berettaman
Member
Going to the Big Show myself this weekend. Maybe I'll see you there!(yea,right,gotta love 11 acers of tables on two levels) 
OK you Makorav guys...
- Thread starter Marshall
- Start date
- Status
Now why exactly do you feel it earns that title??
I have an early Russian import from B-West with hard chromed lower and blued upper that is rugged, reliable and accurate...I dont consider those traits to be bottom of the barrel!
Seems to me your evaluation is pretty bias for a pistol made by its original country of origin at a state arsenal for the military and commercial market that served its military quite faithfully for many years...don't you think??
Not to mention it was good enough for Germany, Bulgaria and China to copy...I bet they didn't think it was bottom of the barrel.
Teakwood
Member
Bluehawk
The IJ70s were produced for the commercial market after the fall of the USSR and do not even come close to the fit and finish of the Russian milsurp Makarovs.
I am not basing this on a bias, but direct observation. I have 20 Makarovs, including 7 IJ70s (3 hi-caps, plus 4x 8-rounders). Three of the IJ70s were brand new, and the others were little used. In any event, a simple comparison of the metal surface finish, blueing and internnal fit on any of them to any of the milsurp Makarovs from any country makes it clear that the care taken in producing the military models is missing from the IJ70s.
Also, when compares the IJ70s to the Arsenal and Miltex Bulgarians the difference is glaring.
I am sorry if you are offended, but I stand by my judgement.
The IJ70s are about the bottom of the barrel in fit and finish.
That being said, they are just as accurate and reliable as any other Makarov. That part is is hard to lose.
The IJ70s were produced for the commercial market after the fall of the USSR and do not even come close to the fit and finish of the Russian milsurp Makarovs.
I am not basing this on a bias, but direct observation. I have 20 Makarovs, including 7 IJ70s (3 hi-caps, plus 4x 8-rounders). Three of the IJ70s were brand new, and the others were little used. In any event, a simple comparison of the metal surface finish, blueing and internnal fit on any of them to any of the milsurp Makarovs from any country makes it clear that the care taken in producing the military models is missing from the IJ70s.
Also, when compares the IJ70s to the Arsenal and Miltex Bulgarians the difference is glaring.
I am sorry if you are offended, but I stand by my judgement.
The IJ70s are about the bottom of the barrel in fit and finish.
That being said, they are just as accurate and reliable as any other Makarov. That part is is hard to lose.
OldBillThundercheif
Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2006
- Messages
- 76
That's a lot of Russian steel!
And here I thought I was a nerd for rooskie lead-launchers...
A tip o' the hat to your fine collection
And here I thought I was a nerd for rooskie lead-launchers...
A tip o' the hat to your fine collection
$350 is about the going rate for such a gun though I personally would not have done it. $200 for an IJ70, you got taken man, I only paid about $100 for one 4 years ago Chinese Makarovs also command asking prices consistant with East German ones.
Chinese Makarovs also command asking prices consistant with East German ones.Borachon
Member
I live in Mississippi. Our economic situation puts the cost of living as one of the lowest in the nation. Our salaries are low, but the cost of living is also low so things even out...and even HERE I've seen the costs of Makarovs (of all types) rise in the last two years. Makarovs use to be common as dirt. 4 years ago you could find importers putting Bulgarians on the table. Now you can't. $100 4 years ago might have been correct, but now I routinely see used gun dealers charging $250 dollars for IJ70's single stacks. Admittedly, we never got the influx of Bulgarians that the rest of you guys did around the nation....and now the supply of IJ70's has dried up...and the price has risen.
$200 for a Makarov does NOT mean he got taken...it simply means that the value of Makarovs has risen as the supply of the guns has diminished...and as other shooters have realized it's....as Battlestar Gallactica fans might say....a frakin' good weapon.
Since you quoted me, at least put in the smiley face I put in my original quote to show I was joking, a least partially. Even 4 years ago, IJ70's were going for somewhat inflated prices for two reasons possibly. $200 would be ok for an IJ70 nowadays but at the higher end of what I would pay.
First, IJ70's have not been imported since like 1996, by 2002, 4 years ago, that means 8 years w/o them. Second, the influx of milsurp Bulgarian makarovs was just beginning or had not begun yet so the makarov market was a bit dry at the time. If one is patient though IJ70's can be found at reasonable prices and even one can get lucky on the more desireable variants like E. German and Chinese.
I have passed fair deals on IJ70's before stupidly because I was living in the past and remembered IJ70's selling for $135-140. Examples of Makarov purchases and when they were made.
nickel plated IJ70 380acp NIB 1994 $136
Bulgarian commercial Makarov 2002 NIB, best one I ever had $169
East German 1960, excellent shape, 2002 $150
Russian "high cap" 9x18 example $135 (but it broke and needed $75 of gunsmithing ) 2003
Chinese commercial Makarov in box with over 300 rounds of ammo in 2001 for $129
2006, IJ70 380acp blued with hard case, tools,mags for $168
2002 standard blued IJ70 with holster and mags for $100
3 Bulgarian milsurp Makarovs in 2003 for $160 each, excellent shape, two of them PW arms imports w/o huge import marks like Century arms.
Keep in mind these guns were purchased in CA. I buy guns constantly and go to guns shops every week but there is still Makarovs I never see such as Bulgarian Miltex variations and Simsosn Suhls and I've never seen a 380acp hi cap yet.
First, IJ70's have not been imported since like 1996, by 2002, 4 years ago, that means 8 years w/o them. Second, the influx of milsurp Bulgarian makarovs was just beginning or had not begun yet so the makarov market was a bit dry at the time. If one is patient though IJ70's can be found at reasonable prices and even one can get lucky on the more desireable variants like E. German and Chinese.
