(Updated to re-post pictures)
This thread is periodically updated as new ammunition becomes available to me.
The following velocity tests (a few descriptions without velocity tests) of 82 varieties of military and commercial 9x18 ammunition were completed using a Beta Chronograph set 7-feet from the muzzle of a 1985 Bulgarian Makarov. Included here are many varieties of ammunition that are no longer available, and this post hopefully serves as a reference for those shooters who encounter obscure brands of 9x18.
Thanks to many the Forum member who helped me collect some of the more obscure varieties. Slim Tim wins the Golden Chrony With Oak Leaf Clusters for sharing his stash and providing auditing. Other forum members who provided ammunition include George Fisher (of Makarov.com); Jehzsa, VWTim, BNitch, kitchwb, Nietzsche, MakNik, VonAlt, M2 Carbine, Parasite, rangeshooter, Trent, Trapper94, Septembermars, and pete950.
If someone comes across a brand on which I have not posted about I'd appreciate an email.
Unless otherwise noted, I pulled and weighed a single bullet from each variety tested. All of this chronograph and pulled bullet data has this admitted weakness: commercial ammunition is built within tolerances and even 10-rounds measured are only a snapshot of the production line. I used a digital scale calibrated with brass weights from an assayer's balance.
Abbreviations:
OAL: Overall length. Measured with digital calipers.
Avg: Average
ES: Extreme Spread (difference between minimum and maximum)
SD: Standard Deviation
gr: Grains
fps: Feet per second
ins: Inches
FMJ: Full metal jacket
JHP: Jacketed hollow point
"Magnetic" is listed to indicate a component contains steel.
In alphabetical order:
Ammonet (4H) 95gr XTP-HP (17 rounds tested)
As of 2012 (and perhaps earlier) these are being sold on Gunbroker by Ammonet. The cartridges are made by 4H. Several smaller ammunition manufacturers such as Ammonet (4H), Appalachian, Georgia Arms, Buffalo Bore, Kinematics Research, and D&G Reloading make 9x18 rounds using the Hornady 95gr XTP HP bullet and Starline brass.
Manufacturer: 4H in Arizona, sold by Ammonet on Gunbroker
Headstamp: HORNADY 9X18 MAKAROV
Cartridge Case: Brass case, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer with a red primer seal
Bullet: 95gr Hornady XTP-HP, copper coated with flat copper base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.919 - 0.953
Avg: 0.942
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1028 - 1116
Avg: 1064
ES: 88
SD: 25
Ammonet (4H) 90gr Speer GDHP (11 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: 4H in Arizona, sold by Ammonet on Gunbroker
Headstamp: HORNADY 9X18 MAKAROV
Cartridge Case: Brass case, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 90gr Speer Gold Dot Hollowpoint (GDHP), copper coated, concave base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.958 - 0.969
Avg: 0.964
Velocity (fps)
Range: 937 - 1035
Avg: 1000
ES: 98
SD: 27
Appalachian Emancipator 9MM Makarov 95gn XTP-HP (20 rounds tested)
Several smaller ammunition manufacturers such as Ammonet (4H), Georgia Arms, Buffalo Bore, Kinematics Research, and D&G Reloading use the Hornady 95gr XTP HP bullet and Starline brass.
Manufacturer: Appalachian Ammunition, Industry, Maine
Headstamp: HORNADY 9X18 MAKAROV
Cartridge Case: Brass case, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 95gr Hornady XTP, copper jacketed with flat copper base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.966 - 0.969
Avg: 0.967
Velocity (fps)
Range: 973 - 1045
Avg: 1008
ES: 72
SD: 18
Barnaul
The Barnaul Plant has exported many varieties of 9x18 to the U.S. They first briefly produced a FMJ round packaged in a red/white box labeled as "Barnaul", and then the "Tiger" brand, and then for some time they exported FMJ and HP in the familiar blue box with the one-handed shooter on the cover. They followed that with the RAM ammo in FMJ and HP that was available around 2004 to early 2006. Aside from those brands, Barnaul has also produced FMJ with "brass plated" cartridges sold by Wideners (introduced in March, 2007), and have produced FMJ and HP rounds under the Silver and Brown Bear name. In 2008 Academy Sports stores started selling the "Monarch" FMJ, also made by Barnaul. In April, 2008, Widener's started selling "Spam Cans" of Barnaul: 1,440 round tins with individual 40-round paper-wrapped packages.
