What's the difference between luger and parabellum?

[McNutt]

This may be a dumb question but what is the difference between 9x19, 9mm luger, and 9mm parabellum?

 

[spacemanspiff]

no difference.

there are different types of 9mm though. 9x18, 9x23, couple others as well....9x17? 9x21?

i think the 9x19 was designed by the germans, which explains being called the 9mm luger.

 

[Mk VII]

there isn't any. The Luger name (actually a Stoeger trademark) got popular in America and the Parabellum (DWM's telegraphic address) got used in Europe

 

[McNutt]

Thanks. I didn't think there was a difference, but I wanted to be sure as I'm ordering my first 9mm soon.

 

[cidirkona]

What's the length of a .380?

-Colin

 

[jrhead75]

Just to add a little to the above: "Parabellum" is Latin for "For War", as it was designed from the ground up as a service round.

 

[Jim Diver]

The Parabellum name comes from the ancient Latin saying si vis pacem, para bellum: "if you want peace, prepare for war".

 

[BHPshooter]

What's the length of a .380?

.380 is 9x17mm. It is also called 9mm Kurz and 9mm Browning Short.

Then there's 9mm Makarov, aka 9x18mm (even though it's more like 9.2mm).

The most popular is what is generally just referred to as 9mm. This is the same as 9mm Luger, 9mm Parabellum, 9mm NATO, and 9x19mm.

From there it gets more confusing, as there's other calibers that can be considered 9mm, like 9x21mm, 9x23mm, .38 special, .357 magnum, and .38 super. The differences of all of these are case length, bullet weight, and whether they are rimmed (for use in a revolver) or not.

Wes

 

[Majic]

The Luger name came from the inventer of the cartridge and the first pistol, the P-08, to use the cartridge, Georg Luger.

 

[Samurai Penguin]

Bouncing off this topic, and being somewhat of an Foolish New Guy when it comes to things that go bang...is there anywhere on the web or in the bookstore that explains all the different cartridges, calibers and whatnot? "OK, a .357 can shoot .38's, but a .44 Special isn't the same as a .44 Mag except on alternate Tuesdays when the moon is in Libra..."

Sheesh. I thought learning my way around Honda V-4 carbs was hard...!!

 

[Dr.Rob]

And to add to your confusion, Georg Luger was Swiss.

 

[Baba Louie]

Samurai,
"Cartridges of the World" by Frank Barnes should do you right, available online at a lot of places.

 

[Sunray]

"...but a .44 Special isn't the same as a .44 Mag..." No, but you can shoot a .44 Spec in a .44 mag handgun any time you like. Not the reverse though.

 

[Peetmoss]

"but a .44 Special isn't the same as a .44 Mag except on alternate Tuesdays when the moon is in Libra..." "

But a 44mag will shoot 44 specials all day long

However it is always a good bet to only use ammo tht your firearm is specificly marked for. When in dought ASK. And I don't mean the guy behind the counter ask the manufacture of your firearm. However once you learn the common names for the ammo you are buying you can have alot of fun with the guy at the counter at Wally World Here's an interesting site about ammunition

 

[cidirkona]

I thought "parabellum" meant "a plane curve generated by a point moving so that its distance from a fixed point is equal to its distance from a fixed line"

... oh wait...

The shape of a standard FMJ 9mm is a parabola, right?

-Colin

 

[arinvolvo]

that was what i have always thought about para.

 

[Samurai Penguin]

Thanx, Peetmoss & Baba Louie!

I figured someone would know...!!

 

[Greybeard]

Since no one seems to have said it yet, the diameter of one of 'em is .355 and the other is ... .355!

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

9MM lead bullets

I sold my calif. Saeco 9mm bullet molds to have the cast lead bullets sized .356 and the .38/.357 for .358 now jacketed bullets are a thousanths smaller.

John Paul

Founding Saeco Distributor retired

 

[Ala Dan]

Hell , you know what? I use all those designations:
9X19, 9m/m Luger, and 9m/m Parabellum.
In my writings here on THR, I probably use the
word Parabellum most often?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[cidirkona]

My CCW training guy said that the differences between .357 and .38's measurments come to be due to measurements from land-to-land and groove-to-groove. I dont' know if this is applicable or what, but umm... yeah...

-Colin

 

[Mike Irwin]

""OK, a .357 can shoot .38's, but a .44 Special isn't the same as a .44 Mag except on alternate Tuesdays when the moon is in Libra..."


HEY! Look at that! You've already got half a Fizbinn!

 

[racenutz]

Sheesh. I thought learning my way around Honda V-4 carbs was hard...!!

Speaking of a former owner of a V45 Saber, if you can figure that out you will have no problems with cartridge nomenclature.

 

[gvass]

hi,
officially the "9 mm Luger" designation is the civilian name by CIP standards.
The 9 mm Parabellum is the military one.

But who cares?

 

[Scoob]

Samurai- Check out www.ammoguide.com. It may be helpful.