9x18 Loads

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Lj1941

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I load for 2 pistol chambered for the 9x18 or as some call it, the 9 MM Makarov. I know that a lot of members load this caliber. So far I only have tried one load with this great little caliber. My load is and has been a Berry's 95 RN.My charge has been what by todays data over max. I have been using a load from the #12 Speer manual.I have loaded and shot many hundreds of rounds with 4.1 grains of W 231.My pistol is a CZ 82 and my sons is a Russian PM.My question is what are some of the powders and bullets that some of you have used with success? There is nothing wrong with the loads I have used but I want to try something else-possibly cast or commerical jacketed like Speer or Sierra.I have a slightly heavier recoil spring in my CZ 82.
 
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I only used missouri bullet over 3 gr of bullseye. Very nice plinking load. Fmj bullets too expensive imo
 
I will keep a eye on this. I had a Russian Makarov for about 6 months. It was a really nice gun that I picked up in a trade. Some times I wish I would have kept it, but was offered more cash than it was priced at in my trade. I would like to pick one up again just because, and to work on loads for it. I don't see many talking about the 9x18 these days.
 
I love my EG Makarov. Brass is the biggest problem. Cheap ammo all steel, if I shoot at a club I loose many cases on gravel. Pita to sort them out of 9mm cases.

My gun seems to like lead...
 
Makarov Brass

I have made some from 9x19 brass.I need to get a Lee case trimming set up.It is a pain the way I do it now. My next purchase will be some of the Missouri cast bullets. I have some Bullseye but I prefer to use Red Dot for my cast loads.There is some old Alliant data that includes Red Dot. I also want to try Power Pistol because it is a powder that gives good velocities at low pressures and seems to burn clean.:fire:
 
I use 3.8 gr Universal Clays with the same Berrys 95 gr plated RN. .970" OAL. I settled on this as my "standard". I shoot these in a CZ-82.
 
As for brass, I have had good results trimming Win. 9x19 to .705"
My favorite powder for my E.G. Mak is W-231 my 2nd is Bullseye. I know there are other powders just as good but I have not tried them yet.
 
Berrys discontinued, so if you have them - great. None more can be bought.

Trimming cases - well.. I don't want to do that to my fellow shooters in a club...
 
I don't currently load for Makarov but used to. My notes indicate my favorite load was a 100 grain Sierra FPJ over 3.9 grains of Unique (as thrown by the #6 rotor on my RCBS Little Dandy) sized to .967 OAL. My notes indicate it was very accurate and shot to point of aim.

I also used a Meister 93 grain RN lead over 3.4 grains of Win 231 or over 4.1 grains of Unique. My notes indicate both loads were accurate but hit higher than point of aim on my particular gun.
 
Berry's 9x18

Berry's currently does not list the 9x18. They have done this before. I am sure it is not a big seller for them so it makes good business sense for them to make what they sell more of-9,40 & 45 are the ones that come to mind. I got 500 from Berry's when they were still making them and hopefully will get more when this craziness is over or eases a little bit.I mark my headstamps with a Sharpy so they can be told from a normal 9.I have been plauqed with having 380 brass mixed with my range pick up brass so I know what it is like to have calibers that aren't what they appear.:banghead:
 
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Honestly I don't see why I need/want plated anymore. Missouri bullet lead with 3.0gr of Bullseye shoots out of my Makarov with almost no leading. Pretty accurate and cheap!
 
Missouri

I am going to get some Missouri cast as soon as I can get enough $ set aside for an order. I want to optimize my order so I get my moneys worth for shipping.The reason I am looking at commerical jacketed is to put together a SD load.I have Silver Bear HP now but the tests that have been done show that they are a poor choice in that they don't expand at the velocity they are loaded.Some people would say that the 9x18 is not strong enough for SD. I say that anything as accurate as my CZ 82 makes it OK in my book.:evil:
 
My son was having trouble finding ammo for his PA63 so we ordered the Lee mold for the 9mak (95 gr I believe?) and trimmed a few hundred 9x19 cases. Tumble lubed and loaded as-cast with 3gr of Titegroup made the most accurate load he has ever fired from that pistol, no leading to speak of and dead reliable. We also tried loads with Bullseye, WST and Red Dot - all in different charge ranges, but that Titegroup load really stood out and subsequent tests proved equally good.

He's also careful to pick up the converted brass, both because of the time invested and to avoid a headache for someone else.
 
Not sure about about other 9x18 guns, but Makarov throws brass fast and far. If I'm in a public range with concrete floor - I get about 95% of my brass, trimming is an option.

But, for example, shooting IDPA BUG match with MAK is different story, lot's of people shoot at the same time on a gravel. For this specific case using trimmed cases is a big no-no.

How did you trim them? I'm thinking if I collect enough nickel-plated 9mm cases I may do it. Or just go and buy 1000 of Starline brass... But it doesn't make sense $$-wise...

I bought 1000 rounds of PPU factory ammo and now I use those cases. I loose them over time and will need more. At $15/box it's probably better to buy factory ammo and later reload.
 
I don't mean to hi jack this thread, what exactly does that 9x18 Mac compare to? I've never really seen the round, at least I don't think, but I'm under the impression that it is kind of like a wimpy 9 mm, or not?

GS
 
The 9x18 is roughly in between the 380ACP on the low side to the 9x19 on the high side.It is not actually a true 9MM.It fires a 95 grain bullet at around 1000FPS.It's actually a. 364 caliber compared to. 355 for a 380 or a true 9.The case can be made from a 9x19 by trimming the case to 9x18 length and fireforming with a normal load.It is a very accurate caliber in most of the pistols it is chambered for.The Soviets and their Eastern Block Allies used it for their handguns and sub machine guns until about 1990.Many of their old weapons are on the C & R list and were low priced until the current madness started right after Sandy Hook.:)
 
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Here's the load that I use in my CZ82. As other have said, brass is the problem. I haven't shot the CZ82 in a while, but I did buy one of those brass catchers that mounts on your hand and it seems to work pretty well. I'll definitely be using that when I shoot my semi-autos. I've been pretty happy shooting my revolvers lately though....esp my new Super Redhawk - what a solid beast that is!

Here's my 9x18 load....and I would suggest a pretty decent crimp, as light crimps seemed to send a blast back at the shooter of powder ash:

9x18 Makarov: 3.6-3.8gr HP38 (.34 powder disc), Berry 95gr RN, .965” OAL


Warner
 
May I ask what's your recipe for Makarov bullets using WST? I would really appreciate it
 
Rogers Better Bullets at King Shooters Supply in King Of Prussia, PA, sells LRN's for 9mak, or at least they used to. I bought a couple thou from them.
 
Mastercastbullets.com 93 grain RNL with 3.6 grains of International, but next time I load a batch I'm going to switch to Green Dot. (same amount)

Trimming cases - well.. I don't want to do that to my fellow shooters in a club...

I mark the case heads with cheap fingernail polish or a wide-tip permanent marker. Anybody picking up a case I somehow lost would know it was something weird from the paint.
 
I have good results with the 93gr LRN in a EG Mak with WSP and 3.8gr of W-321, COL .968" they average 1,050 fps.
 
I use Bullseye and either Berry's plated or Hornady XTP bullets with no crimp (my crimp die is on backorder). Berry's will be making the plated Mak bullets again. They had a page on their website at one time explaining just that.
 
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