Practice & target
Full-metal-jacket, plated, lead, and wadcutter bullets describe different constructions. Grain weight is projectile mass; it does not state a powder charge or guarantee recoil.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · PISTOL
9mm Makarov
A distinct 9×18mm pistol cartridge with a larger bullet specification than 9mm Luger. The Makarov name identifies the cartridge family rather than every pistol of similar appearance.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 0.964–0.984 in
24.486–24.994 mm - Case length · max
- 0.713 in
18.110 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.365 in
9.271 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.392 in
9.957 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Pistol
- Bullet specification
- 0.3650 in / 9.271 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 2 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 95 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
9mm Makarov is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 9 × 18 Makarov. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
9×18 Makarov and 9×18 Ultra are not interchangeable names. Nor is it the same cartridge as 9×19 Luger.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The 9×18 Makarov was introduced by the Soviet Union after the Second World War as a military handgun cartridge. It became closely associated with the compact Makarov pistol and with related service firearms produced across the Communist Bloc. Its role was distinct from both the older full-size 9 mm Luger service-pistol family and the Western .380 pocket-pistol tradition.
After the Cold War, imported surplus pistols introduced many American shooters to the cartridge. The different national markings and model names on those firearms can make their shared ammunition identity less obvious. Its actual bullet diameter is also larger than that of the common Western 9 mm Luger and .380 ACP cartridges, despite the familiar 9 mm label. The Makarov’s history is therefore a useful reminder that nominal caliber, national service practice and cartridge dimensions developed together; a similar-sounding name does not describe the same ammunition.
Historical sources: Sierra: 9mm Makarov cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Expanding factory bullets
JHP, XTP, FTX, HST, and similar product names refer to particular designs. Muzzle energy alone does not show expansion, penetration, or reliability in a particular firearm.
Specialty load families
Reduced-recoil, subsonic, monolithic, and heavier-bullet offerings are product-specific. A +P marking is a pressure category where standardized, not simply a heavier bullet. Follow the maker’s exact product and firearm guidance.
The expanded factory selection spans 95 grains. Exact products and source conditions appear in the table.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
The table also distinguishes ordinary factory loads. Published test conditions and product-specific notes accompany each addition; no velocity curve is inferred from one muzzle specification.
From the factory catalog
95 grains
1,000 fps
FTX ®
Compare all 2 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady91000 | 95 gr 6.16 g | FTX ® | 1,000 fps 305 m/s | 4 in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| Fiocchi9MAK | 95 gr 6.16 g | FMJStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 1,020 fps 310.9 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 32 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
9mm Makarov: velocity by barrel length
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| Glaser 70 gr. Pow'r Ball | BBTI | 2: 1,068; 3: 1,152; 4: 1,237; 5: 1,316; 6: 1,310; 7: 1,357; 8: 1,389; 9: 1,404; 10: 1,419; 11: 1,432; 12: 1,464; 13: 1,463; 14: 1,459; 15: 1,475; 16: 1,463; 17: 1,493; 18: 1,503 |
| Hornady 95 gr. XTP | BBTI | 2: 831; 3: 890; 4: 965; 5: 973; 6: 988; 7: 1,028; 8: 1,041; 9: 1,054; 10: 1,063; 11: 1,068; 12: 1,081; 13: 1,076; 14: 1,106; 15: 1,100; 16: 1,112; 17: 1,082; 18: 1,075 |
9mm Makarov: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 95 gr Hornady FTX ® | Hornady | 0: 1,000; 50: 913; 100: 846 |
| 95 gr Fiocchi FMJ | Fiocchi | 0: 1,020 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is 9mm Makarov?
A distinct 9×18mm pistol cartridge with a larger bullet specification than 9mm Luger. The Makarov name identifies the cartridge family rather than every pistol of similar appearance.
What diameter does 9mm Makarov use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.3650 inches (9.271 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
9×18 Makarov and 9×18 Ultra are not interchangeable names. Nor is it the same cartridge as 9×19 Luger.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
Factory datasets show manufacturer specifications and any published downrange projections. Chronograph and barrel-study datasets identify recorded measurements and the original test source. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values are labeled linear estimates; single source points are not extended into invented curves. Energy is calculated from bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Skives & petals: read the jacket construction →
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 34 ↗
- Sierra: 9mm Makarov cartridge background ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗
- Ballistics by the Inch: archived measured barrel data (2020 archive) ↗
- BBTI: study index and source records ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.