Barnaul "Brass Plated Steel Case" 94-gr FMJ (20 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia
Headstamp: 9 mm Mak w/ Trademark
Cartridge Case: Brass-coated steel,
Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 92.3-gr, 94.6-gr (2 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated, concave exposed-lead base, red lacquer seal
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.974 - 0.983
Avg: 0.976
Velocity: (fps)
Range: 960 - 1031
Avg: 994
ES: 71
SD: 20
Barnaul 95-gr FMJ (10 rounds tested)
Blue box with the "one-handed shooter"
Manufacturer: Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia
Headstamp: 9 mm MAK
Cartridge Case: Lacquer-coated steel,
Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer, red-sealed primer and case
Bullet: 94.3-gr (1 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated, concave exposed-lead base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.967- 0.981
Avg: 0.976
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1038 - 1063
Avg: 1049
ES: 25
SD: 8
Barnaul 95-gr HP (10 rounds tested)
Blue box with the "one-handed shooter".
Manufacturer: Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia
Headstamp: 9 mm MAK
Cartridge Case: Lacquer-coated steel, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer, red-sealed primer and case
Bullet: 94-gr (1 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave copper-coated base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.935 - 0.941
Avg: 0.938
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1004 - 1028
Avg: 1020
ES: 24
SD: 9
Barnaul (Monarch) 94-grain FMJ
See "Monarch (Barnaul)" listed below
Brown Bear 94-gr FMJ (Barnaul) (20 rounds tested)
In 2006 the Russian Barnaul Plant started exporting Brown Bear 9x18. Older Brown Bear cartridges were produced by the Russian LVE plant.
Manufacturer: CJSC Barnaul Cartridge Plant, Barnaul, Russia
Headstamp: "9mm Mak" with small "JSC" (Russian Cartridge Plants Association) trademark
Cartridge Case: Lacquered steel, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 2 weighed: 94.5 and 94.9-grains; steel-jacketed, copper-coated, with concave exposed-lead base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.973 - 0.981
Avg: 0.976
Velocity (fps)
Range: 965 - 1009
Avg: 982
ES: 35
SD: 9
Brown Bear 92-gr FMJ (Novosibirsk) (20 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia
Headstamp: LVE 02 9x18Mak
Cartridge Case: Bi-metal case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 93.2-gr (1 measured), Steel-jacketed copper-coated with exposed-lead concave base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.964 - 0.984
Avg: 0.977
Velocity (fps)
Range: 966 - 1041
Avg: 1006
ES: 75
SD: 21
Brown Bear 115-gr HP (20 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia
Headstamp: LVE 01 9x18Mak
Cartridge Case: Bi-metal case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 116.8-gr (1 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated bullet with flat copper-coated base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.951 - 0.969
Avg: 0.964
Velocity (fps)
Range: 971 - 1023
Avg: 1001
ES: 52
SD: 15
B-West 100-gr FMJ (10 rounds tested)
This comes packaged in 16-round cardboard boxes with blue labeling. Part of the label reads "non-corrosive"; most boxes found have the "non" part scratched out by hand.
Manufacturer: TCW (Tula Cartridge Works) Tula, Russia
Headstamp: B West 9x18
Cartridge Case: Bi-metal, Berdan primed, corrosive primer
Bullet: 105.2-gr (1 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated bullet with flat exposed-lead base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.972 - 0.978
Avg: 0.976
Velocity (fps)
Range: 912 - 943
Avg: 930
ES: 31
SD: 10
Buffalo Bore 115-gr Hard Cast Flat Nose +P (15 rounds tested)
This round came available in May of 2010. Buffalo Bore has provided external ballistic testing of this round on their website: http://www.buffalobore.com and the velocities I measured largely agree with their data. They state that the cartridge is constructed with a "flash supressed powder" to avoid night blinding.
