9x18mm Makarov Ammunition Test Results:

Stephen A. Camp · 01-16-2004, 08:52 AM

Hello. Yesterday, a fellow most generously brought some Barnaul Tiger 9x18mm JHP ammo to test and compare with some other ammunition. We test fired the following ammunition:

Brown Bear 115-gr. JHP
Hornady 95-gr. XTP
Barnaul 95-gr. JHP
Barnaul Tiger 95-gr. JHP
Corbon 95-gr. JHP +P

The Barnaul JHP has a more rounded ogive than the very blunt Tiger version.

Average velocities with related extreme spreads & standard deviations are based on 10-shot averages fired approximately 4' from the chronograph screens.

LVE Brown Bear 115-gr. JHP:
Average Velocity: 1018 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 32
Std. Deviation: 10

Hornady 95-gr. XTP:
Average Velocity: 979 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 82
Std. Deviation: 24

Barnaul 95-gr. JHP:
Average Velocity: 1051 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 26
Std. Deviation: 8

Barnaul Tiger 95-gr. JHP:
Average Velocity: 1062 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 41
Std. Deviation: 14

Corbon 95-gr. JHP +P:
Average Velocity: 1121 ft/sec
Extreme Spread: 24
Std. Deviation: 8

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...7/f9ee5363.jpg
Bulgarian Makarov with a magazine of Tiger JHP's.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...5/fcbd1534.jpg
Barnaul 95-gr. JHP compared to LVE Brown Bear 115-gr. JHP. The slightly longer LOA for the latter round does sometimes cause feeding problems in some Makarovs.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...3/fcbd15ef.jpg
In this picture you can see the profile of the Barnaul JHP and an expanded bullet that had been fired into water. I don't have the expansion/weight figures on this bullet as it was fired on a different day, but it is very similar to the Tiger fired in these tests. I have no idea if the Tiger is a replacement load for this one or if both will continue to be available.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...b/f9ee553d.jpg
Barnaul Tiger JHP penetrated an average of 3.5" in super-saturated newsprint and some fragmentation occurred on ocassion. Average recovered weight when it didn't was 94-grains. Recovered expanded bullet diameter: 0.64 x 0.65 x 0.31" tall.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...c/f9ee5546.jpg
In this picture are Corbon 95-gr. JHP +P rounds fired into water (upper left) and wet pack (soaked newsprint). Fragmentation was evident in all recovered bullets. Average weight from wet pack was 69 grains with dimensions: 0.49 x 0.53 x 0.34" tall. We also experienced a squib load (no powder) and you can see the primer indentation on the case shown. The bullet had to be removed from the barrel of the gun. This is the first Corbon ammo failure I've seen in any caliber.

Hornady's XTP was slowest of the ammunition tested, but very consistent in performance in expansion media. Despite its having the largest standard deviation of the ammo shot in these tests, it accuracy, reliability and expansion characteristics have proven very good for me in the past.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...4/f9ee5561.jpg
The XTP at the upper right was fired into water with the others being recovered from wet pack. Average expanded measurement: 0.55 x 0.54 x 0.32" tall. Penetration in wet pack: 4.1".

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...2/f9ee555c.jpg
Brown Bear 115-gr. JHP penetrated an average of 3.8" and had recovered bullet dimensions of 0.61 x 0.60 x 0.36" tall and recovered bullets weighed 113-grains on average.

There were no failures to feed, fire, or eject OTHER than with the single round of Corbon that evidently has no powder in it and again, this is the only failure with Corbon that I've seen.

For those interested, the lot number on the Corbon 9x18mm was: 200002-2.

Based on what I've seen in 10% ballistic gelatin tests, the "gold standard" in expansion testing, if you roughly double the penetration from what you get in wet pack, you're in the ballpark of the bullet's penetration in "the real thing." Expansion characteristics are about like two peas in a pod.

Best.

JAMES · 02-03-2004, 12:29 PM

Thanks for the generous set of info, Stephen A. Camp. I've never owned a firearm chambered for the 9x18 cartridge, but I have certainly wondered about the performance. Great stuff.

Stephen A. Camp · 02-03-2004, 12:57 PM

Hello and thank you. I'm glad it was of interest.

Best.

