9X18 Bulgarian Mak ?

[David4516]

I tied one up on lay-a-way.

Good call. Maks are, like FIVETWOSEVEN says, "the most reliable semi auto you can get".

I've owned 3 of them over the years, a Bulgarian, East German, and Russian commercial version. I still have the first two, sold the Russian to a friend. It had the "flesh eating sight" so it was my least favorite of the 3.

I'm not as crazy about the 9X18 caliber as I used to be though. I had my EG Mak converted to .380 about a year ago. My Bulgie is currently at the gunsmith, also being converted to .380

I sold my 9X18 dies, brass, etc, to my friend who has my old Russian Mak...

My Bulgie was my carry gun for the last 15 years or so, until recently when I switched over to a Glock 43. To be honest I'm tempted to switch back to the Mak. The Glock is smaller, lighter, and shoots a more powerful round. But the Mak is more accurate (in SA mode anyway, not too fond of the DA trigger pull on it) and more robust.

Not long ago my wife borrowed my G43 to shoot in an IDPA BUG match. Somewhere during the course of the match, she broke the plastic rear sights. No idea how this happened

So lets see, Makarov, after daily carry for over a decade, and numerous trips to the range, 100% no issues. Glock, after less than one year, broken plastic parts...

 

[Ignition Override]

Bikerdoc: My many hours of reading (plus hours of use) indicate that the Bulgies function as well as two other main varieties. This recent Bulgy import batch is selling like hot cakes the night before a marathon.

The EG tend to be more popular because of the deeper bluing and slightly better polish-If previous owners took good care of them. Sadly, some did not.
My Maks consist of EG, Bulgy and commercial Russian (.380 Auto). These Maks are a good bit more pleasant to shoot than my previous "Made in W. Germany" PPK/S ("IA").

Did you know about "Makarov.com"? It can be reached Without using the main Gunboards website.
My suggestion is to first buy a solid heap of the 9x18 ammo, in case relations with Russia one day break down enough to result in a high tax on imported Russian ammo, if not an outright import ban.

This is exactly why I also added the commercial single-stack Russian in .380 Auto. It could prove to be a bit risky to have my Bulgy/EG Maks, two Polish P-83s and a Czech CZ-82 all in the same (9x18) chambering.

 

[bikerdoc]

Thanks I O.

 

[HankC]

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.

$195 would be a fair price for a Bulgy and a steal for a Russian!

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

As soon as I saw it I put it on hold. I'm glad I did because 4 people expressed interest and wanted to buy it if the person before them didn't buy it right afterwards. I've never seen any Mak that cheap in years so I just had to grab it.

 

[SeanSw]

I paid $200 for a nearly nib Russian commercial Makarov that had just one box of ammo throughit, and I now consider it one of the better deals I'll see. Ftf transaction, box with all accessories, plus a box of ammo. It runs flawlessly but I wish the DA was better. The adjustable sights are a bit hokey too.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

I would like to get a military slide for it eventually but I'm content with the adjustable rear sight. I pocket carry it no problem.

Last time I shot it, I locked the slide open and scooped sand up, shook most of it out, then fired a few magazines without a problem. It had so much sand in it that I couldn't pull the slide all the way back to even remove it. Still worked great.

 

[Ignition Override]

SeanSw:
My gunsmith today chatted a bit about the Makarov's main spring.

His experience was that if it is modified to lighten the overall trigger pull, the hammer/firing pin might not have enough force to ignite many of the primers. On Youtube some guy describes two other (minor) adjustments, tried only one at a time.

As a side note, my pair of Polish P-83s (9x18)---descended from the P-64 beastie--- have even better DA triggers than my very nice EG Makarov. The P-83s don't have any real shine or good bluing and the hammers have long spurs, but they are as much fun and are as rugged/reliable as both of my Bulgy and EG Maks. These (P-, not so much the CZ) 83s seem to be the real "sleepers" among guns chambered in 9x18.

 

[sarge83]

I had 3 bulgie maks, my cousin ended up with one of them. The first one I bought for $125 several yrs. ago, carried it CCW for a long time and felt safe. It is the only piece I ever had to throw down on a two legged critter and he backed off real quick, I was at an ATM and he wanted to join in my withdrawal and it didn't work out for him. Get one you won't be disappointed!

 

[Litlman]

I have 2 Bulgarians and they just run. Price has gone up on them and that seems about right got the whole package.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Buy it. The current Bulgarian Makarovs are in great shape. Once that supply dries up in the next couple years, the price will go up. Makarovs are solid pistols and the ammunition is the same price as other pistol ammo. You can find online deals where it is sold for $8.50 a box. Normally, it's $9.50-12 a box online. If you get it, you won't regret it, but if you don't, you're going to kick yourself when the prices inflate and the supplies dwindle in a couple years.

 

[Ignition Override]

"Makarov.com." You can bypass the other forums on Gunboards.

 

[North Bender]

I see you mentioned "Makarov.com" twice I.O. Have you actually tried to go there? And what is the benefit of bypassing Gunboards forums?

 

[SC Shooter]

At that price, go for it. The prices are going up and I have seen them in recent gun shows lately in the high $300.00's

 

[Ignition Override]

FIVETWOSEVEN:

No pun intended on a Sunday morning, but my routine "Mak. sermon" for the true believers is that having a Russian in .380 is The solution for a potential future problem.

With my five handguns in 9x18 , and as there seem to be few US companies producing this round, having the common Russian or maybe a rare Bulgarian in .380 means that future problems between the US & Russia allow us many more sources of ammo for a gun which is almost identical to the four military 9x18 versions. And vice versa: when the next panic explodes .380 prices, you might want to have at least one 9x18 gun.

Actual single-stack "true" Mak. magazines function well in both the 9x18 and .380 Makarovs, and makes no difference whether the mag has the East German/Russian "hump" at the bottom.

Keep in mind that some very experienced milsurp people somehow still believe that the Polish P-64, 83 and CZ-82, CZ-83 and Hun. FEGs are true Makarovs.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Keep in mind that some very experienced milsurp people somehow still believe that the Polish P-64, 83 and CZ-82, CZ-83 and Hun. FEGs are true Makarovs.

They are as much 'true' Makarovs as all guns chambered for 9x19 are Lugars.

Deaf

 

[JohnKSa]

Neat little guns. I haven't owned one for years, but as I recall, once you get the grip off (which requires a screwdriver), you can pretty much detail strip the gun with no tools required.

 

[gillmeister692]

I've owned a Bulgarian Makarov for 20 years and love it. It's my concealed carry weapon and rides in an IWB Falco leather holster from Slovakia made expressly for the Makarov.

I highly recommend abandoning the hard plastic Soviet bloc hand grips and replacing them with the soft rubber wrap-around grip made by Pearce. They're ergonomic and mitigate the recoil from this great-looking, fun-to-shoot Iron Curtain sidearm.