Should I sell my Bulgarian Makarov 9X18?

[phil dirt]

I have a Bulgarian Makarov in 9X18 caliber. I like the gun, but I can't find any decent ammo, and I don't want to reload for it. What do you think the future is for this pistol in terms of ammo avalibility? I'd like to find some quality hollow points, but I'd settle for FMJ. I do have a couple of boxes of 105 gr. Wolf, but I haven't heard anything good about it, and even if I did, I don't know where to get more. Should I just sell the gun?

 

[Harry1969]

I you like it keep it and learn to handload or buy a bunch of ammo online. If that's too much trouble then sell it.

 

[il.bill]

I keep my CZ82's well fed with online 9x18mm Makarov ammunition purchases.

Here is an example https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100001660&dir=18%7c829%7c836 I just got from GunBot http://www.gunbot.net/ammo/pistol/9x18/.

Though not as easy to find as they were a year or two ago, some great deals on 1,000 round 9x18mm purchases can still be uncovered if you keep looking.

 

[goon]

As I was cleaning up my reloading bench the other day, I found one round of 9mm Makarov that somehow made it into the basement.

I've owned two Maks, a Bulgarian and a Russian with adjustable sights. And when I picked that round of 9mm Mak up off the floor yesterday, I regretted selling the Bulgarian one.

Even if you just buy a couple hundred more rounds and put the gun away for awhile, I think your interests may turn back to it. Or you'll have a good firearm and some ammo for a time when a friend is looking to buy a quality CCW gun without going broke. Or you'll have a back-up handgun in case you need to get your primary CCW gun repaired.

So if I were you, I'd keep it.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Keep it!

Hornady's Custom XTP load is avialabe and excellent for defense.

When are you going to be able to purchase an all steel pistol of equivalent quality and history in the future?

 

[goon]

Both Palmetto State Armory and AIM Surplus are showing brass cased 9mm Makarov ammo in stock right now. I've bought from both places in the past and would do so again - no problems.

 

[bannockburn]

phil dirt

I would keep the Mak too. There's ammo out there; it just takes some time and effort on your part to find it.

The real reason you should hang onto it is because as soon as you sell it, this huge boat load of 9x18 ammo is going to be imported and you'll be saying to yourself, "Why did I ever sell my Bulgarian Mak?"

 

[Wishoot]

Sell it.

To me.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

Do not sell it OP. I had my Bulgarian "circle 10" Makarov stolen a couple years ago and I miss it dearly.

 

[Normandy]

You can find Makarov ammo on line easily. There are close to a dozen sites I visit, usually at least 3 or 4 sites have it in stock.
Widener's has it now, Ammotogo, and a few others already mentioned above.

 

[goon]

Actually, if we were going to sell guns based on ammo availability, we should all be selling our .22's!

But my 10/22 is staying right where it is.

 

[Ignition Override]

Ammo search: ""Ammoseek" or "Gunbot".

 

[BSA1]

I don 't know what you consider to be decent ammunition. Barnaul Silver Bear is excellent ammo. I am very surprised at how well the Silver Bear JHP expands from CZ-82.

Go to YouTube and search for 9x18 ammo tests. It will save you time and narrow your search.

It may hard to believe but the ammo shortage is a short term situation. With the Republicans in control of Congress I expect things to ease up a lot.

 

[thespanishbandit]

I have 3 boxes of 50, what is your location?

 

[Pilot]

Nothing wrong with Russian ammo in any Mak whether it be Wolf, Brown Bear, Silver Bear, Barnaul, S&B, etc. I shoot whatever I can buy cheaply, and it always goes bang. It is available, and less expensive than .380, plus you can reload for it using trimmed 9x19 cases, and cast Mak sized bullets.

 

[Jaymo]

I've shot every brand/type/nationality 9x18 ammo I could find.
All of it worked well.
Academy Sports carries steel-cased 9x18 ammo.

Buffalo Bore and Underwood load very impressive SD ammo for the Mak that makes Hornady ammo look like light target loads.

The Barnaul and LVE hollowpoint ammo has been pretty impressive. Even though they are steel jacketed HPs, they expand as much as or more than US made copper alloy jacketed HPs.
.61" expansion from a steel jacketed .365 HP that is moving a little over 1,000 fps is very impressive.

 

[nathan]

I carry a lowly IJ 70 Russian Commercial as my primary CCW. Even if im on the gym doing treadmill and doing weights, i have it at 5 pm. Its very light pistol on a good holster. I have Barnaul 95 gr JHP as my load which shoots well with this gun.
Keep your Bulgarian. It is a great gun . Check Underwood 's website for their carry load. They are quite impressive in terms of velocity. I think they use Hornady XTR bullets.

 

[Dudedog]

Keep it. Maks are GREAT!
I know you said you don't want to load for it. It is however easy to load for once you have brass. Privi and S+B both make 9 Maks in reloadable brass cases. Missouri Bullet Company (MBC) has the correct bullets both coated and un coated.

Lee has dies.

Not counting the cost for reloading equipment I can load it for about $6.50 a box of 50 not counting my time.
http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=28

I have used the following loads with them in Mak Brass.
(you should start lighter for cut down 9mm brass)
Universal Clays 3.7 gr
Unique 3.9 - 4 gr
Bullseye 3 gr
HP38/Win 231 3.3

All seem to shoot well..

Widners,Midway, Target Sports USA are good places to look.
Widners has reloadable brass cased Privi right now for $13.25 a box.

https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100001172&dir=18|829|836

Neat link to Gel shots with 9 Mak
http://www.brassfetcher.com/9x18mm Makarov/9mm Makarov 20% gelatin results.pdf

(This is a .50 BMG but it sure is neat to watch!(
http://www.brassfetcher.com/50BMG/50 BMG 20% gelatin results.pdf

The only reason I would sell it is if I needed money for food....
and even then I would go hungry for a bit

 

[9 fingers]

Targetsportsusa.com is my usual supplier and has it in stock.
9 fingers
http://www.targetsportsusa.com/9mm-makarov-ammo-c-58.aspx

 

[nathan]

Three weeks ago i was at The Woodlands Academy SPorts Store and they have Monarch 9mm Makarov FMJ for $11 per box.

 

[donkee]

My 2 Makarovs are on the list of guns I will never sell. Wolf 9x18 always runs through them with no problems. Sounds like you have never even given the Wolf a chance.

 

[lincen]

There is a great deal of fine 9x18 ammo available today at good prices, almost as cheap as 9mm. My plan is to buy ammo anytime I can at a good price. Keep it in the house and it will never go bad. I do regret selling most, not all, of the guns that I no longer have.

 

[evan price]

Yeah, sure, why not? It's not my gun. Do what makes you happy. It's a gun, not a dog, and not a lifetime commitment.

 

[45_auto]

Sounds like the ammo is causing you a lot of consternation. If the minimal effort required to find 9x18 ammo is too much for you, sell it and buy something chambered in 9mm Luger.

 

[AustinTX]

I definitely won't be selling mine.

But then I don't sell anything.