| Description | Rounds Tested | Notes | Manufaturer | Headstamp | Cartridge Case | Bullet | Magnetic | Overall Length (inch) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ftlbs) | |||||
| Measured | Nominal | Range | Average | Range | Average | ES | SD | ||||||||
| Cor-Bon 70-grain Pow'RBall | 10 | This ammunition is produced by Glaser, but shooters recognize it as Cor-Bon. Pow'RBall bullets are copper-coated (jacketed) hollowpoints capped with a tight-fitting polymer ball in the nose. Glaser states that this aids in controlled expansion and better penetration, and that they are designed to offer the feeding reliability of FMJ ammunition | CorBon/Glaser, Sturgis, South Dakota | 9x18 MAK * - * (Starline Brass) | Brass, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 71.7-grains; flat, copper-coated base | 70 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.970 0.974 | 0.948 | 1304 - 1384 | 1348 | 80 | 22 | 282.41 |
| Cor-Bon 95-gr JHP | 10 | CorBon/Glaser, Sturgis, South Dakota | *-* 9x18 MAK (Starline brass) | Brass case (Starline), boxer primed, non-corrosive | 94.9-gr copper-coated with flat copper-coated base | 95 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.946 0.950 | 0.948 | 1123 - 1153 | 1135 | 30 | 9 | 271.72 | |
| Wolf 120-gr HP | 13 | Tula Cartridge Works, Tula Barnaul, Russia (Caveat listed above) | 9mm MAKAROV WOLF | Steel-cased, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 119.7-gr ( Avg. of 3 measured), steel-cased copper-coated bullet with flat exposed-lead base | 120 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.958 0.968 | 0.962 | 931 1025 | 982 | 94 | 27 | 256.92 | |
| Brown Bear 115-gr HP | 20 | LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia | LVE 01 9x18Mak | Bi-metal case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 116.8-gr, steel-cased copper-coated bullet with flat copper-coated base | 115 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.951 0.969 | 0.964 | 971 1023 | 1001 | 52 | 15 | 255.84 | |
| Quality Cartridge 93-gr RNL | 3 | Quality Cartridge, Hollywood, MD | 9x18 MAK *-* (Starline Brass) | Brass, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 92.3-gr, Round nose lead, flat base | 93 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.954, 0.966, 0.959 | 0.96 | 1043, 1072, 1171 | 1095 | 0 | 0 | 247.58 | |
| Silver Bear 120-gr JHP | 10 | LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia | LVE 01 9X18MAK | Nickel-plated steel, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 116.8-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated with flat copper base | 120 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.968 | 960 | 38 | 12 | 245.54 | |||
| Custom Cartridge GDHP 90-gr | 15 | These cartridges were too long to insert into my magazine. | Custom Cartridge, Inc., Goleta, CA | *-* 9x18 MAK (Starline brass) | Brass, boxer primed, non-corrosive primer | 89.1-grains; copper-coated, concave copper base | 90 | Case and bullet jacket are not magnetic | 0.981 0.984 | 0.982 | 979 1,183 | 1106 | 204 | 60 | 244.43 |
| PS Grand 95-gr FMJ | 10 | PS Grand a.s., Bytca, Slovakia | PS 9mm M | Brass case, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 94.6-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 95 | Cartridge case no; bullet jacket is magnetic | 0.967 0.974 | 0.97 | 1041 - 1093 | 1070 | 52 | 17 | 241.49 | |
| RAM 95-gr HP | 10 | Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia | 9mm Mak (with a trademark) | Zinc-plated steel case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 93.8-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated bullet | 95 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.934 0.944 | 0.939 | 1039 - 1083 | 1069 | 44 | 16 | 241.04 | |
