E. German Makarov & JHPs...

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. As part of a recent "Range Report" on the E. German Makarov, I mentioned some feeding problems with the Brown Bear (LVE) 115 gr JHP. Maks are known for many things, but usually reliability is at the top of its characteristics.

I'd noted that the longer 115 gr JHP would hang a bit at the bottom of the feed ramp. Seeing that there was a sharp edge at the very bottom of the feed ramp, I later "broke" the edge with a very slight rounding of that edge, but had only tested by cycling loaded rounds through the gun by hand.

The edge at the bottom of the feed ramp was gently rounded to see if that would alleviate feeding problems with the Brown Bear JHP...

Today, I decided to test the E. German Makarov with that round after breaking the lower feed ramp edge. I also have added a Wolff 19lb recoil spring in the E. German as is the case in my Novak-sighted Bulgarian Makarov. The Bulgarian was taken to the range to see if the 115 gr would feed in it as well. The feed ramp on that pistol was NOT altered at all.

No emphasis was placed on shooting groups from various distances as that's been done in my previous reports that deal primarily with the pistols. I did shoot 5 shots per load @ 10 yards simply to compare the grouping capabilities of each load. Only JHPs were fired today.

The Pistols: Shooting was primarily done with the unaltered E. German Makarov (except extra strength recoil spring), but the Bulgarian was used to test feed reliability along with the German gun.

Test Guns: Novak-sighted Bulgarian w/Pearce Grips & E. German Mak.

The magazine shown is one of the refurbished/refinished ones sold at www.makarov.com as the "CCW Magazine." It has a brass floor plate and a Wolff extra strength spring. It worked flawlessly with all loads...as did the unaltered magazines with each pistol.

Ammunition: Many if not most folks shoot ball in their Maks, but regardless of one's opinion on the viability of the 9x18 Makarov as a "stopper," some folks do use it for such. Therefore, today only JHP ammo was used. It was chronographed and the average velocity (10-shot average) shown along with the extreme spread and standard deviation.

Very informal expansion tests were done as well. I didn't have enough plastic jugs to do "scientific water expansion tests" with but one round and since there's been quite a bit of interest in Barnaul's 95 gr JHP, I did the test on that one. "Scientific mud expansion tests" were done on all of the others except the Corbon. I ran out of it before I could do the test. Another reason that the Barnaul was used is because it can be had! It's my understanding that both Corbon and Hornady have or will discontinue 9x18mm Makarov. I've seen quite a few questions on various boards about the Barnaul JHP.

Data below was obtaining using the E. German pistol.

Hornady 95 gr XTP: (Lot # 020306) Average Vel: 938 ft/sec
ES: 63/ SD: 21

Corbon 95 gr JHP +P: (Lot # 200002-2) Average Vel: 1088 ft/sec
ES: 53/ SD: 27

Brown Bear 115 gr JHP: (Lot #H02-07-01) Average Vel: 1007 ft/sec
ES: 33/ SD: 10

Barnaul 95 gr JHP: (Lot # A27-08) Average Vel: 1030 ft/sec
ES: 66/ SD: 30

These figures compare closely with those obtained during the previous report. The Barnaul was not used in that test, but in that test, which was done in a bit warmer weather than today's 26 degrees, but the Hornady XTP averaged 984 ft/sec, Corbon got 1100 ft/sec, and the Brown Bear averaged 1025 ft/sec. In the same ball park and were fired from the same pistol.

This is how the Barnaul 95 grain JHP is packaged. Note the flat nose on a rounded bullet. It closely resembles the Brown Bear 115 gr JHP, but is shorter.

The Brown Bear 115 gr JHPs are on the left with the 95 gr Barnaul JHPs are on the right.

Side-by-side comparison of the "LVE" Brown Bear & Barnaul. For those interested, LOA for the Brown Bear JHP: 0.960," Barnaul JHP: 0.939," Barnaul 95 gr ball: 0.979," and Sellier & Bellot 95 gr ball: 0.975." The Brown Bear is on the right.

Hornady's 95 gr XTP was used as well. If you want this ammunition, I'd buy it now as it's reportedly to be discontinued like the Corbon. I THINK that Speer will continue to produce their Gold Dot Hollow Point in this caliber; I had none of it for testing.

