Gary G23
Member
For some reason I am thinking about getting a Bulgarian Makarov. Anyone had any experience with these?
Bulgarian Makarov
- Thread starter Gary G23
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StuporDave
Member
Me too. Same question. 
Dave
Dave
Bulgarian Mak
Hi Guys,
Everyone has an opinion. Mine is that the Bulgy is the best of the breed. I've owned a Russian for a dozen or so years and love it, except for the tiny, tinny adjustable sights. The Bulgarian has fixed sights (upgradeable at Makarov.com) and costs less than the East German. The EG has a better finish and, some say, a better trigger. All the Maks have reputations as one of the most reliable firearms available today, but he Bulgarian has the best features for the lowest price. Just my 2 kopeks.
Be Well,
Scarface
Hi Guys,
Everyone has an opinion. Mine is that the Bulgy is the best of the breed. I've owned a Russian for a dozen or so years and love it, except for the tiny, tinny adjustable sights. The Bulgarian has fixed sights (upgradeable at Makarov.com) and costs less than the East German. The EG has a better finish and, some say, a better trigger. All the Maks have reputations as one of the most reliable firearms available today, but he Bulgarian has the best features for the lowest price. Just my 2 kopeks.
Be Well,
Scarface
They're a great value. Rugged, reliable, accurate. And they seem to digest just about anything you want to put through them. Trigger's not all that bad. Sights are a bit tiny for some. They've never bothered me. I've heard the finish is somewhere between an EG and Russian. The finish on mine is quite nice. I don't think you'd regret the purchase.
I have had a Russian, an East German and a Bulagrian. I currently have the bulgie. I just performend a trigger upgrage where the mainspring was narrowed using a dremmel tool. It is a common mod that can be done in a matter of minutes at home. It really made an improvement in the DA trigger pull. I still need to get it out to the range for ensure that I'm not getting any light primer strikes. I can post after pics of the mod if anyone is interested. I didn't take a before photo .
Robert.
.Robert.
Dave Markowitz
Member
I have one. It's the most reliable semiauto I own. Quite accurate, too.
Buy one, or you'll regret it.
Buy one, or you'll regret it.
RightIsRight
Member
I am purchasing one of the "slighty used" ones from AIM this week.
Still thinking about adding an Arcus 94 to the order.
Still thinking about adding an Arcus 94 to the order.
Oh, let me count the ways.
My first carry gun. Now, my truck gun. Absolutley dead-nuts reliable. Get the "green box" ball ammo for practice and the Barnhall [spell] for carry ammo. Can't be beat.
I am still thinking of getting another one for a "standby" or "hideout" gun.
Read the suff [search] posted by Steven A. Camp or Jim March.
My first carry gun. Now, my truck gun. Absolutley dead-nuts reliable. Get the "green box" ball ammo for practice and the Barnhall [spell] for carry ammo. Can't be beat.
I am still thinking of getting another one for a "standby" or "hideout" gun.
Read the suff [search] posted by Steven A. Camp or Jim March.
Beetle Bailey
Member
Got my first one beginning of this month. Nice little pistol, works great, easy to shoot, simple to field strip, accurate, low cost of pistol and ammo. Great buy for me. Only concerns are ammo availability (I just order online) and ammo power (many with more knowledge than me can address this issue).
Simple, rugged, reliable, accurate, effective, inexpensive to buy, inexpensive to shoot.....hmmm, let me think for a minute....OK, simple. Avoid it at all costs because:
1. You will start to wonder why you paid so much for something else.
2. You will start to wonder why other more expensive designs have trouble matching the MAK (note: in function...not a caliber war).
3. You will begin second quessing your past decisions AND a large part of the Firearms Industry as a whole.
4. This may lead to some negative emotions (and who needs that).
5. Worse yet, you will buy another one. They will mate. Have children...and it goes on an on.
Yeah..probably best to avoid this path.
1. You will start to wonder why you paid so much for something else.
2. You will start to wonder why other more expensive designs have trouble matching the MAK (note: in function...not a caliber war).
3. You will begin second quessing your past decisions AND a large part of the Firearms Industry as a whole.
4. This may lead to some negative emotions (and who needs that).
5. Worse yet, you will buy another one. They will mate. Have children...and it goes on an on.
Yeah..probably best to avoid this path.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Gary -- if you really want the whole deal on Mak's .. go do a search!! You'll get zillions of hits and if you bother to read thru (there's a lot) ... you won't be finding too much neg feedback!
I love my Mak ........ need I say more!!
I love my Mak ........ need I say more!!
denfoote
Member
Bulgraian Pistolet Makarova
I have three. Two mil spec and one commercial. Good guns!!
I prefer the East Deutsch Makarovs, though. But, that's just me!!
I have three. Two mil spec and one commercial. Good guns!!
I prefer the East Deutsch Makarovs, though. But, that's just me!!
CZSteve
Member
Arin wrote:
Now that was just mean, I think you hurt my Bulgie's feelings.
I actually think the Mak is a beautiful looking pistol; but, I also grew to like the look of the CZ-52.
So what do I know.
PS: How about the look of the Steyr?
Now that was just mean, I think you hurt my Bulgie's feelings.
