List of handgun cartridges explained

This is a list of handgun cartridges, approximately in order of increasing caliber.

Table of handgun cartridges

Handgun cartridges

Cartridge name	Bullet diameter	Case length	Cartridge length	Type	Source
in	mm	in	mm	in	mm
2.34mm rimfire (for Swiss mini gun)					Rimmed, rimfire	^[1]
2.7mm Kolibri (2 mm Kolibri, 2.7×9mm)				Rimless
3 mm Kolibri				Rimless
4.25 mm Liliput (4.25 mm Erika)				Rimless
.17 Hornady Mach 2 (.17 HM2)					Rimmed, rimfire	^[2]
.17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (.17 HMR)					Rimmed, rimfire	^[3]
.17-357 RG (.17 Real Guns)				Rimless	.357 SIG case based^[4] ^[5] ^[6]
HK 4.6×30mm					Rimless	^[7]
5 mm Clement (5 mm Clement Auto)				Rimless
5 mm Bergmann (5 mm Bergmann Rimless)				Rimless
5 mm Remington Rimfire Magnum (5 mm RMR)				Rimmed, rimfire
5.45×18mm MPTs/PSM (5.45×18mm Soviet)				Rimless
.22 BB (.22 BB Cap)				Rimmed, rimfire
.22 CB (.22 CB Cap)				Rimmed, rimfire
.22 Short				Rimmed, rimfire
.22 Long				Rimmed, rimfire
.22 Long Rifle (.22 LR, .22 Stinger [hot loading])				Rimmed, rimfire
.22 Remington Jet (.22 Jet, .22 Centerfire Magnum)				Rimless
.22 Reed Express 7.62mm Tokarev necked to .223/4				Rimless	^[8]
.22 TCM					Rimless
.22 WMR (.22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, .22 Magnum)				Rimmed, rimfire
.224 Kay-Chuk (.224 Harvey Kay-Chuk)					Rimmed
.221 Remington Fireball				Rimless
.224 BOZ					Rimless	^[9]
.224 Montgomery					Rimless
.224-32 FA [.327 Federal necked to .22]					Rimmed	^[10]
FN 5.7×28mm				Rebated rim
5.5mm Velo-Dog (5.75mm Velo Dog)				Rimmed
5.8×21mm DAP92					Rimless	^[11]
.25 ACP (.25 Auto Colt Pistol, 6.35mm Browning, .25/6.35mm Auto, 6.35×16mmSR)				Semi-rimmed
.25 NAA				Semi-rimmed
.256 Winchester Magnum				Rimmed
6.5mm Bergmann				Rimless
7mm Penna					Rimless, straight	^[12]
7.25 Adler					Rimless, bottleneck	^[13]
7 mm Nambu (7×20mm)				Rimless
7.62mm Nagant (7.62×38mmR)				Rimmed
7.5 FK (7.5×27mm)				Rimless	^[14]
.30 Wildey (.30 Wildey Magnum) [necked .475 Wildey]						Rimless
7.62×17mm Type 64 (7.62 mm Chinese) [rimless .32 ACP]				Rimless	^[15]
7.62mm Tokarev (7.62×25mm)				Rimless
7.62×42mm SP-4					Rimless	^[16]
7.63mm Mauser (7.63×25mm)				Rimless
.32 ACP (.32 Auto Colt Pistol, 7.65mm Browning, .32/7.65mm Auto, 7.65×17mmSR)				Semi-rimmed
.32 Colt [inside-lubricated .32 Long Colt variant]					Rimmed
.32 Protector					Rimmed
7.65mm Roth–Sauer, 7.65mm Frommer				Rimless
7.65mm Borchardt (7.65×25mm Borchardt, .30 Borchardt)				Rimless
7.65 mm Parabellum (7.65×21mm Parabellum/Luger, 7.65mm/.30 Luger)				Rimless
7.65mm Mannlicher (7.63mm Mannlicher, 7.65×21mm)				Rimless
.35 S&W Auto (.35 Auto)				Rimless
7.65 mm Longue (7.65 mm MAS)				Rimless
7.7 mm Bittner 1893 pistol [first 0.308, later .302 cal]						Rimmed	Hogg & Weeks 1996, p. 181^[17]
8 mm Pieper (8×37mmR Pieper)				Rimmed	^[18]
.32 NAA					Rimless
.32 S&W				Rimmed
.32 S&W Long (.32 Colt New Police)				Rimmed
7.92×24mm VBR [shortened .30 Carbine case]					Rimless
.32-20 Winchester (.32 WCF, .32-20 Marlin, .32 Colt Lightning)					Rimmed
.32 H&R Magnum				Rimmed
.327 Federal Magnum					Rimmed
.32 Short Colt (.32 SC)					Rimmed
.32 Long Colt (.32 LC)					Rimmed
.30 Super Carry (.30SC)				Rimless
.320 Revolver (.320 European, .320 Bulldog, .320 Webley)				Rimmed
7.5 mm Swiss Army (7.5 mm 1882 Ordnance)				Rimmed
8 mm Rast & Gasser (8 mm Gasser)				Rimmed
8 mm Nambu				Semi-rimmed
8 mm Lebel Revolver (8 mm French 1892 Ordnance)				Rimmed
