9x18 Cartridge Data Links

[nbender]

I've collected varieties of the 9x18 cartridge for the past decade - a hobby more obscure than most (try explaining it to people who don't own firearms). Here are some links to various information resources concerning this cartridge that I've gleaned from my years of collecting.

The available varieties of 9x18 change frequently. Every year it seems that the Russians put out new varieties and discontinue the old ones. American manufacturers such as CCI, Cor-Bon and Federal have also changed their offerings. The links posted here contain references to many of these discontinued rounds, but by studying the data you can draw some pretty valid conclusions about the capability of this cartridge.


Velocity Tests

The 9x18 cartridge has been tested almost exclusively with the Makarov pistol. I shot some velocity comparisons between the Makarov and the P-64 that indicated 9x18 shoots just slightly slower through the shorter P-64 barrel:

Sellier & Bellot 95-gr FMJ

P-64: 968 fps (average of 10 rounds)
Mak: 988 fps (average of 10 rounds)

Jing-An 95-gr FMJ

P-64: 1025 fps (average of 10 rounds)
Mak: 1037 fps (average of 10 rounds)

Wolf 100-grain FMJ

P-64: 939 fps (average of 14 rounds)
Mak: 970 fps (average of 14 rounds)

To date I've chronographed 56 varieties of 9x18 ammunition using the Makarov pistol and I posted the results on the Gunboards Makarov forum:

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.a ... _ID=110185

That's an on-going project and I update it when new rounds become available, or when someone sends me something I haven't tested. I'm indebted to many people for helping me obtain obscure varieties of 9x18. In particular George Fisher at Makarov.com has been very helpful, and he posted an earlier version of the tests on the Makarov.com website:

http://makarov.com/tech.html


Terminal Ballistics Tests

There are limited data available on expansion/penetration testing. And a lot of this testing was completed on discontinued rounds. The first gelatin tests posted on the internet were by Golded Loki:

http://www.goldenloki.com/ammo/gel/9x18/gel9x18.htm

Of the rounds he tested only the Hornady JHP is still in production.

Recently brassfetcher.com tested the Silver Bear 115-grain JHP and the Sellier & Bellot 95-grain FMJ in gelatin:

http://www.brassfetcher.com/

My favorite firearms author, Stephen Camp, is a real fan of the Makarov pistol and he has posted a variety of 9x18 tests. Visit his website or the sticky he posted on Gunboards for some valuable information on the cartridge:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.a ... C_ID=64096

Finally, I did some informal terminal ballistic testing using soaked newspaper and paper towels and posted those results on Gunboards:

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.a ... _ID=163252

Terminal ballistic tests are a great way to spend an afternoon. I believe all test methods provide some information, whether shooting into gelatin, paper, dirt, caulking, or wood. I hope to see more formal and informal ballistic testing of the 9x18 cartridge in the future.

[mirother]

Thanks for all the 9x18 data. I have two sets of questions. Do you know the status of Norinco ammo? The boxes say that it is noncorrosive, but I have heard people express doubts. Does anyone know for sure?
Also, I have used Reed's 9x18 ammo. He warns not to use it in alloy receivers like the PA 63. I always assumed that it was quite hot, but now I am wondering whether he is not simply limiting his liability in the rare case that one would crack. What little data I have seen indicates that Reed's ammo is pretty standard. Does anyone know for sure?
Thanks

[nbender]

Hello mirother:

Nobody has ever posted a definitive answer to the question of whether the Chinese 9x18 is non-corrosive. But it's been shot for years (it's still available on either the Gunbroker or Auction Arms auction sites), and nobody has ever complained that it is corrosive. I've shot a bunch of it - at one time it was incredibly cheap - and I've never had an indication it's corrosive. Jing An and Norinco have military headstamps so I appreciate your question, but the consensus has been that it's not corrosive.

How to test for corrosivity? I have several tests I'd like to get to. I thought about pulling bullets from known corrosive rounds, such as the East German, bullets from known non-corrosive rounds (most anything else), and bullets from suspected corrosive rounds (the Chinese). Then firing the primer (with an empty casing) onto bare steel and looking at the corrosion over time. Sound reasonable?

Reeds - I see they make a cartridge with the Hornady bullet now, as well as the GDHP I tested. I haven't looked back on their ammo. It averaged around 950 fps and they want over $19/box. At the velocity I found it wouldn't seem to hurt a PA-63, and their warning seems over-cautious, but maybe they have somehow built a high-pressure low velocity round. So I can't say whether it's actually safe to shoot in an alloy frame.

[mirother]

Thanks, nbender! Your info is very helpful. I hope that you can test Reed's Hornady bullet load sometime in the future. It is a very good bullet and considerably cheaper than Hornady's loaded ammo.