Can someone enlighten me on the Makarov pistols?

[Hoffy]

I understand that there is a spring kit for the 63 that will take some of the kick out of it.

One of the things that I like about (true) Makarovs is their simplicity. There is something like 33 parts, approximately half that of other autoloaders. For that reason, I've taken swapped out a trigger and done other work that I wouldn't have the confidence to do with a more complex pistol.

 

[Weevil]

I had a Bulgarian years ago and currently have a Russian in .380.




Very good pistols, well built, good quality pistols that will last several lifetimes with only a bare minimum of maintennance. These were designed and built for hard use by soldiers in the field and have a proven track record of decades of hard use by numerous militaries and eastern European police. Easy to work on and plenty of spare parts and mags available, not something you can say about some of it's clones like the PA-63. Parts and mags for the 63 or any of the other clones are not as common as true Maks.

The Mak and it's clones are small and underpowered by Western standards for a service pistol, and big and heavy by our CCW standards. As is typical of blowback type pistols the recoil is quite stout for the smallish caliber and the PA-63 being an Alum framed clone is even worse than a true all steel Mak.

They are a cool pistol but not the most fun range toy you'll ever shoot.

If you want one get one they're nice to have and as long as you're not expecting too much you won't be disapointed.

Personally though I'd hold out for a true Mak, I haven't been impressed with the clones I've seen or shot.

 

[thralldad]

+ 1 on the Pearce grip.

 

[PabloJ]

I have been looking at them for a while but never bought one nor have I done a lot of research on them. I saw them at Gander Mountain a few days ago for $249 for the 63 with one magazine and I think that is a decent price from what I have seen lately. There seem to be a lot of variations in the 9x18 guns and I am just looking for ideas before I jump in.

Before anyone goes all ballistic(literally) please understand that I am looking to buy one simply because I want to buy one. I have 22s, 38s, 380s, 357s, and 45s. I have semis, revolvers and derringers so I don't want or need any opinions on why some other caliber or why S&W is better. I am looking for opinions on the Makarov style pistols whether they are from Poland, Russia, China or wherever. I am not really interested in ballistics as I will probably only use this gun for plinking and only need to be "minute of paper plate". Availability of extra mags, spare parts etc will be considered. I will probably buy ammo online unless I can find some locally at a decent price because Gander didn't have any but Academy may carry it.

Jump into Glock 26. Standard magazine holds 12 9mm Luger cartridges and you can carry spare 33 rounder attached to your forearm. The 95gr 9x19 round starts out at about 1350 fps so do let them BS you that the Mak round is almost as good as the Luger.

 

[jrdolall]

Jump into Glock 26. Standard magazine holds 12 9mm Luger cartridges and you can carry spare 33 rounder attached to your forearm. The 95gr 9x19 round starts out at about 1350 fps so do let them BS you that the Mak round is almost as good as the Luger.

Pretty sure I mentioned that I already have a bunch of other calibers and wanted a Makarov style pistol because I wanted one. Actually I own 5 9mm pistols. Maybe an AR would be better?

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

You want to remember that a lot of people refer to any pistol chambered for 9X18 Makarov ammunition as a "Makarov". The only true Makarov is the "PM" (Pistolet Makarova) made in the Soviet Union/Russia, Bulgaria, East Germany, or China. The PM is one of the most all-time-go-to-H... ingenious designs ever crafted and is rock-solid reliable. I have currently two, have put several hundred rounds through each of them (including Russian Novo LVE, Prvi Partizan, Fiocchi, S&B, and Silver Bear) and have had exactly one malfunction - and it was caused by an after-market magazine.

 

[Hurryin' Hoosier]

Jump into Glock 26. Standard magazine holds 12 9mm Luger cartridges and you can carry spare 33 rounder attached to your forearm. The 95gr 9x19 round starts out at about 1350 fps so do let them BS you that the Mak round is almost as good as the Luger.

The man was asking about Makarovs, Pablo - not Glocks (or blocks or bricks or globs or whatever they're called).

 

[Weevil]

Pablo's wrong about the G26 anyway.

"Standard" G26 mags are only 10 rounds, to get 12 rounds they add a +2 base extension which adds to the length of the mag and of course the grip length.



33 rounders attached to your forearms???

I'm hoping Pablo's just joshing around with us.

 

[Tenacious B]

I'll add another +1 for the Pearce Grip.

I was actually thinking of selling my PM since it hurt my hand really badly, I could hardly stand going through 2 mags. My LCR was much more comfortable to shoot. I tried the Pearce Grip with the thought that if it didn't work then I would sell it. Now it is a joy to shoot. The original grips (red star and the thumby one) must have been hitting a pressure point or something.

The PM and CZ are both easily worth the money in my opinion. If I find a decent deal on an 82 I'd probably grab it too.

 

[TennJed]

I wish M2 Carbine would quit showing up in this threads. I have one commercial Russian Makarov that I LOVE, but he shows up and makes me think I need another. He is nothing but a pusherman

Jump into Glock 26. Standard magazine holds 12 9mm Luger cartridges and you can carry spare 33 rounder attached to your forearm. The 95gr 9x19 round starts out at about 1350 fps so do let them BS you that the Mak round is almost as good as the Luger.