7.5 mm Nagant (7.5 mm Swedish Nagant)				Rimmed
8 mm Roth–Steyr				Rimless
8.5 mm Mars				Rimless	^[19]
9mm Japanese revolver (9×22mmR Type 26)				Rimmed
9mm Ultra (9 mm Police, 9×18mm)				Rimless
9mm Glisenti				Rimless
9mm Parabellum (9×19mm Luger, 9 mm NATO)				Rimless
9 mm Federal (9×19mmR)				Rimmed
9mm Browning Long (9×20mmSR)				Rimless
9×21mm (9 mm IMI)				Rimless
.356 TSW (9×21.5mm)					Rimless	Starline 356 TS&W factsheet
9mm Action Express (9 mm AE)				Rebated rim
.38-45 Auto (.45-38 Auto Pistol/Clerke/Hard Head)				Rimless
9mm Steyr (9×23mm Steyr)				Rimless
9mm Largo (9×23mm, 9 mm Bergmann–Bayard/Bayard Long)				Rimless
9×25mm Mauser (also Mauser Export)				Rimless
9×25mm Dillon				Rimless
9mm Winchester Magnum				Rimless
.380 ACP (9×17mm, .380 Auto, 9 mm Kurz/Browning Short)				Rimless
.38 rimfire (.38RF, .38 Hopkins & Allen)				Rimmed, rimfire	^[20]
9×23mm Winchester				Rimless	^[21] .38 rimfire
.38 Casull					Rimless	^[22]
.38 Short Colt				Rimmed
.38 Long Colt				Rimmed
.38 Special				Rimmed
.38 AMU (.38 Army Marksmanship Unit)					Rimless	^[23]
.357 Wildey Magnum (.357 Peterbuilt) [.475 Wildey Magnum necked to .357]						Rebated rim
.357 AutoMag (.357 AMP)				Rimless
.357-45 GWM (.357/45 Grizzly Winchester Magnum)					Rimless	LAR Reloading Data: Cartridge: "357/45 GWM"
.357/44 Bain & Davis				Rimmed
.357 Magnum (9×33mmR, .353 Casull [hunting load for [[Freedom Arms]] revolvers])				Rimmed
.360 DW (.360 Dan Wesson, 9×36 R))					Rimmed	^[24] ^[25]
.357 Maximum (.357 Remington Maximum)				Rimmed
.357 SuperMag [using .357 cal projectile]					Rimmed	Guns Illustrated 1996, p. 10^[26] ^[27]
.357 SIG				Rimless
.38 ACP (.38 Auto, 9×23mmSR)				Semi-rimmed
.38 Super (.38 Super Auto)				Semi-rimmed	Lyman Reloading Handbook 46Ed, p. 381
.38 Super Comp				Rimless	Starline cartridge dimensions
.38 S&W (.38 Colt New Police, .380 Rim, .38 S&W Corto, .380-200 British Service)				Rimmed	SAAMI
9×21mm Gyurza				Rimless	Starline cartridge dimensions
9 mm Mars				Rimless	^[28]
9mm Makarov (9×18mm PM)				Rimless
9.1×17R (9 mm Portuguese, 9.1 Abadie Revolver)				Rimmed	^[29]
.375 SuperMag [using .375 cal projectile]					Rimmed	Guns Illustrated 1996, p. 11^[30] ^[31]
.380 Revolver Short [Webley, copied for .38 Short Colt]				Rimmed
.380 Revolver Long [Webley pattern from 1860s]				Rimmed
9.8mm Auto Colt (9.65mm Browning Automatic)				Rimless
9.4mm Dutch Revolver (9.4×21mm Dutch)				Rimmed, tapered	Handguns of the World (Ezell)
9.4mm Dutch El Revolver (9.4×27mm Dutch)				Rimmed, tapered	Handguns of the World (Ezell)
.38-40 Winchester (.38-40 WCF)				Rimmed
.41 Short (.41 Short Rimfire)				Rimmed
.41 Short Colt				Rimmed
.41 Long Colt				Rimmed
.41 Long Colt [smokeless inside-lubricated variant]					Rimmed
.40 S&W (.40 Auto, .40 Short, 10×22mm)				Rimless
10mm Auto (10×25mm, 10 mm Norma, 10 mm F.B.I.)				Rimless
10 mm Magnum^[32]					Rimless	"10 mm Magnum Data" Handloading sheet
.40 Super					Rimless
.40 G&A					Rimless	^[33]
.40 G&A Magnum						Belted
.400 Cor-Bon				Rimless
.401 Powermag (.401 Herter's Powermag)				Rimless
.41 Action Express (.41 AE)				Rebated rim
.41 Avenger					Rimless	Handloader 107, p. 28
.41 Wildey Magnum (10 mm Wildey Magnum)						Rebated rim
.41 Special					Rimless
.41 Magnum (.41 Remington Magnum)					Rimmed
.414 SuperMag [using .41 cal projectile]					Rimmed	Sierra Handgun Reloading Manual 4th Ed, p. 219^[34]
10.35 mm (10.4 mm Italian, 10.4 mm Italian Ordnance)				Rimmed
