General Makarov Question

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fasttheo

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My dad really likes my PPK/S, it fits his hand well and he's really enjoyed the few times that he's shot it. He wants a gun like it, but he balks at the $600 price tag (which also excludes the SIG). I know the Bersa Thunder is an good option, but I was interested in any feedback on Makarov. The local Gander Mountain has one for around $250; I'm not sure if it is a German, Bulgarian, or Soviet model. Would anyone recommend the Mak over the Bersa? Caliber isn't an issue, he just would like to have something like the PPK/S since it's such a comfortable gun for him. Thanks.
 
I've shot them both, and the Bersa is the superior gun.

The only thing the Mak's got that the Bersa hasn't is a long military history. And ammo that's hard to find locally.

I'm a Bersa owner, but since the prices of Maks went up above $150, they are not a deal any more.

The new deal is the CZ 82 in 9mm Makarov for $200. But it is a fair bit bigger than a PPK/S and Bersa.

How close are you to your dad? If it were my dad and we were close, I'd give him the PPK/S and buy myself a Bersa. ;)
 
The Mak has a cult following with good reason. I don't have a Bersa but I have 2 East German, 1 Bulgarian (traded one), a Russian commercial, a Russian military and a Baikal BB Makarov.

The CZ82 is another Makarov/Walther style pistol to consider.
 
If you want something close to a PPK may I suggest a P64? I got mine in like new condition for around $200 bucks. The only problem, as its a relatively small gun, the recoil packs a wallop.

This isn't mine, but mine looks almost exactly like it.

p641.jpg
 
Sorry, but for me a true Makarov makes the Bersa look like junk. Ammo is plentiful and very inexpensive. The guns are extremely reliable and very accurate. They are built like tanks and well worth a premium over any Bersa.

Get one while you still can.
 
Bersas are a lot of things... junk is not one of them. Important to hand and shoot both. Two totally different feels.
 
The biggest thing I don't like about the Bersa is that it uses a split ring to hold some of its parts together.

If you can live with that, it's a light gun with a smooth action all around. The slide racks like it's on ball bearings. The DA trigger is very light and smooth. The SA trigger is excellent. The safety lever/decocker has a nice feel to it. The hammer cocks smoothly. It has great sights. The mag release and slide lock/release are perfectly placed. Everything works and feels better than you expect.

The mak doesn't feel as refined. I personally don't like the free-floating firing pin and the safety lever that jiggles around like it could just fall out. And it's a heavier gun. But they're proven to be extremely reliable and durable.

Before I started reloading, I found the 9x18's attractive for the ammo cost. Now that I reload, I see little advantage to these surplus guns.
 
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Actually if you aren't hung up on the 9mm Mak (I think it's pretty sex myself)
Hungary, Belgium, Czech and some other European countries made PP clones, like the AP7, CZ50 etc.
 
How close are you to your dad? If it were my dad and we were close, I'd give him the PPK/S and buy myself a Bersa.
Click to expand...

The Walther isn't going anywhere. I know they catch a lot of flak, especially the S&W models, but I love it and it has been incredibly reliable. It's my baby.

Thanks for the info everyone.
 
FEG PA-63 can be had for around $180. It's really an elongated Walther.

Very good pistol. Mine was very accurate and reliable. It has an aluminum / titanium frame which seems to be pretty durable. Frame makes it light so it does recoil more than a steel framed pistol of the same size.

All the best,
D. White
 
Didn't say the Bersa was junk, just that comparison to the Mak makes it look so. The Mak is that overbuilt. Maybe it does not posses the level of finish of higher end pistols, but underneath it is all business and I guarantee that Mak will be around well after that Bersa is a pile of iron filings.

I don't know why anybody would want a .380 over a 9x18, but if you do there are Maks in .380. I have one. Its a Russian Commercial model. Also, you can do barrel conversions on Maks to .380 as the use the same magazines. Everything is the same except for the barrel.
 
I would caution that not all Bersas are like GLOOB's. My mom owns one, and it is rough so that when you rack it, it feels like there is sandpaper between the slide and frame. DA is light but gritty, and single action felt mooshy.

