Luger vs. Para

thehead

What's the difference between 9mm Luger and 9mm Parabellum? Is there any real difference? And can either round be shot out of a 9mm pistol?-Ed

Xracer

"Luger" is a registered trade mark of the Stoeger Arms Corp., so named after Georg Luger who modified the Hugo Borschardt (sic?) toggle action design into the pistol that bears his name.

mattsmilitaria

The world famous pistol known as the "Luger" was actually named the "Pistola Parabellum", which means "Pistol for war". The originals were made in 7.65mm(which was standard pistol round of that time). The German army wanted a bit more punch, so that is when they developed the 9X19 cartrige for it. The cartrige was known as the 9mm Parabellum (9mm for war). The "Pistola Parabellum" was adopted by the German military as the "P08" (pistol adopted for service in 1908). Since the new 9mm round was specifically developed for this gun, and the gun became internationally known as the "luger" the round became known as "9mm Luger". Matt[This message has been edited by mattsmilitaria (edited 03-27-2002).]

JudgeColt

The original chambering for the Luger P08 pistol was 7.65 Parabellum, not 7.62mm.Since there are many 9mm cartridges, to distinguish one from the other, the case length in millimeters is often included these days along with the bore diameter. For instance, the 9mm Parabellum (Luger) is designated as 9x19, whereas the 9mm Kurtz (.380 ACP) can be designated as 9x17 and the 9mm Makarov can be designated as the 9x18. Clear as mud, eh?

11echo

mattsmilitaria ..."Developed" is too nice a word for how the 9mm Luger came about. More like blind luck! George Luger looked at the .30 Luger cartridge and increased the bullet diameter to 9mm BECAUSE that was the largest bullet he could get in the .30Luger case, that and not have to re-tool for a larger bullet. Funny how things happen ...seems like luck is the controlling factor in alot designs! *G* ...Mark

---

"FEAR the Goverment, that fears your ARMS"

optima

Never realized that 9mm and .380 were that close in size. Why then is the .380 regarded as a relatively ineffective defensive round while the 9mm is so popular - does the 2 mm really make that much of a difference?

mattsmilitaria

11echo!You are correct about the development of the 9X19 cartrige! Herr Luger didn't want to totally redisign his gun so he simply bored out the barrel as much as he could which came to be 8,82mm. They then made a new magazine that would accept the new round, and history was made!! Yes it is funny how little things like that changed everything. The 9X19 is the most common and most produced pistol round in the world. I wonder if it would have ever been developed if the German army hadn't insisted on a larger caliber?? After all the Swiss adopted the luger with the .30 cal?! Very interesting!As for the question about the .380 vs. the 9X19 as an effective defensive round, I would like to quote a navy seal if I may who said this, "when I put two rounds in your chest, and one in your head, you won't know the difference!"This says it all. Any round will work if you use is properly!