What can you tell me about this brand of 9mm Makarov (9x18)?

[Rockrivr1]

As part of a gun purchase I received 4 boxes of 9mm Makarov ammo. One box was from Silver Bear. I know this brand and have used it a lot. On the other hand I've never seen the other ammo before. It's made in Russia and is in a mint green box. Lots of Russian language on it (I'm assuming Russian) Is this any good and safe to use?

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Never seen that kind before.

I have used plenty of Silver Bear in the past though with excellent results.

 

[Wesker]

Silver bear is a step up from Brown Bear. It's Russian made ammo for a Russian made gun. Can't really go wrong there.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I've seen that green box before but have never used any.
The box shows that the velocity is 315 m/s (1033fps) so it's within 9x18 limits, if the bullet weight is between 90 and 115 grains.

I wouldn't be concerned shooting it.

 

[SkunkApe]

The guys at Makarov.com refer to the second one as "LVE green box". It has a good reputation.

I've shot about 6 boxes of it myself, with no problems.

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=110185

LVE (Green Box) 95-gr FMJ (20 rounds tested)

Manufacturer: LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia
Headstamp: LVE 99 9x18Mak
Cartridge Case: Steel case, berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 92.2-gr (1 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic

OAL (ins)
Range: 0.971 – 0.979
Avg: 0.974

Velocity: (fps)
Range: 968 - 1029
Avg: 1008
ES: 20
SD: 61

 

[kjeff50cal]

The green box 9 mak ammo is the original ammo (surplus) sold to Makarov pistol owners. It is very accurate in my Polish P-64. Used to cost $4.00 a box and the bullet weight is 95 grns.

 

[alamo]

I've shot LVE in my Mak before. Worked fine, no problems.

 

[oweno]

LVE 'green box' is good stuff, I've burned up a couple of thousand rounds of it thru my Maks. Good, pretty hot military ammo.

Haven't seen it for sale for a while, wish I could get more...btw, LVE stands for something-or-other electical company in Novosibersk, I think...

 

[sigma 40ve]

LVE green box is great stuff. I wish I had bought more when I had the chance!

 

[MHBushmaster]

that is some good stuff mainard.

 

[David N]

IT'S FROM THE SAME COMPANY

LVE (Low Voltage Equip.) makes both the "green box" and the "Bears", Brown and Silver. AVOID the original 120 grn. Silver Bear 120 grn. JHPs, they were simply too big and sometimes the OAL was so off I could see it with my naked eye. I've had good results with everything else made by LVE, including 1,000 rounds Brown Bear 115 grn. JHPs through my Bulgarian Mak w/o a single failure of any kind.

Damn, I wish I wasn't forced to sell my Bulgy for the money.

For everything you will ever need to know about Maks and other popular European pocket pistols like the P64, go to:

www.gunboards.com/forums/makarov

and

www.makarov.com

makarov.com's prices are too high for me on their guns, but their free FAQ pages are great. You can also get great deals on sale items.

 

[denfoote]

What you have there is an original box of the old surplus Soviet ammo!!
It may be the old style steel core stuff that you cannot get any more due to our lovely laws that classify it as armor piercing!!
See if the bullet sticks to a magnet.
If so, then it may be worth more as a collector's item!!