Pistol · Military standard
5.45x18mm Soviet
Soviet miniaturized pistol cartridge developed for the PSM pistol issued to KGB and military officers.
- Caliber
- 0.2217″ · 5.63 mm
- Introduced
- 1972
- Case
- Rimless
- Primary use
- Military, Self Defense
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1972
- Type
- Pistol
- Origin
- Soviet Union
- Inventor
- TsNIITochMash
- Manufacturer
- Various Soviet/Russian state factories
- Standard
- Military standard
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Rare
- Case capacity
- 7.5 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:16
- Primer
- Berdan Small Pistol
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 25,382 psi
- Eff. range
- 25 yd
- Max range
- 100 yd
- Recoil
- 0.3–0.8 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for 5.45x18mm Soviet.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 5.63 | 0.222 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 6.26 | 0.246 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 7.40 | 0.291 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 16.5° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 7.64 | 0.301 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 7.64 | 0.301 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.13 | 0.044 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 4.03 | 0.159 | ≈ |
| Case length | 18.03 | 0.710 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 25.00 | 0.984 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. 5.45x18mm Soviet is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
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Firearms chambered in 5.45x18mm Soviet
3 models in the database chamber 5.45x18mm Soviet. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
Developed in 1972 for the Pistolet Samozaryadny Malogabaritny (PSM) — 'small self-loading pistol' — as a concealed-carry sidearm for Soviet officers and intelligence agents. The tiny bottlenecked round was specifically engineered to penetrate early soft body armor, giving intelligence operatives a concealed weapon with armor-defeating capability. The PSM remains in limited service with Russian security forces. Ammunition is difficult to source outside Russia.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 5.45x18mm Soviet use?
- 5.45x18mm Soviet typically uses a 1:16 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 5.45x18mm Soviet?
- 5.45x18mm Soviet uses a 0.2217″ (5.63 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 5.45x18mm Soviet still in production?
- 5.45x18mm Soviet is active; typical availability is rare.
- What is 5.45x18mm Soviet used for?
- 5.45x18mm Soviet is primarily used for military, self defense.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 9 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →