Found a Makarov locally: Good buy or not?

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BluesDancer

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Hi THR,
Yesterday I found a Makarov at my LGS. It is the Russian commercial model, Caliber 9x18mm Makarov, single stack mag, blued, w/ rear adjustable sight. I believe it may be called the IJ-70. Comes with 2 mags total, $275 before taxes.

Makarov's do not seem to often show up around where I live, at least not that I've seen. Having said that, I have read online that the adjustable sights leave much to be desired and additionally I am not a fan of adjustable sights on a combat pistol and would consider attempting to replace them with something like this $32 fixed sight:

http://www.gunpartswarehouse.com/pistol-parts/makarov-pistol/ij-70-fixed-rear-sight.html

I am not looking for a collector piece, just a shooter. Should I go for it or wait and see if a Bulgy/E.G./etc Makarov might come my way sometime. Any advice?
 
That is a pretty average deal, but OK. They are not making, nor importing anymore Maks it seems. I have a Russian Commercial in addition to a few examples from Bulgaria and East Germany. The Bulgies are the best value, IMHO, and don't have the adjustable rear sight which some see as a plus. No biggie to me.

You can buy Red Star or Pearce grips for it depending on if you want a range gun or to carry it. The Red Stars are slimmer and better for carry, the Pearce make it a real teddy bear to shoot.
 
They're solid guns by all accounts.
Make sure you have an ammo source you're willing to work with, I mostly order Mak ammo online or get it at gunshows, it isn't exactly a commonly stocked cartridge around here, either.
 
9x18 brass is easily made from 9x19 Luger. Just have to shorten them in a trimmer and resize them with 9x18 dies. Bullets are available in all types.
 
BluesDancer said:
Hi THR,
Yesterday I found a Makarov at my LGS. It is the Russian commercial model, Caliber 9x18mm Makarov, single stack mag, blued, w/ rear adjustable sight. I believe it may be called the IJ-70. Comes with 2 mags total, $275 before taxes.

Makarov's do not seem to often show up around where I live, at least not that I've seen. Having said that, I have read online that the adjustable sights leave much to be desired and additionally I am not a fan of adjustable sights on a combat pistol and would consider attempting to replace them with something like this $32 fixed sight:

http://www.gunpartswarehouse.com/pistol-parts/makarov-pistol/ij-70-fixed-rear-sight.html

I am not looking for a collector piece, just a shooter. Should I go for it or wait and see if a Bulgy/E.G./etc Makarov might come my way sometime. Any advice?
Click to expand...
Last commercial 9x18 with couple 12 round magazines was $299+tax. I would look for something in better caliber & with better sights for not much more money. Last S&W 9x19 pistol with carbon steel slide alloy frame and two 12 round magazines was tagged at $319. While little thicker it had same side profile as the Makarov pistol.
 
I believe that the Pistolet Makarova (the true Makarov - not the Polish, Czech, or Hungarian variants) is one of the finest pistols ever made. If you buy this one and decide that you don't like the rear sight, it's simple enough to change. And if you decide you don't want to keep it, give me a call! ;)
 
PabloJ said:
Last commercial 9x18 with couple 12 round magazines was $299+tax. I would look for something in better caliber & with better sights for not much more money. Last S&W 9x19 pistol with carbon steel slide alloy frame and two 12 round magazines was tagged at $319. While little thicker it had same side profile as the Makarov pistol.
Click to expand...
Hola, Pablo. You mean you aren't going to offer your usual advice about getting something in a "more manly caliber"? :)
 
Any thing under $300 for a decent condition Makarov is a good price now days.

I have 17.

The last one I bought, in Janurary, was a Bulgarian in excellent condition. It was a steal at $319.
 
Thanks for the inputs; I will let you know what happens! I will try and see if I can go to the LGS after work tomorrow.
 
Jeez, are original Mak mags hard to get? I remember when they were practically giving them away. Those aftermarket mags do look good though.
 
I have one of those (and replaced the rear sight with the one you linked).

It shoots well and I like it, though truthfully I would have rathered that I bought the regular military fixed sight version.
 
Wow. I had no idea. I ha e an ij70 in both 9mm mak a.d .380. I was planning to sell the nine for 180, as i had only paid 150 for it...and was gonna throw in 100 rds of s&b brass ammo. Maybe i need to rethink
 
I paid $200 +/- a bit for the last half dozen pistols I've gotten in 9x18.

They have not skyrocketed like other guns during this panic. Most folks don't seem to have an interest as they are generally low capacity according to the media.

The Russian I got recently had a bunch of new markings written over the original ones, I guess to make it acceptable for import, but it shoots great.

Personally I prefer the CZs to the others, but it's a nice niche to start collecting as it's not that expensive to get a good solid, diverse collection going. Only downside is it leads to other areas, like collecting 7.65x25 TOK which I am into now also :(

The 9x18 is comparable to the .38 special in power, and is very manageable in those small guns. Academy around here sells it at 1/2 the price of .380 and only a buck or two more than cheap 9x19 normally goes for.
 
I have an IJ-70 in .380. It is one of the most accurate guns I own. I don't like the adjustable sight so I bought the fixed-sight replacement. Still, I have yet to replace the rear sight because it has not been a problem. I own several other Makarovs and prefer the fixed sight ones, but they are all good guns.
 
To me, if you aren't collecting it, a makarov is a $200 gun for people that can't afford to or don't want to pay for a $300 gun in 9x19.
I've paid less than $300 for many quality 9x19 auto's. I'd wait for 3 months or so and see whats available then.
 
.
To me, if you aren't collecting it, a makarov is a $200 gun for people that can't afford to or don't want to pay for a $300 gun in 9x19.
I've paid less than $300 for many quality 9x19 auto's. I'd wait for 3 months or so and see whats available then.
Click to expand...

But then he'd have a $300 9mm and still wouldn't have a Makarov.
 
Well folks, I bought it for $275. I tried to see if he would go lower but he was pretty firm about it, so I went for it as I thought the price was decent and he tossed in some rounds to boot. I plan to pick it up on Saturday, maybe later. I definitely want to make it a shooter as it isn't exactly one of the more uncommon sought after models. Still, Oldies but goodies.

I will post pics as soon as I am able to. Thanks for your help - I will look into extra mags and such and will certainly explore some of the links on this thread. If anyone has any further advice please feel more than welcome to comment =)
 
BTW, a good source of affordable aftermarket magazines that work well, would be www.keepshooting.com
I carry my EG& Circle10 with those as spares.
Wolff Gunsprings are great as a source of extra power recoil springs...I roll with the 19&21 pounders.These are great when you shoot a LOT and/ or go hotter than standard.
Enjoy!
 
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