Take a seat, history class is ready to begin. The 9x18mm PM and the Makarov PM were somewhat developed alongside one another, hence the common moniker used for the cartridge – 9mm Makarov. During World War II and the Cold War, the Soviet Union had trouble with the TT-33. It was decided that the pistol would be replaced by one that featured a blowback-action (The TT-33 was a single-action, short recoil operated pistol). Simultaneously, a round was being developed by B.V. Semin that was intended to be the most powerful round capable of being fired safely from blowback-action pistols. What were the resulting products? You guessed it – the Makarov PM and the 9x18mm PM cartridge. Another interesting piece worth mentioning is the fact that the Soviet military stipulated that their ammunition be incompatible with NATO firearms. The 9x18mm PM bullet is actually 9.22mm in diameter, rendering it useless in firearms chambered for 9x19mm Parabellum. It only makes sense that you would go to great lengths to keep the enemy from using your own ammunition against you. Anyway, let us move on to the actual product.
Our Silver Bear 9mm Makarov is sold by the box, each of which contains 50 rounds. The cartridges are manufactured in Russia at the Barnaul Cartridge Plant, a manufacturer specializing in sporting, hunting and military ammunition. Each cartridge features a full metal jacket bullet that weighs in at 94 gr. Though technically inferior to the 9x19mm Parabellum in terms of ballistics, these bullets do carry some stopping power. Additionally, they also utilize a non-corrosive Berdan primer, which provides for a lengthy shelf life and practically ensures ignition.
Many people often see Brown Bear and Silver Bear ammunition and think to themselves, “What is the difference? All I see is that the Silver Bear is more expensive!” Well, to start out, we charge the same amount for both Brown Bear 9mm Makarov and Silver Bear 9mm Makarov – $12.97. However, the difference exists in the bullet casing. The Brown Bear ammunition is cased in lacquered steel whereas the Silver Bear ammunition is cased in zinc-plated steel. The Silver Bear is thought to be more reliable as the zinc-plated steel allows for more smooth feeds. We figured that an identical price would make it easier for you to make that decision.
Consider this cartridge for use with your favorite Eastern Bloc pistol, including the Makarov, CZ 82, FEG PA-63, P-64 and many others.
Full Metal Jacket
Many people hear the term full metal jacket and immediately think of the famous Stanley Kubrick film. It actually refers to a bullet consisting of a soft core, typically lead, that is partially- or fully-enveloped in a shell of harder metal – a jacket of sorts which provides for increased muzzle velocities.
