Magazines

[Guy Powell]

This question is for M2Carbine or anyone else with a Mak 380 and using 9x18 magazines. I can easily get 9 rounds of 380acp into my 9x18 magazines. Is that normal or is that telling me that the mag springs are worn out? They seem to feed well enough. Thanks!
Guy

[Russ in PA]

I thought that .380 mags & 9x18 mags were the same...I could be wrong though.

[Speedrock]

Believe Russ is correct:

"Export version of the original PM is markeded under IZh-71 designation, in both original 9x18mm PM and 9x17mm short/.380ACP chamberings."

[chesster]

I don't know if this is relevant but I think the CZ82/83 9X18/.380 mags are the same and I believe the 9x18 guns are advertised as 12 rounders and the .380 guns are advertised as 13 rounders. The slight difference in the size could account for being able to squeeze more 380s into a mag. Correct me if I am wrong, I won't mind!!!

[esignup]

chesster,

I've heard the same thing about 12 rounder holding 13 rounds of .380 . It must be because the .380 round is smaller than the 9x18

I own both version of the Makarov in 9x18 and 380 in 8 rounder (single stack). The magazines are interchangable between the 380 and 9x18.

Sometimes a mag will not fully set in the 9x18 but will always work in my .380

[Teakwood]

The same magazine that will hold 8/10/12 rounds of 9x18 will hold one extra round of .380.
Simply a function of the case size.

[Guy Powell]

Teakwood, and everyone else, thank you. I've got a new set of recoil/magazine springs on order from Wolff as a preventative measure. That way I KNOW how old things are.
Teakwood, would you have any idea what these 380's are made from, or plated with? It "looks" like S.S. almost, and if it's just a coating of nickel or something, they certainly did a great job. It cleaned/shined up in record time and looks about as new as my year old G26. Man, these Makarovs are amazing, and unfortunately, quite addictive.

[Speedrock]

"The slight difference in the size could account for being able to squeeze more 380s into a mag. Correct me if I am wrong, I won't mind!!!"

You are correct.......

Suprised no one appears to hand load 9x18?

.380 Auto case dia. is .3740" at the rim while MAK is .3920";
Web dia's. are: .3740" and .3917"

So the 9x18 is fatter than the .380, to the point it's very close to to the Luger at: .3940"/.3926"...........

[Teakwood]

Originally posted by Guy Powell
...Teakwood, would you have any idea what these 380's are made from, or plated with? It "looks" like S.S. almost, and if it's just a coating of nickel or something, they certainly did a great job. It cleaned/shined up in record time and looks about as new as my year old G26. Man, these Makarovs are amazing, and unfortunately, quite addictive.
Without a pic, I cannot say for sure. I believe you are talking about nickel-plate.

[DriBak]

I remember when MAK mags were 5 bucks the last two gunshows I went to had them from 13-20 bucks :shocked:

[chesster]

The $5 Mak magazine went the way of the 5 cent ice cream cone. You can still easily find both but you pay a lot more for them.:banana: