Loading 9x18 Mak

[mrappe]

I bought the gun back in the 90's and haven't shot it in several years. I also bought RCBS dies, brass and a lot of Hornady XTP 95gn hollowpoint bullets but never loaded any. I thought I might load some and try out.
Any suggestions as to powder etc. I looked at the Hogdon loading data on the net and I do have some Universal powder which they show a range of 3.6 to 4.0 grns but I don’t know if some other powders are better.
Thanks

Thanks

 

[brewer12345]

I fooled around with universal and some Speer FMJ bullets. My Mak liked 3.8 grains of Universal. Oddly my CZ 82 in the same chambering does not like that combination, so it is fed Tula when I am using it in the field for dispatching wounded jackrabbits.

 

[denton]

I've used AA #5 and TiteGroup with good results. Expect a bit of soot with whatever you use.

 

[joneb]

I have mostly loaded for 9x18 Mak with 93gr LRN or plated 93gr ish LRN with W-231. I have had good results with these bullets at the max end of the load data with Accurate #5
In my tests for a EG mak w/a 19# recoil spring I find Bullseye and W-231 are good for target loads, and Accurate #5 and BE-86 are good for upper end loads with jacketed bullets. JMHO

 

[Dudedog]

MBC has coated lead bullets for 9Mak.
Good bullets for practice.
Last batch I loaded I used 3.8gr of Universal, not a listed load with lead bullets but seemed fine in my gun.

I have used some other powders with unlisted loads as well.
Just my opinion no fact to back it up but with a powder with no data for Mak .I have used .380 data and worked up a tiny bit.
Do this and your own risk, always use common sense and work up slowly!

 

[7mmsavage]

I shoot a Bulgarian Makarov. I am using Berry’s 95gr plated bullets and have gotten good results with both Titegroup and HP38. I don’t have load data with me right now but I seem to remember it took a little searching to find Mak data. With HP38 being the same as W231 I figure that give me 3 chances at finding powder when I need it. Well, that was my thinking a year ago when I started loading for this gun.

On yeah. For brass I cut down 9x19 brass that is plentiful at any range and is generally for sale on the used market for next to nothing. I get sooty cases and have read that it comes from the slight difference in case taper. I’ve had no other ill effects and they shoot just fine in my gun.

 

[PWC]

Sooty cases 1st reload; brass should fireform and remove the taper then no or lottle soot afterward. Maybe increase load a little of not fire formed.

 

[mrappe]

I tried to seat some of the Hornady XTP bullets and unused starline brass that I had bought years ago and it appears that the RCBS die sized the brass down too much so that when the bullets are seated the cases have a slight bulge where the bullet is. Also, the top edge of the brass does not appear to have any crimp and sticks out slightly.

 

[PWC]

Does it "plunk"? If so don't worry. If not, try to use the taper crimp to just liss the "flared" lip.

 

[brewer12345]

You guys are giving me a hankering to shoot my Bulgarian Mak. I lug my beater CZ92 in 9 Mak all winter as a hunting sidearm used to finish off squirrels and jackrabbits. the Bulgarian is too nice for that and I need to shoot it. Just staying out of crowded places like my range at this point. Sigh...

 

[rfwobbly]

I tried to seat some of the Hornady XTP bullets and unused starline brass that I had bought years ago and it appears that the RCBS die sized the brass down too much so that when the bullets are seated the cases have a slight bulge where the bullet is.

While appearance may be a clue that some dimensions are incorrect, "looks" by itself is not one of the requirements for reloading. The hard facts of cartridge dimensions and chamber fit are all that matter.

Also, the top edge of the brass does not appear to have any crimp and sticks out slightly.

You may need to adjust your taper crimp. The finished cartridge should have a case mouth sized in the 0.387 / 0.388" region.

 

[Edcnh]

I have had good results with W231 and Speer 95g TMJ bullets. Plan to try Berry’s plated bullets in 95g and one or two different powders. The W231 load works fine and groups decently in both my CZ 82 and P-64.

 

[rfwobbly]

The W231 load works fine and groups decently in both my CZ 82 and P-64.

Being a blow-back action, you need something fairly fast. W231 is what my son and I used 10 years ago. I'd think that Sport Pistol would be where I'd start today. My only other expedience with unlocked actions has been a 32ACP Beretta, and N310 has simply been superb in that.