9x19 and 9x18?

[KriegHund]

Just wondering about the difference between these two calibres.
How do they stack up ballisticly?
Im wondering just how much that 1mm makes a difference. Also, would you rather take a 9x18 or a 9x19mm in a life or death situation? (and dont say .45 ) For some reason wheever i look at a 9x19 and a 9x18 the 9x18 seems fatter, or is that just perception, since the 19 is taller?

 

[wally]

9x18 is much closer to .380ACP (9x17) than 9mm (9x19) so yes that extra silly mm makes a big and important difference -- keeps you from blowing up your Mak or .380 if you managed to put one in the mag by mistake.

I've seen people shoot 9mm out of .40S&W guns and bitch about the "poor accuracy of that cheap Blazer ammo" so if it fits the chamber some fool will shoot it, firearms makers learned this long ago so they make the more powerful rounds not fit similar but much weaker chambers of lesser rounds.

Actually the Mak being slighly larger in diameter might let a 9mm round chamber if it fit the mag and nothing good would come of it so do be careful! I've never tried, but would hope a 9mm round wouldn't chamber or fit the magazine of the Mak.

--wally.

 

[Majic]

The only limitation to the 9x18 is the pistols that use the cartridge. It can be loaded hotter to approach the 9x19, but that would damage the pistols chambered for it.

 

[Teakwood]

9x18 Makarov round (not to be confused with 9x18 Ultra) is actually 9.2 mm in diameter. Its ballistics a somewhat stronger than a .380 (9x17) but only still lags the 9x19.
http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=110185

I prefer the 9x18 but that is probably because I love Makarovs.