10.4mm Swiss Centerfire (1878 Swiss Ordnance)						Rimmed
.44-40 Winchester (.44 WCF)					Rimmed
.44 Russian (.44 Smith & Wesson Russian)					Rimmed
.44 Special (.44 Smith & Wesson Special)					Rimmed
.44 Magnum (.44 Remington Magnum)					Rimmed
.445 SuperMag [using .43 cal projectile]					Rimmed	Barnes 1997, p. 200^[35]
.440 Cor-bon					Rebated rim
.429 DE (.429 Desert Eagle)						Rebated rim	^[36]
.44 Wildey Magnum (11 mm Wildey Magnum)						Rebated rim	Guns November 1991, p. 42
.44 AMP (.44 AutoMag)					Rimless
.44 S&W American (.44 Smith & Wesson American)					Rimmed
.442 Webley (.442 Revolver Centre Fire, .442 Kurz, .44 Webley, .442 RIC, 10.5×17mmR)					Rimmed
.44 Bull Dog					Rimmed
.44 Colt					Rimmed
11.3×36mmR (11 mm Gasser/Montenegrin, 11.25×36mm Montenegrin)					Rimmed
11.35mm Schouboe (11.35×18mm SR/.45 Schouboe)						Rimless	^[37]
.45 Mars Short				Rimless	^[38]
.45 Mars Long				Rimless	^[39]
11mm French Ordnance (11 mm MAS)					Rimmed
11mm German Service (10.6/10.8mm German Service)					Rimmed
.45 Winchester Magnum (.45 WinMag, .45 NAACO)					Rimless
.455 SuperMag [using .45 cal projectile]					Rimmed
.450 Magnum Express					Rimless	^[40]
.460 Rowland				Rimless
11 mm caliber#Revolver cartridges					Rimmed
.45 Auto Rim (.45 Automatic Rimmed)					Rimmed
.45 GAP (.45 Glock/Glock Automatic Pistol)					Rebated rim	^[41]
.45 HP (.45 Hirtenberger Patrone, .45 Automatic Short, .45 Italian)					Rimless	^[42]
.45 ACP (.45 Automatic/Auto Colt Pistol, 11.43×23 mm)				Rimless
.45 Super				Rimless
.450 SMC (.450 Short Magnum Cartridge, .450 Triton) [.45 Super with small primer]				Rimless	^[43]
.450 Bonecrusher							^[44]
.45 Wildey Magnum (using .45 ACP bullet)						Rebated rim
.451 Detonics^[45] (.451 Detonics Magnum)					Rimless
.454 Casull (.45 Magnum)					Rimmed
.460 S&W Magnum					Rimmed
.455 Webley (.455 Webley Revolver Mark 1)					Rimmed
.455 Webley (.455 Webley Revolver Mark 2)					Rimmed
.45 Schofield (.45 Smith & Wesson/S&W Schofield)					Rimmed
.45 Colt Government (.45 Colt Short)					Rimmed
.45 Colt (.45 Long Colt)				Rimmed
.450 Adams (.450 Boxer, .450 Revolver, .450 Short/Corto)					Rimmed
.455 Webley Auto					Semi-rimmed
.455 Webley (.455 Revolver, .455 Colt)					Rimmed
.458 Devastator					Belted	^[46]
.458 Maximum (.458 Maximum 1.6")					Belted
.476 Enfield (.476 Eley, .476 Revolver, .455/476)					Rimmed
.480 Ruger					Rimmed
.475 Wildey Magnum					Rimless
.475 Linebaugh					Rimmed	Guns Illustrated 1996, p. 9
.475 Linebaugh Long (.475 Maximum)					Rimmed	Guns Illustrated 1996, p. 12
12.3×22mmR (12.3×22 SP) [short [[Udar revolver]] cartr.]						Rimmed
12.3×40mmR (12.3×40 SP, STs-110) [std. cartr.]						Rimmed
12.3×50mmR (12.3×50 SP) [Udar revolver cartr.]						Rimmed	^[47]
.50 GI					Rebated rim
.50 Action Express (.50 AE)					Rebated rim
.500 Wyoming Express (.500 WE)					Belted
.500 JRH					Rimmed	^[48]
.500 S&W Special						Rimmed
.500 S&W Magnum					Rimmed
.500 Bushwhacker				Semi-rimmed
.50 Remington Navy					Rimmed
.50 Special (.50 Bowen Special)					Rimmed
.500 Linebaugh					Rimmed	Guns Illustrated 1996, p. 9
.500 Tranter [revolvers; [[Webley Revolver|Webley]], Tranter a.o.]				Rimmed
.500 Linebaugh Long (.500 Maximum)					Rimmed	Guns Illustrated 1996, p. 13
.505 SuperMag (.510 SuperMag) [using .51 cal projectile]						Rimmed
13mm Gyrojet [1960s Mark I; later .49 cal rocket]						Rimless
.577 Boxer (.577 Eley/Webley) [licensed [[William Tranter|Tranter]] design]						Rimmed	^[49] ^[50] ^[51]

