I Have several pistols and I was told that the Makrov had to use it's own amo. Is this true...Why & Why not.

I noticed that the .380 ammo appears to be identical. I did try it ( I hope your not cringing). It worked but for several rounds and then began to misfire. I thought the firing pin was damaged. When I switched back to the makrov ammo it fired with out a flaw.

The two ammo's Makrov 9mm and the 380 look identical.

Also upon examining the Makrov I could not remove the firing pin completely but did notice that it basically floated in place. There was no spring tention foward or backward , it basicaly slid freely in its little glide area. Is this correct? How do you change the pin?

Bob
rpalac@verizon.net

Mak uses a 0.364" bullet as I recall. Don't remember the case length.

.380 is a nominal 0.355" so probably no huge danger, other than the possibility of a case split. But not a super idea. .380 doesn't run real high pressures but I still wouldn't want one to let go.

I Have several pistols and I was told that the Makrov had to use it's own amo. Is this true...Why & Why not.

I noticed that the .380 ammo appears to be identical. I did try it ( I hope your not cringing). It worked but for several rounds and then began to misfire. I thought the firing pin was damaged. When I switched back to the makrov ammo it fired with out a flaw.

The two ammo's Makrov 9mm and the 380 look identical.

Also upon examining the Makrov I could not remove the firing pin completely but did notice that it basically floated in place. There was no spring tention foward or backward , it basicaly slid freely in its little glide area. Is this correct? How do you change the pin?

Bob
rpalac@verizon.net


Case is abut the same length, but the 9mm Mak. has a larger diameter base (should be about .389" for the Mak. and .373" for the .380 at the head) and a larger diameter bullet (Mak. runs about .362" and the .380 about .355").

Up take of this is that while I've seen people shoot .380 in a 9mm mak, the results are (1) dangerous due to the larger chamber and the possibility of case splitting and (2) accuracy usually sucks when you toss a .355" bullet down a .362" barrel.

Normally not possible to fire a 9mm Mak in a .380 chamber, but it the .380 is cut sloppy enough it may be possible...but running a .362" bullet into a .355" barrel would probably over dirve the blow back system of the pistol (short version: boom).

If you put the two side by side and compare the length of the case, you will find the Makarov to be noticeably longer! The Mak is also called 9x18, the .380, among many different names one is 9x17. The last being case length in millimeters. In other words, the .380 is about .040" shorter than the Makarov, which makes it more dificult for the firing pin to reach the primer, hence, the misfires.

Aside from the misfire problem there is really no safety issue since the cartridge diameter is only aprox. .010" different, about the thickness of the case at the mouth. New commercial ammunition will easily expand this much without splitting. Accuracy willl probably be lousy as mantioned, and since Makarov military surplus is a lot cheaper than .380 commercial, it leaves me wondering why you would want to use .380 in the first place!

One the other hand, as Ribbonstone said, even if you could get a Mak into a .380, that would be a very bad idea which would present safety concerns, both to the shooter and gun.

Make is seem like so little...but that amount of "slack" at the head is a bunch. While I doubt any .380 load would spilt it's HEAD...esp. not when driving a jacketed bullet .007" smaller than bore diameter...is still a posiblity of gas leaking back and squirting your in the face (or tearing off the guns extractor on the way to your face) from a split MOUTH.

This post bothers me...just becsue something LOOKS like it will go into the chamber isn't a great way of deciding what to shoot. Asking a question before hand is a good sign...hopfully you'll decide to use the correct ammo in each cahmber.

The information makes sence guys. i appreciate it. I was out of the Makrov 9mm ammo and had pleantly of 380 ammo. We compared the two and could not see any noticable difference. As you all have pointed out , it is ever so slight I guess. Slight but enough to cause misfires and validate that this is a bad practice and won't be repeated.

I find that ammo for the Makrov is expence compared to the 380. I get 100 pcs. of 380 value pack for $15 and the Makrov cost me $18 for only 50 pcs.

Where is a good place to purchase quantity? Can you reload the shells? (they apear to be steel or alluminum and I was told you never relode iether. So I'm sure they must make 9mmm Makrov ammo in brass.


Thanks guys
Bob

1) As others have pointed out, there is a difference in ammo. However, if you go to Makarov.com, you will see that it is easy to change the barrel of a Makarov to a .380 barrel, if you really want to.
2) Yes, the firing pin just floats in place, no spring.
3) Several companies, including American Eagle and Hornady, make reloadable brass ammo for the Makarov.
4) Lastly, my experience with Makarovs is that they are surprisingly accurate little guns, and very affordable. Enjoy!!

rt

The information makes sence guys. i appreciate it. I was out of the Makrov 9mm ammo and had pleantly of 380 ammo. We compared the two and could not see any noticable difference. As you all have pointed out , it is ever so slight I guess. Slight but enough to cause misfires and validate that this is a bad practice and won't be repeated.

I find that ammo for the Makrov is expence compared to the 380. I get 100 pcs. of 380 value pack for $15 and the Makrov cost me $18 for only 50 pcs.

Where is a good place to purchase quantity? Can you reload the shells? (they apear to be steel or alluminum and I was told you never relode iether. So I'm sure they must make 9mmm Makrov ammo in brass.


Thanks guys
Bob

Dude, go to Makarov.com. It will tell you everything you need to know about your mak. IF you go to the tech link, it will even have illustrated instructions on detail stripping your mak.