9mm Makarov vs. 9mm Luger: The 9mm Cartridge Battle
When it comes to contrasting Eastern vs. Western pistol cartridges, it’s hard to avoid the 9x18mm Makarov and 9x19mm Luger. These handgun rounds found themselves on the opposite sides of the Iron Curtain and during the Cold War, with the Luger serving NATO forces and the Makarov belonging to the Soviet Union.
Let’s evaluate the 9x18mm vs. 9x19mm debate to help you understand the differences between the two and determine which cartridge is better.
What’s the Difference Between 9mm Makarov and 9mm Luger?
The key difference between the 9mm Makarov and 9mm Luger is this: the 9mm Luger has a larger case capacity and is superior to the 9mm Makarov round in all ballistic categories. The 9x18mm Makarov also fires lighter bullets: typically 95 grains, as opposed to the 115 to 147 grain bullets fired by the 9mm.
Cartridge Specs
Recoil
The 9mm Makarov generates slightly less free recoil.
Let’s compare two popular practice loads: 9mm Luger 115 grain FMJ (1,190 fps muzzle velocity) and 9x18mm Makarov 95 grain FMJ (1,020 fps). Handguns are the Glock 45 (2 lbs loaded) and the Makarov PM (1.5 lbs loaded).
Given these variables, the 9mm Luger generates about 4 ft-lbs free recoil; the 9mm Makarov, about 3 ft-lbs.
The 9mm Makarov clearly has lower recoil, although many shooters report it as having greater felt recoil than the 9mm Luger. Why is that? While the Makarov round does indeed generate less recoil, pistols designed to fire it are inherently less capable of absorbing recoil before it reaches the shooter.
Muzzle Velocity, Kinetic Energy, and Trajectory
Thanks to its greater case capacity, the 9mm Luger is superior to the 9mm Makarov in every ballistic category.
To validate this thesis, we will compare two different 9mm Makarov factory loads: 95 grain FMJ and 95 grain FTX JHP. For the 9mm Luger, we will consider 115 grain FMJ and 124 grain V-Crown JHP loads.
To put it simply, the 9x19mm Parabellum is a more powerful round and superior to the 9mm Makarov in all ballistic categories.
Read the full breakdown ➜ “9mm Makarov vs. 9mm Luger: The 9mm Cartridge Battle“.
Source: https://freedombunker.com/2025/09/16/9-mm-makarov-vs-9-mm-luger/
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