| RAM 95-gr FMJ | 10 | Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia | 9mm Mak (with a trademark) | Zinc-plated steel case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 93.7-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 95 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.969 0.977 | 0.973 | 1043 - 1086 | 1063 | 43 | 17 | 238.34 | |
| Stars & Stripes GDHP 90-gr | 15 | Stars & Stripes Ammunition, Pompano Beach, FL | *-* 9x18 MAK (Starline brass) | Brass, boxer primed, non-corrosive primer | 90.0-grains; copper-coated, concave copper base | 90 | Case and bullet jacket are not magnetic | 0.963 0.973 | 0.97 | 1,052 1,122 | 1088 | 70 | 21 | 236.54 | |
| Tiger 95-gr JHP | 10 | Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia | 9mm Mak (W/ Trademark) | Zinc plated steel, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 94.3-gr, steel-cased copper-coated with concave copper-coated base | 95 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.935 0.941 | 0.937 | 1040 1070 | 1053 | 30 | 9 | 233.87 | |
| Barnaul 94-gr FMJ | 10 | Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia | 9 mm MAK | Lacquer-coated steel, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 94.3-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated, concave exposed-lead base | 94 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.967 0.981 | 0.976 | 1038 1063 | 1049 | 25 | 8 | 229.66 | |
| WOLF 109-gr FMJ | 10 | Tula Cartridge Works, Tula Russia (Caveat listed above) | 9mm Makarov WOLF | Steel-cased, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 107.4-gr, copper-coated with flat exposed-lead base | 109 | Cartridge case is magnetic; bullet is not | 0.969 0.977 | 0.972 | 950 992 | 973 | 42 | 14 | 229.12 | |
| RBCD 45-gr TFSP (Total Fragmenting Soft Point) | 5 | **Note: The round that shot 1032 fps did not have the energy to cycle the slide | RBCD Performance Plus Ammunition, San Antonio, TX | *-* 9x18 MAK | Brass Case (Starline), boxer primed, non-corrosive | 39.2-gr, lead-filled or coated tip, convex (bulged) copper-coated base | 45 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.940 0.946 | 0.943 | 1671, 1661, 1032, 1558, 1640 | 1512 | 0 | 0 | 228.41 |
| WOLF 109-gr "Bi-Metal Case" FMJ | 14 | I believe this was the first 9x18 to bear the Wolf brand. It has a rounded, copper-coated bullet, unlike the cone-shape of the later 109 and 100-grain FMJ's. The cone-shaped bullets have steel casings; where this variety has a copper-colored "Bi-Metal" (copper-washed steel) casing. It was followed by the 109-grain "conehead", then by the 100-grain "conehead". Wolf contracts with multiple manufacturers and even though their website has traditionally listed manufacuter at the Tula Cartridge Works, their recent offerings may be produced by various Russian facilities, including the JSC Liimovsk Stamping Plant and the Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC. | Tula Cartridge Works, Tula, Russia | 9mm Makarov WOLF | Copper-washed steel case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 107.7-gr, copper-coated with flat exposed-lead base | 109 | Cartridge case is magnetic; bullet is not | 0.975 | 971 | 52 | 15 | 228.17 | ||
| Fiocchi 95-gr FMJ | 20 | Fiocchi Munizioni S.P.A., Lecco, Italy | G.F.L. 9 MAKAROV | Brass case, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 94.5-gr, copper (brass?)-coated, with concave exposed-lead base | 95 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.970 0.975 | 0.972 | 976 1077 | 1040 | 101 | 27 | 228.13 | |
| Jing An 95-gr FMJ (Chinese Blue Box) | 10 | Exported by Jing-An Equipment IMP/EXP, China | 71 93 | Steel case, berdan primed, non(?)-corrosive | 94.5-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated bullet with concave exposed-lead base | 95 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.970 0.975 | 0.972 | 998 - 1095 | 1037 | 97 | 29 | 226.82 | |
