Makarov price check and general questions

[dandean316]

I am in the market for a Makarov, but have a few questions. I see there are East German, Russian and Bulgarian - are there any others? What is a ballpark price for each?

Some dealers have extra mags, holsters, grips and a cleaning rod with the gun. Were these standard, or are they "throw ins" to sweeten the deal?

Is there a way to tell if the gun is/was a military or police issue? Any way to tell the year of manufacture? Cold War sidearms appeal to me.

Sorry if my questions seem dumb, but the Makarov's seem like a great gun!

 

[David4516]

The average Mak goes for about $150

Other Maks may be worth more, depending on where they are from, when they were made, and what kind of shape they are in.

I can recomend the Makarov for sure. I've had mine for a while now, and have been carrying it since I got my CHL a few months back. I have had nothing but positive experiances with it.

I'm not sure if you reload or not, but if you do, I can recomend using Hornady bullets (the 95 gr XTP, .365 diameter). My Mak likes them anyway...

 

[coldshot03/04]

Paid $150 for my Russian Makarov (380acp). I have seen Makarovs from $100-$250. In my area. Well worth the money what ever price you pay.

 

[BowStreetRunner]

makarov.com is the place to go
and gunboards.com has a makarov dedicated forum
heading to those places can help you out immensly
get one!

BSR

 

[Thirties]

As well as the E.German, Russian, and Bulgarian you mentioned, there are the Chinese Makarovs as well.

The cleaning rod is a very good thing to have as it's pointed end is the tool for removing the extractor.

Bulgarians are the least expensive. Quality is excellent in all of them.

There are several other pistols made in the 9mm Makarov caliber (some are very good guns), but the above four are the only ones that are made in the Pistolet Makarova design with interchangable parts.

Go to www.makarov.com and read all about it.

Gunboards.com is not operative at the moment. Don't know when or if they will get back online. If anyone here has any info on the gunboards/Tuco board please let us know...

 

[dandean316]

The Pistolet Makarova design are the ones I want.

I can buy one at a private sale locally for $180. It's Bulgarian, very good shape, with cleaning rod and 4 mags. Is this a little high? According to Makarov.com it seems on the high end, but with the extra mags, I thought I'd ask.

You guys are right. Makarov.com is great. I was especially looking for a gun prior to the Berlin wall falling and the info on that site will help me in my search.

 

[Thirties]

At $180 for a private sale (no sales tax, no shipping, no FFL fee), with the extra magazines, you will not be paying too much.

Sure, some will tell you you could have done better, but you are buying a gun you've seen, held, etc.

Not a bad deal at all . . .

Enjoy it. Check out the Wolff 19lb. springs.

do you load your own? If you do, makarov.com casts and sells their own Lead semi-wadcutter bullets.

Are you a hobby person, or will this gun be for self-defense?

 

[alamo]

The Makarov forum at gunboards.com is back up. They switched software:

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=3

 

[dandean316]

The FFL fee is not an issue for me as I know someone who can do the transfer - that is if we go that route or it's just a private sale.

What % for that price should I expect once I do see it? So for $180 I should get at least 95%?

do you load your own? If you do, makarov.com casts and sells their own Lead semi-wadcutter bullets.

I just started reloading, but if I can get some SWC for the 9x18 I may have to pick up the dies and reload this caliber.

Are you a hobby person, or will this gun be for self-defense?

I was going to get these mainly as a hobby gun, but if they work well enough, I'd maybe carry it when the weather is hot. I guess I really like the idea of having a gun with a little history, so that's why I'd really like a military or police issue.

I understand people use these successfully for CCW, but I really like my .45 for that. Besides, I can't carry at work so for where I go, I can conceal the .45 pretty easily.

 

[lee n. field]

I can buy one at a private sale locally for $180. It's Bulgarian, very good shape, with cleaning rod and 4 mags. Is this a little high? According to Makarov.com it seems on the high end, but with the extra mags, I thought I'd ask.

With 4 mags, probably not _too_ bad. Looking around online, magazines have gone up a bit from when I last bought any. Lowest I've seen is 10FRNs per mag now, which is still way cheaper than magazines for anything else I own.

FWIW, both mine came with full flap holster and two mags. The Russian also came w/ the cleaning rod and a screwdriver thingee.

I'm in the market again, having been tasked by my brother with finding him one. My dealer is making inquiries with his sources.