anyone like Makarov's?

Closest I've come to a Mak is a CZ82. I know it's not a real Mak, but it's an absolute blast to shoot. I have two of them.

I'm hoping to score a Russian or Bulgarian Mak very soon.

I owned an East German Mak about 15 years ago. The finish was a little rough and the fit was not the greatest but it was a nice shooter...had a rough DA trigger but a very crisp SA pull. I sold it off for a 25 buck profit, paid only 125.00 for it new. It came with a holster, 2 mags, cleaning rod...pretty much standard issue I believe back in the day. I'm still kicking myself for getting rid of it. 9x18 ammo is not the cheapest but I have been out of that loop for quite a while. 100% reliable through 500 rounds.

My wife and I both have Maks - Bulgarian for me and Russian sporter for her - and we both love them.

I replaced the hammers and safeties on both with the (now unavailable) Simson-Suhl upgrade which allows the slide to be racked with the safety engaged; this can't normally be done on most Maks, except a few very late East German guns which were made with the upgrade. I wish I could get another couple of the Simson-Suhl kits for when I pick up spare Maks for both of us.

Something to remember - the Mak has a floating firing pin, which taps the primer of the round being chambered. Chamber that round enough times and it will go off (happened to a friend of mine who also has one. It's still one of his favorite guns). Don't let that scare you off; just keep it in mind.

Let me say it again: I love my Mak.

I have a Russian Mak I bought in the late 80's (I think) for $100. It's a .380 with a 12 shot mag and shoots great!

I have a Soviet PM that I got back in the early '90s. Excellent pistol and it just keeps shooting. The collectibility and price of all of these just keeps going up. There are Bulgarian Maks still available for a reasonable price.

9X18mm Silver Bear and Brown Bear ammo is readily available on the net for ~ $10/box of 50 rounds.

I got the bug pretty bad a couple of years ago and bought 7 of these great guns. Cheap to shoot, reliable, fun. Have all but a Chinese.

Love both my Maks, an E. German and a Russian. Absolutely reliable and super accurate. FWIW the E. German ones seem to be by far the smoothest trigger and opperation! Good luck.

Was thinking about getting one. Any insight?

Click to expand...

The Makarov is well made. Reliable. Accurate. Use to be very inexpensive.

What can I say. I think they are great.




Bulgarian 22LR conversion.



This is some of the testing I did on a new Bulgarian Mak trying to get it to malfunction. In a 1,000 rounds of this kind of treatment there were no gun caused malfunctions.

Frozen.


Sank in mud.




Gun and ammo left in water.


Gun filled with "pocket lint".


And other "torture tests".

I have four. Two Bulgies, an East German and a Russian commercial, satin nickel in .380 (B-West Import).

They really are amazingly accurate and reliable.

Nope nobody loves Maks 'round these parts.

I had commercial 'Bajkal' 9x18 for a while. Inexpensive gun that proved accurate and reliable, but more expensive to shoot then 9x19. Not being sure how much longer one will be able to order inexpensive ammo through the mail I sold it in favor of piece chambered for the 9 Luger cartridge. I found inexpensive 9x19mm Tokarev easier and more pleasant gun to shoot. In rapid fire mode hit probability is much higher with the Tokarev pistol.

I had this nice East German Mak, Ernst Thaelmann / Simson Suhl. Sold it to a fellow THR member. Nice gun!

I own 2 bulgarians and a Russian in .380. Great guns. I have put Pearce rubber grips on each and find it takes the sting out of the recoil. Try 'em, you'll like 'em!

I had this nice East German Mak, Ernst Thaelmann / Simson Suhl. Sold it to a fellow THR member. Nice gun!

Click to expand...

That's a beauty. I have a couple E German Maks but they show a little holster wear.

I bought this one from a dealer who had it refinished for his personal gun.
I am not a big fan of shiny guns but this is the nicest I've ever seen. The picture doesn't do it justice.

I have put Pearce rubber grips on each and find it takes the sting out of the recoil. Try 'em, you'll like 'em!

Click to expand...

Yes the Pearce grips make a nice grip. Just last week I gave a friend the grip for her Mak.
Personally I don't use them but my Wife did on her Mak.

Changing the factory 17 pound recoil spring to a 19 or 21 pound Wolf spring makes a different in the recoil.
I use 21 in all my Maks but IMO 19 is the best spring for most users.

Hey M2 Carbine, those are some nice Maks! Those tests put the "AK" in Mak!

Nice I miss the mak I traded off. I will get another one !

M2,

Thank you! I liked that gun a lot. I have nothing but things to say about the quality Makarovs.

You sure have a very nice collection and one to be proud of! And that refinished EG is beautiful. I'm with you, shiny is not my #1 choice but everyone should own at least one.

Was thinking about getting one. Any insight?

Click to expand...

Some random Makarov stuff.

9mm (9x19) brass can be trimmed back one mm and used to reload 9x18 (Mak) ammo.

In a tight pinch, 38 (.357) and 9mm (.355) light weight bullets can be used in Makarov reloads. There is loss of accuracy but the reloads are still accurate enough for normal pistol shooting distance.

Since the history of the used Makarovs is unknown, it's a good idea to replace the recoil spring with a 19 pound Wolff spring.

Makarovs are accurate. (consider that the shooter has 72 year old eyes and shaky hands, so the gun is a lot more accurate than these targets show)

This Bulgarian Mak shows a LOT of wear. It's not beat up but the hammer and sear were worn out. It is still accurate, as shown by this 52 yard target.
Standing , two hands.


100 yards. Russian Makarov. Standing, two hands. 7 out of 36 shots missed the silhouette, which of course is my fault, not the gun.



A .380 Russian Mak.



The Bulgarian Mak that was used in the above torture tests. It still shoots OK.



The Mak and Polish P-64 are almost the same size.

I like the two I have but it is not my favorite in 9x18. Very reliable and comfortable in the hand, I just prefer a CZ82 in 9x18.

Makarov

I have one of the Russian guns. It has NEVER falied to fire or function. Great little guns

Pete

Now I want one...

I like my Bulgarian Makarov. I always thought I would get another but the prices are now three times what I paid so I just enjoy my one now. It's a fun gun and accurate.

I like Makarovs, just not as much as M2 does

Cheap, reliable, what's not to like?