There is absolutely no arguing that the 9mm is not one of the most popular munitions utilized by firearm owners and shooters today. However, some nuances go along with the 9mm round. Most will talk about shooting 9mm ammo, but what do they mean? There are different types of 9mm ammo on the market. Knowing the specifics of the differences can be crucial.
There are a variety of types of 9mm ammo, but we will touch on the Luger, Makarov, Largo, Browning Long, and the .380 ACP. We will compare each type and give a brief history of each. It is important to know that each one has its differences and they are not interchangeable.
Let’s jump down the 9mm ammo rabbit hole and learn about the types of 9mm that are on the market today. We will also be learning some history behind each type as well.
What Makes a Cartridge a 9mm?
To get things kicked off, let’s talk about what constitutes a 9mm. Bullets that are listed as 9mm have a .380 caliber. Caliber is the entire cartridge’s diameter and the gun barrel’s internal diameter. So, when we talk about 9mm ammo, we are talking about the diameter of the ammo and the internal diameter of the barrel said ammo will be used in.
There are slight differences in the actual diameter of some 9mm ammo which we will touch on soon. The biggest difference between 9mm ammo is the length of the casing and the overall length of the entire round.
It may not seem like it, but the length of 9mm ammo will make a huge difference in how your firearm operates. The last thing you want to do is use the wrong length of 9mm ammo in your firearm.
Let’s take a look at the specs of the different types of 9mm ammo in the chart below. Then we will take a deeper dive into each type of 9mm ammo and its history.
| Name | Bullet Diameter | Case Length | FPS | Case Type | General Measurement |
| 9mm Luger | 9.02mm | 19.15mm | 1,100+ | Rimless Tapered | 9×19 |
| 9mm Markarov | 9.25mm | 18.03mm | 1,000-1,100 | Rimless Tapered | 9×18 |
| 9mm Largo | 9.02mm | 23.11mm | 1,200+ | Rimless Tapered | 9×23 |
| 9mm Browning Long | 9.09mm | 20.20mm | 1,150+ | Semi-Rim Straight | 9×20 |
| .380 ACP | 9.02mm | 17.30mm | 1,000 & Lower | Rimless Straight | 9×17 |
9mm Luger
Other Names: Parabellum, 9x19mm, NATO, 9x19mm NATO
The 9mm Luger is by far the most popular 9mm ammo on the market today. It is widely used, especially in the United States. More than likely, if someone says they are shooting 9mm, they are referring to the 9mm Luger or the 9x19mm ammo.
The 9mm Luger may go by other names: NATO, Parabellum, 9x19mm, and 9x19mm NATO. These are names that the Luger might go by. Buyers can rest assured that if they see these names or hear these names, they are the equivalent of the 9mm Luger. The only difference between any of these is the NATO. The 9mm NATO has the same dimensions but has a higher pressure: 1,250+ fps compared to the standard 1,100 fps of the 9mm Luger.
The 9mm Luger is a very popular round because even though it is about half the size of a .45, it still packs a punch. It gives the user more than adequate power with less recoil than a .45 which makes it much more accurate. The 9mm Luger also tends to be one of the most popular self-defense rounds along with the .380 ACP, which we will cover later.
9mm Luger History
The 9mm Luger was created by Austrian firearm designer Georg Luger in 1901. Before World War I, the new Luger round was presented to many countries for military use. This included Germany, Britain, and the United States. The German Navy adopted its use in 1904 and the German Army adopted it in 1908.
After World War I, the popularity of the Luger continued to grow as it was then put into service by both military and the police widely. The 9mm Luger grew in popularity in the public arena in the 1980s and 1990s as semi-automatic pistols became more popular with civilians.
Today the 9mm Luger is the most popular 9mm ammo on the market.
9mm Makarov
Other Names: 9x18mm, Markarov, CIP
The 9mm Makarov is a slightly shorter version of the 9mm. It is very popular in Russia and the former Eastern bloc countries of the former Soviet Union like Poland, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and others. This is Russian made ammunition. The biggest difference compared to the 9mm Luger is its slightly bigger diameter. So in essence, the Makarov is slightly shorter and fatter than its Luger counterpart.
These bullets are harder to find in the United States. Most of the manufacturers of this type of 9mm ammo are located in Russia or Eastern Europe. These rounds will not fit into a firearm that is made for the more popular 9mm Luger. Although they have many of the same specs, the Luger and Makarov are not interchangeable.
9mm Makarov History
The 9mm Makarov was created in 1946 by Boris V. Semin to replace Russia’s 7.62x25mm round as their pistol round. The 7.62×25 had numerous issues that made it unreliable. The Markarov was powerful but could still function well in blowback pistols.
Outside of being more functional for the Soviet military after the end of World War II, the design of the Makarov was made with the future in mind. With the popularity of the 9mm Luger, the Soviets wanted to ensure that if they were ever invaded, their ammunition could not be used against them. That is the biggest reason that the Makarov is slightly different in diameter compared to the Luger.
