Can you reload 9mm Makarov with 9mm luger dies?

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RM

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Probably a dumb question, but can you reload 9mm Makarov with 9mm luger dies?
Thank you.
 
The Luger has .011" case taper.
The MAK has .002" case taper.

The Luger case is .754 long.
The MAK case is .713" long.

The Luger uses .355" bullets.
The MAK uses .365" bullets.

About this time, somebody is gonna tell you they do it all the time.

But they can't tell you they do it right!
 
As I understand it, you can use the Luger cases after you trim them 1mm, but have to have 9x18 mak dies to do the rest. At least that's my plan, I'm going to make up a bunch this winter. I've asked about this subject a lot on this forum and others.

The biggest issue I hear about is marking your modified cases to differentiate them from regular 9mm Lugers. The modified and loaded 9mm Lugers won't look "right" because they're slightly smaller in diameter than the 9x18 maks, and the maks use larger bullets, but once they're fired they'll "fire form" to the chamber and will be fine after that.

Keep in mind the 9mm Luger bullets are what, .355-.357, and the Maks are .363-.365? Gotta have the right bullets, and that's the hard part to find. I bought mine here.... http://www.betterbullets.com/

So's I'm told anyway. We'll see. Got everything but the workbench setup.
 
In one word "nope". However yes you can shorten 9mm luger cases and resize and load them with the correct size bullets. I use cast lead bullets using a Lee mold.
 
Before anyone began making 9X18 cases, your only choice was to cut down 9mm Luger cases. Since the Mak is a champion of the "one flung dung" case ejection, you loose a good percentage of them. When other loaders find them, the problem with case being a silly millimeter shorter is not very evident, until they see them loaded next to other uncut Luger cases.:what:

And no, you can't load a 9X18 case with 9X19 dies. Been there done that when the 9X18 dies were very rare.:eek:
 
My guess is it could be done..in a rinky dink sort of a way that would be more of a pain than worth the effort. I have loaded .380 with 9mm and .223 dies...after a fashion..end result was some ammo but it was not pretty or worth the effort.
 
Why does this always happen? The first 2 answers made the answer to the OP's question very clear but then we get a page or two more answers saying the same exact thing with slightly different wording... I'm not flaming anyone, I was just wondering why this always happens?
 
Why does this always happen? The first 2 answers made the answer to the OP's question very clear but then we get a page or two more answers saying the same exact thing with slightly different wording... I'm not flaming anyone, I was just wondering why this always happens?
With all do respect, I'm glad it does happen. That last post may contain the desired answer.
 
It's called conversation. Forums would be pretty boring if they were strictly question and answer only. Not only can you learn the answer to the original question, and several variations of that answer, you can usually also learn many other things directly and indirectly related.
 
Guys, please don't get upset with what I said. I totally agree with discussion and conversation. I was only referring to topics like this one where the answer is totally cut and dry.

No harm meant, sorry I went OT on this thread...
 
I also cut down 9x19 brass and run it through a 9mm mak die, works great.
Archangel, I know if I hear multiple folk are doing something I feel better about trying it than if just one person claims to do it.
Besides, some people are just better at describign how to do things and quite often someone else will have something to add such as a warning or an alternate way of doing things.
I don't mind reading a bunch of answer to a question and if I get bored I simply hit the back button on my browser and look for the next subject that catches my interest.
 
Ok, kinda related. I've got a Lee 4-hole turret press, but lee only offers a 3 die set for Makarov.

Will the 9mm factory crimp die work with the Mak 3 die set? Or is it not a big deal not to have a factory crimp?
 
It is not a big deal.
Your seating die will crimp just fine.

Auto pistol rounds only need the expander plug flair straightened back out by the taper crimp.

Finished round should measure .390" at the case mouth.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the main advantage to the Lee FCD is that it resizes the loaded round one more time after the bullet's been seated. That, and the crimp that you can adjust. I like mine on .45 cases, but some guys don't.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the main advantage to the Lee FCD is that it resizes the loaded round one more time after the bullet's been seated. That, and the crimp that you can adjust. I like mine on .45 cases, but some guys don't.
You aren't wrong. I think the ability to to make fine adjustments to the crimp is it's best feature IMO. I use a FCD for all my handgun rounds now.
 
but I think the main advantage to the Lee FCD is that it resizes the loaded round one more time after the bullet's been seated. That, and the crimp that you can adjust.
The main disadvantage is that the round post sizes the area where the bullet is seated. It does too much post sizing. You can adjust any crimp die. You do have to adjust the ring though, while you can adjust the Lee without removing it. That is not a big deal to me. The Lee also gets out of adjustment easily. Don't even get me started on the O ring lock rings.

This is one area where I disagree with some of the profiecent reloaders on the board. I know ArchAngelCD knows what he is doing. :)
 
Wouldn't useing .380 cases work better?I HAVE the Lee MAK dies,but very little reloadable brass.

Negative. .380's are too short, for one thing, and are dimensionally wrong everywhere else too. Won't even fit in the same shellholders.
 
I agree the O rings are not a good setup.
+1,000!

I drill & tap evey Lee lock ring when I walk in the house with a new die set for a set screw & a lead shot.

The O-rings positively suck unless you use them in a turrent plate and never have to move them after you lock them down with channel lock pliers the first time!
 
I just buy a turret ring for every set of dies. Once they're set, they're set. I see no reason to do it any other way, the rings are like $9 each.
 
Ok, I'm new to reloading, but it's nice to see I'm not the only one who thought the o-rings were junk... :)

I've got a turret and I bought plates for my dies, so I just crank down on the lock nut and haven't had any problems since I did.

Now the auto-disk... I've got an adjustable charge bar coming. Required IMO.

My recommendation for a Lee turret kit "standard" equipment list is this:
Deluxe reloading Kit - includes the Auto disk powder measure and a beam scale.
Safety prime
Powder riser
Adjustable charge bar
Turret plate for each set of dies
Basic funnel - It's nice to have so you can dump the powder you just weighed back into the case. Lee's is like $3.
Bullet puller
Reloading book - I got Lee's book.
 
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