| WOLF "Military Classic" 95-gr FMJ | 20 | This offering from Wolf became available in early 2007. It's the first 9x18 ammunition that I've seen that's reported to be from the Ulyanovsk plant in Russia. | Ulyanovsk Machine Tool Plant, Ulyanovsk, Russia | 9mm Makarov WOLF | Green lacquered steel case, Berdan primed; non-corrosive primer | 92.35-grains; steel-cased, copper-coated, round-nose with a concave exposed-lead base | 95 | Case and bullet are magnetic | 0.967 0.977 | 0.973 | 961 1069 | 1034 | 108 | 27 | 225.51 |
| American Eagle 95-gr FMJ | 10 | Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Mn | F C 9x18 MAKAROV | Brass, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 94.5-gr, fully-copper coated, concave base | 95 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.971 0.987 | 0.974 | 1004 1056 | 1033 | 52 | 19 | 225.07 | |
| East German 95-gr FMJ | 10 | East Germany | 78 04 | Steel case, berdan primed, corrosive | 92.5-gr steel-jacketed copper-coated bullet with flat exposed-lead base | 95 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.974 0.979 | 0.977 | 1002 - 1056 | 1033 | 54 | 17 | 225.07 | |
| Lake City (Armscorp) 95-gr FMJ | 14 | MFS: Hungarian Ammunition Manufacturing, Inc., Sirok, Hungary. Imported by Armscorp USA, Inc. | LC 9X18 | Brass case, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 92.9, copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 95 | Cartridge case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.968 0.979 | 0.972 | 1001 - 1050 | 1024 | 49 | 14 | 221.17 | |
| CCI 90-gr GDHP | 10 | Blount (CCI), Lewiston, Idaho | CCI R Makarov 9x18 N | Aluminum case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 90 | Case and bullet are not magnetic | 0.959 0.963 | 0.961 | 1024 - 1074 | 1051 | 50 | 15 | 220.72 | ||
| Barnaul 95-gr HP | 10 | Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia | 9 mm MAK | Lacquer-coated steel, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 94-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave copper-coated base | 95 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.935 0.941 | 0.938 | 1004 1028 | 1020 | 24 | 9 | 219.44 | |
| Silver Bear 92-gr FMJ | 10 | LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia | LVE 01 9x18MAK | Nickel-plated steel, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 92.9-gr, steel-cased copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 92 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.971 0.983 | 0.975 | 885 1057 | 1033 | 172 | 52 | 217.97 | |
| LVE (Green Box) 95-gr FMJ | 20 | LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia | LVE 99 9x18Mak | Steel case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 92.2-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 95 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.971 0.979 | 0.974 | 968 - 1029 | 1008 | 20 | 61 | 214.31 | |
| Norinco 93-gr FMJ (Chinese Green Box) | 10 | China North Industries Corp., China | 71 93 | Steel case, berdan primed, non-corrosive(?) | 94.5-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 93 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.971 0.978 | 0.975 | 950 - 1063 | 1014 | 113 | 36 | 212.31 | |
| Kinematics Research 95-gr Tactical HP | 20 | Kinematics Research, L.L.C., Bartlett, TN | *-* 9x18 MAK (Starline brass) | Brass, boxer primed, non-corrosive primer | 94.6-gr (Hornady XTP), copper coated with flat copper base | 95 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.963 0.968 | 0.966 | 960 1017 | 1000 | 57 | 17 | 210.92 | |
| Hi-Shok 90-gr JHP | 10 | Federal Cartridge Co., Anoka, Mn | F C 9x18 MAKAROV | Brass case, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 89.4-gr, copper-coated with concave copper base | 90 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.967 0.972 | 0.969 | 986 - 1047 | 1022 | 61 | 19 | 208.71 | |