I actually think the Mak is a beautiful looking pistol; but, I also grew to like the look of the CZ-52.
So what do I know.
PS: How about the look of the Steyr?
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oweno
Member
I've got a couple, an East German and a Bugarian and I love 'em. Go poke around makarov.com for lots more info.
And a friend says that they look like something that Ilya Kuriakian would have carried. He has a point.
And a friend says that they look like something that Ilya Kuriakian would have carried. He has a point.
lee n. field
Member
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2002
- Messages
- 4,319
Well worth asking those questions.
Maks are only cheap because they're surplus. Take advantage of it while you can. What would the same gun cost if newly made by an american company that had to pay for the tooling? I think they'd be up in the $300+ range, where there's a lot of competition. Wonder what Ruger could make one for. . .?
The special edition Miltex Makarovs by Arsenal were in the $300 range, IIRC.
Ugly? Your opinion. They look just fine to me.
longeyes
member
flip180 mentioned "light primer strikes." Is that from cosmoline in the firing pin channel? Or some other reason?
M2 Carbine
member
I've got 9 and 2 more on order. (2 Russian and 2 East German)
And I'm thinking about ordering another to make an even dozen.
I like Maks
And I'm thinking about ordering another to make an even dozen.
I like Maks
J.R. Bob Dobbs
Member
I've fired about 1000rds (combined) of Barnaul JHP thru my 2 Bulgerian Maks, and haven't had a single jam. They may seem ugly at first, but the more you get to know them, the more you appreciate their almost elegant simplicity.
They're great little pistols, I bought 'em as "car guns", but I like them too much to let them get scratched up.
They're great little pistols, I bought 'em as "car guns", but I like them too much to let them get scratched up.
ReadyontheRight
Member
Maks are inexpensive and now seems to be a good time to get one.
The only downsides I'd point out are that they are fairly heavy, just a little large for pocket carry, and the slide is somewhat hard to rack. I had pictured using one as an intro gun for my wife and possible pocket carry for me - it won't work for either.
Other than that, cheap, fun to shoot and a great little "take along" gun -- especially with the nice flap holster. With the right IWB or shoulder holster, probably a great CCW gun too.
The only downsides I'd point out are that they are fairly heavy, just a little large for pocket carry, and the slide is somewhat hard to rack. I had pictured using one as an intro gun for my wife and possible pocket carry for me - it won't work for either.
Other than that, cheap, fun to shoot and a great little "take along" gun -- especially with the nice flap holster. With the right IWB or shoulder holster, probably a great CCW gun too.
M2 Carbine
member
ReadyontheRight
If you can get some lighter than full load handloads for the Mak don't give up on it for your wife.
When my friend's wife was going for her carry license I worked with her (and him) a couple shooting sessions with my Mak.
She didn't have much handgun experience and no semi auto experience.
She shot a 244 and he shot a 250 out of 250 with my Mak.
She actually beat everyone else that shot with them.
She wanted to buy that Mak from me for her carry gun.
Can't refuse a woman that wants a gun.
So I had to go buy a couple more.
If you can get some lighter than full load handloads for the Mak don't give up on it for your wife.
When my friend's wife was going for her carry license I worked with her (and him) a couple shooting sessions with my Mak.
She didn't have much handgun experience and no semi auto experience.
She shot a 244 and he shot a 250 out of 250 with my Mak.
She actually beat everyone else that shot with them.
She wanted to buy that Mak from me for her carry gun.
Can't refuse a woman that wants a gun.
So I had to go buy a couple more.
NoScreenName
Member
I love my Bulgy...
I also bought it to use as a "beater/car gun" but afer doing some shooting and carrying it for awhile it has now become my always gun...and will not be relegated to a beater... I like it too much to let it get dinged or scratched or otherwise abused....
I also bought it to use as a "beater/car gun" but afer doing some shooting and carrying it for awhile it has now become my always gun...and will not be relegated to a beater... I like it too much to let it get dinged or scratched or otherwise abused....
Bob F.
Member
"KGB tested and approved"
"From Russia...with love"
Two of my favorite t-shirts, from Makarov.com
+ what everyone else said!!
Bob
PS: I know, I just dredged up an old thread, but I was looking for a link to Steven Camp Re: BHP! And just had to comment! Yes, found the link! Thanks.
"From Russia...with love"
Two of my favorite t-shirts, from Makarov.com
+ what everyone else said!!
Bob
PS: I know, I just dredged up an old thread, but I was looking for a link to Steven Camp Re: BHP! And just had to comment! Yes, found the link! Thanks.
My East German Mak had a 3% fail to fire, the FTF occured in SA only the missfired cartridge showed no primer strike and would always fire with a follow up DA strike. After installing a heavier recoil spring (19#) the gun has been 100% reliable.
Now this Mak has taken the place of my .38 spl snub nose as my primary carry gun. 8+1 rnds and faster reloading on top of very accurate, are the reasons.
The only thing I don't like could be the mag. release.
Now this Mak has taken the place of my .38 spl snub nose as my primary carry gun. 8+1 rnds and faster reloading on top of very accurate, are the reasons.
The only thing I don't like could be the mag. release.
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