Makarov Caliber Gun for Pocket Carry?

[Wishoot]

Since I started shooting my CZ82, I've grown very fond of this caliber. It's inexpensive, easy to break down and more importantly, I seem to shoot it better than almost everything else.

Unfortunately, the CZ82 isn't very pocket friendly. So my question is are there any other 9x18 guns that are easily concealable in the pocket?

 

[kragluver]

P64. Its the closest thing to pocket carry you'll find in a 9x18Mak caliber. Its a bit large for blue jeans, but it works well in cargo pants.

 

[todd_g]

FEG PA-63 are similar to the P64 in 9x18 makorav. Like the Walther PPK.

 

[gearhead]

I pocket carry a P64 everywhere it's allowed. If a J-frame will fit, so will the P64. It's a perfect, inexpensive carry gun. It also fits perfectly in a DeSantis SuperFly that will hold a PPK or J-frame. I modified my SuperFly to add some elastic bands to hold a spare magazine too.

 

[Deaf Smith]

Dunno about pocket as most of those all steel guns are heavy, but the CZ82 or a Mak will do ok for SD. Any IWB holster is the way to go unless it's winter where you can pack them in coat pockets and not look like a potato smuggler.

If you do want a real pocket gun for summer, a TCP, or LCP, or P3AT is the way to go. That or a TI titanium Smith J frame.

Deaf

 

[Snowdog]

P64. Its the closest thing to pocket carry you'll find in a 9x18Mak caliber. Its a bit large for blue jeans, but it works well in cargo pants.

Exactly what I would have said.

 

[docnyt]

The Makarov PM is a bit too heavy and not thin enough for pocket carry but as has been said is great in IWB.

 

[WardenWolf]

The P-64 is a good choice, although possibly a little heavy for pocket carry. It's a great little pistol, though. I've got mine on IWB right now.

 

[North Bender]

If you really want to get a small pocket 9x18 try the FEG SMC 918. That's the smallest pistol chambered in 9x18 ever imported. Sort of hard to find but not impossible.

 

[Nasty]

The 918 looks sweet!

My PA-63...not as light or powerful as my Kel-Tec PF9, but still a decent carry piece that served pocket duty before there *was* a PF9.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Don't know how much smaller or lighter I would want to go, it's about as stout as you can go with a blowback gun, maybe something like a KT p3AT and locked breach?

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

P64, or maybee one of these when they are back in stock:http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?groupid=102

 

[DocCasualty]

I vote for the P64 as well. The P83 is bigger and seems too big for a pocket pistol to me. The weight of the P64 is a bit of a drawback but not a deal breaker.

I'm not familiar with the FEG SMC 918. It looks like a great contender. How do they handle and shoot?

 

[North Bender]

I'm not familiar with the FEG SMC 918. It looks like a great contender. How do they handle and shoot?

Well, my experience with the little beast is that it's well built, reliable, quite a recoil, and I can't hardly hit a thing with it. The grip's small and at least two fingers hang over the bottom. But for pocket carry (for a presumably short range problem) it's a fine option.

 

[gearhead]

Everybody talks as if the P64 is offensively heavy. Mine, with a full magazine, weighs right in between a S&W J-frame airweight and a Taurus 24/7 compact poly semi-auto and is virtually identical to a Glock 26 in weight. It conceals better and more comfortably (at least for me) than all three of those. It's right in the middle of the sweet spot for concealed carry, pistols that are much lighter often fire less effective rounds or have even sharper recoil.

Of course, what works for me won't necessarily work for everyone else but it's an attractive combination. Reliable, with a DA/SA trigger and safety-decocker and a natural pointer for me. The DA trigger is passable with the Wolff spring modification and the SA is super light.

 

[rd2007]

I think most of the P64 haters spend too much time reading Intraweb forums. Most actual owners give it very high reviews and I'm proud to be a member of that group. It's just an all around great gun and it's now C&R, which leads to the one current problem: it's hard to find.
BTW, mind fits in my front pocket easy with jean shorts on.

 

[Shadow 7D]

It's not that it isn't heavy, just think, most people pocket carry a polymer gun (think Kel Tec or Kahr) or an Airweight revolver made of aluminum or some other lightweight metal.

I personally want the heft in a blowback gun, part of the reason I chose a KT type design is that they are a locked breach even though they don't need to be, it makes the recoil a little less and a more manageable gun for something so lite.

 

[Bohemus]

http://www.zvi.cz/en/products/9-mm-pistol-kevin.html

 

[Shadow 7D]

Yeah, but the MDE (micro desert eagle) has a reputation for recoil in .380, I hate to think what it would be like in 9mak, but you might want to contact Magnum Research and see if they could import 9mak barrel for it.

 

[Erich]

I agree you're looking at the SMC-918/R61 (same thing in military garb) or the P64. They're practically the same size, tho the Hungarian guns are a bit lighter (I don't think it's of any practical difference in a decent pocket holster). Here are some comparison shots.

 

[Nasty]

Ahh..just a smidge. Thanks for the shots!

 

[dusty14u]

The 918 looks sweet!

My PA-63...not as light or powerful as my Kel-Tec PF9, but still a decent carry piece that served pocket duty before there *was* a PF9.

Great looking grips. Must be Marchals from Hungary. I got bubinga grips on order for my PA63.

 

[The_Shootist]

Pocket carry?

In tight jeans it might be a problem but I've carried my Bulgy Mak in my shorts right-front pocket in a DeSantis Nemesis without a problem, with an untucked shirt. Sure, it weighs more than my 642 but thats never been a serious disadvantage. The extra rounds on tap make up for any weight gain.

If you have the pockets or way of dress a Mak in pocket carry is a pretty good option. Particularly with BB bringing out its new hardcast self defense loading:

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=220

A Mak loaded with these can't be any worse than a .380 or snubby considering its accuracy and reliability.

 

[Nasty]

Thank you! Yes...they are from Marshal. My originals were cracked in the box when I got the pistol, but would likely have replaced them anyway knowing what a beautiful and high quality set of grips they offer.

 

[Bohemus]

Yeah, but the MDE (micro desert eagle) has a reputation for recoil in .380, I hate to think what it would be like in 9mak, but you might want to contact Magnum Research and see if they could import 9mak barrel for it.

Ive shot both of them and the 9mm Makarov felt softer, anyway its lower felt recoil compared to my daily carry Ruger LCP..