9X18 makarov

Mausermolt · March 30, 2010, 10:33 PM

who reloads for the Big Mak (humor)? is there any way to convert 9luger brass to 9mak? what loads are your favorite and what bullets do you prefer?

vladan · March 30, 2010, 11:20 PM

I do.
Yes, you can trim 9x19 brass 1mm to 18mm length, put good bell and seat mak bullets ( 9.2mm, not regular .380 ). then fireform and you have reloadable makarov brass. Just keep it separate from the rest of your 9mil brass as it still have 9mm luger headstamp. Even when fireforming it is surprisingly accurate so aim your fire so you are not wasting bullets.
here are some loads and instruction links :
http://members.nuvox.net/~on.melchar/makarov/index.html
http://www.makarov.com/makload.html

Mausermolt · March 30, 2010, 11:44 PM

AWSOME! i have a TONE of 9mm luger brass i pick all of it up from my range that i can find. so now i just need to buy a die and some buwets. great thank you!

joneb · March 31, 2010, 12:13 AM

I have trimmed down 9x19 for 9x18 Mak and it works, the problem is the 9x19 brass has internal taper that starts not to far down from the case mouth, with .365 diameter cast bullets I was concerned that this could swaged the bullets base.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...t=9x18+makarov
Click on Search then click on Advanced Search, type in 9x18 makarov and limit search to the reloading forum.

vladan · March 31, 2010, 12:21 AM

for the first loading ( fireforming ) I use jacketed or plated bullets, no lead. barrys plated bullets are pretty good and not expensive

vladan · March 31, 2010, 12:23 AM

BTW, trimming few hundreds cases is a bitch, I guard my fireformed brass like a hawk :-)

noelf2 · March 31, 2010, 11:49 AM

Get some cheap .prvi mak ammo and just reload that, or buy some new mak brass. Even if you have scads of 9mm para cases lying around, resizing/cutting it to 9x18 won't change the headstamp. Just not worth the trouble IMHO.

Spur0701 · April 1, 2010, 08:52 AM

I've been doing about 200 rounds at a time, I trim nickel plated 9mm, then mark the bottom with a colored sharpie, and reload....my problem is that since I shoot at an outdoor range almost exclusively and the CZ82s I mostly shoot throw that brass so far I always lose some, it seems like at least 25%...........

vladan · April 1, 2010, 09:07 AM

I made large brass catcher with a telescopic stand so I just shoot next to the catcher... I only loose brass on action range

Ricklin · April 2, 2010, 10:31 AM

I have trimmed 9mm cases and used them, they worked fine, no issues. That said 9mm Mak is available from Starline.
It's frustrating to loose cases, the CZ 82 does toss them, heck it seems like my Glock 19 leaves cases in a neat little pile

As cheap as one can buy 9mm Mak it is one of those calibers for folks that enjoy reloading.

ZeSpectre · April 2, 2010, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Just keep it separate from the rest of your 9mil brass as it still have 9mm luger headstamp

I can just see the issues now, not to mention when some poor slob picks this up at the range and takes it home to reload.

alan · April 3, 2010, 06:49 PM

9mm makarov loaded ammunition is available, domestic manufacture,(Federal) and perhaps other makes too.

Starline makes excellent quality brass in that and many other calibers.

You can trim 9mm Luger (9 x 19) to proper length, .700" or so as I remember, check via a loading manual, however doing this with a hand operated trimmer is a pain.

RamSlammer · April 3, 2010, 11:05 PM

Big +1 for getting Starline cases.

I bought 200 rounds of 9mm Mak loaded ammo from Georgia Arms about 3 years ago. They use(d) Starline cases . . . I can't even remember how many times I've reloaded those cases since, but it's probably well over 20. They still look and work like new and not one has ever split.

Sevens · April 4, 2010, 01:00 AM

Quote:

I can just see the issues now, not to mention when some poor slob picks this up at the range and takes it home to reload.

I've never EVER been the kind of person that would sabotage the next guy and would always try to help another reloader... HOWEVER, if someone took a bunch of scattered 9mm that's been cut down and he can't figure that out at his bench, he's probably not fit to be reloading.

Brass inspection is a very important part of safe handloading. I do all my inspected after it's been cleaned and after it's been sized -- because sizing it where it gets the most stress (other than firing!

