Bulgarian Makarov

[m2steven]

I just got my first one today. It was in new condition, age unknown at present. I took it home and cleaned it. Not too dirty. Oiled it up and put it together. I had purchased about a ton of ammo, mostly hollow point Silver Bear, and I took it to the range.

The only gripe is that the magazine release is on the bottom of the grip. I've learned to manipulate it so it's not a deal now, but at first it was kind of time consumming as it was so tight.

I put 200 rounds of hollow point through this wonderful pistol with out the first blip. It's accurate up close, and not surprisingly - super accurate at 50 yards.

I'm going to turn this thing into one of my carry guns. It has a real safety, so it's safe to carry chambered and cocked. (ok - safer).

I find the power of the 9mm makarov appears to be more near the power of the 9x19 cartridge than it is the 380.

I can't tell you what a great gun this is, and I highly recommend anyone who doesn't own a good makarov RUN to the internet or the local gun shop and pick one up. I could not be more impressed.

The trigger pull is nice too. It's utilitarian, but not grindy nor sticky and it's consistent. Will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger.

The person who sold it to me underdescribed it. So he gets nice feedback. Sorry about all the oil and grease on the gun - i just got it back from the range and didn't wipe it down prior to taking the photograph.

 

[BHP FAN]

I love mine.I stuck Pearce rubber grips on it,but that's the only mod I'd want.Heck I might go back to stock.These things are perfect,right outta the box...

 

[m2steven]

BHP FAN - i've got to agree with you. What a nice pistol for very little money. I was prepared for it to not like my hollowpoints, but it didn't even cough...

 

[m2steven]

While i'm yapping, let me give kudos to the Silver Bear ammo. Well done!

 

[TripleL]

m2, I'm glad you like your Bulgie, I have three myself. Yours was made in 1987, just add 60 to the two numbers after the letters. Also, you cannot carry it cocked and locked as the safety is also a decocker. It will drop the hammer when you engage the safety but not to worry as there is a hammer block.

One important thing to know is that the firing pin floats because it does not have a spring. Make sure you can hear the FP rattle when you shake it forward and back. Check out makarov.com for useful info and forums.gunboards.com (Makarov Forum) for other owners' views.

 

[Pilot]

I have two Bulgies, one E.G. and a Russian. The Bulgies are the best value and are wonderful pistols. I carry my Bulgie often and use it at the range as well.

 

[m2steven]

Thanks TripleL. I did not know that. I CAN tell you that if you don't get the safety all the way down, it won't shoot . I'll try the firing pin shake thing. I didn't know that either. I'm VERY impressed with the 200 rounds of hollow points going through it perfectly. What a great pistol. It's also very nice looking which doesn't hurt. Super easy to take down too. Easy to get back together.

 

[gbelleh]

They are nice guns. I have a Russian military, Bulgarian and East German Makarov. I still carry my East German Makarov on occasion. They have all been 100% reliable (which is more than I can say for some of my guns that cost 5 times as much).

 

[Dr_2_B]

It has a real safety, so it's safe to carry chambered and cocked. (ok - safer).

You planning on carrying it this way? I don't think I've ever talked to anyone who does.

 

[Jross]

I've always gotten funny looks at CC range qualification when I show up with a Mak and the others have 9X19 hi-cap pistols etc. But is it sweet to shoot and none of the tables here have more than 8 rounds anyway. Accuracy really doesn't matter a whole lot at the CC shoot, (no extra points for a perfect score) but with the Mak you hardly have to try and you hit, plus you don't hold others up clearing malfunctions. The only auto I have that shoots as good as the Mak at 25 meters is a worked over Combat Commander, and like someone said, much more cost for that. I did not know about the firing pin rattle though so I'll check that out. I assume that if it does not rattle something is broken or it needs cleaning?

 

[.45&TKD]

It has a real safety, so it's safe to carry chambered and cocked. (ok - safer).

It's a decocking saftey. When you engage the saftey the hammer falls (safely). You can't carry it cocked and locked.

 

[Apple a Day]

.45&TKD got it right, when you engage the safety it decocks. I just checked to be sure.

 

[woad_yurt]

Really. It's a DA/SA pistol with a great hammer block in effect unless one is pulling the trigger. I carry mine with the safety in the "fire" position. All I need to do is pull the trigger, just like a DA revolver.

Congratulations on getting one of the sweetest pistols ever made. IMO, I think it's the only semi-auto that's as reliable as a revolver. They just go and go.

