Safety slugs for 9x18 Makarov or just change caliber?

[10 Ringer']

Are there anything like the Glaser type safety slugs offered in 9x18 Makarov? For both home defense and personal protection in urban areas, safety slugs are a good choice but I'm starting to think my recent buy of a gun in 9x18 might have been a bad choice despite its wonderful accuracy and its rugged construction. Ammo is hard to find (without ordering TONS of it!!) and so far I havent been able to find factory bullets better suited to bad guy penetration without exiting and traveling on its way through the next three walls. Any suggestions... short of trading the Mak on something a little more versatile in the factory ammo dept like a 38/357 or 9mm? Thanks.

 

[BHPshooter]

I think I've seen glaser safety slugs in 9mm Makarov, but I can't really be sure.

Do you reload? That may offer you a couple more options. Sadly, I don't know much about ammo for the 9mm Mak, but I wish you good luck.

Wes

 

[clubsoda22]

why not just use corbon hollowpoints? They come in 9x18 and if you hit the badguy with it they won't exit.

 

[denfoote]

What do you mean that hollow points are hard to find for the Makarov???
My dealer has both the Federal and Hornady HP rounds on his shelf even as we speak!!! When Cor-Bon made rounds for the gun, they were readlly available!!! Unless you live in Kali or New Jersey, they should be easy to find!!!

www.mandallshooting.com
www.dansammo.com
www.jgsales.com

 

[Zundfolge]

Corbon doesn't make their 9x18 JHPs but forget them, the Barnaul JHPs from Dans Ammo are inexpensive and pretty good HPs that are every bit as good as the Corbons ... much higher velocity then the somewhat weak Hornady's (only advantage of the Hornady's over the Barnauls is the cases are real nice brass and good for reloading).

However there is a school of thought that says that JHPs arent't the best thing from small, somewhat low-power loads like 9x18 and .380 and that you need the penetration of the FMJs to get real "stopping power" (and you don't really have to worry about overpenetration).

I carry my Mak with Barnaul FMJs

 

[CWL]

Glasers and MagSafes aren't all that they're cracked up to be.

You have serious danger of underpenetration in this caliber, so these frangible bullets might only just tear a chunk out of the first few inches and completely fail topenetrate bones/ribs and reach CNS/vital organs.

As big of a problem is the cost. These things are soooo expensive it's not worth it to regularly train with them. And if you do not regularly train with the defensive ammo you plan on using, how can you be sure of reliable placement?

JHPs or FMJs are readily available in Mak flavors.

Here's a link to gellatin ballastics tests with available JHP ammos. Note that CCI blasers (cheap) penetrate and expand reasonably well.

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/9x18/gel9x18.htm

 

[jsalcedo]

I alternate glasers and silver bear hollowpoints in my Mak.

I can't afford to shoot glasers for practice but the silverbear HP's
are $4.95 for 50 and have been very reliable.

 

[PCRCCW]

I will jump in on this one...CWL is inline with my thinking. Glasers and other frangibles are a good theory but Ive yet to see any EARTH SHATTERING test results that justify their expense.

With a Makarov and using JHP's I think your fine. If you hit your target you have enough velocity for expansion and somewhat good penetration also.
Your bullets are not gonna rip through anything substantial ( a BG) and keep going like an armor piercing round...wont happen.

If you use FMJ's you run the risk of this happening alot more than JHP's.

The theory of FMJ's giving the penetration you need in the smaller calibers is a miss nomer to me. You can shoot them and have complete penetration and youve made two small holes instead of one. They leak!

With a JHP..you have expansion and thus, energry transference. This is what causes shock to the system and assists in the stopping of said target.

If it doesnt open for whatever reason, the worst situation is its gonna act like a FMJ and make the two small holes.

I carry with Barnaul, Hornady and Master Mak JHP's..and Corbon when Im lucky enough to find it. I dont feel the least bit "under gunned" when I have my 83 like this....at all. Speer isnt gonna make the Blaser JHP's anymore for the Mak...if you find some keep it...just like the Corbon. They actually use the Gold Dot bullets in the Blaser JHP's.

Sorry the ammo isnt plentiful in your neck of the woods....call around and you may be surprised to find more than you thought.

Shoot well.