I corresponded with Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore who wrote that this cartridge is built within the standard pressure limit of the 9x18 cartridge (24,000 psi). Tim wrote: "The reason I went with the +P designation is because we are getting what would be considered +P velocity, even though the pressures are normal and I knew of no way to illustrate the fact that this new 9X18 ammo was quite a bit more powerful than ordinary ammo, without using the +P designation. Bullet design and powder selection make it possible to get added velocity without generating more pressure than what is normally considered “industry” standard."
Manufacturer: Buffalo Bore Ammunition Company, Saint Ignatius, Montana
Headstamp: 9x18 MAK *-* (Starline Brass)
Cartridge Case: Brass, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: (2 measured): 117.7gr, 116.6gr. Hard cast lead, flat nosed, flat based, with a single grease groove
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.945 - 0.948
Avg: 0.946
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1018 - 1048
Avg: 1031
ES: 30
SD: 9
Buffalo Bore 95-gr JHP +P (15 rounds tested)
This ammunition became available around April, 2011. See the note posted under Buffalo Bore's 115-gr Hard Cast ammunition regarding the "+P" designation.
Manufacturer: Buffalo Bore Ammunition Company, Saint Ignatius, Montana
Headstamp: 9x18 MAK *-* (Starline Brass)
Cartridge Case: Brass, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: (2 weighed): 95.1 and 95.2 grains. Hornady XTP JHP bullet; copper-clad, flat copper base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.921 - 0.925
Avg: 0.923
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1132 - 1177
Avg: 1151
ES: 45
SD: 14
CCI 90-gr GDHP (10 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: Blount (CCI), Lewiston, Idaho
Headstamp: CCI R Makarov 9x18 N
Cartridge Case: Aluminum case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: Speer Gold Dot Hollow Point (GDHP) 90.3-gr (1 measured), copper-jacketed, concave base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.959 - 0.963
Avg: 0.961
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1024 - 1074
Avg: 1051
ES: 50
SD: 15
CCI Blazer 95-gr TMJ (10 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: CCI, Lewiston, Idaho
Headstamp: CCI R Makarov 9x18 N
Cartridge Case: Aluminum case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 94.6-gr (1 measured) fully copper-jacketed with concave base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.971- 0.976
Avg: 0.973
Velocity (fps)
Range: 946 - 982
Avg: 969
ES: 36
SD: 14
CCI Centerfire 95-gr TMJ (20 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: CCI, Lewiston, Idaho
Headstamp: CCI R Makarov 9x18 N
Cartridge Case: Aluminum case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 94.5-gr (1 measured) fully copper-jacketed with concave base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.969 - 0.977
Avg: 0.972
Velocity (fps)
Range: 903 - 946
Avg: 928
ES: 43
SD: 10
Chinese "Military" (Factory 71) FMJ (20 rounds tested)
These rounds have the military marking: "71" is a manufacturing plant code; "86" is the year it was made. They come packaged in 16-round unmarked cardboard boxes.I don't think either of the Chinese "Military" rounds would have used corrosive primers as they were both made in the 1980s, but I would clean up after shooting as if they are.
Manufacturer: Unknown factory, China
Headstamp: 71 86
Cartridge Case: Steel case, Berdan primed, corrosive? (possibly) primer
Bullet: 94.5 and 94.9-gr (2 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base (may be steel cored)
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.968 - 0.975
Avg: 0.972
Velocity (fps)
Range: 914 - 1028
Avg: 977
ES: 114
SD: 30
Chinese "Military" (Factory 81) FMJ (12 rounds tested)
These rounds have the military marking: "81" is a manufacturing plant code; "83" is the year it was made. They come packaged in 16-round unmarked cardboard boxes.
Manufacturer: Unknown factory, China
Headstamp: 81 83
Cartridge Case: Steel case, Berdan primed, corrosive? (possibly) primer
Bullet: 93.7 and 95.2-gr (2 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base (may be steel cored)Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.971 - 0.977
Avg: 0.974
Velocity (fps)
Range: 914 - 999
Avg: 965
ES: 85
SD: 25
This thread is periodically updated as new ammunition becomes available to me.
