[standingbear]

has anybody thought of cutting the slides up front for extra cocking serrations?doesnt look like much there to work with but it would aid me a bunch if it could be done,my fingers keep slipping on the serations on the back.ive gone through 12 boxes of ammo with this gun,no jams..nadda.now i want ANOTHER one.they are just too much fun.this may sound dum but i can only fit 7 shots in a mag(plus 1 in the chamber)..someone told me the mags hold 8.do they hold 8?lastly,anyone know the ballistics in comparison between the .380,the 9x18 makarov and the 9x19 parabellum.thanks.

[Siggyboy]

I wouldn't put FCS on a Mak, don't even care for them on a full sized 1911! Anyway, to machine those in and then refinish would cost as much as the gun.

The mags hold 8 rounds.

The typical 9x18 mak round is slightly more powerful than the standard .380 but not near as powerful as the 9mm. Though called 9x18, the dimensions of the bullet are very different than the 9mm and .380. Those have a width of .355 while the mak round is around .366 (can't quite remember).

[lee n. field]

has anybody thought of cutting the slides up front for extra cocking serrations

Mr. Ayoob has a video lecture on gun safety. One of the things he covers are the good reasons you don't want to cycle the slide any way but by grasping the rear (slingshot style). Basically you want to keep your biological parts away from the ejection port.

[JohnKSa]

Bullet diameter on the 9x18mm (9mm Makarov, 9mm Russian) is actually .363"

When loaded to full performance levels, the 9mm Mak is almost exactly halfway between the 9x17mm (9mm Kurz, 9mm Browning, .380 ACP) and the 9x19mm (9mmP 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Luger).

This is not obvious as the U.S. ammunition companies invariably load the 9mm Mak and the .380 to identical performance levels--leading most people to believe that there is no difference between the two cartridges.

[SirVette]

Normally the 380 & Makarov are so close as to be equal for all practical purposes.
The reason for the Makarov was to allow the Makarov to shoot 380, but not vice versa.



It is possible for the Makarov to essentially match an emasculated 9mm like the mk9. See below:

9x18mm Makarov Ammunition ............. Average Velocity (ft/sec)

LVE 115-grain JHP ................................ 1025

Sellier & Bellot 95-grain FMJ .................. 924

Barnaul 95-grain FMJ ............................ 1058

Fiocchi 95-grain FMJ .............................. 1020

Corbon 95-grain JHP ............................. 1100

Hornady 95-grain XTP ............................ 984

From: http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/makarov.htm


9mm
American Eagle 115gr. FMJ 9mmP
Taurus PT-99 ...... 1217
kahr mk9 .............1065
9 mm from: http://www.f-r-i.com/vel.htm