I may be getting a Makarov.

[firestar]

I guess I have to try one of these guns because everyone keeps raving about them. I have looked at a few and wasn't impressed but now that ammo is cheap for them, I think I will buy one and see what I think.

I went to a dealer and he is checking to see if he can get me one. I am supposed to call on Wed and check his price. If it is a good deal, I will pick one up. I assume it will be a Bulgarian but it really doesn't matter much to me because they are all the same crude junk.

What is a good price now? I saw a Russian one at a gunshop for $150 that I passed on because it had a really rough DA trigger and it just didn't "do it" for me. I have never seen a Bulgarian one in any gunshow or gun shop so I have no price to go by. I could order one from SOG but after shipping and FFL transfer, it will run me about $170-180 so I guess anything less than that will be a deal.

What is so great about them anyway? I know they are supposed to be reliable and decently accurate but is there something else that makes people love them so much? Is it just the price?

 

[lee n. field]

I saw a Russian one at a gunshop for $150 that I passed on because it had a really rough DA trigger and it just didn't "do it" for me

Your Mileage May Vary. The DA trigger on my Russian commercial Mac is nicer than that on my Bulgarian milsurp.

What is so great about them anyway? I know they are supposed to be reliable and decently accurate but is there something else that makes people love them so much? Is it just the price?

Try it and see. If you don't like it, it should be easy to unload.

 

[Zip06]

Makarov's are a fine gun. Not much negative on these boards about them. Mine have given great performance. Just a suggestion, if you buy one go to a gunshow to get ammo. If you buy it by the case it will cost about $5.00 a box. Wolf and Barnaul both offer cheap, dirty ammo that shoots just fine. If you buy LVE ammo, don't be suprised with all the sparks shooting out the barrel.

 

[9x19]

I would recommend against it... you're preconceived notions may taint the experience.

The Maks have a cult following and I don't trust anyone that gets emotional about their gun. Often, when a gun or anything has a clut (sic)following, it is because the object in question has some good qualities but also some drawbacks, otherwise it wouldn't be a cult following, it would just be a following. ~ firestar

 

[alamo]

I would advise against it too. There is a Makarov forum on gunboards.com with all kinds of fanatical followers, some would call it a cult.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I think everybody should have at least one Mak. Lots of people are into collecting them. I bought an East German once about 4 years ago. I like it alot. They're great little plinkers that make very serviceable defense guns. I'm told that East German ones were of the highest quality.

 

[Coronach]

The thing that everyone "raves" about is not the fact that they are super ergonomic, high-quality, superbly finished and appointed weapons. If you are expecting this, then, yes, you will be disappointed.

They are ugly little spuds that are, as I just said elsewhere, crudely wrought but cunningly designed. The design is sheer genius. It is simplicty given form. And it works. Really really well.

What this adds up to is a very inexpensive gun that will go bang, every time, and will put its rounds into a startlingly small group. Its short on looks, but it performs nicely. I don't think you can find a more economically priced autoloader that you could rely on as a defensive gun.

The biggest beef I have is with the sights. They're...uh...well...milspec.

Mike

 

[Zundfolge]

Everything that Mike said except " Its short on looks"

And as for the sights, you can always send the slide off to the guys at Makarov.com and get the low profile novak sights installed

 

[David4516]

"What this adds up to is a very inexpensive gun that will go bang, every time, and will put its rounds into a startlingly small group"

That about sums it up. It's a super reliable pistol that won't cost you an arm and a leg. What more could you ask for?

Besides, they're just plain cool...

I've been very happy with my Mak, it's a bulgie. The DA trigger pull is alot better on my Dad's russian Mak, but other than that the quality seems to be about the same.

In terms of "what is this thing good for anyway?", I'd say it is the auto-loader version of a .38 snub, only better. It is thinner, you get 2 to 3 more rounds (depending on if you compare it to a 5 shot snubby or a 6 shot), it's more accurate, it's cheaper, and you get faster reloads. I don't see why anyone could carry a .38 when they could carry a Mak...

And about this "cult" thing, it's really not a cult. Just about anyone who owns a Mak ends up being a Mak fan, it is rare to hear someone bad-mouth it after they've shot one. So why doesn't it have a bigger following? Probably because most people don't even give it a chance. They look at the price tag and say "it must be junk if it's that cheap" :banghead:

 

[Sharpie1]

I have a Bulgarian one and an East German one.

They are extremely accurate and reliable.

I also have several much more expensive handguns.

While all my handguns function properly, I trust the Makarovs as much or more than my more expensive 1911s, etc. - because I know they're less finicky and less likely to malfunction than other autos I own.

You will not regret buying a Makarov.

TD

 

[SSGMike]

With hundreds of thousands of Maks out there, all running beautifully, the one that firestar gets will be junk. It's just kahrma.

 

[coldshot03/04]

Firestar, Good going. Cant wait to hear your take on these guns.

I have had mine (Russian) for about 1 1/2 yrs. Not a single hiccup. Well worth the money IMHO. ($159)

 

[CZ52GUY]

good Makarov research site...

I got a Bulgy after buying some CZ-52 accessories here...

www.makarov.com


Some good general information about the Mak's...I was intrigued, I bought a Bulgy, and I'm pretty happy with it.

