If you are looking for 9×18 Makarov ammunition for self-defense, you may have had a hard time finding a load that meets your needs. Unlike the .380 ACP or the 9mm Parabellum (aka Luger or 9×19), the Makarov round does not enjoy a wide range of commercially loaded hollow point ammo.
Here is a quick round-up of recent gun news…
Win a $1,000 Â Cabela’s Gift Card
Looking for $1,000 to spend on shooting, hunting and outdoor gear? Â Sign up for the giveaway at AllOutdoor.com. Â They are giving away a $1k gift card to Cabellas on June 15. Â Five additional people will win $200 gift cards.
Another AcquisitionÂ
Bullet and ammunition manufacturer Nosler finalized a deal to purchase Silver State Armory (SSA). Â SSA makes high quality ammunition for hunting, law enforcement and the military. Â I met the guys from SSA several years ago at the SHOT Show, and was impressed by the staff and their products. Â Nosler is known for high quality, so hopefully this will be a good deal for not just Nosler and SSA, but for consumers also.
DoubleTap Equalizer ammo uses two projectiles in a single cartridge to deliver a devastating blow on the target: both game animals and criminal attackers. The projectiles are of different design, each wounding the target in different manners.
The exposed bullet is a standard jacketed hollowpoint. The second projectile is stacked under the hollowpoint and is solid lead. Exact configuration of the second projectile – ball or wadcutter type bullet – depends on the load. There are some great photos of these cartridges and bullets at the IAA forum here.
So…is reloading steel cases possible? Â Conventional wisdom says you can’t reload steel case ammo, but reality says you can.
Sure, reloading brass cases are much easier, but you can reload steel cases. Â That cheap Wolf 7.62×39 and the surplus 7.62x54r can both be reloaded if you take your time and add a few extra steps to the normal loading process. Â Since I believe there is a bit of a tinkerer in every shooter that reloads, this would prove to be an interesting exercise for all of us to work on to improve the existing processes.
Ok, here we go…
One of the sleeper announcements from the 2013 SHOT Show was the addition of two .338 Lapua loads to the Winchester Ammunition catalog. Â In fact, these are the only two .338 Lapua Magnum loads in the Winchester catalog.
The first .338 load uses an Accubond CT bullet, which is a polymer-tipped, bonded-core hollowpoint. Â The bullet is designed for controlled expansion and is likely to be an excellent choice for hunters engaging large game at long range. Â The polymer tip helps ensure expansion by forcing the bullet to open on impact, and by preventing other debris from clogging the hollow cavity. Â It also improves the ballistic coefficient to 0.720.