Best defensive 9x18 ammo?

D

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If all goes well I'll be getting a P-83 Wanad (Polish Makarov) in a trade for a .22 revolver. I thought it would make a nice car gun. Anybody know what ammo is most effective for self defense? Never had a 9x18 so I have no idea about surplus, Eastern block, or modern U.S. type ammo comparisons.

Thanks
 
I haven't tried it myself, but Underwood makes a couple different flavors of 9x18 ammo.

My CZ82 has been relegated to plinking only for a long time so I load it whatever cheap stuff I can find.
 
I've shot both the Hornady hollow points and the Silver Bear hollow points and they both seem to shoot about the same. From a report I read somewhere, they also seem to chrono about the same. The Silver Bear is cheaper so that's what I currently use.
 
I've shot and liked the Silver Bear, but upon the theory that you get what you pay for, I carry CorBons. I bought a lot when they loaded them. When they are gone, I'll replace them with Buffalo Bore. I really like the 9mm Makarov caliber.
 
Hornady XTP did very well in this test: http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=whURQiqm8aQ
Over 12" of penetration, perfect expansion, and weight retention
The problem is availability right now, but worth looking for. If you can purchase ammo online where you live you might want to get on the "aleert me" lists of several places.
Hornady Critical Defense had a couple inches less expansion, but excellent expansion, and weight retention: http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=O18YhseiQMg
I would avoid any ammo touted as +P for a Makarov. There is no +P SAAMI standard for 9X18 so it is either advertising hype, or ammo that is loaded to pressure above what standards have been set for the round, and guns chambered for it.
 
Silver Bear hollowpoints are not all that good (they don't expand much), but they seem to be reliable and they are cheap -- were cheap last time i saw any, anyway. They're what I use.
 
Like GyMac, I load CorBons in my Russian Mak. I picked it up at a gun show years ago and is great shooting ammo with good expansion. It should do the trick.
 
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