Other cartridges used in handguns

Although not originally designed for handguns, several rifle and shotgun cartridges have also been chambered in a number of large handguns, primarily in revolvers like the Phelps Heritage revolver, Century Arms revolver, Thompson/Centre Contender break-open pistol, Magnum Research BFR, and the Pfeifer Zeliska revolvers. These include:

Other cartridges used in handguns

Cartridge name	Bullet diameter	Handgun application	Source
in	mm
.218 Bee
.22 Hornet
5.45×39mm
.223 Remington
.30 Carbine
.30-30 Winchester
7.62×39mm		Nagant M1895 (with cut off bullet)
7.62×54mmR		self-made revolver (with cut off bullet)
.375 Winchester
.410 bore			^[52]
.444 Marlin
.450 Marlin
.45-70 Government
.458 Winchester Magnum		Pfeifer Zeliska revolver
.50-70 Government
12.7×55mm STs-130 (12.7×55 PS-12 Russian)		Rimless	RSh-12 revolver	^[53]
28-gauge			^[54]
.600 Nitro Express		Pfeifer Zeliska revolver

See also

• List of rebated rim cartridges
• Overpressure ammunition
• Table of handgun and rifle cartridges

Bibliography

• Book: Barnes, Frank C. . Frank C. Barnes

. 1997 . . Frank C. Barnes . McPherson . M. L. . 8th, revised and expanded . DBI Books . Northbrook, Illinois . 978-0-87349-178-5 .