The following velocity tests (a few descriptions without velocity tests) of 82 varieties of military and commercial 9x18 ammunition were completed using a Beta Chronograph set 7-feet from the muzzle of a 1985 Bulgarian Makarov. Included here are many varieties of ammunition that are no longer available, and this post hopefully serves as a reference for those shooters who encounter obscure brands of 9x18.
Thanks to many the Forum member who helped me collect some of the more obscure varieties. Slim Tim wins the Golden Chrony With Oak Leaf Clusters for sharing his stash and providing auditing. Other forum members who provided ammunition include George Fisher (of Makarov.com); Jehzsa, VWTim, BNitch, kitchwb, Nietzsche, MakNik, VonAlt, M2 Carbine, Parasite, rangeshooter, Trent, Trapper94, Septembermars, and pete950.
If someone comes across a brand on which I have not posted about I'd appreciate an email.
Unless otherwise noted, I pulled and weighed a single bullet from each variety tested. All of this chronograph and pulled bullet data has this admitted weakness: commercial ammunition is built within tolerances and even 10-rounds measured are only a snapshot of the production line. I used a digital scale calibrated with brass weights from an assayer's balance.
Abbreviations:
OAL: Overall length. Measured with digital calipers.
Avg: Average
ES: Extreme Spread (difference between minimum and maximum)
SD: Standard Deviation
gr: Grains
fps: Feet per second
ins: Inches
FMJ: Full metal jacket
JHP: Jacketed hollow point
"Magnetic" is listed to indicate a component contains steel.
In alphabetical order:
Ammonet (4H) 95gr XTP-HP (17 rounds tested)
As of 2012 (and perhaps earlier) these are being sold on Gunbroker by Ammonet. The cartridges are made by 4H. Several smaller ammunition manufacturers such as Ammonet (4H), Appalachian, Georgia Arms, Buffalo Bore, Kinematics Research, and D&G Reloading make 9x18 rounds using the Hornady 95gr XTP HP bullet and Starline brass.
Manufacturer: 4H in Arizona, sold by Ammonet on Gunbroker
Headstamp: HORNADY 9X18 MAKAROV
Cartridge Case: Brass case, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer with a red primer seal
Bullet: 95gr Hornady XTP-HP, copper coated with flat copper base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.919 - 0.953
Avg: 0.942
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1028 - 1116
Avg: 1064
ES: 88
SD: 25
Ammonet (4H) 90gr Speer GDHP (11 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: 4H in Arizona, sold by Ammonet on Gunbroker
Headstamp: HORNADY 9X18 MAKAROV
Cartridge Case: Brass case, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 90gr Speer Gold Dot Hollowpoint (GDHP), copper coated, concave base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.958 - 0.969
Avg: 0.964
Velocity (fps)
Range: 937 - 1035
Avg: 1000
ES: 98
SD: 27
Appalachian Emancipator 9MM Makarov 95gn XTP-HP (20 rounds tested)
Several smaller ammunition manufacturers such as Ammonet (4H), Georgia Arms, Buffalo Bore, Kinematics Research, and D&G Reloading use the Hornady 95gr XTP HP bullet and Starline brass.
Manufacturer: Appalachian Ammunition, Industry, Maine
Headstamp: HORNADY 9X18 MAKAROV
Cartridge Case: Brass case, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 95gr Hornady XTP, copper jacketed with flat copper base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.966 - 0.969
Avg: 0.967
Velocity (fps)
Range: 973 - 1045
Avg: 1008
ES: 72
SD: 18
Barnaul
The Barnaul Plant has exported many varieties of 9x18 to the U.S. They first briefly produced a FMJ round packaged in a red/white box labeled as "Barnaul", and then the "Tiger" brand, and then for some time they exported FMJ and HP in the familiar blue box with the one-handed shooter on the cover. They followed that with the RAM ammo in FMJ and HP that was available around 2004 to early 2006. Aside from those brands, Barnaul has also produced FMJ with "brass plated" cartridges sold by Wideners (introduced in March, 2007), and have produced FMJ and HP rounds under the Silver and Brown Bear name. In 2008 Academy Sports stores started selling the "Monarch" FMJ, also made by Barnaul. In April, 2008, Widener's started selling "Spam Cans" of Barnaul: 1,440 round tins with individual 40-round paper-wrapped packages.
