9x18mm Makarov

Cartridge Board

- Gil Sengel

The origin of the Russian Imm of the same name, is more than a bit confusing. In socialist countries, everything military is considered to be a “state secret.” If some information gets out, it's a good bet that it's largely false. Gun writers tend to take what is available and fill in the blanks. Of course, there are now internet experts who create narratives out of thin air. The 9mm Makarov has seen its share of all this, though the published account that follows seems to be plausible – at least at first glance.

The story begins in pre-World War II Nazi Germany. Ammunition firm Gustav Genschow was tasked with developing a new cartridge for the Luftwaffe, or German Air Force. Supposedly code-named “Project Ultra,” the work was not to create something like a new aircraft machine gun cartridge, but rather, around to be fired in a small, Walther self-loading pistol to be carried by pilots and aircrewmen. This pistol was to be of blowback operation, the cartridge of maximum power for such a design. This defines nothing more than a 9mm Kurz (.380 ACP). If Project Ultra was really the name of this silliness, it was assigned by someone with a sense of humor. The project was quickly terminated.

A typical 9mm Makarov that appears to have been made in East Germany. Ammunition is newly-made Russian manufacture.

When the Russians arrived at the Walther factory near the end of the war, they supposedly gained information on Project Ultra, a cartridge called 9mm Ultra and Walther PPK-size pistols to fire it. Russian development of the 9x18 Makarov was said to start there. This makes some sense. However, General George Patton's Third Army got to Walther a bit before the Russians. American intelligence personnel (and no doubt GI gun collectors) removed everything that could be of value. As we know, Patton was not fond of Russians.