Anyone else dislike Makarov or blow-back recoil?

[MatthewVanitas]

Greetings. First off, I do wish to put out that I'm not a recoil pansy. I have zero problem shooting my 1927 Sistema (Argentine-issue 1911), and have enjoyed shooting Level 2 45-70 loads through a Contender pistol.

However, for whatever reason, the recoil characteristics of the Makarov, and some other blowback pistols, just feels... uncomfortable to me. Does anyone else share this feeling?

I realize that Maks don't have a big recoil pulse, but there's this jarring snappiness to it. Onomatopoetically speaking:

1911: "whaFOOOOOOM, whatFOOOOOOM"
Mak: "bipOUCH, bipOUCH"

I'm assuming that jarring feeling comes from the slide schwacking the frame as it returns into battery. For the love of goodness, does this bother anyone else? This is the main reason I sold my Mak, a pistol that I truly wanted to love. Well, that and the frame-mounted backwards safety.

Just a sanity check. Or is it just me?

 

[38snapcaps]

Matt, don't feel bad. I badly wanted to do the Makarov experience, the looks, the history, they are just plain really neat pistols. I was going to collect all the variants, had two Russians and an E. German and was saving up for two Bulgarians. I bought boxes and boxes of 9X18 ammo, all kinds, had my favorites and found some were really nasty.

But after a year and a half and almost two thousand rounds later I finally gave in to the harsh recoil, the cut skin from the sharp backstrap, the buying and trying of grips, gloves, and ammo types (Let me tell you Russian white box Really stings!).

I liked everything about Maks, I was an avid participant and reader at Makarov.com, bought books, read and kept every article I could find. But the pain of shooting the guns just became the spoiler of the whole thing and I sold it all.

If you want a blow back pistol, go to where I ended up-Bersa .380. Not the history and exotic air of a Mak but very enjoyable to shoot, just as accurate, just as inexpensive, and to me, even better looking.

Now, I am just about as excited and pleased with the Bersa pistols. Try one, you may just find what you're looking for

 

[flatrock]

You may want to try a new and possibly stiffer recoil spring. If the spring is weak you'll get more felt recoil, and put more wear on your gun.

I've found that the 19# Wolff spring works well for me.

 

[kokapelli]

I pretty much agree with what "snapcaps" said.

I had a German Mak and a Bulgarian Mak.

I recently sold the German Mak and purchased a second Bersa 380.

The Maks are fine (accept for the tiny front sights) for about 25 rounds, but any more than 25 rounds and the pistol becomes very punishing.

I can shoot 100 rounds with the Bersa and I have no pain from it.

The Bersa sights are also much easier to see with my 72 year old eyes.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Better grips (Pearce, among others) help with the Maks.

And if you like the round, the CZ-83 (in 9mm Mak) is a nice gun. (Its bigger than the already sizeable Makarov, however.)

 

[mete]

For the same cartridge and same weight gun blowback will have the highest recoil, next would be the locked breech ,and the lightest recoil would be a delayed blowback like the Remington M 51. I have clearly demonstrated this with a Mauser Hsc, CZ 24, and M51. While the recoil ENERGY of the three is the same the recoil force over time is different so the felt recoil is different.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I think one of the reasons the Mak seems worse than some guns, is that it seems to rely more on the spring than on slide mass to retard recoil.

There are some guns (the Hi-Point immediately comes to mind) that appear to rely more on the weight of the slide (but still use springs) to retard the recoil. The felt recoil in these guns is more pleasant.

Ugly guns, though. (They even have a .45 version. Looks like a brick with a trigger and grip.)

 

[WonderNine]

I take it you guys don't shoot revolvers then?

 

[BHPshooter]

My friend got a Makarov a couple of months ago... The first time he shot it, he said something about it hurting. I just sort of disregarded it -- "he'll get used to it," I thought.

Just yesterday I shot it. For the first time I tried more than 2 rounds out of it.

...And honestly? The recoil was pretty unpleasant after about the 5th round. I think the fact that such a thin gun tries to dig itself into your hand has a lot to do with it.

It just made me appreciate locked-breech pistols that much more. I've never thought of my BHP as uncomfortable to shoot*... but after that, it seemed downright heavenly.

I still would like to own one, nonetheless.
Wes

*unless you're being bit.

 

[aircarver]

Pearce grips & a 21 # recoil spring and it'll be a whole new pistol. The reason is the recoil comes as a sharp spike rather than a long push (.45) I did the above noted changes on my (3) Maks and the 'perceived recoil' problem became moot.

 

[kokapelli]

Aircarver: I tried the pierce grips and have to admit they did make a difference, but I have small hands and the substantial increase in bulk of the pierce grips made it difficult to get a good purchase on the trigger for the first (double action) shot!