| Extreme Shock 85-gr PDR | 3 | Note: One round seperated during handling | Mullins Ammunition Co., Clintwood, VA | *-* 9x18 MAK | Brass Case (Starline), boxer primed, non-corrosive | 84.2-gr, Tungsten-Nytrilium (plastic tip), flat copper-coated base | 85 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.981 0.984 (5 rounds) | 0.983 | 1060, 1045, 1048 | 1051 | 0 | 0 | 208.46 |
| MFS 93-gr FMJ | 10 | MFS: Hungarian Ammunition Manufacturing, Inc., Sirok, Hungary | MFS 9x18 Mak | Brass case, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 93.4, steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 93 | Cartridge case no; bullet yes | 0.973 0.979 | 0.976 | 986 - 1024 | 1002 | 38 | 11 | 207.31 | |
| Brown Bear 92-gr JHP | 20 | LVE (Low Voltage Equipment Plant), Novosibirsk, Russia | LVE 02 9x18Mak | Bi-metal case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 93.2-gr, Steel-cased copper-coated with exposed-lead concave base | 92 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.964 0.984 | 0.977 | 966 1041 | 1006 | 75 | 21 | 206.72 | |
| Barnaul "Brass Plated Steel Case" 94-gr FMJ | 20 | This round became available in March, 2007. The Barnaul Plant is probably the most prolific Russian manufacturer of 9x18 ammunition. They first briefly produced a FMJ round packaged in a red/white candy-striped box, and then produced for some time FMJ and HP in the familiar blue box with the one-handed shooter on the cover. They followed that with the RAM ammo in FMJ and HP that was available around 2004 to early 2006. Aside from these brands, Barnaul is also producing FMJ and HP rounds under the Silver and Brown Bear name. | Barnaul Machine Tool Plant JSC, Barnaul, Russia | 9 mm Mak w/ Trademark | Brass-coated steel, berdan primed, non-corrosive primer | 93.45-gr (2 measured), steel-jacketed copper-coated, concave exposed-lead base, red laquer seal | 94 | Case and bullet are magnetic | 0.974 0.983 | 0.976 | 960 1031 | 994 | 71 | 20 | 206.21 |
| Brown Bear (Barnaul) 94-gr FMJ | 20 | In 2006 the Russian Barnaul Plant started exporting Brown Bear 9x18. Older Brown Bear cartridges were produced by the Russian LVE plant. | CJSC Barnaul Cartridge Plant, Barnaul, Russia | 9mm Mak with small "JSC" (Russian Cartridge Plants Association) trademark | Lacquered steel, Berdan primed, non-corrosive | 94.7-grains; steel-jacketed, copper-coated, with concave exposed-lead base | 94 | Case and bullet are magnetic | 0.973 0.981 | 0.976 | 965 1009 | 982 | 35 | 9 | 201.26 |
| WOLF 100-gr FMJ | 10 | When Wolf switched from 109-grain to 100-grain they put a lot of 100-grain bullets into boxes marked 109-grain. Check the color of the casing - 109-grain is green colored and 100-grain is gray colored. | Tula Cartridge Works, Tula, Russia (caveat listed above) | 9mm Makarov WOLF | Steel cased, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 101.2-gr, copper-coated with flat exposed-lead base | 100 | Cartridge case is magnetic; bullet is not | 0.969 0.979 | 0.974 | 908 987 | 951 | 79 | 22 | 200.80 |
| MFS 93-gr "+P" FMJ | 20 | MFS: Hungarian Ammunition Manufacturing, Inc., Sirok, Hungary | MFS 9x18 MAK+P | Brass case, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 2 weighed: 92.9 & 92.3-gr; brass-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 93 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.973 0.978 | 0.975 | 924 - 1006 | 981 | 82 | 23 | 198.71 | |
| CCI Blazer 95-gr TMJ | 10 | CCI, Lewiston, Idaho | CCI R Makarov 9x18 N | Aluminum case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 94.6-gr fully copper-coated with concave base | 95 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.971 0.976 | 0.973 | 946 - 982 | 969 | 36 | 14 | 198.05 | |
| Prvi Partizan 93-gr FMJ | 20 | Prvi Partizan, Uzice, Serbia | 9-M nny | Brass, boxer primed, non-corrosive primer | 92.45-grains; copper-coated, concave exposed-lead base | 93 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.971 0.975 | 0.974 | 944 1018 | 977 | 74 | 23 | 197.09 | |
