Makarov for CCW questions

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Caliburn

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Some of you have mentioned Maks for truck guns or CCW. How much do they weigh? Do they make a good CCW? Where do you find a decent holster for it? Someone mentioned .380 versions. Do they make a 9x19 barrell?

Ideally I'd prefer a 9x19 or 40 for compatibility with the rest of the herd, but Maks look fun and a bargain. How are they for concealed use?
 
-Ahhhh Pistolet Makarova. The Glock of the Eastern Bloc.

The Gun weighs about 26-27 oz, I'm not sure. I'll have to look it up.
Dillon makes a good holster. Personally, I use a custom made Predator Kydez IWB holster. The Gun has become so popular that just about every holster maker makes something for it!! The .380 and 9mm Makarov barrels are interchangable, but you need a special tool to do it. N, 9mm Parabellum will not work in this gun. It is a blowback and the round is to powerful!!
Hope this helps!!
 
First off, forget the 9x19 barrel... ain't gonna happen. However, with aftermarket recoil springs, some of the 9x18 offerings display significant improvements over traditional 9x18 and .380acp loadings.

I've never carried mine (Russian IJ-70) as I have a K9 that's just as tall and long as a mak and fires the magnificent 9x19. I am aware of a few decent rig options, but can't name any offhand. I'm sure other here will fill you in.
I really despise the sorry excuse for sights on my makarov, but it's a fine "no frills" pistol besides that.

Personally, I've never allowed myself to become too worked up over the makarov as other here appear to be. It's no Sig or Kahr... however it's a heck of a value for the price, as other milsurp handguns such as the CZ52 tend to be. In that context, it's just peachy.

And of course, with the right loads it'll make a formidable defensive handgun. Dependability, robustness and value are attributes the mak has earned. Don't sweat the purchase, it's a fine investment.
 
My carry gun is a Makarov. The main thing it has going for it is that it's just so darn reliable. Mine has never jamed. I have not tried this, but I bet I could throw it in a mud puddle, then dump sand on it, and it would probably still work.

It's also cheap, as has been pointed out.

It is easy to hide because it is thin. Much thinner than a Glock for example.

"How much do they weigh?"

I don't know exactly, but they are all steel. They do weigh more than most other pistols of similar size. However, it is not too heavy for carry. After a while, I almost forget I've got my Mak with me...

"Do they make a good CCW?"

Yes. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give the Mak an 8 1/2, maybe a 9. The only real dis-advantage to the Mak is the caliber, it would be cool if it were 9mm Luger. But as other members have noted, the 9mm Luger round is too powerful for the Makarovs action. The 9mm Makarov round was designed to be the most powerful round that could be used in a small blowback pistol. I don't feel undergunned with the Mak, but it would be nice if it had a little more punch...

"Where do you find a decent holster for it?"

I made my own holster out of a old IWB one I found at a gunshow for real cheap. After a few atlerations, it made a great Mak holster.

"Someone mentioned .380 versions"

Yes, you can find Makarovs in .380 ACP or in 9mm Makarov (aka 9X18 ). There are also some .32 NAA conversion barrels being made, they sell them at Makarov.com

9mm Makarov is superior to .380 ACP. It shoots a slightly heavyer bullet that is sligthly larger in diameter at a slightly higher velocity. It's not a huge differance, but it is worth taking into consideration. I don't know alot about .32 NAA. I hear you can get a 60 gr bullet going 1450 FPS. It is a new and un-tested caliber, so I'd stick with the battle proven 9mm Mak round. I am thinking about getting myself a second Mak and conveting it to .32 NAA just for the heck of it. I'd like to do some testing of my own with this new caliber...

http://www.makarov.com/32naa/index.html

Overall, I've been very happy with my Mak as a carry gun. I have no plans to replace it, and I trust it with my life. I can't believe you can buy a pistol this good for so darn cheap...
 
High Noon Holsters makes a great pocket holster for the Mak. Also Lou Alessi. Order their models for the SiG 230.

Here is an EG Mak in the Pocket Grabber from HNH.

standard.jpg
 
"Do they make JHP for 9x18"

Yes.

But the bad news is that 2 of the best JHPs have been discontinued. The Hornady XTP and the Cor-Bon.

On the bright side, if you reload you can make your own XTPs as Hornady still sells the bullets themselves. I reload and when I carry my Makarov I carry with my own handloads using these bullets. I think the XTP is the best JHP out there in this caliber.

I think you can still buy factory Speer Gold Dots in 9mm Makarov. There are also several russian made JHPs that I've heard good things about. I have not tryed this one, but it gets good reviews:

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/282879
 
My ammunition order that's on the way includes one box of Fiocchi 90gr 9x18 JHPs. I'll report my experience asap.

BTW, be cautious of the 120gr Silverbears. They pack a hell of a punch and expand well, but there's a serious cartridge OAL issue that causes feed problems in many makarovs. TFL has a post of mine with expansion pics and performance reviews of the 9x18 Silverbears if you ever get an itching for them.
 
How would you switch out the barrel on a Makarov to .380? Is it something I can do or does it take a press? Will the same mags work with both calibers and is it just as reliable? The only reason I'm considering it is a wider availability of HP ammo for .380.

Also, which way does the safety work on a Makarov? Is it up or down to fire? Is the safety confusing if you're used to carrying other guns?

Thanks,
Steve
 
How would you switch out the barrel on a Makarov to .380? Is it something I can do or does it take a press? Will the same mags work with both calibers and is it just as reliable? The only reason I'm considering it is a wider availability of HP ammo for .380.
Click to expand...

You can do it. You need a barrel press. 30 or 35 FRNS from makarov.com, I think. The same magazines work just fine for 9x18 and .380 -- there's not very much difference in size bettween the two cartridges.