...and Corbon's 95 gr +P. It is the only round labeled "+P,"but I suspect that the Brown Bear would be if produced in the U.S.

Continued...

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Conclusion...

Shooting: The only groups fired today were fired standing and two-handed @ 10 yards. Each group consisted of 5 shots. I was cold and didn't "trust" the first group fired with the Barnaul, so a second group was fired. All of the loads grouped well, but frankly, my hands were so cold that I couldn't begin to say which is actually the most accurate.

10-Yard Groups:

At this distance, all rounds had about the same POI for POA.

Each pistol was fired as rapidly as possible using the magazine that came with it and the "CCW magazine" mentioned above for a total of 3 magazines-full (8 rnds), starting with one in the bbl and the magazine "topped off." There were zero failures to feed or extract with either pistol. The magazine from the Bulgarian was also used in the E. German and visa-versa; again, no failures. It appears that the "treatment" on the EG's feed ramp worked fine. I also repeated the above rapid-fire to the same degree using a standard strength recoil spring. There was no difference; 100% feed reliability. I'll leave the 18lb spring in both guns for use with standard velocity loads since they work fine even with the relatively "slow" Hornady XTP load. By the way, there were no marks on any of the rounds' primers from the firing pin using either the standard or 19lb springs.

The Barnaul 95 gr JHP was fired into two milk jugs filled with water. It penetrated both, but was laying on the ground about 2' behind the second one. It measures 0.571" at its widest and weighed 94 grains.

I would estimate penetration at 8 or 9" of water. I suspect it's a bit less in ballistic gelatin.

Just for grins, I compared the "scientific water expansion test" on the Barnaul JHP to a "scientific mud expansion test" for the same load. They're kind of interesting and somewhat similar.

Then I did the Brown Bear 115 gr JHP and compared the "mud" tests against the Barnaul JHP...

The Brown Bear does appear to expand more, doesn't it? Expansion's not everything; more later on.

As mentioned above, I did NOT do any "scientific expansion" tests on the Corbon as I ran out of it!

Here is Hornady's 95 gr XTP after the "mud test."

Observations:

First, while I noted that there were zero malfunctions due to feeding of any rounds or extraction, that does NOT mean there there was not a malfunction. It occurred when 1 rnd of the Brown Bear 115 gr JHP failed to fire from the E. German Makarov. A second hit fired it. I'd checked this pistol when I initially shot it and it does NOT have a problem with light firing pin strikes. I don't know if this is a rarity or not with the Brown Bear ammo, but it was not reassuring.

While the Brown Bear fed fine by hand and in firing, it did NOT feed as smoothly as any of the other JHPs that were tried. The Barnauls in particular feed so smoothly that it was almost likely operating the slide with an empty pistol!

Even though the slowest of the lot fired today, Hornady's XTP did appear very capable of expansion. It's not surprising that it apparently works in the 9x18mm Mak's velocity window since that's the only caliber I'm aware that that bullet would be used in.

It is not my first or second choice as a defensive round, but some folks will by choice or necessity use it for such. Many opine that at least 10" of penetration in 10% gelatin is required for a defense round with many others wanting from 12 to 16". The round comes up short in this regard for about anything but a face-on torso shot when viewed using the above parameters. You will decide if it's "enough" for your situation.

What I'd really like to see is one of the major makers design a 110 or 115 gr JHP that is reliable and "slick" in feeding and that would penetrate about 12" in ballistic gelatin. I'm told that neither the XTP nor the Corbon will expand in gelatin after penetration of 4 layers of denim, a commonly-used obstacle in such testing. It would be nice if the desired JHP mentioned above would properly expand after such. I don't know if it's possible, but perhaps a Pow'Rball type round from Corbon could be produced?

Anyway, hope this is of some use to the Makarov fans amongst us.

Best.

 

[makarov]

Stephen,

Another great review. Very useful information and very well written. I have only shot FMJ through my Maks, and have been curious about the HP ammo on the market.

Thanks.

- Makarov

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. Glad you liked it and thanks.

Best.