PS: Listen to those who said to make sure the firing pin is totally free to move around in there.

 

[TripleL]

Although I'm not surprised, I'm amazed at how many people own Makarovs. And, even more amazing is how owners love theirs. There was a thread on the Makarov Forum about the number of Makarovs imported into the country. I remember reading it was in the thousands and all of them of course were sold. They say that back when they came in by the boatloads, East German Maks were selling for $99. I didn't discover my first Mak, an EG, until 1996 and paid $169 for it.

m2, I notice that you have a matching magazine. Does the other one match, too? Very often the etched numbers on the mags do not match the serial number and rarely do you find Maks with matching mags unless they're NIB. So, yours is an outstanding find. Also, unless you have one already, you can still get an original Bulgarian military red grip with the star for around $10.

Jross, if the FP does not rattle the channel just needs cleaning as parts rarely break on the indestructible Mak. I use a slightly whittled down Q-tip soaked in CLP while some use tobacco pipe cleaners. It's the easiest pistol to completely disassemble as it has only 27 parts.

 

[m2steven]

I have not checked the other magazine. I shall. I did check the firing pin, and it indeed appears to have a bit of room as i can here it moving back and forth when i gave it the shake test.

Again thanks everyone for the great advice. I believe I tried the safety thing, and indeed it decocks, but I think it still will shoot in double action mode. I may be mis-remembering things.

I may take it back to range today and make sure i'm 100 percent on the operation of the pistol. Lots of this stuff i didn't know.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I like Makarovs.



Here's a few random Makarov pictures.

52 yards. Standing, two hands. No misses.


East German Mak.


I was trying to make the Mak malfunction.


100 yards. Standing, 2 hands.
The Mak did good but I missed 7 out of 36 rounds.


.380 Mak at 35 yards.

 

[m2steven]

Yesterday I was shooting at a little white rock embedded in the burm at the range which I assume was about 40 yards. I was hitting the embankment within 2 or 3 inches of the rock, and occasionally popping the little rock around. It seemed to be more accurate at range than at 20 yards, but it's probably my needing to get used to sighting the pistol. It's got a nice small front sight which allows me to see what i'm aiming at. The recoil is pretty nice and the gun does nothing but transmit the recoil, it doesn't jump around nor exhibit muzzle flip. A great pistol. I'm so happy I bought it. It just occured to me that the long range accuracy was probably both the pistol and ammo. I found the Silver Bear ammo to be quite good.

 

[TripleL]

Glad you posted, M2 Carbine. I always enjoy seeing pictures of your Maks.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

I love my Bulgarian Makarov.

It is one of my primary carry guns.

 

[doubs43]

As I type this, a 1995 Bulgarian Mak lies on my desk. It's loaded with Blazer hollow point cartridges. A like-new East German Mak is in my gun safe. The Russian Mak I used to own was sold years ago and I never owned a Chinese Mak which are now quite rare.

When the E. German Maks first came in, I had an FFL and sold a pile of them, all in excellent condition. I paid $120 for them (including shipping) from SOG and sold them for $150 - $160 each. If they ever sold for $99, I never saw saw it. It's possible, of course, but I would think that they would have been the "Good" condition guns and not the like-new ones I sold.

The Mak action is robust, simple and reliable. They are one of the best carry guns around and a great value.

 

[m2steven]

Nice photos M2 Carbine and Rockymtntactical. Great collection M2. They really are great looking pistols. I'll probably have to get one as a gift for a friend. he has no idea what he's missing(besides - i own him ).

 

[M2 Carbine]

They really are great looking pistols. I'll probably have to get one as a gift for a friend. he has no idea what he's missing(besides - i own him ).

Last year or two I had several like new ITB Bulgarian Makarovs, including the one in the mud. I gave one to a friend. He liked it so well he bought a second one at a gun show.
Hardly anyone stops at one Makarov.


Last week I handed a lady I'm teaching to shoot, a Mak and a hand full of magazines.
She tore the target up.
I think that day she shot a 22 Sig Mosquito, Browning Buckmark, 2 inch 38 S&W J Frame and a 9mm Taurus PT-99. She shot the Mak the best.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I loved mine but needed another gun so I traded it on a J- frame 38 for pocket carry.

 

[ROBBY.1911]

i would be in the market for a bulgarian or east german MAK, anybody tell me where?

 

[makarovnik]

I love mine but the power is closer to the .380 acp than the 9mm para.