Right now the only pistol I own is my PA63, so I was wondering what the best self defence ammunition would be for my little pistol. I saw on Horandy's website that they make XTP 9x18Mak rounds and I've heard greaat things about the XTP, but was wondering if there's better round performance and stopping power wise.
CP, Try 'em all and use the one most reliable. Myself, I'm carrying Wolf fmj, just because it feeds reliably. I hope to try the Hornady HP sometime soon. Chas This site sells a HP round in 9x18 as well. I haven't shot any HP through my PA-63 yet. http://georgia-arms.com/9mmmakarov.aspx
I,too, go for the most reliable and accurate round. No problems with Wolf, Silver Bear, or Hornady. From my understanding of the terminal ballistics of the .380/9x18 round, shot placement is going to be the most critical part of how the round performs. Based on that, I keep it loaded with the Silver Bear. Horandy XTP would be my next choice for a HP, when the Silver Bear runs out.
Now that cold weather is upon us (multiple clothing layers) some might want to consider FMJ, depending on where they live.
DocV
Last edited by DocV; 10-25-2008 at 11:12 AM.
Reason: Clarify thought process
Hornady XTP works just fine in my Maks, but I had feeding problems in the PA-63. Lucky me, I found a gun shop here in Texas that had 100 rounds of Silver Bear HP. I bought them and the feed very reliably in the PA-63. I ran about 3 magazines through her without a hiccup and have saved the rest for SD. The ammo is still in manufacture, but there seems to be a real shortage in the states right now. Probably that Putin jerk!!! Ha! I initially found it on Gunbroker. The shop owner is supposed to let me know when he has more. If I run out and can't get more, I'll go with Bear FMJ. By the way, Bear HP only cost me $16/50 rds plus tax and shipping.
If any of y'all find a source for the Silver Bear 94gr HP, please post it!
I like the Glazer Safety Slug. I work on a University Campus (one of the best places for bad guys to go shoot people). I figure if I ever have to use this thing I don't want the bullet to go thru the bad guy and hit others, thats why I chose the Safety Slug. A bit spendy, like $2 a bullet, but I only carry them on campus, I use other stuff for practice.
Thanks for all the respones guys!!! I figured this was a pretty rare topic, and I actually doubted I'd get any responce at all!
I forgot to mention that I had shot some of the Silver Bear HP through my PA63. It would not feed properly sometimes, but for the most part gave me little problem. Probably shot 50+ rounds thorugh my pistol. It did give me one REALLY bad jam at the range that took a few minutes to fix, so I havent considered it a real option for home D since.
In defence of the Silver Bear 9mmMak HP though, it shoot excellent through a CZ82 not a single hiccup - ever. The CZ does seems like a more solidly constructed gun though.
I've given the cor-bon balls some lookin at, but paying 2 dollars a bullet for GD makarov seems a bit ridiculous. I havent heard much about them through shootin freinds, and they don't have some lengendary reputation (atleast not from what I've heard) so I think I'm gonna stay away from those.
When I first saw that Horandy XTP/HP was avaible in 9mmMak I was stoked! I couldn't believe that they offered it, and after hearing about how good the rounds were, their reputation blah blah blah, I decided I would check them out. Still haven;t had the chance to order a box, funds, but It's good to hear that they feed well - that was my #1 concern after having that bad jam with the Silver Bear.
I've been shootin MFS +P Makarov through my PA63 for the past few months or so and love it. Dosen't kick noticably more than any other round I've shot through my PA, and has been nothin but great aside from the occasion (every 50 rounds or so) dud. I'm not sure whether this is my pistol or the rounds. The duds seem to have slightly shallower, but not by much, striking marks, although I did change the trigger spring and the main spring too, so that may have something to do with that.
I usually go for reliability in a carry gun, especially in surplus pistols designed for FMJ.
In guns like the PA-63, that means Bear, Wolf, or similar brands in FMJ hardball. I might sometimes carry a JHP round in the chamber, but the magazine will always be loaded with FMJ rounds.
Jack
I usually go for reliability in a carry gun, especially in surplus pistols designed for FMJ.
In guns like the PA-63, that means Bear, Wolf, or similar brands in FMJ hardball. I might sometimes carry a JHP round in the chamber, but the magazine will always be loaded with FMJ rounds.
Jack
I've got some Wolf that I'm been waitin to try out. I've been runnin MFS +P thru my PA-63 for a while not without a single problem.
My only concern is the Wolf's steel casing, I don't wanna hurt mah gun
My only concern is the Wolf's steel casing, I don't wanna hurt mah gun
I don't think Wolf will hurt a PA-63. I believe many former Soviet-bloc guns were designed for steel cased ammo. Bear, Barnaul, Wolf, Hot Shot, Tiger, etc, etc, etc...all use steel cartridges (either lacquered or plated) with brass or copper plated steel-jacketed lead bullets. They work very well.
Wolf was made by and from Eastern bloc countries for Eastern bloc firearms. And based on that, and because of the ruggedness they tend to have and the somewhat loose specs. they can also have, compared to those made in the U.S. and elsewhere, I don't think Wolf ammo will harm any Eastern bloc firearm. Just my thoughts on the matter...
Also, I think Wolf is hearing these things because as of lately, haven't they come out with different, and somewhat better cases/ammo. I think anyways??? But I'll still only use it in those or any Eastern bloc firearms. That's just personal preference on my part though...
__________________ "My next door neighbors two dogs have created more shovel ready jobs then Obama has." - Gary Johnson
Last edited by GlockMeister; 12-03-2008 at 10:33 AM.
In response to the above 3 posters, I guess I never thought of it in terms of what the pistol was originally designed to fire, though I completely agree; I just was being somewhat cautious because my PA seems to digest the brass-cased MFS very well, better than the HP silver bear - but that could have had more to do with the fact that it was HP ammo than the casing or whatnot.
because my PA seems to digest the brass-cased MFS very well, better than the HP silver bear - but that could have had more to do with the fact that it was HP ammo than the casing or whatnot.
I think you have come upon the crux of the problem. You may want to polish the feed ramp on the gun. My R-61 was a bit balky with HP also until I worked on the feed ramp. The ramp is now very smooth and no more hang ups.
I think you have come upon the crux of the problem. You may want to polish the feed ramp on the gun. My R-61 was a bit balky with HP also until I worked on the feed ramp. The ramp is now very smooth and no more hang ups.
I've run Wolf HPs in my PA-63, that I got when I bought my Bulgarian Makarov. They fed okay, Do wish Hornaday made some of their paylmer tipped HPs in 9x18. At least, I haven't seen anything like that wround here.
Do wish Hornaday made some of their paylmer tipped HPs in 9x18. At least, I haven't seen anything like that wround here.
Cyrano,
Have you looked at the CorBon Pow'Rball rounds? Hollow-point with the tip filled with a small plastic ball. It's suppossed to aid feeding and provide conistant expansion.
