9x18 Mak recipes

[Duce1]

OK guys I am getting ready to order some 9x18 bullets from Missouri Bullets that are 95 grain.
I have been thinking of using Bullseye powder with them but thought I would ask some here who reload the 9x18 what you use and the results you have received from your reloads.

These will be my first attempt at 9x18.

 

[jcwit]

First, do you have a manual that gives 9 x 18 data?

 

[Stumper]

I've loaded the Mak with Red Dot, Unique and 4756. My standard load is 2.7 grains of Rdot under a 100grain lead bullet. Funny thing about published Mak data.......it tends to conform rather closely to .380 auto. The irony is that due to approx 8% greater useful capacity and slightly greater bore size the Mak "should" allow heavier charges for comparable pressure levels...but the reported data often shows slightly greater pressures in the mak for similar charges and same weight bullets. For whatever reason much of the U.S data stays under max pressures the Soviets were willing to accept and that is reflected in the lower velocities delivered compared to Combloc surplus ammo.......Having said that I personally prefer NOT to hotrod the gun and am perfectly content with a standard load pushing 100 grain pills at about 900fps with reliable functioning. ( I've loaded all the way down to 600 fps and had the cases fall at my feet in a neat little pile).
9mm Makarov data is available so use it-- but referring to .380 data and not exceeding that data isn't likely to get you into any trouble.

 

[Duce1]

First off let me say " yes I have load data" and I can use it as I am willing to do but thought I would ask those who have done what I am about to start and find a happy ground for me to start with.

NOTE: I must be showing I am lazy right now and I am looking for another to do my work for me?

I think I will stay with Bullseye or Unique powder right now. Just going off the top of my head I think my books call for Accurate powder#2 as well but I will have to look again to be for sure.

I have about 800 casing I have been storing for about a year now and want to set down and load them up for some " Me time" alone in my thinking room.

Well thanks guys for the input I just thought I would ask and strike up a decent conversation.


Stumper thanks for the useful info your a good help for another reloader.

 

[jcwit]

My aren't we testy tonight. I have no idea what you have at your disposal, all I did was ask a question.

May you have a wonderful night!

 

[rfwobbly]

I got good results with a medium load of W231 when I was using Berry 95gr plated. Should be nearly the same for lead from MB.

 

[joneb]

I've reloaded 9x18 Makarov for a E.G. PM with Meister 93gr .365" RN hard cast. I'm away from home and my data so I can't give any charge weights, I have tried Bullseye, W-231 and AA#5. With a 19# recoil spring and worked up loads at or near max. AA#5 was my favorite. With a standard 17# spring with light to medium loads Bullseye and W-231 shot very well.
I can't recall the COL, I determined the COL from dummy loads I checked them in the chamber and manually cycled them in the gun, I noticed some set back issues at what I perceived to be a proper COL, I made seating depth adjustment to correct the set back problem.

 

[helg]

Lee 365-95-1R cast bullets from WW, water quenched to BHN about 16-18, sized to .365"
OAL .984" (or 25mm, which is standard)

1. 2.9 Red Dot, mild recoil, 950fps, 58% of max SAAMI pressure (QuickLoad). Red Dot, being flake powder, does not measure that good in such a little quantities. I used to make this mod to powder measure. Now I shoot mostly this load. Lighter loads with Red Dot leave dirt in the bore.

2. 3.3 Red Dot, recoil almost as hard as in factory rounds, 1040fps, 72% pressure. This is Lee disk .49cc. This quantity measures perfectly with the disk. I shot it before I made the above mod. It is hard to shoot more than 100 rounds of this load in one session due to recoil.

3. 2.5 VV N310, recoil like in 22LR, 900 fps, 51% pressure. This is Lee disk .30cc. N310 is faster than Red Dot, thus even with this light load, the powder burns completely keeping clean bore. This is the minimum load when action in my Makarov still works. If you invite a lady or a kid to the range, this load would be a perfect fit.

All three loads give excellent accuracy: magfull makes a single hole at 10 yds. All three leave the bore and brass clean (I would say even shiny), and show no muzzle flash as the powder burns completely. I tried Bullseye, 700X and Win231 in the caliber, and did not get the bore that clean.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I loaded BEye under cast slugs for years in .380 and 9Mak and others until I was given 1/4lb RDot by a b-in-law that's a shotty shooter and loader and that made a believer of me.
however I use a dipper and Lee power-thru-expander die.
RDot is cleaner and slightly tighter groups than BEye for me. more bulk to it also.

 

[Gik-tal]

I have been loading 6.8 grains of Accurate #7 over a 95 grain bullet with excellent results.

 

[joneb]

OAL .984" (or 25mm, which is standard)

Thanks helg, that jogged my memory The COL I settled on was .980", when I get home again I will post some load data.
I forgot to mention I use CCI 500 primers because of the Makarov's floating firing pin.

 

[willchris]

For the Missouri Cast 95gr --- OAL .980" & 3.0 Titegroup

 

[pcg8r]

Do your due diligence.
My CZ-82, 230 grain Berry's plated round nose;

2.2 gr. Bullseye- too light won't reliably cycle.
2.5 gr. Bullseye- light recoil, cycles great, ejects 2 to 6 feet.
3.2 gr. Bullseye- heavier recoil, cycles great, find about 85% of my brass (most are within 30+ feet & find them to my right, behind me, in front of me etc).

 

[JLCook]

3.5 grains of bullseye with the MB cast bullet is my current loading for my cz-82 mak. I also have used 5.3 grains of Ramshot True blue. Both loads seemed to work fine and cycle just fine with a wolff 18.5 pound spring. As for brass i am using 9x19 luger trimmed to 18mm.

 

[helg]

Do your due diligence.
My CZ-82, 230 grain Berry's plated round nose;

Sure it is not that heavy.

 

[JDGray]

+1 to W231

 

[pcg8r]

Sorry!!!!! Thinking of the 45 cal Berry's.
95 GRAIN Berry's.

 

[dgray64]

Do any of you have any problems with "leading up" the barrel? Glock has the same type of rifling (polygonal) and they recommend NO LEAD. I just ordered a CZ82 and the dies for 9x18. This is important according to Glock. Thanks for the info.

Dave

 

[JLCook]

Leading seems minimal to me. The I see more leading ( still minimal) in my 45 acp with conventional rifling ( may be just cause there is more contrast with the lands and groves).

 

[helg]

My understanding is that both lands-n-grooves and poly barrel have the same reasons and conditions when loading starts. If you do not have leading in either barrel, than you do not have problem at all. However, if the leading does appear, its consequences are more dangerous in poly barrel, as it seals the obturated bullet much tighter, thus raising pressure to dangerous level quicker.

As I mentioned above, I do not see any leading at all with my bullet and loads. This is with standard LnG barrel though.

 

[nitrohuck]

I have been loading 6.8 grains of Accurate #7 over a 95 grain bullet with excellent results.

6.8 grains?

I am obviously missing something, since that is more than double the grains on everyone else's average loads... what is different about Accurate #7 that would call for that much? I am going to take a guess that it has something to do with the size of the powder granules themselves? Sorry to resurrect a thread, but this is touching on exactly the info that I am desperately in need of... #7 loads for 9x18