Makarov 9x18mm: Effective cartridge for concealed carry, yes or no?
- Thread starter JQP
- Start date
Cheapshooter
New member
I think the Russian steel cased stuff like wolf and Silver Bear is easy to find in HP. Hopefully when Hornady gets caught up with everything else they will make a bunch more of their XTP Hollow Point 9mm Mak ammo.
HEAVYDUTY77
Inactive
I have two P-64's. The P-64 is a very well made and reliable pistol. Unfortunately, other than magazines and aftermarket grips, there are virtually no spare parts available for these pistols. (I purchased a second pistol just in case I might need any parts in the future.)
I still have 13 Hornady XTP cartidges remaining that I use for summer carry (6+1 and an extra magazine). Winter carry is FMJ for more penetration (due to the extra clothing and heavy coats worn here in New England).
I still have 13 Hornady XTP cartidges remaining that I use for summer carry (6+1 and an extra magazine). Winter carry is FMJ for more penetration (due to the extra clothing and heavy coats worn here in New England).
http://mashburnssafarimilitarygoods.com/handgunammunition575mmto10mm.aspx
9mmx18 Makarov
Silver Bear 115gr FMJ
Box of 50 Item Number: A918RFMJN
A 21# recoil spring on a Makarov is prudent with that. It should sting.
9mmx18 Makarov
Silver Bear 115gr FMJ
Box of 50 Item Number: A918RFMJN
A 21# recoil spring on a Makarov is prudent with that. It should sting.
From what I can tell, depending upon the ammo manufacturer, it's equal to .380 at worst and a little less powerful than 9mm Luger at best. I would say that qualifies for close range defensive shooting where shooting through barriers like auto glass and such isn't a big concern.
The only issues for concealed carry might be the guns themselves. They generally have a good reputation for being reliable, but they tend to be older, larger and heavier (for caliber) designs that may not carry as comfortably as some of the more modern polymer pistols on the market today. Also, some incorporate a european style magazine release which may not be the best ergonomics wise, but may not be a concern if you don't carry extra magazines anyway.
The guns and the caliber have proven themselves to many non-nato countries of the world, so I wouldn't worry too much other than as others have stated, be sure to get training and practice because shot placement tends to matter more than caliber.
The only issues for concealed carry might be the guns themselves. They generally have a good reputation for being reliable, but they tend to be older, larger and heavier (for caliber) designs that may not carry as comfortably as some of the more modern polymer pistols on the market today. Also, some incorporate a european style magazine release which may not be the best ergonomics wise, but may not be a concern if you don't carry extra magazines anyway.
The guns and the caliber have proven themselves to many non-nato countries of the world, so I wouldn't worry too much other than as others have stated, be sure to get training and practice because shot placement tends to matter more than caliber.
There are many better choices. If you are useing to defend yourself it will work with proper shot placement and luck . That said , you would be far better served by a more powerfull better stopping round .IMHO a 9mm or a 38 is the bare minimum . Some of the bad guys are very large and on drugs (Meth) and you want to stop them dead in thier tracks . A 45acp,or .357 Sig,or 40cal are fine choices in a semi auto . A Ruger SP101 in .357 mag is an excellant choice in a revolver. It is your life ,protect it with a weapon and round that is up to the job . There are a lot of places you can save money ,self defence is not one of them . IMHO the 45acp is the way to go .
In this situation you want to take every edge you can get .
In this situation you want to take every edge you can get .
-ecHLlLBYAuMM:http://i1010.photobucket.com/albums/af223/Wolfborne/handgun_gel_comparison.jpg&t=1For some people no bullet will ever be big enough or powerful enough. As long as theres another bullet out there thats bigger or more powerful than what they've got, thats the one they'll want. They are not particularly concerned about having a good marriage between gun and cartridge. They just want bigger and more powerful. I call em cartridge nymphos.
In my opinion, guns and cartridges must be mated. They are either good combinations or they're not. If you want a really big, powerful bullet, thats ok, but you'll need a really big, heavy gun to shoot it in, if you want to keep the recoil managable. That probably means a gun you're going to have to wear out in the open, which may not be what you want to do. But if you opt instead to go with a lightweight concealable pistol that shoots a great big powerful cartridge, what you get is muzzle blast and recoil that is probably going to make you flinch badly - meaning you may miss on your first shot - and the recoil may be so bad that it slows you down to a crawl trying to getting the gun back in position for follow up shots. I don't like that scenario.
