[Slow]

How much should I expect to pay for a good used and/or new Makarov? I have seen East German and other countries of manufacture listed so what are your recommendations? Is there a dedicated web site? Are these guns .380 or 9mm?
Thanks for all the help :)

[vertigo7]

Makarov.com (http://www.makarov.com) Start here, lots of great info.

Gunboards.com (http://www.gunboards.com/forums/) has a large Makarov discussion area, but it's not working for me at present.

Southern Ohio Gun (http://www.southernohiogun.com/surplus_hand.html) has Bulgarian Maks for $129.95+shipping.

Anxiously waiting for his FFL to take delivery of his first East German Mak,

vertigo7

[Destructo6]

www.makarov.com

Good website. Information, parts, discussion, and more can be had there.

E. German Maks are reputed to be some of the very best and tend to go for around $200 (used, since that's the only way you can get them). I have a E. German Mak that was made in 1962, and I don't think I'd part with it for less than $400, not that anyone would offer it.

Bulgarian Maks are reputed to be very good as well.

Actually, you'd almost have to try to find a bad one.

[cratz2]

I have a beautifully blued Bulgarian Mak that is in excellent condition that I paid $120 for - Gun, two mags, holster and cleaning rod. I can't imagine a better value in a smaller pistol. Plus the ammo is cheap enough and the Barnaul HP ammo is supposed to expand reliably.

I've seen the Bulgarians go for $120 - $200. Haven't seen an East German one for less than about $225 in a couple years though I'd love to have one.

I'd also try to get one in 9x18, not 380 but that's just me.

[alamo]

There is a lot of info. at makarov.com, so don't miss these specific links:

http://www.makarov.com/makfaq.html

http://www.makarov.com/makbasics.html

I have an EG and a Bulgarian Mak. All of the East Germans are used, some can be found in excellent condition though. My Bulgarian was "unissued", it's about 20 years old but was unfired.
Bulgarians are the least expensive and are a great value. The trigger on my EG is superior to the Bulgarian, much lighter and smoother. They are great guns, best value for the money out there.

[No4Mk1*]

The original caliber is 9x18mm
Some are made in 9x17mm aka .380
Not to be confused with 9x19mm aka 9mm Luger, Parabellum, or NATO.

The only way you could actually fire the wrong ammo is by shooting 9x17 in a 9x18 gun. 9x19 will not fit in the magazine of a Makarov and 9x18 is really 9.2x18 so it will not chamber in a 9x17 or 9x19 pistol. Confused?

I've never seen a Makarov jam. $150 is a fair price.

[Neal Bloom]

Just picked up one of these over the weekend. A lot of people I know have them and I decided to join in. I was amazed at how accurate it is. Nice gun. The store where I bought it had Russian and Bulgarian Makarovs. The owner told me the Russian have adjustable sights. I got the Bulgarian. Glad I did.

[Soap]

Currently, they're going for $129.99 from S.O.G. If you can find a dealer willing, you can order direct from SOG, they will ship it to your FFL, then pay the FFL the transfer fee.

[cratz2]

Just noticed the original poster is from Speedway, IN. Last time I was down at Bradis Guns on Kentucky Ave, they have maybe three Maks is stock, this was the end of December. Last time I looked at a Mak there, they were somewhere between $100 and$150, granted that was over a year ago.

[gbelleh]

I have a somewhat unusual Makarov, it's really Russian (with fixed sights) but the frame was incorrectly stamped "BULGARIA" by the importer. It's been a great gun, and has never malfunctioned in any way. Makarovs are great guns. Someday I plan to acquire an East German and Bulgarian too.

[Felonious Monk]

Do Bulgie Maks go as 03 or 01?
Can a Cruffler get 'em, or does it HAVE to go through an FFL?

[Chipperman]

"I've never seen a Makarov jam."

Come try mine. :(

I have an EG. It's a beautiful gun, and is very accurate, but it won't go for 50 rounds without a jam.

I have 6 mags, no change. It has FTF's FTE's, Stovepipes. I guess I just got a bad one.

I don't mind all that much b/c I'd never carry it anyway, but it's still annoying. :banghead:

I guess I shouldn't complain. It was only $120 when I got it a few years ago.

[wingman]

Chipperman)

Not sure you got a bad one, perhaps a
backyard gunsmith has done some weird
things too it, but of the 20+ I have fired
never seen a jam.
Yours could be fixed, probably easy with
spare parts that are cheap and very easy to install.

[No4Mk1*]

Chipperman-
Well they are just macines. Have you tried different ammo types? Have you broken it down and compared all the parts with a makarov that doesn't jam?
is it a 9x17 or 9x18 makarov?

[Chipperman]

I only have one Mak so I can't compare it directly to any others. It's 9x18. I've tried my 6 mags, and about 5 different ammo types/brands. It seems to like the Barnaul HP's the best, but still jams at least once every 50 rounds. When I first got it, it would jam at least once every mag. I have not tried to replace anything, because I'd never carry it anyway. I figured, why spend a bunch of money replacing half a dozen parts for a gun I won't carry? The parts are relatviely cheap when compared to other guns, but I don't know what part(s) are the culprit. If it was just one type of failure I'd have an easier time narrowing it down. As I said, it does FTE, FTF, stove.