Did you even bother to take the time to read the OP? He has plenty of other guns. With all due respect what does you post have to do with his question

 

[srtolly]

I like both my Bulgarian and PA63. The 9x18 bullet itself measures at .365 so it is slightly bigger than the .355 that 9mm is. Both pf mine have eaten any ammo they have been fed. I would go for it.

 

[Ignition Override]

Somebody might have stated this, but the Hungarian and Polish (P-64) handguns made for the Makarov round are not Makarovs.

The second time I tried a friend's P-64, I had already considered buying one, and tried to like it, but still could not get used to the recoil.
For the context, all of my guns are rifles and I shoot my "Jungle Carbines" with No recoil pad.

The recoil of the Sig 226 or 228 9mm seemed ok, as with a friend's 1911.

 

[Keeterbird]

I have two Bulgarians and a CZ-82. Each of them has more than 1,500. I don't mind the blowback on the PM, bur after 150 rounds my hand gets to hurting on the CZ82, Parts are not a problem with the cz82 b/c the gun is still in production as a cz83. Other than a spring, the PM needs nothing. It is simple and solid. Both are very, very accurate.

 

[North Bender]

I'm trying to figure out some sort of "Is that a 33-round magazine taped to your forearm or are you just glad to see me?" line but I think I need some help.

Pablo, maybe you should tape that thing to your forehead.

 

[Orion8472]

I think the only Mak style gun that may be worse to shoot than the PA-63 is the P-64. My brother had one for a short while and . . . ouchie!

The Maks [as pictured a few posts up] are far easier shooting and are quite accurate.

 

[Beentown]

There is the PM Makarov
then there are the pistols chambered in 9x18 Mak...

Of them, the 4 I've handled and the 2 I've shot I like the CZ 82 (NOT a Makarov)
on handling, the mak was second, it isn't the smallest (P64), the lightest (PA-63)
but a nice in between, the 82, is pleasant to shoot, surprisingly accurate, but is a tubby girl...

Yep. My 82 is the most accurate pistol I own. It is more accurate than the other $500-$1k pistols I own. Hand loading for it has really helped.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I wish M2 Carbine would quit showing up in this threads. I have one commercial Russian Makarov that I LOVE, but he shows up and makes me think I need another. He is nothing but a pusherman

I have a couple more Makarovs since that picture was taken.
I have to update the picture if I can find all the guns.

This is a little unusual, a Makarov 22 conversion, made in Bulgaria.


I did a little test on a new Bulgarian Mak. The idea was to see if I could make the Mak malfunction, in a thousand rounds, from "normal" problems, like dropping the gun in the mud, pocket lint, limp wristing, etc.
There were two malfunctions. A dud primer and the hammer being blocked by mud on the first trigger pull. The gun fired on the second trigger pull and the next eight rounds.





Inside of the gun filled with "pocket lint".



I heavily greased the gun then froze it for a while. Only problem was the gun was cold to hold and shoot.



After the tests, checking to see how the accuracy was. The excessive spread is me, not the gun.

 

[jrdolall]

This is a little unusual, a Makarov 22 conversion, made in Bulgaria.

Any time I can get a 22 conversion it is a good thing.
Thanks for all the insight. Based on what I have read I think I will do a little more research and try to find me a nice Russian version for my first venture into Makarov "style" pistolas.
41 replies and only one person with a suggestion that made absolutely no sense based on the OP. That may be a record and, as they say, you can't fix ______.

 

[Pilot]

The Bulgarians are the best values. Great pistols.

 

[zhyla]

I have a Polish P64, which is related to Makarovs only by caliber. It's more like a PPK in 9x18. Not especially fun to shoot, but it's a compact, simple handgun. I could see carrying it though weight-wise it doesn't stack up to modern CCW options.

I do want a surplus Makarov at some point. Maybe when prices slim down a bit...

 

[gym]

Anytime the barrel is stationary it should be more accurate than a similar sixe gun with the conventional barrel design. Like the walther, that is what makes them great little guns to shoot accurately

 

[M2 Carbine]

Size comparison.


Top two on the right are Polish P64
Second row center is a PA-63. Next right is a P64.
Second row far right is a CZ83 9x18.

The rest are Makarovs.

This Mak is a refinished East German. The nicest one I've ever seen.

 

[jrdolall]

Just an update on my search. So far I have purchased three 9x18 pistols. P-83, P-64 and PA-63. I have not found a Russian or East German Makarov locally yet.

 

[TennJed]

Nice 3 guns you got there

 

[TParrish]

Anytime the barrel is stationary it should be more accurate than a similar sixe gun with the conventional barrel design. Like the walther, that is what makes them great little guns to shoot accurately

I recently visited a friend who has a measured 100 yard range on his property, 7-inch steel gong at the end of it. A young fellow who was there was trying to hit the gong with his Sig P220, but kept missing. I stepped up and hit it with my CZ-82. Then the young fellow also hit it with my CZ-82, before returning to his P220 and continuing to be unable to hit the gong.

Significant? I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. But I love telling the story. (grin) The point is, I agree about the inherent accuracy of the fixed barrel.