Which surplus pistol?

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I really wish CAI didn't have to take up half the slide with their massive 3-line import markings. It looks so disgusting and the engravings themselves look like they were made with punches.
 
Depends. Do you want to shoot it a lot and have long term ammo availability? Star BM.

If you want the most "classic" of them, the Bugarian Makarov (the Makarov design in general has seen extensive use by Soviet forces).

The P83 WANAD is also not a bad gun.

I will say though that both the Makarov and the P83 have sharp edges that make shooting it somewhat uncomfortable for me.

The CZ 70 I'd personally avoid as a first purchase unless you specifically wanted it just due to the fact that I don't really like .32 ACP.
 
animus_divinus said:
I really wish CAI didn't have to take up half the slide with their massive 3-line import markings. It looks so disgusting and the engravings themselves look like they were made with punches.
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You should look at what Sarcoinc has for their Star BM's then. The import mark is small and on the underside of the frame near the barrel. Love mine, almost no import marking on both my BM and Super Star.
 
I have had the Makarov before, something to fit my small hands, but not liking the sharp edges around the trigger guard. Always an annoyance. Love my Daewoo DP51 though, very nicely finished.
 
I looked at Sarco and found they had the BS on sale which is a full size. The BS is just a regular model B but with a magazine safety like the BM? Hopefully that could be deleted. I will probably buy one of these full size Stars, but not yet, I want something that can also be carried first.

Why are there divots machined over the original proof marks on the frame or slide of the BM? These pistols have really been butchered by importers.
 
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I am well aware of the bottom end of newly manufactured plastic guns. I also know I can get a hi point for half my limit. I also know I can get something higher quality and more reliable than both of them from the surplus market.
 
If I were recommending only "one" surplus pistol to buy right now, it would probably be the Star BM. Common caliber and built like a tank.

The Makarov is still the top on my list because of reliability, accuracy, simplicity, and abundance of spare parts. I currently have 3 of the Star BM's, one P-83, and over a dozen true Makarovs. The one CZ70 that I had was ok but let it go. The Zastava M70 is another neat option in 32acp right now.
 
animus_divinus said:
I looked at Sarco and found they had the BS on sale which is a full size. The BS is just a regular model B but with a magazine safety like the BM? Hopefully that could be deleted. I will probably buy one of these full size Stars, but not yet, I want something that can also be carried first.

Why are there divots machined over the original proof marks on the frame or slide of the BM? These pistols have really been butchered by importers.
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The ones from Sarco are a little different then the run of the mill ones from Century. On Century's, they milled off the police markings, not sure why, but it must have been mandatory for importing.
Mine didn't have any of the marking milled off, has the stamp on the slide for National Police with the eagle. Pretty nice if I say so myself.
 
Can you cover up those divots they milled into the sides and is it legal to cover up those ugly as hell CAI markings and just leave the original serial number? I read it's legal and were only required for importation.
 
Where did you read it was legal to remove the importers stamp and serial number. I would assume the ATF would consider the importer stampings to the "official record" on the gun. If somehow the gun was recovered and needs to be traced the ATF would use the importer marks and not the actual manufacturers serial number. I could be wrong but I would assume the ATF does not want to be contacting out of country business where they have no jurisdiction and trying to track down purchase information through that route.
 
reddog81 said:
Where did you read it was legal to remove the importers stamp and serial number. I would assume the ATF would consider the importer stampings to the "official record" on the gun. If somehow the gun was recovered and needs to be traced the ATF would use the importer marks and not the actual manufacturers serial number. I could be wrong but I would assume the ATF does not want to be contacting out of country business where they have no jurisdiction and trying to track down purchase information through that route.
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From the ATF actually, they are only required for the importer, the end user isn't obligated to keep them, only the serial number. Besides, the slide where these import marks are at isn't even considered a firearm like the frame.
 
The 1968 GCA requires importers to mark/stamp imported firearms. The same law that says we can't have foreign made pistols if they are under a certain weight. A lot of BS laws.
 
So, can anyone make a really good argument for any of the pistols mentioned or is this basically going to come down to a coin flip? I will probably buy them all eventually.
 
animus_divinus said:
So, can anyone make a really good argument for any of the pistols mentioned or is this basically going to come down to a coin flip? I will probably buy them all eventually.
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Buy them asap before prices go up. Stars and Beretta S would be my first choice, then pick the other up as time goes by. Btw, J&G Sales has new wood fancy grips for the Star BM recently.
 
animus_divinus said:
I am looking at surplus pistols in the $200-$300 range. Looking at JG sales and aimsurplus, what i find in this range that I would be most interested in is the Star BM, CZ70, Bulgarian Makarov, and P83 Wanad, Which of these do you think is the better all around pistol? Best value, most reliable, most accurate? Whichever one I choose will probably end up getting a new finish, new springs, upgrades sights, trigger work, and custom grips.

Does anyone know what sort of reliability and accuracy to expect out of any of them?
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None of those listed are worth putting new sights, springs finish etc.... You are literally putting lipstick on a pig. if you buy one for $200 and put $300 into it you will not have a better gun then a LNIB $500 commercial gun. Many high quality NIB guns will cost you less and get you more than what you are proposing. IMHO
 
WVsig said:
None of those listed are worth putting new sights, springs finish etc.... You are literally putting lipstick on a pig. if you buy one for $200 and put $300 into it you will not have a better gun then a LNIB $500 commercial gun. Many high quality NIB guns will cost you less and get you more than what you are proposing. IMHO
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Good thing I love pigs with lipstick.
 
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