and often called 9×18mm PM) is a pistol and submachine gun cartridge developed in the former USSR.

During the war, the Red Army had found a few shortcomings in its 7.62 mm TT-33 pistol, one of which was a tendency to inadvertently drop its magazine while in operation.

It was based on the 9×18mm Ultra cartridge which was developed in 1936 by Gustav Genschow & Co. for the German Luftwaffe, as a more powerful alternative to the 9×17mm used in the Walther PP, also a simple blowback design pistol.

After its introduction in 1951, the 9×18mm Makarov round spread throughout the militaries of Eastern Bloc nations.

(Commission Internationale Permanente Pour L'Epreuve Des Armes à Feu Portatives) rulings the 9×18mm Makarov case can handle up to 160.00 MPa (23,206 psi) piezo pressure.

The 9×18mm Makarov rounds in use with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are designed for pistols and submachine guns.

[7][full citation needed] The 57-N-181S cartridge is loaded with a steel-core bullet and is designed to kill personnel at a range of up to 50 m (55 yd).

The RG028 cartridge is loaded with an enhanced penetration bullet and is designed to kill personnel wearing body armour.