The 9mm Luger: One Cartridge, Many Names

To the keen-eyed observer, you’ll have noticed that I’ve been using several different names for the 9mm cartridge.luger 9mm pistol for sale, 9mm luger meaning

9x19mm Parabellum

9mm Luger

9x19mm

9mm

Is there any difference between these cartridge names?

No, they are the same

So why is it that we have multiple names for the same standard 9mm cartridge?

There are several reasons why a cartridge might don several names during its lifetime, one being manufacturers and the other being the regulatory organizations for ammo (namely SAAMI and the CIP).

In the case of the 9mm Parabellum, it is primarily SAAMI and the CIP that are the cause for the differences in naming for the most popular handgun cartridge in the world.luger 9mm pistol for sale,9mm luger meaning

Final Thoughts on 9mm vs 9mm Luger

So, what is the difference between 9x19mm Parabellum, 9mm Luger, and 9mm?

Absolutely nothing!

They are identical and different in name only.

What Is The Difference Between 9mm vs 9mm Luger?

9mm vs 9mmI remember the first Family Christmas I had after I got my shiny, new Gen 3 Glock 17. Like many new gun owners, I needed some fresh full metal jacket (FMJ) ammo to feed my new beloved Austrian self-defense dynamo.luger 9mm pistol for sale,9mm luger meaning

At our Family Christmas, we draw names to see who buys a gift for who with a $50 price limit. The only item on my list was some Winchester white box 9mm ammo, as it was well below statutes of Christmas limitations.9mm luger meaning

What is the difference between 9mm and 9mm Luger?

Absolutely Nothing! They are exactly the same.

But this begs the question, why are there two different (actually, there are more) names for the same handgun cartridge?

To understand how we got to where we are now with the 9mm Luger, we need to take a look at it’s origins back at the turn of the 20th Century.

A Brief History of the 9mm Parabellum: Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

The 9x19mm Parabellum was designed by the Austrian gunsmith Georg Luger in 1901. Luger fashioned the 9mm Parabellum from his previous design, the 7.65x21mm Parabellum. The 9mm Parabellum is a rimless, tapered cartridge that fires a 0.355” diameter bullet (9.01mm) and has a 19.15mm case length.

During the development of the 9x19mm, Georg Luger was working at the German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken (DWM). Over the factory gate was the company’s motto written in Latin: Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum. The literal translation reads “If you seek peace, prepare for war”.

Once approved by DWM, the 9x19mm cartridge was monikered the 9mm Parabellum in reference to the last two Latin words of the DWM company motto.

Georg Luger also developed the P08 Luger pistol to fire his new standard 9mm round. The P08 Luger pistol was the standard issue sidearm for the German military from 1904 to 1945 and saw heavy use in both World Wars..luger 9mm pistol for sale

9mm vs 9mm

SAAMI specs list the maximum pressure for 9x19mm at 35,000 psi and standard 115 grain FMJ ammo will have an average muzzle velocity of 1180 fps and a muzzle energy of 355 foot-pounds.

After World War I and through World War II, the 9mm Luger cartridge and its accompanying Luger P-08 handgun became one of the most popular handgun cartridges in Europe for both military and law enforcement. However, the United States was late to the party as it clung to the idiom, “Bigger Bullets are Better” and our beloved 45 ACP until the 1980’s with the adoption of the Beretta M9 Service Pistol by the US Army.

Is there any difference between these cartridge names?

No, they are the same

So why is it that we have multiple names for the same standard 9mm cartridge?

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) is a non-government organization of ammo manufacturers in the United States that is responsible for standardizing ammunition production specifications. The Commission Internationale Permanente, or CIP for short, is the European version of SAAMI.

The issue is that often, SAAMI and CIP have different names for the same cartridge.

The CIP has the 9x19mm Parabellum as the name for Gerog Luger’s famous cartridge in their database. However, SAAMI will not list a cartridge that has its name as a registered trademark to avoid any infringement lawsuits.

Therefore, the SAAMI registration is listed as the 9mm Luger in honor of its creator to avoid any trademark issues with the name 9x19mm Parabellum.

What are the Variants of 9mm Ammo?

Although the 9mm Luger is a very versatile round, there are many variants on the cartridge that shooters need to be aware of when purchasing 9mm ammo.

For more ammo options, keep in mind to check out our inventory of Remington 9mm ammo, PMC 9mm ammo and Fiocchi 9mm ammo.