As far as it being altered by a backyard smith, that's not likely. It was not purchased from a shop. I got it directly from AIM Surplus when they had that huge shipment a few years ago.

[denfoote]

I'm a collector, so my response will be different!!

For me, it depends on whose Makarov it is!!
For instance, if Fidel Castro's engraved Makarov, that was presented to him by Soviet Communist Party Chairman Leonid Brezhnev should come up for sale and I had the money for it... :D

[Zundfolge]

Chipperman, usualy Mak problems come down to springs.

Try a new 19lb recoil spring from www.makarov.com ... its only $9 and might fix the problem right there.

The other possibility is mag springs ... Try ordering a couple of Karl's CCW mags from www.makarov.com ... they are $22.50ea (which is kinda pricy for Mak mags, but I hear they are worth it) he's gone through them and put in new wolff extra power mag springs, extended floor plate and refinished them (or you can just buy the extra power mag springs for $8ea).


For instance, if Fidel Castro's engraved Makarov, that was presented to him by Soviet Communist Party Chairman Leonid Brezhnev should come up for sale and I had the money for it...
I'd love to have that one ... but I wanna pump him full of Hornady JHPs from my Bulgarian then pick his Soviet Mak off the ground ... wipe the blood off of it and take it home as a trophy.
:evil:

[denfoote]

Zund,
I don't think that any of our scenarios stand much chance of coming to fruition!! But, it's a nice thought!! :D

[Zundfolge]

naw ... I doubt it.

Realistically the last gun I'd use on him would be my Mak ... would either by my Steyr M40 or a rifle of some sort :)

[denfoote]

Yeah, yer right!! Even though it would be a waste of a buck, I'd have to use a 10mm round on him!! :evil:

[berettaman]

Only Russian Military and East German Maks are 03.All others such as Bulgarians and Russian commercial(adjustable sights)must go thru an 01.

[agtman]

Question for the Mak experts.


This is passed along from a friend. He's got a nice-looking E.G. Mak. He'd like some basic things done to it, like better sights, dehorning and smoothing up of the trigger.

Besides the guy in Arizona (Beast Entrprises?), does anyone know what other pistolsmiths work or have worked on these guns? Any pictures or websites showing their work on Maks?

Thanks. :)

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. At www.makarov.com , they offer sight installations and have pictures of some slides. They'll only want your slide, not the whole gun. Any gunsmith who installs pistol sights should be able to put them on. At makarov.com, they're using Novaks.

Best.

[Jedi_7.62]

I've used Russian, East german and Bulgarian Mak's all are wonderfull.

East Germans have the best reputation with the Russians in close second.

A Makarov jammig is like an AK 47 jamming MAJOR fluke unnatural call guiness book.

Usually priced around $130 new Bulgarians are very common right now.

If you are around Indianapolis go to Bradi's on 67 in Camby. I've shopped there for years and they will do you right.

Enjoy!!!

[Drakejake]

I am the recent purchaser of two EG Maks. The first was perfect. The second had a misfiring problem which I corrected by replacing some parts. Great gun, great round, cheap mags, cheap parts, easy to detail strip, lots of support on the Internet. At c. $130 for a new or like new Bulgarian, this is proably the best deal in pistols these days. Very accurate even with the tiny sights. The steel may be a little soft and so parts may wear somewhat faster than pistols made of harder metal. I am using S&B ammo, which has worked great and is not too expensive.

Drakejake

[railroader]

Drakejake, good to here you got your problem solved. So what parts did install that fixed the light primer hits? Mark

[Drakejake]

I replaced the hammer spring and that didn't do it. I didn't want to replace a part, wait a week, detail break down the pistol, replace another part, return to the range, replace another part, wait another week, etc. So I replaced a number of parts at once and that did the trick. My guess is that the interaction between the hammer and the safety was causing the light strikes. I noticed wear on the safety and on the place on the hammer that touches the safety. I replaced the hammer, trigger, trigger bar, sear, safety, and slide lock, as I recall. Most of these parts came with the pistol, so I only had to buy the trigger and the hammer.

Drakejake

[Cory.40]

Well I have not looked at the prices for Maks lately, but I do Love my Russian Mak in a .380. I have shot over 1000 rounds through it and have never had a jam!! If I could get my hands on another Russian I would get it in a heart beat. I think that I am going to start looking for an E.G. Mak here in the near future :)

Cory

[Tecolote]

Anyone know where to find NIB Bulgie Maks?

[Zundfolge]

I've heard that SOG still has some bulgies in stock.

www.southernohiogun.com

[Tecolote]

Thanks, but I'm looking for a NIB unissued mil Bulgie.

[alamo]

SOG has had unissued military Bulgarians, I've seen several postings from those who got some on the Makarov forum. Problem is, not all of SOGs Maks are unissued, some are slightly used.

[Tecolote]

Yeah, they said they could hand pick but they couldn't guarantee that it was unissued. :(