Glock 19 9x19 9mm

[GlockRulz]

(New gun owner & new to forum) I read several of the previous posts on 9/18 Ultra ammo, specifically (Fiocchi 9X18 ULTRA 100GR FMJ 50/20) and got more confused than I was to start with. Is it "normal" 9mm ammo? And more importantly, for you experts, can I safely shoot this ammo with my Glock 19 without any possible damage to the gun or me for that matter?

Thanks in advance for the help,
Chuck

 

[Jim Watson]

They are not interchangeable and 9x18 is not "normal 9mm."
The designations 9x19 versus 9x18 really do have meaning.

The 9x18 was developed in the 1970s because the German police wanted something more than their usual .32s to fight the Baader Meinhoff Gang of terrorists and bankrobbers. The 9x18 was the most powerful cartridge that a beefed up Walther PP could handle in blowback operation.* It is not only a millimeter shorter (in the brass) it is substantially less powerful than 9x19 (Luger, Parabellum, NATO). It would not blow up your Glock but it might not function it. It might not even go off if it got in ahead of the extractor, a Glock has limited firing pin protrusion that might not reach the extra .039".

*The German cops eventually went with 9x19 Para instead of generating an all new line of guns and ammo. There were a few PP Super 9x18s sold commercially that Fiocchi is making ammo for.

There was a much earlier 9x18 developed for the German Luftwaffe in the 1930s. It was the original 9mm Ultra but the names get confused now. I suspect Fiocchi is making 9x18 Police and labeling it 9mm Ultra but the dimensions are close and I have not been able to measure both rounds.

Also beware that the Com Bloc Makarov is often listed as 9x18 caliber but is considerably different, actually 9.2x18 firing a .364" bullet instead of .355".

 

[David Wile]

Hey GR,

I may have misunderstood your question, but it seem like you are asking if it is safe to shoot a Makarov 9MM in a pistol chambered for the 9MM Luger or 9MM Parabellum cartridge. They are not the same cartridge by any means and should not be interchanged. Since they both headspace on the case mouth, the shorter Makarov 9MM would not fill the chamber of a 9MM Luger gun. The longer 9MM Luger cartridge would probably not even chamber in a Makarov pistol. If I misunderstood your question, ignore my ramblings.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

 

[GlockRulz]

Thanks for the replies

Guess I'm out $45.00 for the 2 boxes I ordered. I would not want to take a chance on damaging my pistol for anything. Thanks again.

 

[Hutch]

GlockRulz, the 9x18 Ultra might well bring a smile to someone else's face. Sell it!

 

[Nate1778]

Or do as most of us would and buy a gun that will shoot it

 

[40jjb]

9x18 in a 9x19

yes it can be shot in your glock as a matter a fct I tried it and the rd went off but did not cicle the next rd properly, I gues if your in a situation and you run out of ammo and your enamy has 9x18 you can single shoot your glock

 

[ants]

9x18 in a 9x19... yes it can be shot in your glock

Let's be careful not to give advice than can be misunderstood. It isn't smart to intentionally put the wrong ammo in a gun, even if it might actually discharge.



9x18 may actually discharge in your 9x19, for that matter 380auto may discharge in your 9x19 pistol. But that doesn't make either one a smart thing to do.

For that matter, 9mm Luger will discharge in a 40 caliber chamber, and 40S&W will discharge in a 45acp. Yes, it generally is held by the extractor long enough to fire when the firing pin strikes. But that doesn't make it smart.

In fact, it isn't smart at all to intentionally put the wrong ammo in a gun and shoot it.

 

[cbrgator]

Thank you ants. We should not be advocating what could be extremely dangerous practices.

 

[David Wile]

Hey folks,

If I might add a bit to what Ants said, the Makarov bullet diameter is a good bit bigger than the 9MM Luger diameter. The Makarov cartridge may shoot in a 9MM Luger gun, and it may be less powerful than the 9MM Luger, but the increased bullet diameter cannot do anything good for the pistol. Another thing to consider when shooting something like a .380 ACP or 9MM Makarov in a larger chambered gun is what happens to the cases after the round is fired. The cases may be overstretched to the bigger chamber, and then some poor unsuspecting guy resizes them with the idea that he is reloading a safe case. In fact, such an overstretched and then resized case is far more likely to case failure.

Shooting a Makarov or a .380 in any pistol designed for the 9MM Luger round is just a bad idea.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

 

[Jim Watson]

Uh, David, he is not talking about 9x18 Makarov, he has on hand 9x18 Fiocchi Ultra.
It's not the same stuff.