Makarov vs. Luger
05-29-2013 | 03:46 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 1
From: Northern Minnesota
Makarov vs. Luger
I have a friend that I've known since Kindergarten that manages a pawn shop. I stopped in to B.S. with him earlier this month and there was a guy there selling a few guns. I didn't check it out to closely, but one of the guns he wouldn't buy from the guy was a Makarov semi-auto. His reason was that ammo can be hard to find for it, at least locally.
So I started thinking about maybe trying to buy the gun myself. I know that the Makarov is a 9x18mm, and the Luger is a 9x19mm, but other than that what are the differences?
More to the point, can Luger cases be trimmed back to use in the Makarov?
If I can get the gun at a fair price it would be the first handgun I would be loading for, though I eventually want to reload for my .44 mag, and my .380.
I know that today components for just about everything are going to be hard to find, but if the dust ever settles will I still have a hard time finding components for the Makarov? Primarily cases?
So I started thinking about maybe trying to buy the gun myself. I know that the Makarov is a 9x18mm, and the Luger is a 9x19mm, but other than that what are the differences?
More to the point, can Luger cases be trimmed back to use in the Makarov?
If I can get the gun at a fair price it would be the first handgun I would be loading for, though I eventually want to reload for my .44 mag, and my .380.
I know that today components for just about everything are going to be hard to find, but if the dust ever settles will I still have a hard time finding components for the Makarov? Primarily cases?
05-29-2013 | 04:36 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,476
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
I recently sold my only 9mm Luger pistol and I now own 4 pistols chambered in the Makarov round.
Yes, you can trim back Luger cases for use in reloading for the Makarov.
Regarding the ammo availability, .. there is usually a decent amount of throw away (non boxer primed) stuff available but right now EVERYTHING is sparse.
I just got an email from Midway yesterday and replied immediately. They let me know that the Starline Brass for Makarov came in so I ordered 500 cases. I think it is a wonderful round, sitting right between the 380 and the 9mm luger ... I actually think the Makarov ammo generally runs cheaper than the 380.
Some of the guns chambered in Makarov are gems, but not all. I have a East German all steel framed pistol that is a beauty. I also have a CZ 82 that is a real shooter as well. Then I have a couple Walther PPK knock-offs that are ok but have alloy frames and are not the best in fit and finish. One is a PA-63 from FEG in Hungary imported by KBI. it's a 7 plus one, and the other is a smaller model of the same thing, also made by FEG of Hungary imported by KBI and called the SMC-918, it is a 6 plus one.
I think the Makarov round is underutilized and ignored by many mostly because of the perception that the ammo is hard to come by.
Yes, you can trim back Luger cases for use in reloading for the Makarov.
Regarding the ammo availability, .. there is usually a decent amount of throw away (non boxer primed) stuff available but right now EVERYTHING is sparse.
I just got an email from Midway yesterday and replied immediately. They let me know that the Starline Brass for Makarov came in so I ordered 500 cases. I think it is a wonderful round, sitting right between the 380 and the 9mm luger ... I actually think the Makarov ammo generally runs cheaper than the 380.
Some of the guns chambered in Makarov are gems, but not all. I have a East German all steel framed pistol that is a beauty. I also have a CZ 82 that is a real shooter as well. Then I have a couple Walther PPK knock-offs that are ok but have alloy frames and are not the best in fit and finish. One is a PA-63 from FEG in Hungary imported by KBI. it's a 7 plus one, and the other is a smaller model of the same thing, also made by FEG of Hungary imported by KBI and called the SMC-918, it is a 6 plus one.
I think the Makarov round is underutilized and ignored by many mostly because of the perception that the ammo is hard to come by.
