A few words about 9x18 pistols
- Thread starter AZAndy
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
Nice thread, AZAndy. 
Capybara
Member
Guess I will chime in here. I too have a soft spot for small, all steel Combloc 9x18 Mak pistols.
My trio
My Polish Radom P64
Bulgarian Circle 10 Makarov
CZ82 bought from J&G Guns in Prescott a few years ago
They are all terrific little pistols, although I find the 9x18 Mak round to be a bit anemic compare to the 9mm in my Shield. But they are cool little pieces of history and fun to shoot.
My trio
My Polish Radom P64
Bulgarian Circle 10 Makarov
CZ82 bought from J&G Guns in Prescott a few years ago
They are all terrific little pistols, although I find the 9x18 Mak round to be a bit anemic compare to the 9mm in my Shield. But they are cool little pieces of history and fun to shoot.
thecarfarmer
Member
I really like my PA-63, put the stiffest Wolff recoil spring & a reduced hammer spring, ground on the hammer & sear; polished all the working surfaces in the fire ctrl parts.
Dead reliable, more accurate than I am, and now the trigger is okay.
Bill
Dead reliable, more accurate than I am, and now the trigger is okay.
Bill
RayTheGreat
Member
Very interesting read, OP, thanks for sharing! I like the finish and general look of those guns. Pretty
-Ray
-Ray
Ignition Override
Member
AZAndy: you managed to get peoples' attention with these (difficult with plastic gun mania). Well-done!
A recent batch of imported Bulgarian Maks, in exc. to unissued condition, are still available at Classicarms (Deer Trail, NC), JGSales, and Aimsurplus for approx. $300 each.
We might not see any more imports of Maks in any real quantities into the US.
Even if many more are avail. in certain countries for legal commercial export, imagine how many powerful US politicians (a future female President?) would like to find any excuse to block the imports.
The OP's comments help explain reasons for acquiring my pair of EG, a Bulgy and Russian IZH-70 Mak, CZ-82 and pair of Polish P-83s. All of them in 2015. You can read a very detailed and interesting (+ complimentary) graphic evaluation of the P-83s parts' manufacturing in a "sticky" at "Makarov.com". Their reliability/ruggedness--just like an actual Mak--and slightly heavy, but very smooth DA trigger pulls make their lack of a shiny finish totally moot.
If you are in west TN, "The Arms Fair" in Cordova had a pair of somewhat worn Bulgarians in late December. Their EG is no longer available.
A recent batch of imported Bulgarian Maks, in exc. to unissued condition, are still available at Classicarms (Deer Trail, NC), JGSales, and Aimsurplus for approx. $300 each.
We might not see any more imports of Maks in any real quantities into the US.
Even if many more are avail. in certain countries for legal commercial export, imagine how many powerful US politicians (a future female President?) would like to find any excuse to block the imports.
The OP's comments help explain reasons for acquiring my pair of EG, a Bulgy and Russian IZH-70 Mak, CZ-82 and pair of Polish P-83s
. All of them in 2015. You can read a very detailed and interesting (+ complimentary) graphic evaluation of the P-83s parts' manufacturing in a "sticky" at "Makarov.com". Their reliability/ruggedness--just like an actual Mak--and slightly heavy, but very smooth DA trigger pulls make their lack of a shiny finish totally moot. If you are in west TN, "The Arms Fair" in Cordova had a pair of somewhat worn Bulgarians in late December. Their EG is no longer available.
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medic15al
Member
"Not sure why you have such a negative opinion on the heel mag release. I have never had a heel release gun unexpectedly expel a mag, while "normal" guns have done so many times. "
This. On these sized pistols heel releases are superior because if you draw under stress you hand and fingers will be clenched tightly under adrenalin and fear and makes it likely to drop the mag rendering it to a single shot.
This. On these sized pistols heel releases are superior because if you draw under stress you hand and fingers will be clenched tightly under adrenalin and fear and makes it likely to drop the mag rendering it to a single shot.
I also like, maby prefer, the heel mag release.
