guypowell

I've been offered the chance to buy a Russian Makarov chambered for the 380 at a very good price. Not knowing the pistols very well, is the different chambering about all the difference? In other words, statistically are the 380's as reliable as the 9 x 18 Bulgarians, East German, etc?
Thank you very much for the information.

Teakwood

The Russian, Bulgarian and Chinese commercial pistols were offered in .380 (9x17). The only difference between those and the 9x18's is the barrel chambering and bore. The rest of the pistol is EXACTLY the same as that offered for the same line by that country. All other parts are interchngable.
[Correction: the Bulgarians took a slightly different approach in that the breechface for their commercial .380's is machined differently than that for their 9x18's. The Bulgarian .380's originally sold under the Aresenal or Miltex brand cannot accept 9x18 rounds unless the barrel is changed and the breechface altered. edited by Teakwood June 26, 2004]

That is to say, the only difference between an IJ70-17A (9x17) and an IJ70-18A (9x18) is the barrel.

At one time, the 9x18 ammo was hard to come by in this country. So many of the commercial Mak offerings included .380.

guypowell

Thanks for the reply. I'm trying to reduce the many different calibers of ammo I've got to stock and with already having a 380 (Colt Gov. model) a Makarov chambered for that would be a benefit.