Makarov: 9x18mm or .380ACP?

[jlomein]

I'm looking to get a Makarov pistol but I'm torn over which caliber to buy. I was set on 9x18mm since it's the original it was designed for, but I found out the cheap Norinco ammo canadaammo is selling is steel jacketed. I wouldn't be able to use it at indoor ranges.

Therefore I'm left with the more expensive S&B or Fiocchi ammo, and there doesn't seem to be a steady supply of either of them. (S&B sold out at SFRC, Fiocchi only recently restocked at Canadaammo). 380ACP ammo is priced about the same, and it seems to be stocked more readily at many dealers.

Judging from past oddball caliber guns, do people generally think 9x18mm ammo supply will increase or decline in the future?

 

[1fastjeep]

canadaammo website states their 9x18mm being steel cased, I don't see why you can't use steel cased ammo in indoor shooting range. It's steel core ammo you should be worry about.

I made the wrong decision of getting a 380 makarov because reliable gun at the time posted the price for 380 ammo at $18.99/50 rnds, turned out they posted the wrong price and they've only got 2 boxes left.

And no, .380 ACP ammo are by no means readily available, after I walked out of reliable gun with 2 boxes of 380, they did not restock even after 6 months later.

If I could choose again I'd go with 9x18mm, because at least the brass can be made from 9mm luger

 

[jlomein]

canadaammo website states their 9x18mm being steel cased, I don't see why you can't use steel cased ammo in indoor shooting range. It's steel core ammo you should be worry about.

I made the wrong decision of getting a 380 makarov because reliable gun at the time posted the price for 380 ammo at $18.99/50 rnds, turned out they posted the wrong price and they've only got 2 boxes left.

And no, .380 ACP ammo are by no means readily available, after I walked out of reliable gun with 2 boxes of 380, they did not restock even after 6 months later.

It's not mentioned on Canadammo's website, but the Norinco 9x18mm Makarov ammo is both steel cased and steel jacketed. I emailed them, and they confirmed it is steel jacketed. I bet there's quite a few buyers out there who purchased it and are unaware.

In terms of availability, I've only found 9x18mm for sale at Canadaammo, SFRC, and Interammo. I've seen .380ACP at those places plus several more local and online dealers. Some even have JHP rounds if that floats your boat.

 

[Dr.K]

Id like to buy a skorpion and then get a makarov in matching calibre.

 

[cote_b]

I'd go 9x18, just because thats what it was meant for. Makes it more authentic IMO.

 

[bfiles]

Id like to buy a skorpion and then get a makarov in matching calibre.

Very hard to find those. 380acp skorps but if ya do grab it while you can.

 

[BCRider]

Either one is going to cost a lot to buy. If you reload then you can make your own Mak cases by trimming down common 9mm Luger cases by 1 mm. Then when you run them through the 9x18 dies it reforms the slightly tapered case to parallel and readies it for a .362 Mak bullet to go in.

If you mark the heads with some bright felt pen colour you can likely find most of them for further reloading. Or if you lose a few here and there they are easily replaced with some 9mm and a few seconds per case with a case trimmer.

Or you can buy Starline .380ACP brass and source some light .357/.358 bullets for it.

Personally I'd invest in a powered case trimmer and simply pick up spent 9mm from the ranges. There's always lots of it around.