9mm vs 9mm Browning

The 9mm Browning was developed in 1908 by the American firearm genius, John Moses Browning and marketed by Colt. However, it is more commonly known as the 380 ACP.

The 380 ACP is also referred to as the 380 Auto, the 9mm Short, and is recognized by the CIP as the 9mm Browning Court.

The 9mm Short is a rimless cartridge and has case dimensions of 9x17mm. Although never a huge military success, the 380 ACP became more popular with European police departments after WWII.

Perhaps the most famous 380 Auto handgun is the Walther PPK, the trusty sidearm of MI6’s top-secret agent, James Bond.

9mm vs 9x18mm Makarov

The 9x18mm Makarov is the Russian’s response to the 9mm Luger and is also called the 9x18mm PN and bears the designation 9mm Makarov by the CIP.

The 9x18mm Makarov is a rimless cartridge that was based off of the 9×18 Ultra cartridge (more on that below).

Although it bears the name “9mm”, the 9x18mm Makarov does not fire a 9mm bullet. Instead, it fires a 0.365” (9.27mm) bullet diameter round. Standard 9x18mm Makarov ammo is loaded with a 95-grain bullet, which is a lower bullet weight than most all 9mm Luger ammo.

From a ballistics standpoint, the 9x18mm Makarov is inferior to the 9x19mm Luger, and although there are no official SAAMI specs for the 9mm Makarov, many tests indicate that most Russian Makarov ammo is loaded to about 20,000 psi (15,000 psi less than 9mm Luger).

9mm vs 9mm

9mm vs 9x18mm Ultra

Although the 9x18mm Ultra was developed in 1936, it lived in relative obscurity until the 1970s when Walther introduced their PP Super handgun chambered in 9x18mm Ultra for the West German Police.

Sig Sauer followed suit, releasing the Sig Sauer P230 in 9x18mm Ultra which saw limited police use. However, once Walther ceased production of the PP Super in 1979, the craze for the cartridge all but died off completely.

9mm vs 9x21mm

The 9x21mm never really caught on in popularity in the US as it is essentially a 9mm Luger with 2mm extra case length.

The Italian ammo manufacturer Jaeger developed the round for countries that made it illegal for civilians to own military cartridges.

The 9x21mm cartridge allows for 9mm bullets to be seated to the same overall length as 9mm Luger, allowing it to fit into standard 9mm magazines.

9mm vs 357 SIG

Developed in 1994 in a joint operation between Federal Cartridge and Sig Sauer, the 357 SIG is essentially a 10mm Auto case necked down to accept a 9mm bullet diameter. The 357 SIG was designed to replicate the terminal ballistics of the famed 125-grain JHP 357 Magnum revolver cartridge.

Although the 357 SIG was adopted by several high-profile law enforcement agencies (Texas Rangers, Air Marshals, Secret Service), it did not find the same success of the 9mm Luger due to the 357 SIG’s increased recoil, increased firearm wear and tear, and double overall price per round compared to 9mm.

Speaking of overall price per round, buying in bulk is always smart! Make sure to check out our stock of bulk 9mm ammo.

9mm vs 9x21mm

The 9x21mm never really caught on in popularity in the US as it is essentially a 9mm Luger with 2mm extra case length.

The Italian ammo manufacturer Jaeger developed the round for countries that made it illegal for civilians to own military cartridges.

The 9x21mm cartridge allows for 9mm bullets to be seated to the same overall length as 9mm Luger, allowing it to fit into standard 9mm magazines.

9mm vs 9x18mm Ultra

Although the 9x18mm Ultra was developed in 1936, it lived in relative obscurity until the 1970s when Walther introduced their PP Super handgun chambered in 9x18mm Ultra for the West German Police.

Sig Sauer followed suit, releasing the Sig Sauer P230 in 9x18mm Ultra which saw limited police use. However, once Walther ceased production of the PP Super in 1979, the craze for the cartridge all but died off completely.

9mm vs 9x18mm Makarov

The 9x18mm Makarov is the Russian’s response to the 9mm Luger and is also called the 9x18mm PN and bears the designation 9mm Makarov by the CIP.

9mm vs 9mm Browning

The 9mm Browning was developed in 1908 by the American firearm genius, John Moses Browning and marketed by Colt. However, it is more commonly known as the 380 ACP.

9mm vs 9mm NATO

Many new shooters may be under the impression that 9mm Luger is the same as 9mm NATO, and this is not the case.

Sure, the two cartridges have the same case length, rim diameter and fire the same 9mm bullet.9mm luger meaning.