Which caliber does the M17/M18 use?

Which caliber does the M17/M18 use?

• A. 7.62 x 51mm
• B. 9 x 19mm
• C. 5.56 x 45mm
• D. 7.62 x 39mm

Answer: (B)

The main point is that standard service pistols like the M17 and M18 are designed to fire a compact pistol cartridge, specifically the 9x19mm Parabellum. This caliber is small enough to keep recoil manageable and allow higher magazine capacity in a pistol, while still delivering enough performance for a sidearm. The other options are rifle cartridges: 7.62x51mm is a full-sized rifle round (.308), 5.56x45mm is the common rifle round for AR-style rifles, and 7.62x39mm is the AK-family round. Those are not used in a pistol platform such as the M17/M18, which is optimized for 9x19mm.

The main point is that standard service pistols like the M17 and M18 are designed to fire a compact pistol cartridge, specifically the 9x19mm Parabellum. This caliber is small enough to keep recoil manageable and allow higher magazine capacity in a pistol, while still delivering enough performance for a sidearm. The other options are rifle cartridges: 7.62x51mm is a full-sized rifle round (.308), 5.56x45mm is the common rifle round for AR-style rifles, and 7.62x39mm is the AK-family round. Those are not used in a pistol platform such as the M17/M18, which is optimized for 9x19mm.