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.380 or 9x18

platypusman
I'm in the mood for a good cheap auto handgun. A nice little plinker if you will. I was out with my cousin yesterday with his new .380 and it was lots of fun. Somewhere (I can't remember now) I heard of a Makarov and checked it out. The bullets looks about the same.

On the auctions I see .380 and Makarov 9x18mm. Which one would you fine people suggest in terms of overall enjoyment (accuracy, mag capacity, ammo price & findability, ect.)?

Or should I just save up and buy a .45 (9x19 just isn't my style)?

Mike
M1Talking-200_50.jpg
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • MPinkston
    The Makarov military round is the 9x18. The 380 ACP is aka 9x17. The is a little more difference than 1 mm of case length. There is also some difference in the bullet diameter. 9x17 or 380ACP fires a .355 or .356 while the 9x18 Makarov fire a .363 diameter bullet. Both types of ammo are affordable and easy to find. For defensive purposes the 9x18 would be the better choice. Best of luck with which ever choice you make.

    aguncollector@yahoo.com
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  • kilgoretrout
    I shoot both a .380 Bersa and a Makarov 9x18. Two things:
    1. The round - I much prefer the 9x18 and it certainly has better balistics. 9x18 is readily available and reasonably cheap. I shoot Wolf for plinking and use Hornady JSPs for carry (check out www.sportsmansguide.com for prices and balistics). The Makarov is a great gun. I bought my Bulgarian Arsonal 10 from AIM Surplus for 149. + 11. shipping. It looked practically new when it arrived with four mags, two grips, a new factory holster, lanyard, and cleaning rod. In over 1000 rounds it has never malfunctioned. It is incredibly easy to break down and clean. The only thing I have done to mine is to add Pierce grips, replace the recoil spring with a Wolff 19# and the mag springs with Wolff. This is a fun to shoot, accurate, and reliable gun. Check out www.makarov.com for tons of
    technical information.
    KT
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  • joeaf1911a1
    I bought m Makarov in .380 about 9 years ago. A Russian one, all steel
    with fully adjustale rear sight. Came with 2 mags and purchased 2
    extra mags. Was NIB for $138.00 including tax and spare mags. One of
    the most dependable smaller handguns I own. It just plain "eats" anything I feed it including reloads etc. without a malfunction. Dont
    know about the non-Russian ones though. I made no changes to it as it
    was fine as it was.
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  • bambihunter
    They are ballistically identical so choose on the gun not the ammo. I liked the Kel-tec for a backup or deep conceal CCW gun so I chose the .380. The Mak's are small too, but not as light as the Kel-tec is.
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  • kilgoretrout
    I agree with Bambihunter in that it is pretty much an individual choice. There is a much wider choice in guns chambered for .380. The Mak and Walther knock offs that I have seen in 9x18 are not very high quality. The Mak is heaver than many small .380s but that is one thing that makes it fun to shoot. It's slim and compact and used with an IWB holster is very conceilable and comfortble to carry. I don't completely agree about the ballistics being comparable. While you may be able to find some ammo that is comparable, most have a significant advantage to the 9x18. The 9x18 is very close to many .38 special loads. Wolf - .380 = 91g. @ 1,010 MV/206 ME; Wolf - 9x18 = 100g. @ 1,033 MV/258 ME. Fiochhi - .380 = 95g. @ 1,000 MV/215 ME; Fiochhi - 9x18 = 90g. @ 1,060MV/2 37 ME. It is a toss-up if you re-load. Try both calibers in several different guns and go with what feels best to you. Good luck
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  • nmyers
    All the Mak's were original chambered in 9x18. When they were imported to the US, some were converted by the distributor to .380 to make them easier to sell. This was the first attempt to sell a gun in that caliber in this country, & some folks were afraid that the ammo would be difficult to find or expensive. The conversion to .380 was relatively simple; however, converted guns are no longer C&R. I've heard of feeding problems with the .380 Mak's; that, plus the ready availability of 9x18 ammo, makes 9x18 the best choice if you are going to buy a Mak.

    Neal
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  • billybass
    the mak 9x18 has more power than any 380, the 9x18 ammo is both plentyfull and cheaper... I have a Russian Mak I would never sell it ever , its well made , very few parts and each one is extra strong parts , magazines, holsters , cleaning kits are cheap ...the pistol is quite accurite and mine has never had a burp of anykind...while you are not suppose to in a pinch you can shoot 380 in a 9x18 I'm not saying try it but in a survival situation it will work... for the money the Maks for the cheap price is about as good as it gets and the 9x18 ammo hits quite hard.......... its a great well made pistol you will come to love...ask anyone who owns one.............Billy
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  • billybass
    the mak 9x18 has more power than any 380, the 9x18 ammo is both plentyfull and cheaper... I have a Russian Mak I would never sell it ever , its well made , very few parts and each one is extra strong parts , magazines, holsters , cleaning kits are cheap ...the pistol is quite accurite and mine has never had a burp of anykind...while you are not suppose to in a pinch you can shoot 380 in a 9x18 I'm not saying try it but in a survival situation it will work... for the money the Maks for the cheap price is about as good as it gets and the 9x18 ammo hits quite hard.......... its a great well made pistol you will come to love...ask anyone who owns one.............Billy
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