# Is 9mm Makarov the same as 9mm Luger?

**Verdict: No**

No. The Makarov bullet is wider — .365 against .355 inches — and the cases differ in length. Neither round works in the other’s chamber.

Both are called "9mm" and neither is a substitute for the other. The names give the difference away once you read them as dimensions: 9x18mm Makarov and 9x19mm Parabellum, the second number being case length in millimetres. The more important difference is the one the names hide.

- **Bullet diameter** — Makarov 0.365 in, Luger 0.355 in
- **Case length** — Makarov 18.10 mm, Luger 19.15 mm
- **Case mouth diameter** — Makarov 9.91 mm, Luger 9.65 mm — why it binds in the chamber
- **9mm Luger barrel** — lands 8.82 mm, grooves 9.02 mm — both under the 9.27 mm Makarov bullet
- **Why the bullet is wider** — Soviet calibres were measured between the rifling lands rather than the grooves

Two things are wrong at once, and the first one stops the second from ever happening. Both cases are tapered, and the Makarov is fatter at the mouth — 9.91 mm against 9.65 mm — so it binds in a chamber cut for the Luger taper rather than seating. Behind that sits the more fundamental problem: at 9.27 mm the Makarov bullet is larger than a 9mm Luger barrel measures at either the lands (8.82 mm) or the grooves (9.02 mm). It is not merely a poor fit in the chamber; the projectile is too big for the bore in front of it.

> **Caution:** Read the box, not the shelf label. "9mm" on its own is ambiguous, and 9x18 and 9x19 are stocked side by side. Check for the second number before loading a magazine.

## Sources

- [9x18mm Makarov — bullet diameter, case length, and the comparison to 9x19mm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9718mm_Makarov)
- [9x19mm Parabellum — cartridge dimensions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum)

## More on ammunition and chambering

- [Can you shoot 5.56 in a .223 Wylde barrel?](https://www.tactgpt.app/answers/shoot-556-in-a-223-wylde-barrel.md)
- [Can you shoot .380 ACP in a 9mm pistol?](https://www.tactgpt.app/answers/380-acp-in-a-9mm-pistol.md)
- [Will a 300 Blackout round chamber in a 5.56 barrel?](https://www.tactgpt.app/answers/300-blackout-in-a-556-barrel.md)

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Last checked 2026-09-03. TactGPT can make mistakes. Always check important info for accuracy. The information it provides is intended for educational purposes only. It does not give legal advice; verify any laws cited. Always follow all applicable laws and safety guidelines.

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