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  #1  
Old 02-17-2021, 03:25 PM
johnnydogs johnnydogs is offline
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Default Trimming 9mm parabellum to 9x18 Mak

I have to trim 1mm off of 9mm so I can reload them with .364 9mm Mak. I don't want to buy a $100 trimmer for this purpose. Any ideas?
Thanks!
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Old 02-17-2021, 03:34 PM
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Lee trimmer.

Gage/holder 9mm Makarov - Lee Precision

It's what I use to do the same. Note that your converted cases will look really weird until they get fireformed to the Mak diameter. I made a bunch of cases for my CZ-82 and they all functioned fine.
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Old 02-17-2021, 03:35 PM
67tempest 67tempest is offline
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File trim dies are available, Lee has one for 9x18 Makarov, $17.00 on Amazon.
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Old 02-17-2021, 04:06 PM
iouri iouri is offline
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File trim dies are available, Lee has one for 9x18 Makarov, $17.00 on Amazon.
I was always curios on how file trim dies work, I mean file will take off material from the die itself, wouldn't it ?
On topic: I've used Lee trimmer in the past. For Lee trimmer you need to size your brass with 9x18 sizing die first.
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Old 02-17-2021, 09:42 PM
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Die is much harder than your file.
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Old 02-17-2021, 09:43 PM
johnnydogs johnnydogs is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMSgt View Post
Lee trimmer.

Gage/holder 9mm Makarov - Lee Precision

It's what I use to do the same. Note that your converted cases will look really weird until they get fireformed to the Mak diameter. I made a bunch of cases for my CZ-82 and they all functioned fine.
I ordered it. Thanks Sarge.
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Old 02-17-2021, 09:53 PM
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Will a shortened 9x19 case work in a Makarov chamber? There are more dimensional differences than just length between the two. A 9x19 case has a taper (0.391" at the extractor groove to 0.380" at the case mouth, the 9x18 is a straight case (0.392" at the extractor groove to 0.390 at the case mouth). The extractor groove is also wider on the Makarov case than the 9x19 case.
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Old 02-17-2021, 09:56 PM
GeoJelly GeoJelly is online now
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Interesting thread - never thought about trying it. Just fired my (butt-ugly) CZ-82 a coupla days ago. I had forgotten just how much it stings my hand. Still have a half-box of Russian ammo & then it becomes a true Curio & Relic . Dies are unobtainium now ...
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Old 02-17-2021, 10:09 PM
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I do this. Mostly I use the little Lee trimmer. There's some youtube videos on doing this that describe the process quite well.

One tip: Use nickel 9mm cases so you can tell them apart. I load for the 9mm Luger and .380 so add in 9mm Mak and things get confusing. The only thing I load in nickel is the Mak.
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Old 02-17-2021, 10:13 PM
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Quote:
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Will a shortened 9x19 case work in a Makarov chamber? There are more dimensional differences than just length between the two. A 9x19 case has a taper (0.391" at the extractor groove to 0.380" at the case mouth, the 9x18 is a straight case (0.392" at the extractor groove to 0.390 at the case mouth). The extractor groove is also wider on the Makarov case than the 9x19 case.
The taper doesn't matter after you run a 9mm Mak expander into the Luger case. It does get a little bit of a wasp-waist but one firing and it's gone. They don't meet true spec but everybody I know with a Mak does it.
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Old 02-17-2021, 11:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoJelly View Post
Interesting thread - never thought about trying it. Just fired my (butt-ugly) CZ-82 a coupla days ago. I had forgotten just how much it stings my hand. Still have a half-box of Russian ammo & then it becomes a true Curio & Relic . Dies are unobtainium now ...
Stings the hand? Man, you army guys need to build up some calluses. My only complaint with the blow-back action is the GSR it leaves all over my shirt.
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Old 02-18-2021, 01:26 AM
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I'd rather shoot a small 9mm like my Sig 938 than a 9x18. I agree, sharp recoil due to the fixed barrel.
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Old 02-18-2021, 11:02 AM
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These days the only one I have is not a Makarov but is chambered for the 9x18. I have a FEG PA-63. A pretty good poor-man's Walther PP.

As it came it had a pretty horrible trigger pull and snappy recoil. A spring kit improved the trigger pull tremendously but gave unreliable ignition with the usual steel case import ammo. They must have super hard primers. Reloads manufactured from converted brass and primed with American primers (Federal, Winchester, Remington) are 100%. I was having a problem with ignition when firing DA but that turned out to be a mechanical issue that was easily fixed.

I also added a heavier recoil spring, the heaviest one Wolf had, and it reduced the felt recoil considerably. Still functions 100%. It does make it harder to rack the slide though but not really a big issue for me.

I bought a box LRN cast bullets that I use most of the time and a modest stash of Hornady XTP bullets for more serious use. I don't really shoot it a lot.

It's a shame Hornady has discontinued both the bullets and the ammo, but you still see some new old stock every now and then.

All of this is kind of a lot of work but I did get the gun on the cheap and I find it interesting. I'm sure most would find it impractical and find an easier option.
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Old 02-18-2021, 02:50 PM
johnnydogs johnnydogs is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GeoJelly View Post
Interesting thread - never thought about trying it. Just fired my (butt-ugly) CZ-82 a coupla days ago. I had forgotten just how much it stings my hand. Still have a half-box of Russian ammo & then it becomes a true Curio & Relic . Dies are unobtainium now ...
9x18 Makarov dies are all over e-bay. I paid $31+$10 shipping 10 days ago.
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Old 02-18-2021, 03:10 PM
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Quote:
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Stings the hand? Man, you army guys need to build up some calluses. My only complaint with the blow-back action is the GSR it leaves all over my shirt.
My calluses are ... ahem ... on my left hand I shoot with my right. No intent to criticize the CZ-82 overall - Best $325 I have spent in years! Also found a NIB-ish 83 a few years ago. Back on topic, the good LGS has PPU brass-cased Mak for $19-something albeit only a box at a time.
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Old 02-18-2021, 03:36 PM
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I have a friend back east that trims 9mm to Mak length. He did his first batch on a RCBS motorized trimmer. He did a thousand in one sitting. He is a real thinking reloader(I trained him). I told him they would look right after fireforming and they did. I also gave him a bbl for the Mak to convert it to 380. So he did that with a 2nd Mak...He likes the Makarov round better. His wife keeps the 380 version handy at all times. He figures he has more time than money so he makes lot of brass to fit his odd caliber rifles etc. He has even gone so far as to make 250 Savage from 30-06 as well as 7.65 Argentine
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Old 02-18-2021, 04:44 PM
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Nothing wrong at all with making case "A" from case "B." It's all part of the game with wildcat cartridges. Some are a lot of work, some require only being run through a die and trimmed as needed.

The complaint I have with my CZ-82 is it tends to eject cases into a low orbit that can interfere with the ISS. I can shoot 50 rounds and hope to find 30 cases.
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Old 02-20-2021, 12:12 AM
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