lokking at a makarov

[bosh71]

Hi everybody!I am Bulgarian police officer and Macarov is still my service issued weapon.If you want a Mac the best are the East German and the Bulgarian Macs but the Bulgarian must be one of the older ones,made before 2000 with the round trigger guard.The new ones made by Arsenal are not bad too but the old ones are better and the East German Macs were the best of all former communist countries.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Hi everybody!I am Bulgarian police officer and Macarov is still my service issued weapon.If you want a Mac the best are the East German and the Bulgarian Macs but the Bulgarian must be one of the older ones,made before 2000 with the round trigger guard.The new ones made by Arsenal are not bad too but the old ones are better and the East German Macs were the best of all former communist countries.

Interesting and welcome to THR.

I have one of the new Arsenal Makarovs (center right). They were sold for only a short time. I've never seen another one since.


Great pistols. Of the many dozen pistols I own the Makarov is a favorite.
I have one Bulgarian Mak that saw a LOT of use (bottom right). It's not beat up but has been shot a LOT. The sear and hammer were worn out. I think it was probably used as a range gun. But even now, that gun is more reliable and more accurate than most off the shelf guns.

The old gun at 52 yards. Standing. right hand, left hand and both hands. The thing just doesn't miss.




.

 

[Al LaVodka]

I like Maks fine for what they are and better when they were at a decent price. That's what I keep in my nightstand. But I bought my first one a long time ago. I also just bought a museum quality Mle 1892 French revolver -- so what? Despite the Comblock-fringe defense of inexpensive stuff and a lot of self-proclaimed experts, Maks were clearly outdated Russian copies from the day they were issued. Nothing really wrong with them, just nothing overwhelmingly right where a cheap price makes them worthwhile anymore. Especially compared to the later 9x18's IMO. The Mak's time has more than come and gone unless ya just gotta have one, and we all have those. If ya really want something practical like it, buy a new, modern, smaller, thinner, lighter gun with as many rounds of actual 9mm for about the same price and duct-tape a handfull of small fishing weights to it, that's all I'm saying.

It is NOT a bargain anymore, and especially not a bargain CARRY gun if it ever was.

 

[emilianoksa]

The CZ83 has better sights and a much better trigger, but is let down by cheap, fragile plastic grips, and the slide looks somewhat out of proportion with the frame.

For me the Mak has a more elegant appearance, is easier to strip, more reliable and easier to conceal. The trigger improves with use. It looks and feels better than a Walther PPK.

And the Mak has something the CZ lacks. A history.

 

[woad_yurt]

bosh71:
What ammo do you use?

 

[Jim PHL]

They're kinda cool. I wish I had bought a few and kept them when they were 80 bucks.

 

[bosh71]

We use mostly Bulgarian and sometimes Russian ammo.The Bulgarian ammo is marked on the bottom of the case with 10,this is the factory in the town of Kazanlak,Bulgaria and another digit for the year it was produced.There are FMJ in red and lead bullet in green Bulgarian made.The Russian ammo is marked with TCW.It means Tula Armory.They are also in red for the FMJ and in green for the lead bullet.The Russian ammo is with higher velocity.The new Bulgarian Maks have square trigger guard and some phosphate finish which wears out pretty quick.Al LaVodka Maks are really already out of time but they are worth their money.I have my personal Glock 19 and Glock 26 but I still shoot the Mak with pleasure every time.

 

[jon_in_wv]

Don't bother w/a real one anymore -- they're just not worth it and were obsolete when they were first issued, especially compared to those others.

Wow, its funny those silly Russians still use the Makarov after more than 50 years in service. They must be really slow on the uptake. Either that or the Makarov is a proven weapon that is rugged, reliable, and accurate so they haven't seen the need to replace it for the last 50 years. They are using other handguns now but you will still find the Maks in service. I would like to know what advantage the P64 has over the Makarov? I certainly don't see any. The CZS have better sights and a double stack mag but other than that they have no real advantage either. In fact I prefer the single stack mag and the slimmer profile of the Mak over the CZ.