| Fiocchi 90-gr FMJHP | 13 | Fiocchi Munizioni S.P.A., Lecco, Italy | G.F.L. 9 MAKAROV | Brass case, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 90.3-gr, copper (brass?)-coated, with flat exposed-lead base | 90 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.914 0.916 | 0.915 | 960 1020 | 993 | 60 | 18 | 197.03 | |
| Mesko 93-gr FMJ | 10 | Makarov.com reports that Mesko has also been imported in a steel-cased copper-washed (magnetic) casing. | Mesko - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland | Mesko 9x18 Mak | Brass case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 92.9-gr, copper-coated bullet with concave exposed-lead base | 93 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.970 0.980 | 0.974 | 934 - 1026 | 975 | 92 | 31 | 196.29 |
| B-West 100-gr FMJ | 10 | TCW (Tula Cartridge Works) Tula, Russia | B West 9x18 | Bi-metal, berdan primed, corrosive | 105.2-gr, steel-cased copper-coated bullet with flat exposed-lead base | 100 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.972 0.978 | 0.976 | 912 943 | 930 | 31 | 10 | 192.03 | |
| SK Nimrod 93-gr FMJ | 10 | Mesko - Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland | S K N 9x18 Mak | Brass case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 92.2-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 93 | Cartridge case no; bullet yes | 0.973 0.978 | 0.975 | 886 - 1000 | 954 | 114 | 36 | 187.92 | |
| Georgia Arms 95-gr GDHP | 6 | Note: I believe the GDHP bullet is 90-grains, not 95-grains as Georgia Arms advertises. | Georgia Arms, Inc., Villa Rica, Georgia | 9x18 MAK *-* (Starline Brass) | Brass, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 90.3-gr, copper coated, concave base | 95 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.947 0.949 | 0.948 | 884 978 | 938 | 0 | 0 | 185.58 |
| Hornady 95-gr JHP | 20 | Hornady Manufacturing Co., Grand Island, NE | HORNADY 9X18 MAKAROV | Brass case, boxer primed, non-corrosive | 94.6-gr, copper coated with flat copper base | 95 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.933 0.940 | 0.939 | 908 - 956 | 934 | 48 | 15 | 184.00 | |
| Reeds 90-gr Gold-Dot | 10 | Reeds Ammunition & Research, Oklahoma City, OK | *-* 9x18 MAK | Brass (Starline), boxer primed, non-corrosive | 88.9-gr, copper-coated, concave copper base | 90 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.959 0.963 | Avg: | 922 - 979 | 957 | 57 | 19 | 183.01 | |
| CCI Centerfire 95-gr TMJ | 20 | CCI, Lewiston, Idaho | CCI R Makarov 9x18 N | Aluminum case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 94.5-gr fully copper-coated with concave base | 95 | Case and bullet are non-magnetic | 0.969 0.977 | 0.972 | 903 - 946 | 928 | 43 | 10 | 181.64 | |
| D&G Reloading 95-gr XTP HP | 12 | D&G Reloading, Clinton Township, MI | *-* 9x18 MAK (Starline brass) | Brass, boxer primed, non-corrosive primer | 94.6-gr (Hornady XTP), copper coated with flat copper base | 95 | Case and bullet are not magnetic | 0.962 0.966 | 0.964 | 880 968 | 918 | 88 | 27 | 177.75 | |
| Sellier & Bellot 95-gr FMJ (24-round White Box) | 10 | Sellier & Bellot JSC, Vlaim, Czechoslovakia | 9 mmM S & B | Steel case, berdan primed, non-corrosive | 93.5-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated with concave exposed-lead base | 95 | Cartridge case and bullet jacket are magnetic | 0.961 0.965 | 0.963 | 898 - 934 | 916 | 36 | 14 | 176.98 | |
| Russian Military 92-gr FMJ | 12 | I call this Russian Military for lack of a better term. It comes in 16-round, completely unmarked cardboard boxes. The manufacturer information I've posted is deduced from the headstamp markings. | Yuryuzan Factory, Russia | 38 87 | Copper-washed steel, berdan primed, corrosive | 91.8-gr, steel-jacketed copper-coated with flat exposed-lead base | 92 | Cartridge case and bullet are magnetic | 0.969 0.978 | 0.973 | 868 - 938 | 895 | 70 | 11 | 163.62 |
| Data courtesy of Lief Christenson (aka North_Bender of Gunboards.com) | |||||||||||||||