Any love for the 9x18 ?

Yes. I prefer 9x18mm Mak in the PM and would also love to have true 9x18mm Ultra, like a PP Super or P230.

To my mind, the 9x18 is the logical place to arrive at when you’re searching for the best “minimum load” for a defensive handgun. All the arguments that point out how good of a round 9mm Luger also apply to the 9x18. Higher round count, smaller lighter weapon, reduced recoil, while still handily meeting the modern material penetrations standard that service handgun cartridges are judged by.

test drive said:

I agree completely. And yes I would love to have something in the ultra.
Do you think the short barrel guns often chaimberd in 9x18 produce the velocity needed to make hollow point ammo work or better to use ball ?

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I tend to be a ball guy in most pocket auto calibers. I liked the 9mm Mak XTP loading, but its been discontinued by Hornady, replaced by yet another plastic/rubber tipped wonder bullet. I don't do plastic or rubber tipped projectiles in any rifle or handgun caliber.

Not really. There's only a couple of pistols that fire it, and finding ammo (esp. good HP ammo) is a challenge. Also, there are so many options in 9x19 for carry that are in the same "weight class" as the 9x18's and many/most of the 380's, that it seems silly to me to opt for a gun in essentially the same size class with a less powerful, less available, more expensive round. But to each his own.

I picked up 380 brass mixed in 9mm from time to time, but seldom 9x18! I guess not many people shoot 9x18 in my area or they all reload. I do like my 9x18 Makarov, haven't shot it for a long time. Had a 380 Bersa, sold it but keep my Markarov.

I like the makarov pistol in it. if they made newer version sized pocket carry type firearms like the p238 or colt mustang in it, guns that size or smaller, I'd like it more

For some reason I do. I shouldn't, 9x18 is essentially the same power as .380 is, but it's just hard not to like a lot of the Russian calibers. I still think the Tokarev is a better service pistol than the Makarov, but I can't look at a Makarov and say it's garbage. Upon recent research I discovered that CZ made their model 82 in 9x18 Mak and it looks like the best pistol that the 9mm Mak has ever been chambered in.

test drive said:

anybody else prefer 9x18 over .380?

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Someone must, as over the past half a dozen years or so I have only found about twenty or so on the ground........

I do not own a firearm to shoot that. But will pick it up for one that does and pass them on.

I like it a lot, and load for a PA-63, Missouri bullets, Red dot, 93gr at around 800 is a fun load in cut 9mm cases. I would shoot it far more, if parts were available for the FEG guns. I still like .380 more though, because of the wide range of bullets, and very few 9mak guns are serviceable, or still supported.

I also have and reload for a PA-63. I also have a Walther PP in .22 that was my Dad’s only pistol so it’s pretty cool to have a similar big brother.

I’m a fan of both the round and the Makarov (a work of art in its simplicity).

With just a hair more oomph than .380, I agree with RevolvingGarbage that it’s a good minimum defense round. My Makarov stays loaded with +P hard cast flat nose for that purpose.

I like the 9x18 round. What I don't like is the hassle of reforming and trimming 9x19 cases nor the lack of available bullets. The Hornady XTP is hard to find in stock and the only other choices are cast or FMJ.

I also don't like the fact that my p64 ejects the hulls into the next county.

FL-NC said:

there are so many options in 9x19 for carry that are in the same "weight class" as the 9x18's and many/most of the 380's, that it seems silly to me to opt for a gun in essentially the same size class with a less powerful, less available, more expensive round.

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Pretty much so. It's principal utility seems to be 'it's not 9x19', and not much else. When 9x19 ammo (and small concealable pistols to shoot it through) are readily available, there seems to be little compelling rationale for the 9x18.

A dozen or so years ago when there was a major ammo shortage, seems as though the only caliber that was affordable and available was the mak. I purchased a P-64 on the cheap. I have xl hands and the damn thing beat me up quite a bit. Slide bite out the wazoo. Even after I swapped out the springs so I didn’t have to use two fingers on the trigger to get it to fire it wasn’t my cup o tea. Think I gave it to my brother in law after I lost a bet. Think I got the better end of that deal.

I used to love the 9x18 when I could get a box of ammo for 8 bucks. I had 3 Makarovs. Sold it all off when the ammo went up and rumors of ammo drying up came about.

I'm a big fan of CZ-82's. They have ambidextrous controls, SA/DA trigger, and 12 shot magazines. They have always seemed to be an excellent value to me.

I do like the 9x18, but I also like other cartridges that some love to hate, like the .32acp (and the .380acp).

Though I don't see the 9x18 having any significant advantage over the .380, I do like it just fine. I keep a supply of 9x18 for my Bulgarian Makarov, Polish P64 and Czech Cz-82. It's a cartridge I probably won't load for though.

My LCP will fit in my jeans pocket, a Makarov will not. If I want more power and am willing to carry a little bigger gun as a trade off for the power I will carry my DB9 which is smaller than my friends Makarov and shoots 9x19 - 9mm luger instead of the weaker 9x18.

The Makarov is a cool weapon and I will most likely own one some day... but the reason to shoot 9x18 is because you have a cool Makarov... I wouldn't buy a Makarov just because the 9x18 is some great round though.

I.e. I wouldn't buy an M1 carbine because 30 carbine is some kind of awesome round. I load and shoot 30 carbine because a M1 carbine is an awesome weapon! ...and the round is adequate.

I love 9x18 for the standard bore diameter and the vast number of ammo choices, plus how well HP's expand! Don't forget the plethora of new, lightweight, ergonomic polymer handguns available and all the free pickup brass that people just leave at the range even though it is ejected close, in a neat pile! - haha

jhb said:

I like the makarov pistol in it. if they made newer version sized pocket carry type firearms like the p238 or colt mustang in it, guns that size or smaller, I'd like it more

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AlphaWolf makes a 9x18 barrel for the Glock 42. A G42 isn't quite as small as a P238 or a Mustang, but it's lighter.

TTv2 said:

Upon recent research I discovered that CZ made their model 82 in 9x18 Mak and it looks like the best pistol that the 9mm Mak has ever been chambered in.

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I would agree with that statement.

9x18 You mean 9 Ultra? Picked up a Nice 1974 Walther PP Super in 9 Ultra about a month ago. Was a little worried about ammo but I did some research. I first used 9Mak cases cause that is what I had laying around, they are the same length as 9 Ultra and sized them in 9 mm dies seated with a .356 bullet instead of a .365 one. Also since you can make 9mak out of 9 mm cases I shortened a couple hundred 9 mm cases to 17.95/98 sized and loaded with 4.2grs of WW 231 and 90-100gr bullets. Works great. You can even use .38 Super Comp they work too but 9 mm is cheap and plentiful! Neat gun, not very many were made. Dont pass one up cause you think you cant find ammo for one! 9 Ultra is tapered like 9 mm and you can reload the cases using 9 mm dies. http://www.brassfetcher.com/Handguns/9mm Police/9mm Police.html





9 Ultra Factory 100 gr truncated FMJ.

9 mm cases loaded with 4.1grs WW 231 100 gr FMJ.


.38 Super Comp shorted to 17.98-95



Browning BDA 102 gr Remington Golden Sabre HP's with 4grs WW 231

I've never shot the gun but I love the Lee factory crimp die for bulge-busting 9x19 shells from the range!