01-16-2004, 08:52 AM	#1
Stephen A. Camp Guest Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 228	9x18mm Makarov Ammunition Test Results: Hello. Yesterday, a fellow most generously brought some Barnaul Tiger 9x18mm JHP ammo to test and compare with some other ammunition. We test fired the following ammunition: Brown Bear 115-gr. JHP Hornady 95-gr. XTP Barnaul 95-gr. JHP Barnaul Tiger 95-gr. JHP Corbon 95-gr. JHP +P The Barnaul JHP has a more rounded ogive than the very blunt Tiger version. Average velocities with related extreme spreads & standard deviations are based on 10-shot averages fired approximately 4' from the chronograph screens. LVE Brown Bear 115-gr. JHP: Average Velocity: 1018 ft/sec Extreme Spread: 32 Std. Deviation: 10 Hornady 95-gr. XTP: Average Velocity: 979 ft/sec Extreme Spread: 82 Std. Deviation: 24 Barnaul 95-gr. JHP: Average Velocity: 1051 ft/sec Extreme Spread: 26 Std. Deviation: 8 Barnaul Tiger 95-gr. JHP: Average Velocity: 1062 ft/sec Extreme Spread: 41 Std. Deviation: 14 Corbon 95-gr. JHP +P: Average Velocity: 1121 ft/sec Extreme Spread: 24 Std. Deviation: 8 http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...7/f9ee5363.jpg Bulgarian Makarov with a magazine of Tiger JHP's. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...5/fcbd1534.jpg Barnaul 95-gr. JHP compared to LVE Brown Bear 115-gr. JHP. The slightly longer LOA for the latter round does sometimes cause feeding problems in some Makarovs. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...3/fcbd15ef.jpg In this picture you can see the profile of the Barnaul JHP and an expanded bullet that had been fired into water. I don't have the expansion/weight figures on this bullet as it was fired on a different day, but it is very similar to the Tiger fired in these tests. I have no idea if the Tiger is a replacement load for this one or if both will continue to be available. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...b/f9ee553d.jpg Barnaul Tiger JHP penetrated an average of 3.5" in super-saturated newsprint and some fragmentation occurred on ocassion. Average recovered weight when it didn't was 94-grains. Recovered expanded bullet diameter: 0.64 x 0.65 x 0.31" tall. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...c/f9ee5546.jpg In this picture are Corbon 95-gr. JHP +P rounds fired into water (upper left) and wet pack (soaked newsprint). Fragmentation was evident in all recovered bullets. Average weight from wet pack was 69 grains with dimensions: 0.49 x 0.53 x 0.34" tall. We also experienced a squib load (no powder) and you can see the primer indentation on the case shown. The bullet had to be removed from the barrel of the gun. This is the first Corbon ammo failure I've seen in any caliber. Hornady's XTP was slowest of the ammunition tested, but very consistent in performance in expansion media. Despite its having the largest standard deviation of the ammo shot in these tests, it accuracy, reliability and expansion characteristics have proven very good for me in the past. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...4/f9ee5561.jpg The XTP at the upper right was fired into water with the others being recovered from wet pack. Average expanded measurement: 0.55 x 0.54 x 0.32" tall. Penetration in wet pack: 4.1". http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...2/f9ee555c.jpg Brown Bear 115-gr. JHP penetrated an average of 3.8" and had recovered bullet dimensions of 0.61 x 0.60 x 0.36" tall and recovered bullets weighed 113-grains on average. There were no failures to feed, fire, or eject OTHER than with the single round of Corbon that evidently has no powder in it and again, this is the only failure with Corbon that I've seen. For those interested, the lot number on the Corbon 9x18mm was: 200002-2. Based on what I've seen in 10% ballistic gelatin tests, the "gold standard" in expansion testing, if you roughly double the penetration from what you get in wet pack, you're in the ballpark of the bullet's penetration in "the real thing." Expansion characteristics are about like two peas in a pod. Best. __________________ Please visit www.hipowersandhandguns.com.

02-03-2004, 12:57 PM	#3
Stephen A. Camp Guest Moderator Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 228	Hello and thank you. I'm glad it was of interest. Best. __________________ Please visit www.hipowersandhandguns.com.

02-03-2004, 12:29 PM	#2
JAMES Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 593	Thanks for the generous set of info, Stephen A. Camp. I've never owned a firearm chambered for the 9x18 cartridge, but I have certainly wondered about the performance. Great stuff.