I just bought two cases of "Barnaul" brand ammuntion for my my Makarov and no range in LA will let me shoot it because it is steel cased. They say it will rikochet. I am pissed. I spent $240 on those two cases. More than the **** gun. The guy at the store also told me that this ammo will damage the ramp on my gun. Have any of you ever heard of this? I hate ranges. I really hate them. Does anyone where or how to shoot outdoors without shooting at a communist shooting range that will not let you holster your weapon of rapid fire or anything fun. Basically I feel like I am wearing hand-cuffs when I am at the range. But my main concern right now is this ammo. HELP?

I just bought two cases of "Barnaul" brand ammuntion for my my Makarov and no range in LA will let me shoot it because it is steel cased. They say it will rikochet. I am pissed. I spent $240 on those two cases. More than the **** gun. The guy at the store also told me that this ammo will damage the ramp on my gun. Have any of you ever heard of this? I hate ranges. I really hate them. Does anyone where or how to shoot outdoors without shooting at a communist shooting range that will not let you holster your weapon of rapid fire or anything fun. Basically I feel like I am wearing hand-cuffs when I am at the range. But my main concern right now is this ammo. HELP?


They say it will ricochet because it is steel cased? That does not make sense. Maybe the bullets are steel jacketed? As far as damaging the ramp...the steel cased stuff is what the Soviets used in their Makarovs for decades with no problems. Remember, the way that the Commies built their guns, they could have used cement for ammo with no problems. The only problems I have ever heard of with steel cased ammo is when it gets used in gas-operated semi-autos. Apparently the varnish coating plugs up the gas ports.
Anyway, sounds like you need to find a good outdoor range to get full enjoyment out of your Makarov. If you need to find some PC ammo, American Eagle and Hornady both make brass-cased ammo for the Makarov. By the way, make sure you check out Makarov.com.

rt

They say it will ricochet because it is steel cased? That does not make sense. Maybe the bullets are steel jacketed? As far as damaging the ramp...the steel cased stuff is what the Soviets used in their Makarovs for decades with no problems. Remember, the way that the Commies built their guns, they could have used cement for ammo with no problems. The only problems I have ever heard of with steel cased ammo is when it gets used in gas-operated semi-autos. Apparently the varnish coating plugs up the gas ports.
Anyway, sounds like you need to find a good outdoor range to get full enjoyment out of your Makarov. If you need to find some PC ammo, American Eagle and Hornady both make brass-cased ammo for the Makarov. By the way, make sure you check out Makarov.com.

rt

Thanks rt4567 . I love my mak. Makarov.com is awesome. I can't believe Maks aren't more popular. I think they are awesome and so cheap. My mak cost me $150 and it was unisued. I think it worth way more. A walther .380 cost $500 and i think my Mak is way better.

That's strange that they say that. Steel cased ammo will not ricochet. It's impossible. Go back to the range that told you that and ask them if they sell wolf ammunition. If they say yes, then they're full of bull. They don't want you to shoot that ammo because you didn't buy it from them. Wolf is also steel cased ammo. And yes, I also love my Makarov. I have a DDR issue mak. Great pistol. And good luck.

Donkeyman,

I don't have a Mak, but I have a Polish P-64. Yep, 9mm Mak. Much nicer machine work in Poland. :)What the indoor range-rs might have been talking about wasn't the steel case but the copper-jacketed steel in the bullet. Try a magnet on the bullet. Does it pick it up? If so, it might riccochet. That might be what they are talking about.

Couple of indoor ranges in this area won't let you shoot steel jacketed rounds...don't care about the cartridge case material. Thier range, their rules...whatever logic they use deosn't have to make sense to us.

On ranges with light weight back stops, guess the steel jacket may be a bit tougher on wear and tear...does spark on impact, but that's just a visual effect, doesn't represent any real wear...but it may be psycological with the range onwer (sparks being equated with sever wear).

Nope...doubt seriously if it will wear a feed ramp measurably more in FMJ configuration...may have a point about JHP steel jackets leaving gouges.

As for the case...that Mak was made for that ammo...excessive wear from the ammo that best matches the issued rounds seems like BS to me.