The 9×53mmR rifle cartridge was designed for hunting in the USSR.

[7] Since 1971 two bullet types are available:[8][9] Soviet 9×53mmR cartridges were loaded with smokeless powder VT (винтовочный пироксилиновый порох ВТ), as well as Soviet 5.6×39mm and 7.62×54mmR hunting cartridges.

[10] In the USSR, several rifles were designed for this cartridge: bolt-action carbine "Los", self-loading carbine "Medved'", combination guns TOZ-55 "Zubr", MTs-7-09, MTs 30, MTs-109-09, MTs-110-09,[11] MTs-111-09 and TOZ-84-12/9,27.

In the Russian Federation, several rifles were designed for this cartridge: IZh-94 "Express";[12] "Berkut-3", "Saiga-9" (it was produced since 2001 until 2005) and VPO-103.

[2] This cartridge should not be confused with 9.3×53mmR Finnish which has similar dimensions, but a slightly larger bullet (71.45 mm overall cartridge length)[13] and, more important, higher maximum pressure - 340 MPa.