Barnaul "Brass Plated Steel Case" 94-gr FMJ (20 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia
Headstamp: 9 mm Mak w/ Trademark
Cartridge Case: Brass-coated steel,
Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 92.3-gr, 94.6-gr (2 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated, concave exposed-lead base, red lacquer seal
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.974 - 0.983
Avg: 0.976
Velocity: (fps)
Range: 960 - 1031
Avg: 994
ES: 71
SD: 20
Barnaul 95-gr FMJ (10 rounds tested)
Blue box with the "one-handed shooter"
Manufacturer: Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia
Headstamp: 9 mm MAK
Cartridge Case: Lacquer-coated steel,
Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer, red-sealed primer and case
Bullet: 94.3-gr (1 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated, concave exposed-lead base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.967- 0.981
Avg: 0.976
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1038 - 1063
Avg: 1049
ES: 25
SD: 8
Barnaul 95-gr HP (10 rounds tested)
Blue box with the "one-handed shooter".
Manufacturer: Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia
Headstamp: 9 mm MAK
Cartridge Case: Lacquer-coated steel, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer, red-sealed primer and case
Bullet: 94-gr (1 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave copper-coated base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.935 - 0.941
Avg: 0.938
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1004 - 1028
Avg: 1020
ES: 24
SD: 9
Barnaul (Monarch) 94-grain FMJ
See "Monarch (Barnaul)" listed below
Brown Bear 94-gr FMJ (Barnaul) (20 rounds tested)
In 2006 the Russian Barnaul Plant started exporting Brown Bear 9x18. Older Brown Bear cartridges were produced by the Russian LVE plant.
Manufacturer: CJSC Barnaul Cartridge Plant, Barnaul, Russia
Headstamp: "9mm Mak" with small "JSC" (Russian Cartridge Plants Association) trademark
Cartridge Case: Lacquered steel, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 2 weighed: 94.5 and 94.9-grains; steel-jacketed, copper-coated, with concave exposed-lead base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.973 - 0.981
Avg: 0.976
Velocity (fps)
Range: 965 - 1009
Avg: 982
ES: 35
SD: 9
Brown Bear 92-gr FMJ (Novosibirsk) (20 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia
Headstamp: LVE 02 9x18Mak
Cartridge Case: Bi-metal case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 93.2-gr (1 measured), Steel-jacketed copper-coated with exposed-lead concave base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.964 - 0.984
Avg: 0.977
Velocity (fps)
Range: 966 - 1041
Avg: 1006
ES: 75
SD: 21
Brown Bear 115-gr HP (20 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia
Headstamp: LVE 01 9x18Mak
Cartridge Case: Bi-metal case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 116.8-gr (1 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated bullet with flat copper-coated base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.951 - 0.969
Avg: 0.964
Velocity (fps)
Range: 971 - 1023
Avg: 1001
ES: 52
SD: 15
B-West 100-gr FMJ (10 rounds tested)
This comes packaged in 16-round cardboard boxes with blue labeling. Part of the label reads "non-corrosive"; most boxes found have the "non" part scratched out by hand.
Manufacturer: TCW (Tula Cartridge Works) Tula, Russia
Headstamp: B West 9x18
Cartridge Case: Bi-metal, Berdan primed, corrosive primer
Bullet: 105.2-gr (1 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated bullet with flat exposed-lead base
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.972 - 0.978
Avg: 0.976
Velocity (fps)
Range: 912 - 943
Avg: 930
ES: 31
SD: 10
Buffalo Bore 115-gr Hard Cast Flat Nose +P (15 rounds tested)
This round came available in May of 2010. Buffalo Bore has provided external ballistic testing of this round on their website: http://www.buffalobore.com and the velocities I measured largely agree with their data. They state that the cartridge is constructed with a "flash supressed powder" to avoid night blinding.
