9x18 Makarov dying off?

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David4516

David4516

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So I have 2 Makarovs in 9mm Mak aka 9x18

I really enjoy shooting them, and one of them (a bulgie) is also my carry gun.

I am concerned that in a few years Makarov ammo and reloading components will disappear. Hornady's recent announcement that they're dropping production of the 95gr XTP has me especially worried, as I believe it was the last JHP bullet available to reloaders (have not seen a Seirra or Speer JHP in some time now).

So what do you guys think? Am I worried about nothing? Or is 9x18 going the way of the dodo? Should I look for .380 ACP barrels for my Maks?
 
That would really suck. I love my CZ82. I may just learn to reload and cast my own bullets very soon.
 
I'm not really concerned. As long as S&B, Prvi, and Barnaul/Tula/Wolf are able to ship it here, we can buy it.

As for Hornady, they've admitted that they've had a 200% increase in sales. At that point, they can't manufacture everything, so they've said they have to suspend some of the more obscure calibers and lower quantity sellers to focus on the products that everyone wants right now. It's just temporary. When capacity returns, the 95gr XTP will be back. http://www.hornady.com/support/availability
 
Man I hope not, I'd be pretty bummed out if I couldn't get ammo for my CZ82.
I'm going to have to pick up another box Of Hornadys XTP's
 
I have a Russian Mak in .380, and I'm very pleased with it. The .380 is a good caliber, and has become more popular in the last few years. I think the .380 will always be easier to find than the 9x18 - at least in the USA.

You should search for a couple of .380 barrels for your Maks and convert one of your pistols to shoot .380. If the 9x18 gets scarce and/or expensive, convert the second pistol to .380, and 'soldier on'.
 
I use FMJ in the Makarov, even for self defense. However, it does concern me that Hornady did this. I shoot the Russian stuff, and hope they don't ban imports, but as you can make the brass easily using 9x19, as long as the make 9MM Mak FMJ for reloading, I am OK. YMMV.
 
I carry my Makarov Russian commercial 95 percent of the time. It s light you can t even notice it carrying. As to ammo i got plenty of Barnaul 95 gr JHP. Worse come to worse the FMJ is the way to go for .380s and 9 mm Mak in self defense.
 
I have a PMM. It is in pretty rough shape but still a good shooting piece. As I have only seen 2 other PMM models I would hate to lose access to this round. My gun has the adjustable sights & a fat plastic grip but it is comfortable to shoot & hold. It is hard to find the mag.s . They come in 10-12 rd. This gun shoots just like a PM and is a fine shooter even though it looks rough. I would like to find one in .380 & S.S. when I can. I find this one to like the Blazer load w/ gold dot bullets. A classic. Hate to lose them also.
 
Greetings
9mm Mac Baikal is the hottest selling auto loader for the last 5 years here in Arequipa, Peru.
Up in ILLinois have two of the two-tone P-63 9mm Macs in storage. As a boolit caster I have no worries that any big name might stop production of a projectile. I advise everyone to get the gear and cast your own especially for your PP or CC tools. Never trust your future to the wims of big buisness.
Mike in Peru
 
I have it on very good authority that all companies are planning to cease production of 9x18 ammunition. As a public service, I would be willing to see to the proper disposal of all Pistolet Makarovas and VZ-82s. PM me for shipping instructions.
 
Several years ago a store near me closed it's doors. But before it closed they had a sale. Well they had RCBS mak dies and XTP 9mm mak slugs. I bought the dies and 400 slugs. And not much later 200 rounds of Winchester Mak FMJ ammo.

My EG is all set for any shortage.

Deaf
 
Some years back, during the ammo shortage I did some experimenting.

If need be 100 grain, to about 120 grain 9mm/.380 (.355) and .38 (.357) bullets can be loaded in 9x18 or trimmed down 9mm brass.

There is some blow-by so a little velocity is lost. This can be made up by adjusting the powder charge.

What I was most interested in was how much the accuracy suffered because of the undersized bullets.
As it turned out the accuracy was pretty decent.

Since the expected bullet shortage never occurred I didn't carry the experiment any further.

Mak380bullets_zpse15c39d5.gif


But in any case I decided I wouldn't get caught low on Makarov bullets. This in addition to thousands of lead Mak bullets. :)

Makbullets_zpsebbe9cf3.gif
 
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327 Federal Mag, 25 ACP, 32 S&W Long, 45 GAP, 357 Sig, to name a few, will die off first before the 9x18. However, I don't think any of 'em will die off anytime soon.
 
I have it on very good authority that all companies are planning to cease production of 9x18 ammunition. As a public service, I would be willing to see to the proper disposal of all Pistolet Makarovas and VZ-82s. PM me for shipping instructions.
Click to expand...

Sure, as long as you'll cover the $10,000 shipping and handling fee. Just send me a certified check.
 
I suspect that 357SIG and 45GAP will be around well past our lifetimes, since, these are still being issued by numerous LE departments. The 9X18 will also be around a long time, since there are lots of cheap good guns available.
 
There are literally millions of Mak, CZ, FEG, Radom, and other 9x18 pistols floating around in civilian hands. Some countries are still issuing it to police agencies. I don't think it will disappear anytime soon. Look at the .303 British, it was dropped from main line service in the 1950's and you can still find ammo easily.
 
I was in an Academy Sports last week. They had lots of their Monarch 9Mak ammo for sale at about $11. a box. They keep pistol ammo at the customer service desk now.
 
The Makarov round is well loved here in America after being imported since the late 1980s. It will never go away .
 
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