9X18 Bulgarian Mak ?

[bikerdoc]

In 50 years of being a gun enthusiast I have never owned a Mak, and know little about them. I need an education from ya'all.

Details

I have a chance to aquire a rather pristine Bulgarian IMPORTED BY PW. 2 Matching mags serial numbers, holster , lanyard, red star grips and rubber grips for $299.00 at the LGS

I like the feel of it and how it looks. Seems the ballistic big brother of the 380. The common availability and cost of ammo concerns me.

Any education you can provide would be appreciated.

 

[gripper]

Good guns. By them while you can. They won't get cheaper.
Perfectly serviceable, sized big enough to hang onto and shoot well under stress, small enough to actually have on you. Accurate, reliable; and the caliber is effective.
Great quality, and they benefit from heavier recoil springs (Wolff Gunsprings- great people) should you wish to run warmer ammo.
If I found another in my AO, I'd be happy for a FTF transaction.

 

[wingman]

That is actually a fair price, one of the most accurate military type handguns available IMO, ammo can be found for the 9x18 many places ,on line easy.
I reload mine so no problem. The round has more 'snap' then the 380. The Mak is easy to work on and improve if you wish.
Here is a good website for info.

http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?46-The-Makarov-Forum

 

[Gottahaveone]

For that price, I wouldn't hesitate. I've had Mak's in one flavor or another for 20 years. I currently have a Bulgarian and like everything about it. Except possibly the DA trigger

They are accurate and as reliable as you would expect a Soviet combat arm to be. Ammo has a much better availability than it did 10 years ago, especially online.

 

[Steve C]

I have a Bulgarian and a Russian Makarov. They're both accurate and reliable in I've yet to have a failure to fire or feed with any of the steel case communist bloc ammo or commercial brass case ammo from a variety of manufacturers, round nose solids or JHP's.

The only drawback to the Makarovs is the rather small sites that are not as easy to pick up as those on a typical defense handgun. You can replace the sights with combat style and there's are a few articles on line show what others have done.

The pistol field strips like a Walther PP/PPK so if you are familiar with one you know how on the other. Ammo isn't difficult to find and steel case Wolf, Barnual etc. is still relatively inexpensive and can be bought in bulk on line. The best defensive ammo is probably the Hornady XTP's or FTX with the 95gr Mak bullet loaded to the same velocity as the 90gr .380 bullet. The East European steel case ammo is generally over 1000 fps,

Ammo I've shot over my chrono:

 

[Panzerschwein]

Good, timeless guns. Built like tanks. Excellent accuracy and good stopping power.

Buy it. Before someone else does.

 

[Girodin]

Maks are a classic service weapon and a great addition to any gun aficionado's collection. They are rugged, highly reliable weapons. Their fixed barrel blow back design results in a gun that in generally fairly accurate. It also results in a gun that has fairly stout recoil for its size weight and the cartridge it fires.

Its certainly a serviceable weapon but personally there a all kinds of newer single stack 9x19s that I'd prefer for defensive use. Guns that are in the same price range but that offer a number of advantages IMHO. I'd be happy to enumerate them if you like.

In short if you want a cool classic weapon for the collection jump on it. Some will disagree with me, but if I wanted a smallish thin CCW gun I'd personally rather have a shield or PPS for pretty close to the same money.

As to the price. There are a whole bunch of Bulgarian maks all over the internet right being sold from $299-$329. These guns are described as "unissued" and the ones I've seen look brand new. They come with various accessories.

Like most milsurp guns the prices continue to slowly climb so no time like the present to get one if you want one. Personally I think it is worth having one just because they are THE classic soviet block service pistol. For a 9x18 shooter I prefer the CZ82, but as a part of a collection a Makarov is a must have.

 

[PabloJ]

The $299 is fair price for what you describe. Better stocked LGS like Dance's of Colonial Height Va usually have at least two different loads for the 9x18.

 

[sixgunner455]

I paid $129 for mine fifteen years ago. I carried it regularly. Got a handful of spare mags from a gun store for $5/ea. My wife adopted it. I'd buy another.

 

[tubeshooter]

If you are concerned about the eventual ammo situation for 9x18, you can always get a .380 barrel to have around and have it pressed in later on. Not exactly the easiest and cheapest thing, but it's an option.


I always kind of admired the Mak. I would probably buy it if I was in your shoes.

 

[MedWheeler]

I got a Bulgarian last December during the last few minutes of the last day of a gun show. It had been marked $299, I think. I'd looked at it maybe an hour earlier, then left it. When I came back, we came to an OTD price of $275.

It's a surprisingly-easy shooter, to me, at least. I've gotten used to my Kel-Tec PF9, so any recoil from the 9x18 round others may find uncomfortable doesn't phase me much.

Mine has over 90 percent bluing intact. Someone drifted the rear sight to the right. I left it there and, amazingly, I can hit quite accurately with it set that way. I'm left-handed; perhaps the previous owner was too? It was also imported by PW Arms, and its date code indicates it was made in 1979.

It's a good piece for a good price, one that will only increase in value. On top of that, the one you're looking at comes with another magazine.

So, go get it...