What I want is a bullet that can power its way through to the vitals, through flesh and bone and clothing and some minor obstacles, and I want a handgun that can deliver that bullet on target and be ready to deliver another one on target as fast as I can pull the trigger. A genuine military surplus Makarov pistol firing 9x18 mm Makarov cartridges can do that to my satisfaction. I imagine any of the Brand X guns that have been chambered for the 9x18 mm Makarov cartridge can do it too; however, I'm not sure that all of the Brand X pistols that have appropriated the 9x18 mm Makarov cartridge are as reliable or as accurate as the genuine Makarov pistol is; or are as esthetically pleasing either, for that matter. But I wish them all success because the more handguns that are out there that fire that 9x18mm Makarov cartridge, the more ammo makers will start making cartridges for the caliber, and the more they will experiment to develop a variety of bullet types for that caliber.
In my opinion, guns and cartridges must be mated. They are either good combinations or they're not. If you want a really big, powerful bullet, thats ok, but you'll need a really big, heavy gun to shoot it in, if you want to keep the recoil managable. That probably means a gun you're going to have to wear out in the open, which may not be what you want to do. But if you opt instead to go with a lightweight concealable pistol that shoots a great big powerful cartridge, what you get is muzzle blast and recoil that is probably going to make you flinch badly - meaning you may miss on your first shot - and the recoil may be so bad that it slows you down to a crawl trying to getting the gun back in position for follow up shots. I don't like that scenario.
What I want is a bullet that can power its way through to the vitals, through flesh and bone and clothing and some minor obstacles, and I want a handgun that can deliver that bullet on target and be ready to deliver another one on target as fast as I can pull the trigger. A genuine military surplus Makarov pistol firing 9x18 mm Makarov cartridges can do that to my satisfaction. I imagine any of the Brand X guns that have been chambered for the 9x18 mm Makarov cartridge can do it too; however, I'm not sure that all of the Brand X pistols that have appropriated the 9x18 mm Makarov cartridge are as reliable or as accurate as the genuine Makarov pistol is; or are as esthetically pleasing either, for that matter. But I wish them all success because the more handguns that are out there that fire that 9x18mm Makarov cartridge, the more ammo makers will start making cartridges for the caliber, and the more they will experiment to develop a variety of bullet types for that caliber.
If the 9x18 was so good the Army,FBI,Swat,Police depts and others would adopt it . As it stands it is a substandard preforming round . It has one thing going for it ,it is cheap to buy a gun chambered in 9x18 . It is like cheap bargin brand toilet paper ,it works but leaves you wishing you bought charmin.
The 9mmMak is used by a number of east European countries, Russia and a number of other asian countries by both army and police. It is effective. Yes I have carried it a number of times. No handgun bullet is a manstopper. Location,location,location is what is the determining factor.
bdb benzino
New member
How about Russia for 50 years, China, Bulgaria, and E. Germany. Oh wait, someone forgot to tell them that their military was using a substandard round!
Catfishman
New member
That's what you would expect. But, the facts don't back that up. Buffalo Bore numbers are:
.380 acp 294 ft. lbs.
9mm luger 500 ft. lbs.
9x18 267 ft. lbs.
BTW - I see 9x18 hp everywhere now.
LOL, you kidding, right?
and Poland, Hungary, former Czechoslovakia ,... whole eastern block for that matter.
On the side note, in former Czechoslovakia for the CZ82 ( more precisely vz82 which is Czech military designation for this pistol) was developed new load that shot 69grain ( 4.5gram) sintered metal bullet at about 35% higher velocity. This was only shot from CZ82 polygonal barrel, not for other 9x18 guns with conventional rifling.
As it stands, that is a substandard performing opinion. A competent shooter that does his or her part can get the job done far better with a 9x18 (or smaller caliber, for that matter) than a yahoo that thinks that they're safe just because they carry a gun chambered for a round that starts with .4
Cheapshooter
New member
That proves it. You can't fix stupid!!!
The question was not is it "so good". The question was is it adequate!
Well stated. Personally, I shoot my CZ82 better than any other gun I own right now (I have a Glock 22 on the way so we'll see). If I can place 12 rounds of 9x18 FMJ where I want it to go, I'm pretty darn certain that any bad guy will have most, if not all of the fight taken out of them.