)

Question for you Mak loaders -- what is your selection of slugs like? Jacketed, lead and plated? Who makes this odd size, is it a problem to find 'em?

vladan · April 4, 2010, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Question for you Mak loaders -- what is your selection of slugs like? Jacketed, lead and plated? Who makes this odd size, is it a problem to find 'em?

Most of time barry's plated bullets, meisner makes good lead bullets, hornady makes their XTP and speer makes gold dots.

Jim Watson · April 4, 2010, 10:15 AM

Every once in a while there will be a 9mm Mak in a shipment of "once fired" 9mm P brass. It runs right through my Dillon with no difference in feel and does not turn up until I notice the long bullet protrusion out of the brass. I normally just pull the bullets, dump the powder back in the can, and trash the brass, wasting a primer. But then I got to thinking, what WOULD happen if one slipped through? So I kept the next couple and shot them. The short brass headspaced on the extractor or the chamber taper and fired just like a normal round. Not everything the Mr Cautious' Really Truly Safe Reloading Recipe Book warns against is actually going to blow you to smithereens.

On the other hand, a .380 mixed in with 9mm P is immediately detected when the press handle slams down with no resistance in the sizing die.
And a 9x21 acquires a great bugle mouth flare in the expander die.
A .38 Super is pretty visible, I have not run one through the 9mm press; I catch those and put them in the right box for the right gun.

hodaka · April 4, 2010, 05:48 PM

When I started loading my Maks in 1990 brass was hard to find. I trimmed a bunch of 9x19's. Nowdays, with lots of brass available it is more trouble than it is worth. Buy factory ammo with boxer primers and you are good to go.

alan · April 5, 2010, 07:54 PM

Jim Watson:

Re wasted primers, running the risk that some will disagree, one can SAFELY, WITHOUT PROBLEM, decap live primers, proceed SLOWLY, so as not to impact load the primer. Primers are heat and impact sensitive. I personally prefer to avoid junking cases with live primers installed. At least dump a bit of oil into the cartridge case if you wish to "trash" it.

By the way, loading a 9mm Luger powder charge in a Makarov case might well do one of the following.

1. Create an over charged case, possibly dangerous due to excess pressure developed on firing.

2. Spill powder all over the place, making a mess.

3. The round might fall into the chamber, beyond the reach of firing pin, if the extractor doesn't catch it, providing a "click" rather than a "bang" when the trigger is pressed. Not dangerous if shooting paper, though annoying.

March 30, 2010, 10:33 PM	#1
Mausermolt Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2007 Location: Ory-gun Posts: 508	9X18 makarov who reloads for the Big Mak (humor)? is there any way to convert 9luger brass to 9mak? what loads are your favorite and what bullets do you prefer? __________________ Molon Labe

March 30, 2010, 11:44 PM	#3
Mausermolt Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2007 Location: Ory-gun Posts: 508	AWSOME! i have a TONE of 9mm luger brass i pick all of it up from my range that i can find. so now i just need to buy a die and some buwets. great thank you! __________________ Molon Labe

March 31, 2010, 11:49 AM	#7
noelf2 Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2008 Location: Stuart, VA Posts: 2,473	Get some cheap .prvi mak ammo and just reload that, or buy some new mak brass. Even if you have scads of 9mm para cases lying around, resizing/cutting it to 9x18 won't change the headstamp. Just not worth the trouble IMHO. __________________ Liberty and freedom often offends those who understand neither.

April 2, 2010, 10:31 AM	#10
Ricklin Senior Member Join Date: February 22, 2008 Location: SW Washington state Posts: 2,379	Trimming cases I have trimmed 9mm cases and used them, they worked fine, no issues. That said 9mm Mak is available from Starline. It's frustrating to loose cases, the CZ 82 does toss them, heck it seems like my Glock 19 leaves cases in a neat little pile As cheap as one can buy 9mm Mak it is one of those calibers for folks that enjoy reloading. __________________ ricklin Freedom is not free

March 30, 2010, 11:20 PM	#2
vladan Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 813	I do. Yes, you can trim 9x19 brass 1mm to 18mm length, put good bell and seat mak bullets ( 9.2mm, not regular .380 ). then fireform and you have reloadable makarov brass. Just keep it separate from the rest of your 9mil brass as it still have 9mm luger headstamp. Even when fireforming it is surprisingly accurate so aim your fire so you are not wasting bullets. here are some loads and instruction links : http://members.nuvox.net/~on.melchar/makarov/index.html http://www.makarov.com/makload.html

March 31, 2010, 12:13 AM	#4
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	I have trimmed down 9x19 for 9x18 Mak and it works, the problem is the 9x19 brass has internal taper that starts not to far down from the case mouth, with .365 diameter cast bullets I was concerned that this could swaged the bullets base. http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...t=9x18+makarov Click on Search then click on Advanced Search, type in 9x18 makarov and limit search to the reloading forum.

