Makarov questions

[leadcounsel]

I've read through a variety of Makarov postings here and elsewhere. Looking for a concensus.

First, it's a good and inexpensive gun so I'd like to get one. That said, here are some questions.

Which, if any, should be avoided? I've read bad things about the P63, P64... others? Is the bad press against these fair? Others?

The 9x18 seems exotic and I've seen that some Maks have been retooled for .380. Are these easy to find and function well, or should I just stick with the 9x18?

I have an ideal budget of $150, maximum budget of $200 for a Makarov. What Maks should I be considering in that range?

Are there any that are C&R rated because I'd prefer that if possible as I have a C&R?

Thanks.

 

[joneb]

Many different brands of pistols shoot the .40 S&W, this does not mean that a pistol that is chamberd for that round was made by S&W.
More info here ; http://www.makarov.com/

 

[Sistema1927]

The East German Makarovs are C&R, but they are typically over your $200 budget. The Bulgarians are not C&R, but you should be able to find one for less than $200.

I have three Bulgarians, and I paid an average of $125 ea., including shipping, transfer, etc. However, prices have gone up a bit in the past couple of years, but $200 should still be do-able.

Don't worry about availability of 9x18. There have been so many Makarovs imported that ammo is available at just about any gun store or online, but not quite as cheap as it once was, but still reasonable.

 

[wrangler5]

There's a Makarov gun and a round commonly referred to as 9mm Makarov. Most Makarov guns chamber the 9mm Makarov (but as you have discovered there are some in 380) but a number of other guns also chamber the 9mm Makarov.

Makarov guns were designed in Russia, and were manufactured in Russia, East Germany, Bulgaria and China. Only Russian military (fixed sight) and East German Makarov guns are C&R eligible, and you'll be extraordinarily lucky to find one of those at $200. I've never seen a Chinese Mak, and suspect they are something of a collector's item, although I don't think they have the best reputation for fit and finish (East Germans are generally considered the best in that department.) Bulgarians can be found around the $200 mark (I bought one in very good shape for $210 last year) and they are functionally identical to the others.

The Makarov gun is an outstanding value, and the 9x18 round is quite potent in some of its loadings. The Hungarian PA-63 guns in 9x18 are alloy framed, and are generally not regarded as tough enough for anything more potent than the "standard" 95g military loadings. They are, however, inexpensive, and people who have them tend to rave about them.

The Polish P64 is the smallest 9x18 gun out there, though all steel and so not very light. They too are less expensive than a true Makarov gun. However, it has a double action trigger pull that exceeds the reading scale on trigger gauges. I tried one a couple of weeks ago and was physically unable to fire it using my trigger finger alone - I needed a second finger to help at the end of the stroke. Single action was quite "normal", but the small size of the gun and shape of its grip made it very unpleasant to shoot more than a dozen or two rounds. By comparison, my Makarov guns are a delight to shoot all afternoon.

If it were my money, I would not consider anything other than a genuine Makarov gun, in 9x18. The guns are renowned for their reliability, but if needed parts are readily available, as are grips and (usually) magazines at a reasonable rice. Right at the moment the cheap Russian ammunition is a lilttle thin on the ground, but I gather that's a situation that has fluctuated over the years.

 

[leadcounsel]

Since I have the C&R license, it may behove me to spend more for a C&R Mak instead of one I need to go through an FFL (shipping and charges).

I'll look for the C&R ones and be willing to open my budget a bit more for a better gun, particularly if it's C&R.

 

[joneb]

Would not PM's made in the former Soviet Union be C&R eligible ?

 

[c_yeager]

FYI, those Polish P64s are *not* Makarovs. They are similar and they do fire the same cartridge, but they are different guns.

For the money you have I think you should still be able to pick up a Bulgarian Makarov, they are nice little pistols. Of course they are worth buying used since they seem to last really well. The C&R East German Maks are a bit more expensive, probably out of your stated price range. They are reputed to be among the best of the Makarovs, but really that is pretty relative and I dont think they are a whole lot better than the bulgarians or the Russians.

 

[STAGE 2]

As was stated before do not, Do Not, DO NOT, get any kind of makarov variation. They are poorly made and have tons of reliability issues. Do get a true makarov, preferably east german. The bulgarians are just fine, but the east german ones have a noticably better trigger and much nicer finish. Plus they will retain their value better as well. As for 9x18, there is no reason not to get it in this caliber. It performs much better than .380 and every gun shop I've been to has at least a couple of boxes of it.

 

[grimjaw]

Food for thought.

• I believe the Makarov PM was designed in tandem with the 9x18 Makarov cartridge. All other pistols chambered for that round were designed after the fact. You might say that rarely were a cartridge and firearm more perfect for each other.
• Of the blowback designs chambered for 9x18, the Makarov PM is one of the most pleasant to shoot.
• There are aftermarket barrels in 9x18 and .380, threaded and unthreaded, for the Makarov PM; they are hard to come by but not too expensive. It's extremely easy to detail strip the Makarov PM, and it's not difficult to replace the barrel using a simple tool you can find online.
• The only other pistol chambered for that round that I'd consider is the CZ82/83.

jmm

 

[lee n. field]

Always ready to chime in on Makarovs

Which, if any, should be avoided? I've read bad things about the P63, P64... others? Is the bad press against these fair? Others?

None of the true Makarovs need be avoided. The other guns that shoot the 9x18, I have no direct experience with. Internet gun forum hearsay is that the CZs are quite nice, the others not so.

I have an ideal budget of $150, maximum budget of $200 for a Makarov. What Maks should I be considering in that range?

Bulgarian military surplus.

Are there any that are C&R rated because I'd prefer that if possible as I have a C&R?

Russian military (not Baikal commercial) and East German.

The 9x18 seems exotic and I've seen that some Maks have been retooled for .380. Are these easy to find and function well, or should I just stick with the 9x18?

Some (Baikals and Bulgarian Arsenal non-milsurp) were made with .380 barrels. .380 barrels (made for and marketed by the now defunct Federal Arms Co.) are available. You'll need a barrel press to swap them out.

How hard is it? Dunno, but I intend to find out soon.

 

[sheepdog_tx]

Don't worry about availability of 9x18. There have been so many Makarovs imported that ammo is available at just about any gun store or online, but not quite as cheap as it once was, but still reasonable.

I remember them saying this about 7.62x39 after the AWB.

 

[leadcounsel]

Anyone have a good reliable supplier of Makarovs, either C&R or otherwise?

Thanks.

 

[thedave]

I have a bulgarian mak that I converted to .380, so far i've only put 100 rounds through it but it functions just like it did with 9x18. good guns

 

[Teakwood]

BTW, the 9x18M rouind was developed by Boris V Semin.
Here is a link to a good discussion on that subject:
http://www.gunboards.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=72904&SearchTerms=invented,9x18,cartridge

 

[wrangler5]

Leadcounsel, I have the impression that nobody has a great "stock" of Makarovs any more, but you might check http://www.coledistributing.com/pics/E.German makarov.JPG and
http://64.82.96.51/BN8839.jpg. They're above your price point, but do have C&R Maks.

The other thing to check is on line classifieds. I got my Russian C&R that way, through Slim Tim's Makarov Trader at http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=60. Also, the want ads on Glocktalk have an enormous volume of guns available, and Maks show up occasionally, but you do have to wade through a LOT to see 'em. Check http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?threadid=551892