Custom Makarovs?

[MP-44]

Anyone customize their Mak? Any pics?

Thses guns are just so solidly built I am considering having better sights installed, a trigger job & grips. Maybe even refinished.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. This Bulgarian's had the Pearce grips and a "Beast Slide Conversion."



Best.

[jame]

Gawd, I HATE it when you post pictures of that Mak, Sephen! I know I'm going to have to do the same thing to mine someday. Have you ever carried the Mak in public?

[MP-44]

WOW!

Is the Beast slide conversion the sights and finish or are there some other tricks?

[makarov]

I just added these walnut grips purchased from makarov.com - they did require refinishing. I sanded out some rough marks made when they shaped the grip. Better to refinish than try to make one from scratch. I have made grip panels before but this is a wrap-around grip. It fits OK, it could be a little snugger against the frame, but overall pretty good. I have to give Karl a big thumbs up for service. I also ordered a couple of Wolf springs and everything came in the mail very quickly.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. No, the Beast Slide and grips are "it." No other changes.
I've not carried it for protection or anything, just shoot it at the range on occassion.

Best.

[444]

One note of caution. I sent a Bugarian Makarov, a
Colt Mustang, parts and money to BEAST Enterprises two years and 10 months ago and have not seen any of it again. I have called at least a dozen times and was told each time that he was almost done with them and I would be getting them back in a week or so. Now I am not saying I was ripped off, but it has been almost three years.
I am not sure if BEAST still exists or not. If you want one of those slides and Makarov.com still has them, that is the way to go as far as getting one. I would think twice about dealing directly with BEAST although he may just be very slow and someday intends to return my guns.

[Kevinch]

How about this one?



Bulgarian milsurp Mak, Pearce Grips, slide modified to accept MMC Night sights from & rear, Nolan Hi-Drop mag release.

One of these days I'll get it refinished, when I have a few $$ to spare!

[Zundfolge]

444, its my understanding that the "Beast" guy has been hanging around deaths door for the last year or so (if he hasn't already died). Still sounds like a rip off to me though

As for Karl at www.makarov.com, I trust him completely ... he's got one of the best reputations in the business and all my dealings with him (and George ... mostly George) have been excellent.

I send the slide from my bulgie off to them for the Novak sights and they did a great job with them. Best $120 I've spent.

Mine looks almost exactly like Stephen Camp's

[denfoote]

Originally posted by 444
One note of caution. I sent a Bugarian Makarov, a
Colt Mustang, parts and money to BEAST Enterprises two years and 10 months ago and have not seen any of it again. I have called at least a dozen times and was told each time that he was almost done with them and I would be getting them back in a week or so. Now I am not saying I was ripped off, but it has been almost three years.
I am not sure if BEAST still exists or not. If you want one of those slides and Makarov.com still has them, that is the way to go as far as getting one. I would think twice about dealing directly with BEAST although he may just be very slow and someday intends to return my guns.

To my knowledge, BEAST interprises no longer exists!!! I would contact the Arizona Atty. General's office Consumer Fraud Division. It may already be to late!!

For what it's worth. Here is his web address. It is still up and running, but no mention of gunsmithing!!!

http://www.beast-enterprises.com

[MP-44]

Kevinch,

Looks nice. Who did the work?

[bronco61]

Has anybody had a trigger job done on their Maks other than buying the kit from Makarov.com? I installed the one from the site hoping it would get rid of the long creep and heavy trigger pull but it didn't. The trigger is my only complaint about the gun (well, maybe the sights too but I know I can get that taken care of).

[Kevinch]

Looks nice. Who did the work?

MMC did the entire job; I sent them my slide. They did the machining & mounted the sights. As the Mak is a fixed barrel, they were able to test fire using an emplyee's Makarov.

Good work - not cheap, but good. I recommend them.

[444]

I know all about Geoff's health problems. However he accepted the work and even after he had the guns for over a year, never said he wasn't up to the work. The last time I contacted him, I had the dealer that shipped the guns call him and tell him that I wanted the guns back no matter their condition and received nothing. I was standing in the room at the time of the phone call, and the dealer talked to Geoff personally. I also realize his website is still up and running. I have just written the guns off.

If he is out of business, I wonder what the story is on the continued use of the name BEAST slide that Makarov.com sells ?

I have also delt with Makarov.com and agree, he seems like a great guy. I even bought a slide release for a CZ52 from him that broke when I was trying to install it. He took it back and refunded my money with no questions asked.

[alamo]

444 wrote: "If he is out of business, I wonder what the story is on the continued use of the name BEAST slide that Makarov.com sells?"

Where on Makarov.com to you find that? I looked all over "Makarov parts" and the "Custom Shop" (night site installation) and didn't see anything about Beast slides.

[Zundfolge]

444, once upon a time makarov.com had Beast slides ... however I think Karl got burned by Geoff too and they haven't had them in a long time.

The slide work they do over at makarov.com is pretty similar to the Beast slide, except that you have to send your slide in and have the sights installed (not too many extra Mak slides lying around I guess). Oh and you are pretty much guaranteed to see your slide back (which is probably the biggest difference between Makarov.com and Beast ).


BTW, Kevinch, do you mind if I ask what the MMC sight job cost?

[Pilot]

I've only installed the Pearce grips on my Maks. I don't mind the small sights. These guns are very good out of the box, but I have thought of changing one of my Russian commercial adjustable sights to the fixed sight Karl sells (Makarov.com). I have five Maks, 2 Bulgies, two commercial Russians and an E.G. Love them all.

Nice to see a bunch of familiar names over here.

[Kevinch]

BTW, Kevinch, do you mind if I ask what the MMC sight job cost?

I'd have to dig out the receipt to be sure, but be prepared: it wasn't cheap.

I'm fairly certain the machining of the slide front & rear, along with sight installation & test firing ran $85.

The sights weren't cheap - mine are Tritium Night Sights, with 2 red rear dots & a green front. It was my insistance on night sights that took the total ticket a little above $200.

Now, that is more than I paid for the gun! But honestly, I think the Mak is a low priced bargain, & I was looking to build an accurate, sturdy pistol for cheap range duty & certain CCW applications. I believe I did that. The rear sight adjustment hasn't moved since I originally set it, & this gun sees tough duty in that it gets tossed under the seat, thrown in the glovebox, rattled around in the saddlebag on my bike, etc.

You'd have to check with MMC on current pricing, but when I did mine about 18 months ago, I believe you could have done the same job except using plain black sights for about $150, with 3-dot a little more.