Who’s got the correct Makarov bullet diameter?

jski · July 21, 2018, 11:29 PM

SAAMI says the correct 9x18 bullet diameter is .365”.
Hornady says .365”
Speer says .364”
Sierra says .363”
The Poles say .3635”
The Ukrainians say .364”
Not sure what the Russians say?

**Aguila Blanca** · July 22, 2018, 12:09 AM

SAAMI specs do not say that .365" is "the" correct bullet diameter. It's .365" with a minus tolerance of .0010", which means anything between .364" and .365" inches is "correct" (within specification).

But SAAMI is an American organization, that establishes standards for American sporting arms and ammunition manufacturers. Obviously, the 9mm Makarov is a European design, and the original specification was in the metric system. The SAAMI cartridge drawings include metric equivalents, but we don't know if the metric values were converted from inches, or if the inch values were converted from metric values.

.363" is out of spec according to SAAMI. I'm surprised that Sierra would use that as their value.

jski · July 22, 2018, 02:30 AM

This may be an older Sierra product but it's .363" in diameter.

BTW, Lyman's manual shows .363".

PS> Is someone colluding with the Russians here? Those crafty devils!

**Aguila Blanca** · July 22, 2018, 03:27 AM

The definitive answer is to slug your barrel and use a bullet that's .001" larger than the grooves. However ... I know what a Makarov is, but I've never seen one up close and personal. Does the 9mm Mak use polygonal rifling?

74A95 · July 22, 2018, 07:16 AM

Since it is a European cartridge, CIP has the 'official' specs, which indicate the bullet diameter for the 9mm Makarov is 9.27mm, or 0.365". You can find their information at this website:

http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation...-en-page23.pdf

gwpercle · July 22, 2018, 07:18 AM

The bores vary quite a bit , manufacturing tolerances stack and there is really no way to predict what your guns bore diameter is.
It's barrel slugging time . After that you will know exactly what you have and the bullet size needed .
Gary

jski · July 22, 2018, 12:45 PM

I recently acquired a Polish P-64. So, naturally I bought Polish ammo made by Mesko which is a 1st ammo manufacturer. They supply the Polish military. Seemed reasonable that the Poles would known best what works with their gun. Now that’s the .3635” ammo.

Marco Califo · July 22, 2018, 04:00 PM

"Makarov is actually a 9.22mm, using an odd-sized .363" diameter bullet. Having been manufactured in a large number of Communist Bloc countries, bore sizes running from .362" to .366" may be encountered"
Sierra's latest Makarov entry.

BWM · July 22, 2018, 07:40 PM

Lyman say use .363 bullet also

T. O'Heir · July 23, 2018, 01:54 PM

Slug your barrel.
"...Sierra says..." Kind of moot since they don't make any bullet that's even close to that. Don't appear to be any .363" bullets made either.
.364" and .365", cast and jacketed, are the easiest to come by.
"...what works with their gun..." Isn't their pistol. And .3635" is considered to be .364".

Marco Califo · July 23, 2018, 10:18 PM

Sierra #8200 and #8210 are/were .363".
Hornady, Speer and Berrys all make Mak bullets.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/21...ket-box-of-100

July 21, 2018, 11:29 PM	#1
jski Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2016 Posts: 374	Who’s got the correct Makarov bullet diameter? SAAMI says the correct 9x18 bullet diameter is .365”. Hornady says .365” Speer says .364” Sierra says .363” The Poles say .3635” The Ukrainians say .364” Not sure what the Russians say?

July 22, 2018, 07:40 PM	#9
BWM Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2013 Location: SW IN Posts: 438	Lyman say use .363 bullet also __________________ Man that likes guns. Navy. USS Ponchatoula AO 148 USS Vesuvius AE 15

July 23, 2018, 01:54 PM	#10
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Slug your barrel. "...Sierra says..." Kind of moot since they don't make any bullet that's even close to that. Don't appear to be any .363" bullets made either. .364" and .365", cast and jacketed, are the easiest to come by. "...what works with their gun..." Isn't their pistol. And .3635" is considered to be .364". __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

July 23, 2018, 10:18 PM	#11
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	Sierra #8200 and #8210 are/were .363". Hornady, Speer and Berrys all make Mak bullets. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/21...ket-box-of-100 __________________ ............

July 22, 2018, 12:09 AM	#2
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,460	SAAMI specs do not say that .365" is "the" correct bullet diameter. It's .365" with a minus tolerance of .0010", which means anything between .364" and .365" inches is "correct" (within specification). But SAAMI is an American organization, that establishes standards for American sporting arms and ammunition manufacturers. Obviously, the 9mm Makarov is a European design, and the original specification was in the metric system. The SAAMI cartridge drawings include metric equivalents, but we don't know if the metric values were converted from inches, or if the inch values were converted from metric values. .363" is out of spec according to SAAMI. I'm surprised that Sierra would use that as their value.

July 22, 2018, 03:27 AM	#4
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 18,460	The definitive answer is to slug your barrel and use a bullet that's .001" larger than the grooves. However ... I know what a Makarov is, but I've never seen one up close and personal. Does the 9mm Mak use polygonal rifling?

July 22, 2018, 07:16 AM	#5
74A95 Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2016 Posts: 1,564	Since it is a European cartridge, CIP has the 'official' specs, which indicate the bullet diameter for the 9mm Makarov is 9.27mm, or 0.365". You can find their information at this website: http://www.cip-bobp.org/homologation...-en-page23.pdf

July 22, 2018, 07:18 AM	#6
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,752	The bores vary quite a bit , manufacturing tolerances stack and there is really no way to predict what your guns bore diameter is. It's barrel slugging time . After that you will know exactly what you have and the bullet size needed . Gary

July 22, 2018, 12:45 PM	#7
jski Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2016 Posts: 374	I recently acquired a Polish P-64. So, naturally I bought Polish ammo made by Mesko which is a 1st ammo manufacturer. They supply the Polish military. Seemed reasonable that the Poles would known best what works with their gun. Now that’s the .3635” ammo.

July 22, 2018, 04:00 PM	#8
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	"Makarov is actually a 9.22mm, using an odd-sized .363" diameter bullet. Having been manufactured in a large number of Communist Bloc countries, bore sizes running from .362" to .366" may be encountered" Sierra's latest Makarov entry. __________________ ............