 

[jakk280rem]

Picked up the same 2 mag 2 grip Bulgarian Makarov as the op. It was in excellent condition, used, for 200 otd. Neat guns, and because of an FÉG purchase years ago, I have a several hundred round supply of ammo. Also I think you will find the hot steel case ammo much closer a ballistic match to a 38 Special than to 380.

 

[Turftech1]

Back a few years ago during "ammogeddon", when 9mm Luger was nowhere to be found, I actually bought a pistol in 9 Mak, because I could still get the ammo. I had 2 local gun stores that never ran out, or limited 9 Mak.

I have not owned the Bulgarian, but I like the simplicity of Mak pistols, the fixed barrels and the durability.

Happy shootin!

 

[gunfighter48]

I bought a Bulgarian about 2006 for $280.00. It was very accurate and easy to shoot. Stout trigger pull but not bad with some practice. Gave it to my oldest daughter when she had a job that took her on the road for 5 days at a time. She got her CPL and carried it for over a year. She still has it and just did some practice with it last month.

 

[kozak6]

It's a great pistol. It's rugged and simplified in the traditional Soviet fashion, and fixed barrel lends itself to high accuracy. The price is fair.

The ammo supply is highly volatile. It can dry up almost completely between waves. Current prices seem to be around $.22-.24 a round for steel cased, and maybe $.28-.32 for brass.

It can be converted to .380, but you need some kind of press to change barrels.

Don't feel rushed. We're in the middle of an import wave, so you can also get one from SOG, Classic, J&G, Bud's, or Aim in similar condition for about the same price.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Happily for me I reload mak. RCBS carbide dies, 600 XTP slugs, Winchester brass.

But I really just don't shoot me EG all that much.

Deaf

 

[joem1945]

I have a couple of P64's. Accurate and hard hitting. HP's for CCW. I reload FMJ's or HP's.

 

[BSA1]

As far ammunition goes powerwise it is about the same as .380.

As for availability there is plenty to choose from right now. Barnaul Silver Bear is available from SGAmmo for $12.95/ 50 or $11.99 for 20 boxes. With prices that low I have choose not to reload for it.

While there is premium hollowpoint ammo made in 9x18 I use FMJ Silver Bear for a couple of reasons;

First these are military handguns designed for use with FMJ.

Second I pick penetration over expansion. This caliber is not a powerhouse and overexpansion it may not reach the vitals.

However if you want a hollowpoint Barnaul JHP seems to be a good choice. Youtube videos show good expansion with enough penetration to reach the vitals.

As commented the Mak is a classic handgun that would make a perfect addition to the P-64 and CZ-82.

 

[HankC]

$299 for a Bulgy Mak is a bit high in my opinion. Ammo is not cheap anymore and not as available as 9mm Luger. Unless you want one for your collection, I would spend the $300 for a 9mm. I do have one, paid $140 many years ago. Good shooter but I shoot 9mm most of time only keeping it for collection.

 

[Panzerschwein]

$299 for a Bulgy Mak is a bit high in my opinion. Ammo is not cheap anymore and not as available as 9mm Luger. Unless you want one for your collection, I would spend the $300 for a 9mm. I do have one, paid $140 many years ago. Good shooter but I shoot 9mm most of time only keeping it for collection.

Wrong.

There have been some very recent import shipments of Bulgie Maks in like-new/unissued condition, as the OP is describing. They also are coming in with the original holsters, cleaning items, and even log books. They are an excellent value right now. Bulgie Maks, and Maks in general, are some of the finest quality military handguns ever made. They are supremely accurate, extremely reliable, the cartridge is powerful enough with the right ammo, and above all else, they have an incredible and rich history owed to their long service life and Iron Curtain mystique. The ammo is inexpensive and easy to find, you just have to look for it. Online is a great option. Maks are a legendary handgun, and they've earned one hell of a cult following here in the US and for VERY good reason.

OP, get one.

NOW.

 

[BSA1]

There have been some very recent import shipments of Bulgie Maks in like-new/unissued condition, as the OP is describing.

As are Polish P-64's. I recently brought one that I think has never been fired. It is dated 1968 and the only wear on the finish is on the left front end of the slide with a small rough spot on the exterior like it laid in a neglected on a armory shelf in a box for all of it's life.

 

[rcmodel]

The only problem I had with the one I had years ago was the minuscule sights.

I couldn't see them then in bright sunlight.

And that's when I could still see pistol sights pretty darn good!

It would be nothing but a 'point & shoot' gun now!!

rc

 

[Capybara]

Love mine. Great little guns that definitely have that Cold War mystique. Unfortunately only the expensive Russian milsurps and East Germans are C&R. The Bulgarians and Chinese as well as the Russian commercial versions aren't. To me, that's dumb, all Makarovs should be C&R, they are all historically significant. Notice how there hasn't been a C&R added to the list since the 2010 addendum? That's what happens with an anti-gun administration. I just picked up this Bulgie in a private party sale here, but I had to pass up numerous versions on road trips out of state because the Bulgarians aren't on the C&R list.

 

[bikerdoc]

Thank you gentlmen! This foums membership has never failed to educate me every time I sign in.

I tied one up on lay-a-way.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I paid $195 for my Russian IJ70 earlier this year. It's a great gun and I believe the most reliable semi auto you can get.

Also works great as a bottle opener.