 

[Glock Holiday]

*Hijack Alert* Need quick info tonight sorry OP...
So this guy I know wants to sell me a Bulgy Mak with 700 rounds of Russian FMJ ammo for $350 FTF in my home state.
Is this a good deal or just so-so? Not really looking for another pistol or caliber but 700 rounds of ammo thrown in kind of makes me consider it.

 

[Al LaVodka]

It looks and feels better than a Walther PPK.

How about the PP it is modeled after? The P-64 is the knock-off of the PPK.
Al

 

[Al LaVodka]

Wow, its funny those silly Russians still use the Makarov after more than 50 years in service. They must be really slow on the uptake. Either that or the Makarov is a proven weapon that is rugged, reliable, and accurate so they haven't seen the need to replace it for the last 50 years. They are using other handguns now but you will still find the Maks in service. I would like to know what advantage the P64 has over the Makarov? I certainly don't see any. The CZS have better sights and a double stack mag but other than that they have no real advantage either. In fact I prefer the single stack mag and the slimmer profile of the Mak over the CZ.

The Russians as a state are slow on the uptake, absolutely. Look how long they had absolute Czar's and were (and leaning back towards) a Communist dictatorship. More than 50 years each, eh, so they must have been good. And they've been dirt poor as a nation. Their guns were little different than every other anachronistic item there. From buildings held together with straps to bread lines. Steal what you can get away with, stay in power, and make due with it for as long as you can. They're still making 1950's BMW Motorcycles -- doesn't make 'em bad but neither is a decent buggy whip. But who needs 'em? Even the best-made East German buggy whip, like it makes any real difference where it came from except to a bunch of kids off the short yellow bus jumping up and down all over the schoolyard, is still a friggin' buggy whip.

BTW, if you can't "see" the differences between a P-64 and a Makarov it is because that's all you've done, look at pictures, not even compare them side by side in real life no less wear or shoot them.

Al

 

[jcwit]

Quote:
Originally Posted by jon_in_wv
Wow, its funny those silly Russians still use the Makarov after more than 50 years in service. They must be really slow on the uptake. Either that or the Makarov is a proven weapon that is rugged, reliable, and accurate so they haven't seen the need to replace it for the last 50 years. They are using other handguns now but you will still find the Maks in service. I would like to know what advantage the P64 has over the Makarov? I certainly don't see any. The CZS have better sights and a double stack mag but other than that they have no real advantage either. In fact I prefer the single stack mag and the slimmer profile of the Mak over the CZ.

The Russians as a state are slow on the uptake, absolutely. Look how long they had absolute Czar's and were (and leaning back towards) a Communist dictatorship. More than 50 years each, eh, so they must have been good. And they've been dirt poor as a nation. Their guns were little different than every other anachronistic item there. From buildings held together with straps to bread lines. Steal what you can get away with, stay in power, and make due with it for as long as you can. They're still making 1950's BMW Motorcycles -- doesn't make 'em bad but neither is a decent buggy whip. But who needs 'em? Even the best-made East German buggy whip, like it makes any real difference where it came from except to a bunch of kids off the short yellow bus jumping up and down all over the schoolyard, is still a friggin' buggy whip.

BTW, if you can't "see" the differences between a P-64 and a Makarov it is because that's all you've done, look at pictures, not even compare them side by side in real life no less wear or shoot them.

Al

Yup, and next year we'll be using a 100 year old design in the 1911 Colt 45 ACP.

Sometimes things are just made right!

 

[TehK1w1]

*sigh* What's with the gratituous Mak-bashing? No, it isn't as powerful or concealable as some of the new wonderguns. It's not as concealable as some of it's contemporaries, either. Nobody's arguing that. However, it IS very well made (better than many new firearms), very reliable, very accurate), more powerful than the 380s that are so popular right now, and oh, yeah, it's cheap, too. $300 is a bargain for a pistol of that quality.