I got used to them with my first P.38 and later the Turkish Kirkale (copy of the PP).
Yes I have, and shoot, the side button types, but only because they are not available in the bottom release!
Sarge
I got used to them with my first P.38 and later the Turkish Kirkale (copy of the PP).
Yes I have, and shoot, the side button types, but only because they are not available in the bottom release!
Sarge
Thanks for the write up AZAndy....I enjoyed it.
I had 4 of the 5 you list. Never had the P83. The only ones I kept were The PMs. I bought my first years ago for $105, and my seventh one for $215, all 7 bulgys. Cant belive what they sell for now......Kinda like the heel release tho , guess I got used to it with the Ruger M1 of my youth.
I had 4 of the 5 you list. Never had the P83. The only ones I kept were The PMs. I bought my first years ago for $105, and my seventh one for $215, all 7 bulgys. Cant belive what they sell for now......Kinda like the heel release tho , guess I got used to it with the Ruger M1 of my youth.
ulflyer
Member
A German Mak just sold for $460 on GB and it wasn't all that nice either. However, SOG has some Bulg for $299 that appear to be very nice.
krupparms
Member
I have owned several Makarovs. All of them were Russian or E.German. The last one I kept was a beat up Russian PPM. I really like it, but wish it was in better shape. But it makes a excellent shooter& is accurate and reliable. It loves CCI Blazer G.D. ammo. As it is just a shooter, or SD pistol it will do just fine.
lsudave
Member
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2007
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- 1,042
I've got a few of these, too: a FEG PA 63, a Polish P 64, an East German Mak, a CZ 82, and a Russian IJ 70 AH (double stack).
My experience is similar, but with some differences. My PA 63 has a black frame (fading to plum), something I've read might have been made for East German usage (I think manowar's site covers this). While the gun has a pronounced jolt to the recoil, my trigger is much better in double action than what you describe; it's on a par with the Russian trigger.
The East German has a very smooth trigger, and the gun just shines with the fit and finish.
My experience is similar, but with some differences. My PA 63 has a black frame (fading to plum), something I've read might have been made for East German usage (I think manowar's site covers this). While the gun has a pronounced jolt to the recoil, my trigger is much better in double action than what you describe; it's on a par with the Russian trigger.
The East German has a very smooth trigger, and the gun just shines with the fit and finish.
OP
OP
AZAndy
Member
My first one was black/plum before the police got ahold of it-- they treated it with something (to get at the serial number, I suppose) that removed part of the coloring. The aluminum one in the photo is newer.
lincen
Member
The Polish P64 has a punishing recoil to me. The FEG PA-63 is somewhat more comfortable especially with Wolff springs and a set of Marschal grips from Hungary. The real surprise in 9x18 is the even smaller FEG SMC-918 and FEG R61. They are more comfortable to shoot than the other two mentioned above....to me.
OP
OP
AZAndy
Member
I've never seen either of those. Tell me more! Where'd you get them?
Sistema1927
Member
Those two FEG models are Walther clones, right?
lysanderxiii
Member
I can answer this question...
Import restrictions. Pistols are graded by the AG on a "point system" for their "suitability" for import. They have to have a minimum of 75 points worth of "good" features for them to be imported. [https://www.atf.gov/file/61591/download]
This is also the reason for that horrible left grip on the PA63.
Norinco used to put really cheap adjustable rear sights on their Makarovs, then throw the fixed GI rear sight in the box, so you could fix it back the way it was intended.
EDIT: A PA63 is just under the minimum score for importation without the target grips (74 points out of the minimum 75), with them it's 4 points over, the Makarov only gets 67 points without a target rear sight.
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lysanderxiii
Member
Yes, and no.
They are copies of the PP, but they are not "clones", none of the parts will interchange.
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lsudave
Member
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- Feb 10, 2007
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- 1,042
Regarding the grip on the PA 63, google Tillander Grips. He makes grips out of some type of resin for pretty cheap, and will do it in any color you request. I bought a set in black that matched the right grip perfectly, and just swapped out the left. The gun now looks like it should.
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