I have passed fair deals on IJ70's before stupidly because I was living in the past and remembered IJ70's selling for $135-140. Examples of Makarov purchases and when they were made.
nickel plated IJ70 380acp NIB 1994 $136
Bulgarian commercial Makarov 2002 NIB, best one I ever had $169
East German 1960, excellent shape, 2002 $150
Russian "high cap" 9x18 example $135 (but it broke and needed $75 of gunsmithing
) 2003 Chinese commercial Makarov in box with over 300 rounds of ammo in 2001 for $129
2006, IJ70 380acp blued with hard case, tools,mags for $168
2002 standard blued IJ70 with holster and mags for $100
3 Bulgarian milsurp Makarovs in 2003 for $160 each, excellent shape, two of them PW arms imports w/o huge import marks like Century arms.
Keep in mind these guns were purchased in CA. I buy guns constantly and go to guns shops every week but there is still Makarovs I never see such as Bulgarian Miltex variations and Simsosn Suhls and I've never seen a 380acp hi cap yet.
OldBillThundercheif
Member
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2006
- Messages
- 76
Ah, yes... the good old days.
I wish I had bought more maks back then, but I never thought I would have to pay $200 for a 70 (and consider it a good deal). Luckily I did pick up my Commie Kraut and a standard Rooskie many years ago...
I'm glad I did, otherwise I would be coughing up the wacky amounts of cash that I and everyone else here have been grumbling about
I wish I had bought more maks back then, but I never thought I would have to pay $200 for a 70 (and consider it a good deal). Luckily I did pick up my Commie Kraut and a standard Rooskie many years ago...
I'm glad I did, otherwise I would be coughing up the wacky amounts of cash that I and everyone else here have been grumbling about
Borachon
Member
To collectors perhaps. The E. German and Chinese would only have appeal to me because I could turn around and trade for TWO IJ70's or perhaps a Hi Cap and some ammo. I like the IJ70's adjustable sights because its a pain to get fixed sights adjusted if they happen to be just that little bit off. My Makarov is for self defense, not as a collectible piece. In fact I passed up a private sale of a Chinese Makarov for $250 recently because it wouldn't have been as good a shooter IMO (and because I didn't have the money
). I'll apologize for not including a smiley face, but you and I are obviously coming from different directions on what we want from Makarovs. An IJ70 has as much...in fact, to me....MORE value than an E. German or a Chinese as a shooter. I'd keep neither one of these because I consider the IJ70 to be better suited to this role with its adjustable sights.
If you find any Makarovs in your area for less than $200, my advice would be snatch 'em up. They're only going to get rarer from here on out.
The_Antibubba
Member
Don't let the arguments about price rattle you. Others have paid less; 9 years ago I paid $150 for an EG. But what you have is probably one of the most rugged and reliable semiauto pistols ever made. You'll have to work pretty hard to get it to not fire. There's all sorts of tweaks and mods out there (a new set of Wolff springs is never a bad idea), but as-is is good too. Look at it and realize that an auto made as well as that today would easily cost twice as much, if not more.
Enjoy yourself!!!
Enjoy yourself!!!
Yes I agree I'm more looking at the collector outlook on Makarovs but every Makarov I have I shoot except for the Chinese I retired, the box is in my curio cabinet for all to see! Thats funny too because of the over 150 guns I own between my father and I the Chinese Makarov is the only one I won't fire anymore! After many years I finally fired every gun in the collection, hardest one to find ammo for was a Greek Mannlicher Schoenauer 6.5x54ms
Some people do like the E. Germans as shooters though due to the triggers suppose to be the best on them and some actually dislike the sights or the IJ70's and makarov.com did or does even offer an fixed sight replacement for them.
I don't mind them but the ones on my now gone nickel one were defective and were fixed by B-west the importer. As mentioned, if you see makarovs at fair prices, especially ones not being imported anymore, grab them as good shooters and possibly good investments.
E.Germans and Chinese are hard to come by in my area and IJ70's are drying up. And it's not like 9x18 ammo is stoked by local Wal mart, may be a consideration for some in more remote areas unless you don't mind mail ordering ammo.
Some people do like the E. Germans as shooters though due to the triggers suppose to be the best on them and some actually dislike the sights or the IJ70's and makarov.com did or does even offer an fixed sight replacement for them.
I don't mind them but the ones on my now gone nickel one were defective and were fixed by B-west the importer. As mentioned, if you see makarovs at fair prices, especially ones not being imported anymore, grab them as good shooters and possibly good investments.
E.Germans and Chinese are hard to come by in my area and IJ70's are drying up. And it's not like 9x18 ammo is stoked by local Wal mart, may be a consideration for some in more remote areas unless you don't mind mail ordering ammo.
Marshall
Member
Well finally, here are a few pics I took in hurray tonight. That's a Pierce grip on there, I have a brand new, original East German grip coming in the mail, should be here any day.
1962 East German Makarov
1962 East German Makarov
alamo
Member
Very nice, how's the trigger?
Marshall
Member
It aint no target gun that's for sure.
Once you take up the slack, it breaks fairly clean. Not any worse than my Browning BDA 380 which is the only other DA/SA autoloader I own. It's probably better than I give it credit for, I am picky on triggers because I am so use to shooting SA guns and revolvers in SA. I pull triggers of DAO revolvers that people say have a good trigger and I cringe. Did that tell you a thing?
Once you take up the slack, it breaks fairly clean. Not any worse than my Browning BDA 380 which is the only other DA/SA autoloader I own. It's probably better than I give it credit for, I am picky on triggers because I am so use to shooting SA guns and revolvers in SA. I pull triggers of DAO revolvers that people say have a good trigger and I cringe. Did that tell you a thing?
- Status