Also, which way does the safety work on a Makarov? Is it up or down to fire? Is the safety confusing if you're used to carrying other guns?
Click to expand...

Up is safe, down is fire, just like the 1911. Safe locks the slide, hammer and trigger (except on the East German, so I hear). The safety is also a decocker.

Confusing if you're used to other guns? Dunno, maybe if you're in a firefight. At the range, for me, no.

Holsters? I have a Falco IWB that I like.
 
"How would you switch out the barrel on a Makarov to .380?"

I would recomend that you stick with 9mm Makarov. There are still alot of JHP options in 9mm Makarov, so why down-grade? Besides, most .380 ammo I've seen seems more expensive...

Groupguy,

I had no idea you could still get the Hornady ammo. Thanks for the info. I personaly am not interested since my home-made XTPs outpreform the factroy stuff, but I think I know a few folks who might want to check it out...

jar,

You must have big pockets!
 
If you reload Mak ammo isnt a problem for you. If you have to buy off of the shelf stuff, DONT carry Silver Bear. Its way to down on quality to have any use in a CCW gun.


Corbon is still around if youre lucky enough to find it, Hornady is still making the JHP and Barnaul is a bloody good round for the money also. I carry Hornady and Barnaul. They are very very accurate and like the gun their shot in.

Thats all that counts. Shoot well
 
Swapping the barrel on a Mak is a simple thing to do... I got some .380 barrels from www.sportsmansguide.com for $29 each.

Disassemble the pistol, then remove the pin at the bottom of the trigger guard, and remove the guard, plus its spring and plunger. This allows the trigger to be removed as well.

Next remove the barrel pin just below the chamber and press/drive the barrel out of the frame to the rear. Compare the ramp dimensions on the two barrels and adjust the new one if necessary.

Slip the new barrel into the frame and press/drive it into place (if the barrel is not cross-drilled for the barrel pin, mark it, remove it, drill it, then re-install it), then install the barrel pin.

Re-install the trigger, and trigger guard with its pin, spring and plunger, then reassemble the complete pistol.

That's it.
 
"with all the real guns out there for ccw why a Makarov"

I hope you're kidding :confused:

First off, if my Mak is not a "real gun", then you won't mind if I shoot you with it, right?

Secondly, I have found the Mak to be much more reliable that most of those "real guns" you're talking about. Guns that cost 3 times as much and jam all the time. I've never seen a Mak jam. I've heard storys, but I have to wonder if they are ture...

No thanks, I'll stick with my Mak. I prefer I pistol that I can actually trust...
 
It never has jammed and that fixed barrel leads to great accuracy--even better is the weapon had better sights.

Just for grins, unloaded as fast as a could pull the trigger at 7 yards. When the smoke from the Russian loads cleared--holy crap--one ragged hole!
 
This is a joke thread, right..?

WildwithalltherealgunsoutthereforccwwhyaMakarovAlaska
Click to expand...

Wild, all I can say is, when I was poorer than I am now, I'm awfully glad I had that "cheap" Pistolet Makarova under my pillow the day some goof came to my house with the misguided idea of doing a home invasion!!! Pretty decent crook repellent, if you ask me!! :D

BTW, I still have that Mak and have enlarged his family by six!! :cool:
 
O sorry guys I didnt mean to upset you, I should have realized that rather than buy a SIG 239 or a S&W 442 or a pistol of that ilk that there are in fact people who prefer to carry large for caliber inferiorly finished combloc knockoffs of an obsolete design pistol in a not so stellar caliber...

Now dont get me wrong, Makaorvs are interesting, but so are Enfield revolvers and Webleys...

WildflameawayAlaska :)
 
Wild, there are many who still consider .380 and 9x18 to be adequate self defense calibers (heck, there are people who carry .32acp for jeebus' sake). So I wouldn't completely discount the Mak as a carry gun (especialy when you can buy 5 of them for what a Sig 239 will cost you).

I will agree that there are better choices for CCW then the Mak, but for the money its hard to beat.

That said, I carry a Makarov too, but thats really only because I sold my Kahr MK40 to finance an AR-15. As soon as I have the money I'll be buying something in 9x19 or bigger (especialy after this weekend's experience with those damn poppers that took a couple of mags of rapid fire to drop).
 
"I should have realized that rather than buy a SIG 239 or a S&W 442 or a pistol of that ilk that there are in fact people who prefer to carry large for caliber inferiorly finished combloc knockoffs of an obsolete design pistol in a not so stellar caliber..."

The main differance between a Mak and those that you list is the Price tag. You simply can't find a better gun for the money. I can buy multiple Maks for the cost of a S&W or a Glock or whatever.

As for the Caliber, like I said before, if it's so darn weak you won't mind if I shoot ya with one, right?


And whats so "Obsolete" about the design? I think it's really cool. It is reliable, and simple. If I can take one apart and put it back together, anyone can (I'm not so good at stuff like that :eek: ).

I suspect that you're just playing devils advocate here, and are secretly a Makarov fan. ;)
 
Ah ha!

I do believe I now know who it was that pissed in the lemonade and threw rocks at the hornet's nest during that boyscouts camping trip years ago....
 
Did I start all that?

Thanks for all the great info. Sure the 9x18 isn't a 12 gauge, but the 12 gauge likes to stay home when I go out.

Looks like I'll add a Bulgarian to the stable. Or three. ;)

Until I win the lottery, inexpensive and reliable is a hard to beat combination. Stalin was right about one thing: quantity does have a quality all it's own. Heck, those CZ52's at SOG are looking good too ($99), but they don't look very CCW-able.
 
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