The 9X21mm is a rimless pistol cartridge was developed in Israel in 1984. It is based on the 9mm Luger cartridge with case exended by 2mm to .8327-inch. Its purpose was a sporting/competition/personal defense cartridge, developed not for enhanced performance but to get around a then-common restriction in many countries that prohibited private ownership of handguns in military calibers. The European Union has dropped this restriction, but it remains in place in a number of other countries throughout the world. 9X21mm ammunition is primarily manufactured in Europe and is readily available.
