9x18mm Makarov

The 9x18mm Makarov was adopted by the Soviet Union in 1951 as the most powerful cartridge a simple blowback service pistol could handle. A 95 grain projectile at about 1,000 fps sits between .380 ACP and 9mm Luger, and it served the Warsaw Pact militaries and police for forty years in the Makarov PM, CZ 82 and Polish P-64.

In Australia it is almost entirely a collector's cartridge. The compact service pistols chambered for it generally do not meet the dimensional minimums for Category H sport pistols in most states, and the calibre has no competitive following here, so the pistols are held on collector's licences. Its .365 calibre is technically under the .38 sport pistol limit.

The projectile is .365 diameter, not .355, so it does not share components with 9mm Luger or .380 ACP, and none of the three interchange. Factory ammunition is made by Sellier & Bellot, Fiocchi, Hornady and PPU but is rarely on Australian shelves and usually needs ordering.

We can source 9x18 Makarov ammunition and reloading dies to order and assist collectors with paperwork and compliant storage. Handguns are shipped Australia-wide to your nominated dealer.