Stephen A. Camp
Moderator In Memoriam
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2002
- Messages
- 2,430
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...
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...