Today, the Makarov is still being used by the Russian Federation Armed Forces. There are several variants for specific purposes of military use. Most of the firearms that would shoot the 9mm Makarov are also made in Russia or Eastern Europe. They are not widely made for civilian use.
9mm Largo
Other Names: 9x23mm, 9mm Bergmann-Bayard, 9mm Bayard Long
The 9mm Largo is basically the big brother to the 9mm Luger. It has the exact same bullet diameter but uses a much larger casing that is 4mm longer than the Luger. Due to the larger casing of the Largo, it has the capacity to hold more powder. That makes this round slightly more powerful than the smaller 9mm Luger.
The 4mm in length might not seem like it would allow for much more added punch (30% more). Compared to the 1,100 fps of the 9mm Luger, the added powder pushes the Largo to 1,200+ fps. The Largo also carries a slightly heavier bullet, weighing in at 125 or 127 grains compared to the usual 115 or 124-grain Luger bullet.
9mm Largo History
The original centerfire cartridge was specifically designed for the Bergmann Mars pistol in 1901 and was later changed slightly in 1903. This was another German made cartridge but was more widely used by Spain and Denmark in the early 1900s.
Spain employed it as their choice military round, but they had a hard time finding a German manufacturer that would produce it. The Germans were leaning hard into producing the Luger. Spain found a partner in Denmark to make the rounds and was able to get production of the round until 1935.
While the 9mm Largo is not super popular, it is starting to make a comeback in Spain, Europe, and now the United States. It has a lower cost and higher power for longer range pistol shooting. It is very comparable with the 9mm Steyr, which has the same specs and is also growing in popularity today.
9mm Browning Long
Other Names: 9x20mm, 9x20mm SR, 9mm Long
The 9mm Browning Long is another 9mm cartridge that is very similar to the 9mm Luger. The Browning Long has a 1mm longer casing than the Luger and has an ever so slightly wider bullet diameter that is barely noticeable. It is also found with 110 or 108-grain bullets that come with a semi-rimmed straight casing. This makes it very different from either the Luger or the Markarov in design. It also has the lightest grain bullets compared to most other 9mm ammo in existence.
The 9mm Browning Long is now considered obsolete and is no longer produced. However, there are still a ton of guns that still use this ammo. Existing 9mm Browning Long brass is hard to find so instead, most have moved to reloading .38 Supers and shortening them to the right length. While the 9mm Browning Long ceases to exist in factory rounds, it is still possible for people to create their own rounds for firearms that use it.
9mm Browning Long History
The 9mm Browning Long was created in 1903, specifically for the FN Model 1903. It was used in Belgium, France, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Designed to be used in a blowback-operated Model 1903, at the time it was basically a slightly bigger Colt 1903. This ammunition was produced widely in Belgium, France, England, Sweden, and the United States.
The Ottoman Empire used this round widely in World War I and it was also very popular in South Africa. Prvi Partizan, a Serbian firearm manufacturer, briefly produced the 9mm Browning Long in the early 2000s but then ceased production, leaving this type of 9mm hard to come by. As stated earlier, most firearm owners that need 9mm Browning Long ammo have to hand load them.
.380 ACP
Other Names: .380 Auto, 9x17mm, 9mm Browning, 9mm Short
While most would not consider the .380 ACP a 9mm ammo, it has a 9mm bullet diameter, so we put it in the 9mm category. The biggest difference in this round is that the casing is shorter and it has a rimless straight design to the casing. It also has a much lower speed standing at 1,000 fps or lower. They are typically found with a bullet weight between 85 and 100 grains.
The .380 ACP is very popular in smaller sized pistols that are great for self-defense. Alongside the 9mm Luger, it is considered one of the most popular self-defense rounds on the market today. These are very accurate and easy to shoot rounds of ammunition, which is why they have been very popular for over 100 years since their creation.
.380 ACP History
The .380 ACP was created in 1908 by Colt for its new Colt Model 1908 pocket hammerless semi-automatic pistol. Ever since then, it has been one of the most popular self-defense rounds on the market. By 1912, the .380 ACP had spread in popularity to Europe and was quickly adopted in both the civilian and military worlds.
Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, and Italy all adopted the .380 ACP before the start of World War II. Most militaries found it to be a more powerful and accurate option that would replace the .32 ACP.
After World War II, the .380 ACP was replaced by the more powerful 9mm Luger, but still remains popular for civilian self-defense uses all over the world.
Wrapping Up
Most of the 9mm rounds we discussed have their origins in the early 1900s. While some have stayed more popular than others, the 9mm revolution has had a lasting effect on history and current times.
The 9mm Luger and the .380 ACP are the most popular 9mm ammo on the market today with the 9mm Makarov coming in a close third. We hope you learned a lot about the 9mm and now know that there are numerous distinct 9mm options available.
