Just bought a used CZ 82 at my local gun store. I guess used by Checz police. Nice gun. It uses the 9x18 ammo. What is that equivelant to? 380? I find that it is harder to get and more expensive. I have a regular 9mm Ruger 89 but this was a small carry gun. Seems to be well built and smooth. Figured I couldnt go wrong for $219. with holster, extra clip and cleaning rod. But worried about the ammo. How does it compare to a 38.?
Ammo 9X18 or 9mm Par. ?
- Thread starter john11139
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m.p.driver
New member
In power and velocity it's between the .380 and the 9mm Luger.You can buy commercial loadings for it ,CCI Blazer,CorBon,and others that give it a little more snap,around 1000fps.Bought one about 6 months ago for the wife to carry, and liked it so much that i bought one for myself.Alas surplus ammunition is no longer cheap for it,the days of $2.50-$3.50 for a box are gone.But projectiles are available ,.363 if i remember right,and brass cases are usually to be found at the gun shows.Its probably even with a hot little .38 with the corbons
Inspector3711
New member
The 9X18, or 9MM Makarov falls in between 9MM Luger and .380. The 9X18 actually measures 9.3MM or .365" while the 9MM Luger measures .355" dia..
So while the 9X18 is slower than the 9MM Luger, it uses a larger diameter bullet. The .380 ACP uses the same diameter bullets as the 9MM Luger (.355").
Be aware that the 9MM Parabellum, 9MM Luger, and 9X19 are all used to describe what we typically call the "9MM".
I've got a friend that collects Makarovs and he's been teaching me about them. People underestimate 9X18 which is actually quite snappy. The East Germans favored this round for a reason when concealment was a priority. A comparison to .38 special and .380ACP:
9x18 Makarov 265 Muzzle energy 1100 FPS 95 MC Fiocchi
9x18 Makarov 216 Muzzle energy 1017 FPS 95 MC S&B
.38 Special 220 Muzzle energy 950 FPS 110 SJHP
.38 Special +P 264 Muzzle energy 975 FPS 125 BJHP+P
An ammo link:
http://www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?action=1025&brand=9x18MK
.380 190 Muzzle energy 955 FPS 95 MC
So while the 9X18 is slower than the 9MM Luger, it uses a larger diameter bullet. The .380 ACP uses the same diameter bullets as the 9MM Luger (.355").
Be aware that the 9MM Parabellum, 9MM Luger, and 9X19 are all used to describe what we typically call the "9MM".
I've got a friend that collects Makarovs and he's been teaching me about them. People underestimate 9X18 which is actually quite snappy. The East Germans favored this round for a reason when concealment was a priority. A comparison to .38 special and .380ACP:
9x18 Makarov 265 Muzzle energy 1100 FPS 95 MC Fiocchi
9x18 Makarov 216 Muzzle energy 1017 FPS 95 MC S&B
.38 Special 220 Muzzle energy 950 FPS 110 SJHP
.38 Special +P 264 Muzzle energy 975 FPS 125 BJHP+P
An ammo link:
http://www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?action=1025&brand=9x18MK
.380 190 Muzzle energy 955 FPS 95 MC
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jhgreasemonkey
New member
You didnt do bad, that particular gun is a good buy. The 9x18 is an adequate self defense round. The KGB didnt complain about it.
common trap
Lots of people bought East Bloc guns because they were cheap, and the ammo was cheap too.
The guns are still cheap (relatively), but the cheap ammo is going away. Unless you are a collector, or happen to have a particular niche that the gun fills well, I would avise getting rid of it in favor of somthing in a more common US caliber. Ammo still isn't going to be cheap (and likely never will be again),but at least it is likely to be more easily available.
Lots of people bought East Bloc guns because they were cheap, and the ammo was cheap too.
The guns are still cheap (relatively), but the cheap ammo is going away. Unless you are a collector, or happen to have a particular niche that the gun fills well, I would avise getting rid of it in favor of somthing in a more common US caliber. Ammo still isn't going to be cheap (and likely never will be again),but at least it is likely to be more easily available.
9X18
I've been shooting this caliber for about 20 years now. I really like it. Good SD ammo is available as per previous posts. I thought the bullet dia. was larger for this cartridge, Vs. parabellum and it is .363 vs. 355
I wore out the blade on my RCBS case trimmer making brass from 9 X 19 cases. They work fine tho, I just magic marker the case heads so I can not mix them up, plus the RN bullet is a distinctive shape as well. Just size and cut off 1mm. to make cases. Oh and don't try to sharpen the blade on your case trimmer, ask me how I know.
Brown bear is good cheap blastin ammo at about 10 bucks for 50 it's pretty cheap to shoot. I had the same concerns about ammo as a previous poster, if anything 9mm Mak is easier to find than ever, just isn't any real cheap surplus ammo around. That's true of all ammo in general, and not a reason to avoid this great little round.
I have a PA-63 and A CZ 83 love em both, for different reasons.
I've been shooting this caliber for about 20 years now. I really like it. Good SD ammo is available as per previous posts. I thought the bullet dia. was larger for this cartridge, Vs. parabellum and it is .363 vs. 355
I wore out the blade on my RCBS case trimmer making brass from 9 X 19 cases. They work fine tho, I just magic marker the case heads so I can not mix them up, plus the RN bullet is a distinctive shape as well. Just size and cut off 1mm. to make cases. Oh and don't try to sharpen the blade on your case trimmer, ask me how I know.
Brown bear is good cheap blastin ammo at about 10 bucks for 50 it's pretty cheap to shoot. I had the same concerns about ammo as a previous poster, if anything 9mm Mak is easier to find than ever, just isn't any real cheap surplus ammo around. That's true of all ammo in general, and not a reason to avoid this great little round.
I have a PA-63 and A CZ 83 love em both, for different reasons.
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Order on the Web
WWW.cheaperthandirt.com usually has brown bear at about 10.50 a box or thereabouts. I have paid as low as 8.50 / 50 within the last few months.
And I have paid 28.50 / 50 at the gun store as well.
Just say no.
WWW.cheaperthandirt.com usually has brown bear at about 10.50 a box or thereabouts. I have paid as low as 8.50 / 50 within the last few months.
And I have paid 28.50 / 50 at the gun store as well.
Just say no.