I corresponded with Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore who wrote that this cartridge is built within the standard pressure limit of the 9x18 cartridge (24,000 psi). Tim wrote: "The reason I went with the +P designation is because we are getting what would be considered +P velocity, even though the pressures are normal and I knew of no way to illustrate the fact that this new 9X18 ammo was quite a bit more powerful than ordinary ammo, without using the +P designation. Bullet design and powder selection make it possible to get added velocity without generating more pressure than what is normally considered “industry” standard."
Manufacturer: Buffalo Bore Ammunition Company, Saint Ignatius, Montana
Headstamp: 9x18 MAK *-* (Starline Brass)
Cartridge Case: Brass, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: (2 measured): 117.7gr, 116.6gr. Hard cast lead, flat nosed, flat based, with a single grease groove
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.945 - 0.948
Avg: 0.946
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1018 - 1048
Avg: 1031
ES: 30
SD: 9
Buffalo Bore 95-gr JHP +P (15 rounds tested)
This ammunition became available around April, 2011. See the note posted under Buffalo Bore's 115-gr Hard Cast ammunition regarding the "+P" designation.
Manufacturer: Buffalo Bore Ammunition Company, Saint Ignatius, Montana
Headstamp: 9x18 MAK *-* (Starline Brass)
Cartridge Case: Brass, Boxer primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: (2 weighed): 95.1 and 95.2 grains. Hornady XTP JHP bullet; copper-clad, flat copper base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.921 - 0.925
Avg: 0.923
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1132 - 1177
Avg: 1151
ES: 45
SD: 14
CCI 90-gr GDHP (10 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: Blount (CCI), Lewiston, Idaho
Headstamp: CCI R Makarov 9x18 N
Cartridge Case: Aluminum case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: Speer Gold Dot Hollow Point (GDHP) 90.3-gr (1 measured), copper-jacketed, concave base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.959 - 0.963
Avg: 0.961
Velocity (fps)
Range: 1024 - 1074
Avg: 1051
ES: 50
SD: 15
CCI Blazer 95-gr TMJ (10 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: CCI, Lewiston, Idaho
Headstamp: CCI R Makarov 9x18 N
Cartridge Case: Aluminum case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 94.6-gr (1 measured) fully copper-jacketed with concave base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.971- 0.976
Avg: 0.973
Velocity (fps)
Range: 946 - 982
Avg: 969
ES: 36
SD: 14
CCI Centerfire 95-gr TMJ (20 rounds tested)
Manufacturer: CCI, Lewiston, Idaho
Headstamp: CCI R Makarov 9x18 N
Cartridge Case: Aluminum case, Berdan primed, non-corrosive primer
Bullet: 94.5-gr (1 measured) fully copper-jacketed with concave base
Magnetic: No magnetic components
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.969 - 0.977
Avg: 0.972
Velocity (fps)
Range: 903 - 946
Avg: 928
ES: 43
SD: 10
Chinese "Military" (Factory 71) FMJ (20 rounds tested)
These rounds have the military marking: "71" is a manufacturing plant code; "86" is the year it was made. They come packaged in 16-round unmarked cardboard boxes.I don't think either of the Chinese "Military" rounds would have used corrosive primers as they were both made in the 1980s, but I would clean up after shooting as if they are.
Manufacturer: Unknown factory, China
Headstamp: 71 86
Cartridge Case: Steel case, Berdan primed, corrosive? (possibly) primer
Bullet: 94.5 and 94.9-gr (2 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base (may be steel cored)
Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.968 - 0.975
Avg: 0.972
Velocity (fps)
Range: 914 - 1028
Avg: 977
ES: 114
SD: 30
Chinese "Military" (Factory 81) FMJ (12 rounds tested)
These rounds have the military marking: "81" is a manufacturing plant code; "83" is the year it was made. They come packaged in 16-round unmarked cardboard boxes.
Manufacturer: Unknown factory, China
Headstamp: 81 83
Cartridge Case: Steel case, Berdan primed, corrosive? (possibly) primer
Bullet: 93.7 and 95.2-gr (2 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base (may be steel cored)Magnetic: Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic
OAL (ins)
Range: 0.971 - 0.977
Avg: 0.974
Velocity (fps)
Range: 914 - 999
Avg: 965
ES: 85
SD: 25