March 31, 2010, 12:21 AM	#5
vladan Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 813	for the first loading ( fireforming ) I use jacketed or plated bullets, no lead. barrys plated bullets are pretty good and not expensive

March 31, 2010, 12:23 AM	#6
vladan Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 813	BTW, trimming few hundreds cases is a bitch, I guard my fireformed brass like a hawk :-)

April 1, 2010, 08:52 AM	#8
Spur0701 Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2005 Posts: 208	I've been doing about 200 rounds at a time, I trim nickel plated 9mm, then mark the bottom with a colored sharpie, and reload....my problem is that since I shoot at an outdoor range almost exclusively and the CZ82s I mostly shoot throw that brass so far I always lose some, it seems like at least 25%...........

April 1, 2010, 09:07 AM	#9
vladan Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Central Florida Posts: 813	I made large brass catcher with a telescopic stand so I just shoot next to the catcher... I only loose brass on action range

April 3, 2010, 06:49 PM	#12
alan Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 1999 Posts: 3,847	9mm makarov loaded ammunition is available, domestic manufacture,(Federal) and perhaps other makes too. Starline makes excellent quality brass in that and many other calibers. You can trim 9mm Luger (9 x 19) to proper length, .700" or so as I remember, check via a loading manual, however doing this with a hand operated trimmer is a pain.

April 3, 2010, 11:05 PM	#13
RamSlammer Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 722	Big +1 for getting Starline cases. I bought 200 rounds of 9mm Mak loaded ammo from Georgia Arms about 3 years ago. They use(d) Starline cases . . . I can't even remember how many times I've reloaded those cases since, but it's probably well over 20. They still look and work like new and not one has ever split.

April 4, 2010, 10:15 AM	#16
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,163	Every once in a while there will be a 9mm Mak in a shipment of "once fired" 9mm P brass. It runs right through my Dillon with no difference in feel and does not turn up until I notice the long bullet protrusion out of the brass. I normally just pull the bullets, dump the powder back in the can, and trash the brass, wasting a primer. But then I got to thinking, what WOULD happen if one slipped through? So I kept the next couple and shot them. The short brass headspaced on the extractor or the chamber taper and fired just like a normal round. Not everything the Mr Cautious' Really Truly Safe Reloading Recipe Book warns against is actually going to blow you to smithereens. On the other hand, a .380 mixed in with 9mm P is immediately detected when the press handle slams down with no resistance in the sizing die. And a 9x21 acquires a great bugle mouth flare in the expander die. A .38 Super is pretty visible, I have not run one through the 9mm press; I catch those and put them in the right box for the right gun.

April 4, 2010, 05:48 PM	#17
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	When I started loading my Maks in 1990 brass was hard to find. I trimmed a bunch of 9x19's. Nowdays, with lots of brass available it is more trouble than it is worth. Buy factory ammo with boxer primers and you are good to go.

April 5, 2010, 07:54 PM	#18
alan Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 1999 Posts: 3,847	Jim Watson: Re wasted primers, running the risk that some will disagree, one can SAFELY, WITHOUT PROBLEM, decap live primers, proceed SLOWLY, so as not to impact load the primer. Primers are heat and impact sensitive. I personally prefer to avoid junking cases with live primers installed. At least dump a bit of oil into the cartridge case if you wish to "trash" it. By the way, loading a 9mm Luger powder charge in a Makarov case might well do one of the following. 1. Create an over charged case, possibly dangerous due to excess pressure developed on firing. 2. Spill powder all over the place, making a mess. 3. The round might fall into the chamber, beyond the reach of firing pin, if the extractor doesn't catch it, providing a "click" rather than a "bang" when the trigger is pressed. Not dangerous if shooting paper, though annoying.