Lindcott Armory Pistol · SAAMI
9x18mm Makarov
Soviet bloc standard pistol cartridge.
- Caliber
- 0.365″ · 9.27 mm
- Introduced
- 1951
- Case
- Rimless
- Primary use
- Military, Law Enforcement, Self-Defense
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 1951
- Type
- Pistol
- Origin
- Soviet Union
- Inventor
- Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov
- Manufacturer
- Soviet Military
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Case capacity
- 16.5 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:9.8
- Primer
- Small Pistol
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 23,200 psi
- Eff. range
- 50 yd
- Max range
- 200 yd
- Recoil
- 3–5 ft·lb
- Subsonic
- Capable
Ballistics
- By real loads
- 1,000–1,066 fps · 73 loads
- Parent case
- —
Representative trajectory — modeled from a single velocity input (no published BC for this cartridge yet).
Performance
Buy links open 9x18mm Makarov ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
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 ⌀ | 9.27 | 0.365 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 9.91 | 0.390 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Shoulder angle | n/a | ||
| Base ⌀ | 9.95 | 0.392 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 9.95 | 0.392 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.25 | 0.049 | ✓ |
| Neck length | n/a | ||
| Case length | 18.10 | 0.713 | ✓ |
| 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. 9x18mm Makarov is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 73 active loads across 30 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 73 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Underwood | Xtreme Defender | 68 | Lehigh XD | 1,350 | 275 | — |
| Lehigh Defense | Xtreme Penetrator | 68 | XP | 1,250 | 236 | — |
| DoubleTap | JHP | 90 | JHP | 1,100 | 242 | — |
| Barnaul | JHP | 94 | JHP | 1,066 | 237 | — |
| Barnaul | Steel Case FMJ | 94 | FMJ | 1,066 | 237 | — |
| Wolf | Steel Case | 94 | FMJ | 1,066 | 237 | — |
| Tula | TulAmmo | 92 | FMJ | 1,066 | 232 | — |
| Tula | TulAmmo | 95 | HP | 1,066 | 240 | — |
| Fiocchi | Extrema | 90 | XTP | 1,060 | 225 | — |
| Wolf | Performance FMJ | 94 | FMJ | 1,050 | 230 | — |
| Wolf | Military Classic | 94 | FMJ | 1,050 | 230 | — |
| Hornady | Critical Defense | 95 | FTX | 1,050 | 233 | — |
| Buffalo Bore | Standard Pressure+P | 95 | JHP | 1,050 | 233 | — |
| Hornady | Critical Defense FTX | 95 | FTX HP | 1,050 | 233 | — |
| Golden Tiger | Golden Tiger | 94 | FMJ | 1,050 | 230 | — |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in 9x18mm Makarov
12 models in the database chamber 9x18mm Makarov. Browse all →
Connected reference
History
Developed to replace the 7.62x25mm Tokarev. The diameter is slightly larger than 9mm Parabellum, preventing NATO 9mm ammo from chambering. The Makarov pistol was the Soviet sidearm from 1951 through the end of the Cold War.
FAQs
- What twist rate does 9x18mm Makarov use?
- 9x18mm Makarov typically uses a 1:9.8 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is 9x18mm Makarov?
- 9x18mm Makarov uses a 0.365″ (9.27 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is 9x18mm Makarov still in production?
- 9x18mm Makarov is active; typical availability is common.
- What is 9x18mm Makarov used for?
- 9x18mm Makarov is primarily used for military, law enforcement, self-defense.
Sources & provenance
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 73 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →