-government affiliation of manufacturers that publish industry standards. Those standards include the official names for various cartridges. In Europe, 14 member governments direct the CIP and perform essentially the same task.<\/p>\n Here’s the kicker: SAAMI and CIP designations for the same round are often different.<\/p>\n Yes, 9mm ammo<\/a> is the same as ammo designated 9x19mm.<\/p>\n 9×19 may be the most straight-forward name for the cartridge. The \u201c9\u201d simply notes the diameter of the bullet, which is 9.01 millimeters. The \u201c19\u201d designates the length of the case, which is 19.15mm.<\/p>\n 9mm and 9mm Luger are the same. You can use them interchangeably.<\/p>\n SAAMI officially designated the name \u201c9mm Luger\u201d as the official designation ammo. So, 9mm Luger is the most common name you’ll see listed by manufacturers and ammunition stores. (Unless they simply have it listed as \u201c9mm.\u201d) The name honors Georg Luger, the German firearms engineer who in 1901 designed the cartridge for the German Weapons and Munitions Factory (DWM).<\/p>\n 9mm Luger and 9mm Parabellum are the same ammo. Use them identically to each other.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most interesting of all the different names, \u201cParabellum\u201d is a Latin-based term that means to prepare for war. DWM, the company that created the cartridge, held the motto, \u201cSi Vis Pacem, Para Bellum\u201d which means \u201cif you seek peace, prepare for war.\u201d<\/p>\n There are a few cartridges that look similar to the traditional 9×19 round discussed above. However, these calibers and cartridges are not the same and in most cases, you need to avoid using them in your standard 9mm Luger pistol or carbine.<\/p>\n Developed in the 1940\u2019s by the Soviet Union, the 9x18mm Makarov<\/a> (also known as 9mm Makarov and 9mm PM) is essentially the Soviet version of the 9mm Luger.<\/p>\n Of slightly different dimensions, the 9mm Makarov is not interchangeable with the 9mm Luger or 9mm NATO. The first difference is the casing length which, at 18.1 mm, is about a millimeter shorter. The most important difference, however, it the bullet diameter, which is roughly .1 mm larger. One tenth of a millimeter might not sound like much, but the larger diameter can cause the bullet to jam in barrels designed for 9mm Luger. Jams can be pretty serious if you don’t catch them and can even lead to a barrel explosion.<\/p>\n Designed by the famous John Browning, most people will know this cartridge as the .380 ACP<\/a>, but in Europe, and occasionally in the U.S., it is called the 9mm Browning. Other names for the cartridge in include the 9mm Short, Corto, Kurz, or 9x17mm. The CIP designation is the \u201c9mm Browning Court.\u201d The bullet diameter is virtually identical as the 9mm Luger, with slight differences in neck diameter, rim diameter, and more. For this reason, the two are not interchangeable.<\/p>\n The more common name for the \u201c9×23 SR\u201d is the .38 ACP, so remember that the .38 ACP and .380 ACP are not the same cartridges. (It\u2019s almost like they\u2019re trying to confuse people!) This cartridge has a semi-rim (hence the \u201cSR\u201d in the name) and is not a commonly-used product, so you\u2019ll rarely see this round at the gun range or even in stores.<\/p>\n 9×23 Winchester ammo<\/a>\u00a0is a relatively new product Winchester developed in 1996. It’s intended specifically for shooting sports. At 23 millimeters in length, this cartridge is not interchangeable with the 9mm Luger. So far, it’s struggled to live up to its pre-launch hype.<\/p>\nSo What Do The 9mm Designations Mean?<\/h2>\n
![\"9mm](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/uploads\/9mm-vs.-9mm-Luger-ammo.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIs 9×19 the same as 9mm?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/2\/c\/2cd1fc42d1e80bba32e79d82006fd409_5.jpg\")
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\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n9mm vs 9mm Luger<\/strong><\/h3>\n
9mm Luger vs. 9mm Parabellum<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"9mm](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/uploads\/9mm-luger-and-parabellum.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAll of these 9mm Ammo Names Mean The Same<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Other Cartridges with \u201c9\u201d in the Name<\/h3>\n
9x18mm Makarov<\/strong><\/h4>\n
9mm Browning<\/strong><\/h4>\n
9x23mm SR<\/strong><\/h4>\n
9×23 Winchester<\/strong><\/h4>\n
9x21mm<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\""<yoastmark\"](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/uploads\/9mm-NATO-and-other-9mm-boxes.jpg\")
<\/p>\n