I said earlier that I got rid of my German Mak, but I think overall the pistol is a really good design and have no intention of getting rid of my Bulgarian Mak.

 

[wingman]

Wood grips on the mak seems to help control recoil, heavier springs but much
of the 9x18 ammo like wolf is at the upper limits for the caliber, in other words
hot. Ammo like federal, S&B is much more sensible, or in my case I reload using
certain powder I can control pressure and felt recoil, the maks are super
accurate and plain fun to shoot but commeriical ammo for it is lacking.

 

[rde]

Wondernine..good shot (made my day).

 

[Marshall]

I take it you guys don't shoot revolvers then?

Hahaha

 

[kernal_panic]

I'm sorry if you guys take this as a flame but you all need to toughen up a bit. i've had one ( a russian one) for almost 10 years. it was my 1st handgun.

 

[kokapelli]

Kernal_Panic: When I was younger the Mak would have not been a problem, but at 72 and with arthritic joints it is just to punishing for me.

Another problem with the Mak is, the front sight is so small I can hardly see it!

 

[M2 Carbine]

I replace all my 17 pound Makarov recoil springs with 21 pound springs.

With the factory spring the slide hits the trigger guard pretty hard causing, I believe, much of the sharp recoil.

But the recoil isn't why I replace the springs.
I shoot the full range of 9x18 from my light reloads to Silver Bear 120gr JHP and my 95gr 1125 fps reloads.

All function 100% and the slide still hits the trigger guard but not rearly as hard.


Anyhow, I don't find the Maks recoil that unusual.
My wife's carry gun was a Mak, with Pearce grips. (17 pound spring)

My friend's wife shoots very little and I taught her to shoot the Mak for her carry license. (17 pound spring and stock grips)
She likes the Mak so well she insisted I sell her the pistol for her carry gun.
She shot 243 out of 250 on the test.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Quote
"kokapelli
Kernal_Panic: When I was younger the Mak would have not been a problem, but at 72 and with arthritic joints it is just to punishing for me.

Another problem with the Mak is, the front sight is so small I can hardly see it!"
______________________________________________________


kokapelli, I feel your pain friend.

At 66 I'm fast getting there

 

[mainmech48]

Dittoes re: Pierce grip and heavier recoil spring. They do help. As a southpaw having that lanyard loop dig into my palm was annoying.

The sights were a problem for my Geezer-in-Training eyes too. Tried several colors of enamel on the front, but it didn't help me much. In an excess of curiousity and a temporary surplus of disposable cash, I had a set of XS standard dot sights installed on it. Not exactly "cost-effective" on a $150 pistol, but the difference in delivering fast, accurate repeat hits is truly amazing.

Since my wife insists on using the Mak for her CCW despite repeated demonstrations that several 9x19s we have of similar size are just as easy to handle recoil-wise, perhaps it was money well spent.

 

[Ivy Mike]

I actually prefer the recoil of my Mak to other, larger caliber guns. The short, snappy recoil allows me to get back on target faster than a big shove from a big caliber. A new set of grips (Makawrap) and a heavier recoil spring (I went to a 19lbs for my .380 model) makes shooting even the hottest reloads pleasant.
Some of you guys have lace on your panties

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

you all need to toughen up a bit

I enjoy shooting my Super Blackhawk with full power loads... could do it all day. 1911 .45? A pussycat, shoot 'em fast and have fun. 7.2 oz. KelTec .380? Loads of fun, just hang on tight.

Makarov? Six shots and then... I think I'll just shoot something else.

 

[denfoote]

BLASPHEMY!!!!!!

I recently sold the German Mak and purchased a second Bersa 380.

You Pansy's!!!

I enjoy firing full house .357MAGs from my snubby!!!!

The Makarov is child's play!!!

 

[kokapelli]

Piercings! Tatoos! And now__
"firing full house .357MAGs from my snubby!!!!'
"Self mutilation" is on the rise!

 

[Newton]

When I first shot my Circle 10 Bulgarian, I did so with the standard grips and Wolf 109 grain ammunition, and that was unpleasant after just one magazine.

I swopped out the standard spring for a 19# Wolff, fitted a Pearce grip and picked up some Barnaul ammunition. This set up is no more punishing than your average .22, for real.

I introduced a dainty little female shooter to pistols and she preferred my Mak over anything else and asked for it repeatedly.

A 95 grain pill at 1000fps really shouldn't hurt out of anything the size and weight of a Makarov.


Newton

 

[gulogulo1970]

I don't know, the Makarov (to me) is the lightest recoiling handgun I've ever fired, save for a couple of 22's. Has some snap to it, but the first time I fired it I was suprised by the lack of recoil. Maybe its because I usually shoot 40's and 45's. It's my plinker because I don't have a 22LR handgun. Maybe I should try it with a heavier spring then I might enjoy it even more.