Makarov double

[Tom Bri]

Out shooting my makarov today and it double-fired on me! Pretty surprised!

I ran through 3 more mags and it didn't happen again, but...

Any ideas why this might have happened? Could simple lack of cleaning cause this, it has been a while (quite) since I stripped it down for a good cleaning, and I wonder if the firing pin might have hung up.

 

[lee n. field]

That's my thought.

 

[LooterLefty]

Was the shot in DA or SA?

 

[Tom Bri]

Single action. Happened on the second (and third) shot.

I was kinda waiting for it to go full-auto on me, but it didn't....

 

[LooterLefty]

Sometimes, when you limp-wrist these pistols, they tend to bump fire. As opposed to jamming, like most semis. So make sure you have a firm grip, wrist locked.

Or, it could be a worn sear. Keep an eye on it, for sure.

 

[weregunner]

Suggestion for what it is worth time.How about going over to the www.makarov.com message board and do a search or join{if you haven't already} and ask over there? I'm sure posters here now quite a bit about Maks,but I have had a few questions on mechanical problems I had with mine and was answered within 24 hours by at least 12 people.Good gunsmiths are hard to find for Maks.Search here and at the Mak site would be benificial.Since I is nut a Mechnical genious of serts I will leave it to others to advise .Just wanted to give you another resource.Get somebody serious in here will ya? My lack of sense of humor is apparent.NEXT.

 

[Shoney]

It has happened to me on two of the several Maks I own. The doubles occured when the weapons were dirty from extended sessions with "dirty powder" ammo. Since the Maks have a free floating firing pin, I presumed they were slam fires. Let us hear your findings and conclusions.

 

[LooterLefty]

Yes, clean the cosmoline out of the FP channel before you shoot your Mak. Pipe cleaners: $.79 in the cigarettet checkout aisle at wallyworld.

 

[joneb]

I to vote for a dirty firing pin channel as the most likely cause to your double fire. Removing the pin is easy, cleaning of the pin channel should be done routinely . Clear the pistol and lock the slide back, tilt the gun down and up the firing pin should move back and forth freely.

 

[Hazzard]

I was thinking the same thing. Dirty firing pin channel. SKS will do the same if the firing pin channel gets gunked up.

 

[joneb]

Yes it will Hazzard, my Russian SKS did untill I decosmoed the firing pin channel

 

[Hazzard]

Kind of fun for a couple of seconds, isn't it!

 

[joneb]

I find it troubling, it is a malfunction . The gun is a tool, and I am the tool's master

 

[Tom Bri]

dirty

Yep, took it down and worse, far worse than I had thought. Actual beads of rust on the firing pin. Crud everywhere. Cleaned up good though, looks like all surface rust and no pitting. Rest of the innards looked OK too.

I think that this is only the second time I have taken it down for cleaning. Amazing how simple these things are.

 

[Teakwood]

Amazing how simple these things are.

That is the beauty of the Makarov.

 

[LooterLefty]

Beauty in simplicity

The ease of takedown, and working on these pistols is why I chose one as my first. Reminds me of a quote from another famous Russian gun designer:

"I read in some book, maybe holy scripture: 'All that is complex is not useful, and all that is useful is simple.' This is my whole life's motto." M. Kalasnikov

 

[lee n. field]

far worse than I had thought. Actual beads of rust on the firing pin.

AAaaack. Where you been keeping that thing? Kidding.

(Ja. Mine get surface rust at the drop of a hat. I pulled the spare Mak out of the safe, and found spots of rust on the slide. Cleaned it up, field stripped the gun and sprayed liberally with Beoshield. Maybe someday when I get rich I'll get 'em nickle plated. )