• Book: Barnes, Frank C. . 2000 . Cartridges of the World . McPherson . M. L. . 9th, revised and expanded . Krause Publications . Iola, Wisconsin . 978-0-87341-909-3 . registration .
• Book: Barnes, Frank C. . 2006 . Cartridges of the World: A Complete and iIllustrated Reference for Over 1500 Cartridges . Skinner . Stan . 11th . Gun Digest Books . Iola, Wisconsin . 978-0-89689-297-2.
• Book: Hogg . Ian V. . John S. . Weeks . 2000 . Military Small Arms of the 20th Century . 7th . Iola, Wisconsin . Krause Publications.

External links

• GunDirectory.com: Gun Reviews, Reference Guide, and Classifieds
• Hawks Handgun Cartridges
• Thenumas Cartridge spreadsheet
• Basics-Cartridges Used in Handguns
• Ballistics By The Inch testing of handgun cartridges and relationship between barrel length and velocity.

Notes and References

1. Web site: SwissMiniGun Ammunition . www.swissminigun.ch.
2. Web site: .17 Mach 2. www.chuckhawks.com.
3. Web site: Comparison: .17 HMR, 5mm Rem. RF Mag, and .22 WMR. www.chuckhawks.com.
4. Web site: .17-357 RG – Bullet Blog.com . 18 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190412145909/http://bullet-blog.com/17-357-rg-2/ . April 12, 2019 .
5. Web site: The 17-357 RG – Real Guns Project Cartridge Part I – RealGuns.com . 18 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060113122737/http://www.realguns.com/archives/094.htm . January 13, 2006 .
6. Web site: Search Results for: 17-357 RG. Real Guns.
7. Web site: HKPRO: The 4.6mm x 30 PDW . 18 February 2008 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20080218125147/http://hkpro.com/pdw.htm . February 18, 2008 .
8. Web site: .22 Reed Express. 8 April 2023.
9. Web site: .224Boz / MUNICION.ORG. 2011-04-19. 2010-11-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20101126130854/http://www.municion.org/Varios/224Boz.htm. dead.
10. Web site: 224-32 FA Data Sheet . 2011-04-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110516031155/http://www.freedomarms.com/224-32fada.pdf . 2011-05-16 . dead .
11. Web site: 5.8x21 China Pistol / 5.8 DAP 92 / XCR 06 021 BGC 030 . es . https://web.archive.org/web/20131017144454/http://www.municion.org/5_8/5_8x21.htm . 2013-10-17 .
12. Web site: Home . https://web.archive.org/web/20181212215412/http://www.7penna.biz/ . 2018-12-12 .
13. Web site: PISTOL CARTRIDGE LISTS. www.cartridge-corner.com.
14. Web site: World's Fastest Handgun Cartridge – or Not? The 7.5 FK BRNO. July 19, 2016.
15. Web site: 7.62×17mm Type 64 pistol cartridge drawing. January 17, 2019. International Ammunition Association Web Forum.
16. Web site: Firearm Technical Trivia, November 2001. www.cruffler.com.
17. Web site: PISTOL CARTRIDGE LISTS – Cartridge-Corner.com . 2020-02-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190726080724/https://www.cartridge-corner.com/revolver.htm . 2019-07-26 . live .
18. Web site: 8mm Pieper - Bullet-Blog.com | Nature - Outdoor - Adventure. October 26, 2017. bullet-blog.com.
19. http://www.municion.org/mars/8_5Mars.htm Mars 8.5
20. Web site: My reloading 38 rimfire experiments. October 30, 2011.
21. Web site: LoadData: 9x23mm Winchester Model 1911 Colt 01923E Charge and Load Information/Data for the 9x23mm Winchester Model 1911 Colt 01923E . https://web.archive.org/web/20151107110705/http://www.loaddata.com/members/search_detail.cfm?MetallicID=346 . 2015-11-07 .
22. http://www.municion.org/38/38Casull.htm .38 Casull
23. http://www.municion.org/38sp/38Amu.htm .38 AMU
