| 9x18mm Makarov | ||
|---|---|---|
 9x18mm Makarov cartridge (Full metal jacket bullet and steel casing) |
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| Type | Pistol | |
| Place of origin |  Soviet Union |
|
| Service history | ||
| Used by | Russian military, Bulgarian army, Chinese military, Czech military, Slovak military | |
| Specifications | ||
| Bullet diameter | 9.27 mm (0.365 in) | |
| Neck diameter | 9.91 mm (0.390 in) | |
| Base diameter | 9.95 mm (0.392 in) | |
| Rim diameter | 9.95 mm (0.392 in) | |
| Rim thickness | 1.00 mm (0.039 in) | |
| Case length | 18.10 mm (0.713 in) | |
| Overall length | 25.00 mm (0.984 in) | |
| Rifling twist | 240.00 (1 in 9.45 in) | |
| Maximum pressure | 160.00 MPa (23,206 psi) | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 95 gr (6.2 g) FMJ | 319 m/s (1,050 ft/s) | 313 J (231 ft·lbf) |
| Test barrel length: 97 mm Source: C.I.P.[1] |
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9x18mm Makarov (often called 9x18mm PM) is a Soviet pistol and submachine gun cartridge. It was a standard Eastern Bloc alternative to the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge.
Contents |
History
The 9x18mm caliber was the standard pistol caliber for the Soviet Union and its satellites in Eastern Europe. This ammunition is still in use by many of these countries today. After World War II, the Soviet army had found a few shortcomings of its TT-33 pistol. They wanted something that was lighter, had a heel release instead of a button and used different ammunition. A direct blowback design was chosen for the pistol's operation, since it would be quickest and cheapest to manufacture, as well as accurate. Nikolai Makarov first designed the 9x18mm ammunition (since it would be the largest ammunition that would safely be able to work in a direct blowback pistol) and then went on to design the Makarov PM pistol around it. One other requirement the Soviets had in the development of this ammunition was that they wanted to make sure that if they were ever invaded by NATO, foreign armies could not use captured ammunition supplies in their own weapons. 9x18mm ammunition uses a slightly larger diameter bullet than other 9mm rounds. 9 mm Parabellum is 9.017 mm (0.355 inches), however 9x18mm rounds are loaded with bullets measuring 9.220 mm (0.363 inches). After its introduction in 1951, the 9x18mm round spread throughout the militaries of communist eastern European nations.
Performance
9x18mm is ballistically inferior to the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge[citation needed]. While there are no official SAAMI pressure specs for the 9x18mm cartridge, tests indicate that surplus ammunition develop pressures in the mid 20,000 psi, significantly less than the 35,000 psi or more generated by 9mm Parabellum loads. As such it is designed to be used in low powered blowback semiautomatics, much like the .380 ACP cartridge, rather than locked breech designs required for higher pressure cartridges like the 9 mm Parabellum.
The 9x18mm cartridge is not interchangeable with the more powerful 9 mm Parabellum or 9 mm Largo, and its ballistic performance is much closer to the .380 ACP.
Firearms chambered for 9x18mm PM
- ČZ vz. 82
- FEG PA-63
- Fort 12
- Makarov PM
- OTs-02 Kiparis
- OTs-33
- P-83 Wanad
- P-64 pistol
- PM-84 Glauberyt
- PP-19 Bizon
- Škorpion vz. 61
- Stechkin APS
 9x18mm Makarov compared to a .22LR Hollow Point |
 9x18mm casing |
 9x18mm Makarov |
Synonyms
- 9 mm Makarov
- 9x18mm
- 9x18mm PM
- 9 mm Mak
See also
References
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