Best defense load 9X18

J

JJ45

New member
In you're opinion, what is the best load for a Makarov with a 3.68" barrel. I have a quantity of 93-95 grain FMJs but was thinking of a box or two of JHPs.

I have had Silver Bear and Barnaul JHPs in the past. They functioned well in my Maks but I don't know how they would perform as far as penetration and expansion.

Any thoughts appreciated....JJ
 
Ball. It's what they were designed for. 9x18mm falls into that "better to use ball than hollowpoints" category because there is just not much truly good performing JHP ammo out there for it. With ball, you are getting what the pistol was built for and getting top reliability with excellent penetration and ability to defeat clothing. The limited expansion and shallower penetration you'll get from a JHP round is not going to be any more effective and if it fails to reach vitals will be ineffective.

9x18mm is not overpowered, I wouldn't worry about over penetration with it like I would with 9x19mm which is considerably more powerful. The blunt nose of the 9x18mm coupled with a relatively lightweight bullet traveling slower than 9x19mm means penetration is quite a bit less.

Do what you want but don't expect hollow points to be any more effective in a Makarov. For what it's worth I carry Brown Bear 9x18mm ball in my Makarov. I know what you're thinking but my pistol has personally fired 2000 of these without a single failure of any kind. I trust it. Shot placement is key.
 
M12 and LAZ I have to agree when you think about.

I can't believe the Soviets would issue their military with something that didn't have at least adequate killing power and this with Ball ammo.

If you guys remember Barnaul 9X18 JHPs. They had a gaping maw for a hollow point and kinda jagged edges. I have no proof but if they did expand they probably wouldn't penetrate very far. Especially vs heavy clothes.

But I haven't seen them for sale lately.
 
BTW M12... I shoot nothing but Russian steel cased in my maks and have had no problems.... I have a quantity squirreled away with the red sealed primer pockets/case mouths. These are also becoming scarcer.
 
BTW M12... I shoot nothing but Russian steel cased in my maks and have had no problems.... I have a quantity squirreled away with the red sealed primer pockets/case mouths. These are also becoming scarcer.
Click to expand...

Those would make great carry rounds, the sealed primers are great and I wish they hadn't discontinued them.

Keep in mind the Soviets considered the 9x18mm ball round as good ballistically as the old 7.62x25mm. Despite lower energy levels, the wider blunt 9x18mm rounds were just as effective in tests. It was good enough for the world's largest empire for 60 years as the primary service pistol round. It will do the job just fine and will always be more reliable and more forgiving in feeding over any hollow point.
 
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