I would recommend any 9x18 before the bersa. All of the ones I have handled, seem a lot more consistent quality wise.
 
Pilot said:
Didn't say the Bersa was junk, just that comparison to the Mak makes it look so. The Mak is that overbuilt. Maybe it does not posses the level of finish of higher end pistols, but underneath it is all business and I guarantee that Mak will be around well after that Bersa is a pile of iron filings.

I don't know why anybody would want a .380 over a 9x18, but if you do there are Maks in .380. I have one. Its a Russian Commercial model. Also, you can do barrel conversions on Maks to .380 as the use the same magazines. Everything is the same except for the barrel.
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Or get a CZ 83; if you can find one that is.Virtually the same as an 82, but in .380. I don't believe the mags are interchangeable though. I have an 82 and it is the finest auto I have ever had. I feel it shoots and handles better than my Glock 23.

I also had a Bersa thunder .380, though not a bad little gun; I could never seem to shoot well with it though (guarantee that this is MY fault). Recently it experienced some major misfires with it. Used to guzzle down any kind of ammo but started to choke recently, so I sold it; never looked back.
 
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I've owned both I think its more a matter of personal opinion to call one "better" than the other. The Makarov is definitely a sturdier weapon but the Bersa is also a fine weapon. It comes with better sights and mine had a much nicer trigger pull. The Bersa is also lighter and much easier to carry. I like both but the Makarov is built like a tank. It is one of the most reliable weapons around in my book. The Bersa would probably make a better CCW though.
 
+1 on the P-64 or Makarov. I've fired both, and my carry piece is a P-64. The Bersa can't hold a candle. The P-64 is smaller and has a better trigger, but weighs the same and only has 1 less round. If he likes the PPK, he'll love a Makarov-caliber pistol. As for ammo, Makarov ammo is all over the place online, and it's CHEAP.

I own:

Bulgarian Makarov
Polish P-64
Hungarian PA-63

The Makarov proved a little large for CCW. It's identical in size to the Bersa, though heavier. The weight wasn't the issue. It was the handle length. If it's too large, so is the Bersa. The PA-63 has a longer barrel and is also a little awkward to carry. The P-64 proved perfect, and is superior to the Bersa in every way.
 
the FEG PA63 is based on the PPK. It is a nice pistol, especially for the money.
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I own a pa63 and a bersa. they look very similar. well, more accurately, the bersa looks and feels like a cheap low-rent copy of the pa63. seriously.

the only thing i'll give the bersa over the pa63 is trigger. the bersa has a much, much better trigger, and yes, i've swapped the springs in the pa63.
 
The PA-63 is a beautiful little pistol, but for carry it proved a little awkward. One of the problems is finding a good holster for it. The P-64 and Makarov can both use the same holsters. I use a Don Hume 715 Makarov holster for my P-64. The PA-63 is longer and protrudes from the bottom of this holster, and its sight blade can cause problems with drawing. Its handle length also causes some comfort and concealability issues.

My father and I both carry the P-64 and both will testify to its suitability for concealed carry. The only things we did to them after getting them was respring them with lighter trigger springs and heavier recoil springs from Wolff. They're great shooters, and never jam.
 
I have 5 Mak's. Two Bulgarians, Two Russian, and an E. German. They're all great with the E. German perhaps a little better quality. The Russians have the best sights. Any of them are more reliable and easier to shoot than the P64 or PPK. I haven't experienced the Bersa but prefer the 9X18mm Mak round over the .380. I've had no problem getting Mak ammo and more options have come available as well as unlimited and cheap surplus ball ammo.

They're fun to collect and shoot but for concealed carry I always come back to the Kahr PM40 or P45.
 
I got some sight paint from SiteGlo.com and put it on my P-64. It dramatically improves the sight picture. This paint is the real deal, and, once it's cured for a few days, will NOT come off. Don't buy the BrightSights.com crap. It's absolute garbage and has worse adherence than low-end acrylic model paint.
 
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