24. Web site: Full Advantage of its Size: New .360 Dan Wesson Revolver Cartridge Takes - Taffin Tests | American Handgunner | Find Articles at BNET . https://web.archive.org/web/20100616112513/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_155_26/ai_80616520/ . 2010-06-16 .
25. Web site: .360 DW - Bullet-Blog.com | Nature - Outdoor - Adventure. November 3, 2017. bullet-blog.com.
26. Web site: THE SUPERMAGS. www.sixguns.com.
27. Web site: The SuperMags. www.singleactions.com.
28. http://www.municion.org/mars/9x26.htm 9mm Mars
29. Web site: 9.1mm Abadie / MUNICION.ORG. old.municion.org.
30. Web site: .375 SuperMag - Bullet-Blog.com | Nature - Outdoor - Adventure. July 29, 2019. bullet-blog.com.
31. Web site: .375 SM Reloading, Gunsmithing and Grip Making Forum Dan Wesson Forum. 8 April 2023.
32. Web site: The Handgun Caliber Comparison Chart And Guide. 2021-10-28. en-US.
33. Web site: The Gun Zone's Bren Ten Museum . https://web.archive.org/web/20110430170306/http://www.thegunzone.com/brenx/brendex.html . 2011-04-30 .
34. http://www.ammo-one.com/414SuperMag.html Super Magnum
35. http://www.ammo-one.com/445SuperMag.html Super magnum
36. Web site: What's Better than .44 Magnum? 429 Desert Eagle by Magnum Research . 8 November 2018 .
37. Web site: Патрон .45 Schouboe / 11.35x17 SR Schouboe. Оружие и боеприпасы.
38. http://www.municion.org/mars/450MarsShort.htm Mars Short
39. http://www.municion.org/mars/450MarsLong.htm Mars Long
40. Web site: Magnum Express . 8 April 2023. singleactions.com. Lee Martin.
41. Web site: Web Blast: The .45 Gap | American Handgunner . https://web.archive.org/web/20110523142955/http://www.americanhandgunner.com/web-blast-the-45-gap/ . 2011-05-23 .
42. Web site: .45 Hirtenberg Patrone – municion.org (spanish). 8 April 2023.
43. Web site: 1911 Hot Rods . https://web.archive.org/web/20101007170834/http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/1911_hot_rods/ . 2010-10-07 .
44. Web site: 450 Bonecrusher. 8 April 2023. singleactions.com. Lee Martin.
45. Web site: Short History of the .451 Detonics Magnum . 2012-08-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150101041649/http://www.z3bigdaddy.com/site8/page44.html . 2015-01-01.
46. Web site: 458 Devastator. www.singleactions.com.
47. Web site: 12,3х50 — Patronen. January 4, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130104150507/http://ammo-collection.com/index.php?title=12,3%D1%8550 . 2013-01-04 .
48. Web site: Bad, Badder, Baddest. January 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100109025026/http://www.handgunsmag.com/featured_handguns/HG_badbadder_200909/index3.html . 2010-01-09 .
49. Web site: .577 Boxer - Bullet-Blog.com | Nature - Outdoor - Adventure. May 1, 2016. bullet-blog.com.
50. Web site: .577 Caliber Bland-Pryse Stopping Revolver. Ian. McCollum. April 4, 2019. www.forgottenweapons.com.
51. Web site: .577-cal Tranter Revolver. December 4, 2013. www.forgottenweapons.com.
52. Web site: The New Smith & Wesson Governor - Smith & Wesson. May 5, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110505053518/http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category4_750001_750051_768152_-1_757992_757992_image . 2011-05-05 .
53. Web site: 12,7х55 СЦ-130 — Patronen. January 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140115115022/http://ammo-collection.com/index.php?title=12,7%D1%8555_%D0%A1%D0%A6-130 . 2014-01-15 .
54. Web site: Taurus 2011 What's New Catalog. May 27, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130527233344/http://www.taurususa.com/2011newcatalog/ . 2013-05-27 .