I'm still trying to figure out how it was "obsolete when first issued", especially considering that you're plugging the P64 so hard, which has a much worse trigger, is harder to control, holds less ammunition, and was made a decade later.

Originally Posted by emilianoksa View Post
It looks and feels better than a Walther PPK.
How about the PP it is modeled after? The P-64 is the knock-off of the PPK.
Al

Have you actually compared the Mak internals to PP internals?? They are completely different designs.
For that matter, the P64 is a different animal from the PPK, as well.

Oh, and Glock Holiday, that's a good deal if the gun's in good shape. I'd buy it if I were you.

 

[Glock Holiday]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v460/preokc/Picture012-1.jpg
Here is what the pistol looks like.
Thanks for the reply TehK1w1.
I'm going to sleep on it and let him know Friday.
Perhaps he'll come down closer to $300 even which with 705 rounds of brown bear I think would be a good deal.

 

[Al LaVodka]

Yup, and next year we'll be using a 100 year old design in the 1911 Colt 45 ACP.

Sometimes things are just made right!

So now a Makarov is being compared to the classic and venerable 1911!? I would like to say that's a bit of a stretch but I'm thinking someone's been inhaling too much lead or not putting enough down range. The 1911 was a great military gun. Arguably the greatest. John Browning considered his P-35 an improvement. The Mak? I hope no-one here would dare argue it was an adequate military gun by even 1950's standards! If you do you should turn in your THR decoder ring or at least stop prostelitizing Maks you Rasputin you.

In fact, ask yourself this question -- if someone were to give you one for free, which of the above named guns would you take? If you answer Makarov, seek professional help ASAP. And please don't be a wiseacre and answer a question with a question like "for what purpose" -- its cliche.

 

[bdb benzino]

How about this to settle this arguement.

If you had to pick one for concealed carry, the P64, or a real Makarov (e. German, Russian, Bulgarian, etc...) which would it be?

I'm pick'n the Mak.

 

[joneb]

In fact, ask yourself this question -- if someone were to give you one for free, which of the above named guns would you take?

It would depend on my need, I have a Colt Gov. 70's ser. that I like a lot, it is my bedside gun and it wears CT PJs. This gun is a bit large for a every day CCW for me, for this I prefer my S&W mod 36 or the Makarov, I hope that's ok

 

[woad_yurt]

I pocket carry, so I prefer a PA 63, then the Mak, then the P64. The Feg is a light gun. In the winter, coats permit me to carry bigger stuff. In warmer temps, I have a P3AT.

If I use the holster, though, it's the Makarov all the way.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I have 16 Makarovs, 3 P64s, 1 PA63, and four CZ83/82, so I know the guns pretty well.

There is a long time member of Glock Talk that was in the Polish Army. The Polish Army was armed with the P64. He said the gun was generally disliked because it was too small, difficult for the average soldier to shoot, kicks bad, has a more than a terrible DA trigger pull, small sights and the thumb safety gave problems. I think he said they dumped the P64 in favor of the CZ 82.

The P64 and PA-63 are decent guns but does not compare to the Makarov.

And while the Makarov and P64 are almost the same size the Makrov holds 8+1 rounds and the P64 only 6+1 rounds.

 

[jon_in_wv]

BTW, if you can't "see" the differences between a P-64 and a Makarov it is because that's all you've done, look at pictures, not even compare them side by side in real life no less wear or shoot them.

Al, I would LOVE you to show me were I said I don't "see" any differences between the P-64 and the Mak because to put it simply I DIDN'T. I said, I don't see any ADVANTAGES to the P-64 over the Mak. If you would like to answer that rather than smugly mis-quote me I'd be all ears.

BTW> I do know they are different and I have experience with both. I personally see no advantages the P-64 would have over the MAK. The Mak is a much better weapon in my opinion.