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I have a Makarov PM 9x18 but I'm looking to purchase a 9mm from another manufacturer - am I correct in believing that my Mak's 9x18 ammo is not appropriate for whatever I decide to buy ? thanks.

You are correct! 9x18 is a different round than 9x19. They are different sizes also. Hickock45 has an excellent video on this on youtube.

thanks much for the quick get-back - I don't wanna make any mistakes - 1 other question however..

my FIL had a gun shop for a few years and gave me a bunch of 9mm ammo - some of the rounds are marked 9x18 (so I know those are for the Mak) but some have the numbers "71" and "93" on them (only) - anyone know what those numbers indicate ? thank you

Whisky wrote:my FIL had a gun shop for a few years and gave me a bunch of 9mm ammo - some of the rounds are marked 9x18 (so I know those are for the Mak) but some have the numbers "71" and "93" on them (only) - anyone know what those numbers indicate ? thank you

The ones mark '71 and "93" are Chinese military surplus 9x18 ammo. '71 is a Factory code and 93 is the year it was made i believe. Probably looks something like this?

yep, looks like that alright - thank you too for the quick reply

Please shoot those ONLY in your Makarov. When you buy a 'real' 9mm (also labeled Parabellum, Luger, or 9x19), they might fit, and they might shoot, but they won't have enough power to recoil the slide to load the next round. You'll also find .380 ACP (also labeled 9mm Short, Corto, or 9x17) out there. Don't shoot those in a 'real' 9mm, either.

When you buy a 'real' 9mm (also labeled Parabellum, Luger, or 9x19), they might fit, and they might shoot, but they won't have enough power to recoil the slide to load the next round.

Its a bigger issue than that: 9x18mm uses a .363" bullet which is larger in diameter than 9mm Luger/Parabellum which uses a .355" bullet.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.p ... pic=138065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9718mm_Makarov" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ghostrider wrote:

When you buy a 'real' 9mm (also labeled Parabellum, Luger, or 9x19), they might fit, and they might shoot, but they won't have enough power to recoil the slide to load the next round.

Its a bigger issue than that: 9x18mm uses a .363" bullet which is larger in diameter than 9mm Luger/Parabellum which uses a .355" bullet.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.p ... pic=138065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9718mm_Makarov" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I did not know that.

just for further confusion/clarification, there is a whole host of "9mm" cartridges that are almost complete NOT interchangeable:


# 9mm parabellum (aka 9mmLuger, 9x19, sometime 9mm NATO)
# 380 auto (aka 9mm short, 9mm Kurz, 9mm short, 9x17)
# 38ACP (NOT the same as 380 auto), precurser to 38 Super (which uses a .355" bullet)
# 9x18, 9mm Makarov (uses .363" bullets)

more info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_mm_caliber" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;