Good luck and safe shooting,

CZ52'

 

[firestar]

I called about the Mak today but the guy said his distributor was back ordered so I have to call this weekend. I probably won't be able to pick it up until next weekend if he can even get them. Oh well, I don't have time to shoot it for a while anyway so I guess the wait won't kill me.

I've had good luck with mil surplus, it just the American junk I have problems with. Kel-Tec

 

[coldshot03/04]

I really dont think that the Makarov will stand up to your standards. (Its not Pot Metal)I mean your a guy that likes the Raven(ZINC) and Bersa/Llama and RAP.(POTMETAL) Really I dont thing this gun is for you. Let someone else have it.

FireStar, I cant seem to get my P32 to jam or break. What's wrong with it?

 

[firestar]

Flyer and Coldshot,

Just for the record, I don't like Raven, Bryco, Jennings, RG, Kel-Tec Llama or any other cheap POS gun. Bersa is good and the RAP is all steel, no pot metal like on the Kel-Tec.

The Mak may be a good gun, it wouldn't surprise me if it was. I'm going to give it a try even though I am not crazy about it yet. The only way to learn if a gun is any good is to get one and shoot it. I didn't like Berettas until I got one and I liked Kel-Tec UNTIL I got and it was a TOTAL and compleat POS!!!!!!!!

I have the spare cash to be able to buy guns and try them out if I like. If I don't like them, I voice my findings and some people start to whine and cry because a gun they like is revealed to be less than they believe it to be.

I love inexpensive quality guns, I hate cheap junk that breaks and jams because it was made poorly (Kel-Tec P-32). I rank Kel-Tec right with Raven, Bryco, and Jennings. I wouldn't trust my life to any of those guns but if you want to, feel free! I am not going to stop you so why don't you just go about you life and leave me alone.

I will be happy if the Mak preforms as good as my Bersa but if it doesn't, I will let you know. You shouldn't let your emotions clod your mind when choosing a gun. I have my favs like everyone else but if my fav gun was a known POS, I might think twice before getting another one or recomending them for self defense. The Kel-Tec is a compromise gun but so are a lot of small carry guns. My little Beretta 21A is a compromise on power (.22lr) but at least it is reliable. I won't compromise on reliability in a self defense gun. It has to fire first and do everything else second. I would rather have a .22lr that will fire all 8 wimpy shots than a Kel-Tec .32acp that might not even get one shot off before the trigger axis breaks or a thousand other things go wrong with it. 8 .22lrs beats ZERO .32acps in my book.

 

[coldshot03/04]

Pot Metal! Pot Metal! Pot Metal!

ps
My P32 had a hiccup today. 1st shot FTE I cleared the chamber and she rolled on 100 more rounds no problem. key word "militec"

 

[coldshot03/04]

"Magazine-book-commando" That should be a cool handle for someone. LMAO!!!

 

[Sharpie1]

FLYER

My wife is now mad at me, because YOUR POST made me laugh so hard I woke her up!

Oh well, it's just 11:45.

--tadyson

 

[Tecolote]

And to all a good night.

 

[KT-P32]

I like the Maks and I like KTs.

 

[antediluvianist]

can worry-warts find love in a Mak?

DAVID4516 wrote:
"In terms of "what is this thing good for anyway?", I'd say it is the auto-loader version of a .38 snub, only better. It is thinner, you get 2 to 3 more rounds (depending on if you compare it to a 5 shot snubby or a 6 shot), it's more accurate, it's cheaper, and you get faster reloads. I don't see why anyone could carry a .38 when they could carry a Mak..."

Very interesting analysis, DAVID4516, thank you. Must try a Mak some day. However... I grant you that the Mak has a fixed barrel, but can it be as RELIABLE in feeding as a Smith snubbie? Very close, probably, but no cigar. Snubbies have a place for worry-warts like me who want the absolutely minimum possibility of things going wrong. Semi-autos just inherently have more possibilities of things going wrong.

I guess I have been traumatized by two 1911s that I owned. Even Kimbers, Valtros, whatever , malfunction. Not a lot but it only takes one malfunction at a really bad time.

 

[9x19]

Perhaps I should consider liquidating my Maks now... before the inevitable bad report (if one is bad they must all be, right?) lowers the value on every single one of them...

Then again, perhaps not...

 

[Zundfolge]

antediluvianist, you are laboring under 2 misapprehensions.

1. Makarovs are as likely to malfunction as a 1911 (particularly a real tight competition gun)

2. Wheel guns never malfunction.


But hey, you have to be comfortable with it so I won't tell you what to do

 

[antediluvianist]

Well, everyone's enthusiasm for the Makarov impels me to try one. If in fact they malfunction a lot less than 1911s , then you have done me a great favor pointing me in that direction.

I don't think that revolvers- even Smiths or Colts or Korths or whatever- never-ever malfunction, but the probability is less. And as a household gun that my wife and daughter could use in an emergency, especially if I'm away , it's more fool-proof. Aside from the intrinsic greater simplicity of the mechanics, there is no slide-racking involved , and if a chambered round does not go off, they just pull the trigger again.

Anyway, you convinced me : I am now on the lookout for a Mak. Apparently they are relatively inexpensive, so why not?