{"id":5574,"date":"2020-06-23T18:00:29","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T18:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/?p=5574"},"modified":"2025-10-06T19:34:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T19:34:03","slug":"9x18-vs-9x19-makarov-versus-luger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/9x18-vs-9x19-makarov-versus-luger\/","title":{"rendered":"9×18 vs 9×19 – Makarov versus Luger"},"content":{"rendered":"

By the numbers in their names alone, the 9x18mm Makarov and the 9x19mm Parabellum (aka 9mm Luger, or simply 9mm) \u00a0seem nearly identical. They are in fact very different cartridges. This short article explains what separates 9×18 vs 9×19 ammo as it relates to origin, dimensions, and performance.<\/p>\n

Origin of the 9x18mm<\/h3>\n
\"A
A Polish-made 9×18 pistol with Blazer 9×18 Makarov ammunition.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During WWI and the first part of the Cold War, Russia\u2019s standard semi-automatic pistol cartridge was the 7.62x25mm Tokarev<\/a>. Although the round remains in official use in some Eastern European countries to this day, Soviet Russia sought to replace the 7.62x25mm as a means of addressing performance issues with its companion handgun. The TT-33 pistol<\/a> was relatively heavy, and it had a nasty habit of ejecting its magazine during operation.<\/p>\n

Russia wanted a direct blowback design for their next service handgun. Most weapons with that action are more economical to manufacture than a locked breech weapon. So, they designed a new round to be as powerful as possible without overloading the blowback system. This cartridge was named after its designer Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov. That man also gave his name to its companion pistol, the Makarov PM<\/a>. Both entered production in 1951.<\/p>\n

Origin of the 9x19mm<\/h3>\n
\"Sig
An American-made Sig Sauer P-365 pistol chambered in 9mm Luger (9×19).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Georg Luger developed the 9x19mm<\/a> from the 7.65x21mm Parabellum cartridge, which he had previously developed from the 7.65x25mm Borchardt. Luger had initially shortened the 7.65x25mm in part so he could create a smaller, angled grip for his Luger pistol. To create the 9x19mm he removed the bottleneck from the 7.65x21mm\u2019s case. This enabled it to seat a 1.16mm wider diameter projectile.<\/p>\n

Luger\u2019s new cartridge was first adopted by the German navy in 1904. Following its big debut in WWI, many other countries would go on to chamber their handguns and submachine guns for 9x19mm. Today it remains the world\u2019s most popular pistol cartridge for self-defense: In 2013, approximately one out of five cartridges sold online in America was a 9x19mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/td>9x18mm Makarov<\/th>9x19mm Luger<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Parent Case<\/td>9x18mm Ultra<\/td>7.62x21mm Parabellum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Case Type<\/td>Rimless, Tapered<\/td>Rimless, Tapered<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bullet Diameter<\/td>9x27 mm (.365\")<\/td>9.01 mm (.355\")<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Neck Diameter<\/td>9.91 mm (.39\") <\/td>9.65 mm (.38\")<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Diameter<\/td>9.95 mm (.392\")<\/td>9.93 mm (.391\")<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rim Diameter<\/td>9.95 mm (.392\")<\/td>9.96 mm (.392\")<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rim Thickness<\/td>1.25 mm (.049\")<\/td>1.27 mm (.05\")<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Case Length<\/td>18.10 mm (.713\")<\/td>19.15 mm (.754\")<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Overall Length<\/td>25 mm (.984\")<\/td>29.69 mm (1.169\")
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Case Capacity<\/td>12.8 gr. H20<\/td>13.30 gr. H20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Pressure (CIP)<\/td>23,206 psi<\/td>34,084 psi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Pressure (SAAMI)<\/td>N\/A<\/td>35,000 psi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

9×18 vs. 9×19: Cartridge Details<\/h2>\n

\"9x18<\/p>\n

First, let\u2019s look at the obvious difference between the two rounds. The number that follows the 9 in either round\u2019s name represents its case length.<\/p>\n

A 9x18mm ammo<\/a> cartridge casing is 18.10mm long; the 9x19mm\u2019s casing is 19.15mm long. The 9 itself represents bullet diameter, but this too is not totally exact. The 9x18mm has a 9.27mm diameter bullet; the 9x19mm has a 9.01mm diameter bullet. (In good old-fashioned inches, the 9x18mm\u2019s bullet is 0.10 inches greater in diameter.)<\/p>\n

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