.38 special vs 9X18 makarov

Looks like one is on the lanyard ring, the other on the release.

Firebreather:

Looks like one is on the lanyard ring, the other on the release.

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Exactly.

The mag release gets the smallest split ring I can find that will fit thru. Then run the larger split ring thru the lanyard loop on the grip and thru the smaller split ring that is looped thru the mag release. The larger ring keeps the smaller ring from falling forward into the mag well. When you want to release the mag, you pull on the larger ring and the mag drops free. Still takes two hands, but you don't have to worry about the mag getting caught in the split ring (as has happened to me when I've carried other grips and had a split ring thru the mag release).

If you've got a mag in your left hand, you can pull the ring with your left hand until the mag drops free, and be loading the new one into the mag well before the first one hits the ground. Probably not as fast as one hand thumb release, but pretty fast.

It's not for everyone though. That style grip tends to be thicker, which works for me cause I've got large hands, but isn't a favorite grip for most people.

Ah ok thanks. Sounds like a good idea.

Sorry I have'nt read through all the posts , but I would like to throw my 2 cents in the hat. I have a Taurus 85 ss 2" pre- lock , a S&W 36 2" and a E.G. Makarov. My wife has the Taurus now , She liked it better than the Smith
I carrie both the M-36 and the Mak. I tend to carrie the M-36 more in the warmer months and the Mak in the colder. With the .38 snub I load it with +p hp's for warm weather and 158 grn +p fmj's for cooler , for the Mak my defence loads are always fmj's.
What I like about the mak is, it's more accurate, 9rnds vs 5 , and faster to reload than the .38 snub despite the mag. release .
What I like about the .38 snub is it is more concealable for me and my methode of carrie. It is reliable and easier to opperate , just point and shoot.

9x18 Makarov

Makarov 9x18 Accuracy & reliability is not mentioned much in these posts. I have 3 makarovs which I purchased because of the low price. I placed them in work vehicles and desk drawer as "back-up" with the idea that if I lost them I wouldn't be losing much.

At the range (50 foot) I was absolutely amazed at the accuracy of all three of these. Comparable with .22 rimfire, and with the recoil apparently eased by the slide recoil second and third rapid-fire shots within 6" group were effortless.

On the single stack magazines (PA63) easy and fast reloading with a total of 15 rounds vs the 5 or 6 shot .38 magazine capacity cannot be ignored for defensive purposes.

My favorite, however, is the CZ-83, 2 magazines = a total of 27 rounds, all in a pocket manageable size.

I have more .38 specials than I can count, but firing double-action with anything other than with wadcutters, I cannot duplicate the accuracy of the little Makarovs.

Granted, I have only shot 500-600 rounds so far, but have yet to have any malfunctions at all.


CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP but not that bad of a little pistol!

Holy Cow! Resurrecting a 4 year old thread.

I do agree with your comment on accuracy. I shoot my CZ82 better than almost any other gun I've ever shot.

cz-82/83 a pocket gun? you must have some pretty big pockets

Maks?

And, for the weight, a Makarov will stretch those pockets to the ground eventually. Totally not worth the payload even though the cartridge (also basically a Soviet stolen German design) is better than the heavy gun. The point is that the Mak is (or was) a great gun for the money if you didn't have to carry it concealed -- basically disposeable. And it was obsolete as a military arm from day one. As for this being a 4-yr. old thread, that's OK because so many even better (small, light, reliable, powerful, accurate and relatively inexpensive) carry handguns have come out in JUST that time that the Makarov is COMPLETELY ridiculous as a CCW for what it is...

It has its devotees but they are not objective. Write "Makarov" on belly-button lint and they'd swear it was the best ever...

Al

Gee Al, trolling for some fun

I happen to find it a capable round, right there with .380 and .38 special, I don't like spinny tings and can't afford a S&W 52, so no reason for one, and I prefer .32 or 9mak for personal work... I either want the lower compromise or a better shooting platform, and in both I get it. I may not be cool, but I can shoot it well. And I don't write my Makarov in belly button lint, I prefer pocket lint, best freshly brushed out of my pistol with just a hint of that refreshing smell of burnt powder.

I started out carrying a gp100 IWB 'cause I didnt know anything else... bought a mak and carried it IWB fro a yeat before I started carrying a colt agent... it wasnt comfortable per se but my pants always stayed on... its accurate, reliable... so...

Nothing Wrong With A Mak

My Bulgy Mak has more punch than a .32 or .380ACP, probably close for practical purposes to a .38spl and reloads faster than the .38spl. Where it somes into its own is its absolute rock-solid reliability and supurb accuracy. I've carried it in a shorts or coat pocket so its concealability isn't an issue (but yeah - its not in the same weight class as a 642).

With a spare mag as backup, I've never felt underarmed and probably could do alot worse in the CCW dept.

The love the .38 Special round, but 9X18 ammo is still a lot cheaper. If I had only one handgun and had to choose between handguns shooting the two cartridges in question, I would go for the 9X18 weapon. .38 is just too pricey nowadays.

I have a CZ82 and a S&W Model 15. I keep both of them loaded at home for HD. The .38 Special with 158 grain lead HP's, and the CZ with either Silver Bear JHP's or my own handloaded 93 grain LRN's.

The .38 hits harder (k.e. alone is not a good measurement) and one well placed shot should take the fight out of a goblin -- and I've got 6. The CZ holds twice as many rounds, and that gives me 6 double-taps.

I don't think there's a bad choice here.

Actually gang, if we take the TOP Mak rounds and TOP .38 rounds the .38 Spl. wins hands down.

Mak:
115 gr JHP at 1000 fps (Silver Bear.)

.38 snub.
158gr LSWHP at 1000 fps (Buffalo bore.) And that's from a 2 inch snub.

The Makarov guns are easier to shoot and hold more rounds.
And the snub .38s, like 642s, are easier to carry and can be fired from the pocket.

The question is not which is better but what are your needs!

Deaf

the one thing i will ad is my cz 82 has been 100% reliable. although i bought it as a backup carry gun, i would have no problem trusting my life on it and the 9x18 round. i don't know about other maks but the cz 82 is built like a tank and accurate.

matheath said:

My reason for asking is that I have a friend who needs to buy a gun for self / home defense, but she's not looking to spend a fortune. She LOVED shooting my makarov and she was very accurate with it. She's thinking about a 38 revolver, but she knows she likes the mak. I told her she might consider the bersa .380, but we keep coming back to the fact that she loved that mak. It's hard not to recommend that if we feel like it can do the job.

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I think if she was really comfortable with the Makarov, she should get one. Caliber and bullet energy is great to debate on, but one should use the gun they shoot well with, even if it's a lowly .25 ACP. 9x18 might not be a very hot round, but .380 gets plenty of attention these days, and its energy isn't generally up to 9mm Mak levels, though I'm sure there's a lot bigger load diversity for .380. I wouldn't at all feel under-gunned with a Makarov, in fact... I think I need to put one of those on the list.

When the pistol firing the Makarov round is a P-64 it's still very pocketable. I bought a Taurus 709 Slim last week, it's exactly (with about .1 inches in every dimension) the same size as the P-64 and when loaded weighs the same as the all-steel P-64. Both have been 100% reliable for me, so far, but I'm still much more accurate with the P-64. The only advantages to the 709 are one extra round, somewhat more effective rounds (9X19 vs. 9X18) and better accessory and repair support. I don't feel undergunned with the P-64 and I'll still carry it in rotation with the 709.

More than a few people seem to think the best comparison is between a Makarov and a .38 with a 4" barrel.

Just to clarify, a Makarov has a 3.83" semiauto barrel, which has roughly the same breech-to-muzzle dimension as a 2 1/2" .38 speical revolver barrel. I think perhaps a 3" revolver would be the maximum appropriate length for comparison, for purpose of having a comparable OAL and true barrel length of the gun.

From ballistic perspective the 9x18 (or 9x17+P) can't match .38 Special 158gr+P LSWC load (@ avg Pmax 20,000cup or 18,500psi). The Makarov pistol is about the only thing making 9x18 worthwhile to own. The P-83 might be even better choice.

For less than $200 total outlay from CDNN, and with more than twice the capacity of a revolver. The MAK auto is hard to beat right now. The comfort level shooting the auto will probably surpass that of a lightweight revolver in many peoples experience. The CZ-82s that are being sold as surplus right now are solid guns, at a bargain price (just not real pretty). Put some Krylon on it, oil it up and drop in the glove box or console. No worries. Buying 9x18 is a lot cheaper than .380, and just about as easy to get.


Got this pair last week, had to wait 2 whole days after I ordered them to get in, middle grade.






Brass Rain, you do realize you answered a 4 (almost 5) year old question right?? I hope the lady has had her gun for a long time now. LOL

How are the triggers on those? I'm used to 1911's.....

Um, typical CZ
kinda spongy with a clean consistent break, though long DA
absolutely beautiful SA

edit,
Try the polish PA-64, the DA is for Heman, I mean you have to be pumped on adrenalin to even pull the damn thing in DA
but the SA is match, and would run almost any 1911 out of the box at least even, like scary target lite.

How are the triggers on those? I'm used to 1911's.....

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You should be able to adapt. Their function is like any other DA/SA automatic. The DA is not bad at all, about the same as my 92F, or a tad lighter. The SA is better than I expected.

What surprised me was the condition of the barrels. Chrome lined, and very bright. If you are not expecting Polygonal rifling, you may think they are shot out, but they are good to go.

Thanks! I have a PA-63, but I might need one of those CZ-82's.....

At current surplus prices it's hard to go wrong with CZ82. While revolver is inherently more reliable platform one will never match capacity or speed of reloading with one. The price of .380 ammo is shocking. A 50 box of Remington MC ball is only $2 less then 50 box of .45ACP.