Makarov sight adjustment

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Savage30L

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I have an East German Makarov with fixed sights. The sights are so small that they are hard to acquire, and useless in low light or against a dark background. However, I also have a case of ammo for it, so I think I'll keep it for the time being. It shoots a little to the right, abut 3" to the right of point-of-aim at 7 yards. For those of you with experience with these guns, how hard is it to drift the rear sight to adjust point of impact? Is it worth the effort, for a gun that's basically a point-blank-range defense gun anyway?
 
Google says it can be done with a nylon or brass drift punch. Slide is clamped close to the top in a padded vise, not too tight. You want to tap the sight in the direction you want to move the point of impact, so to the left looking at the slide as if your were holding the pistol. Might do some penetrating oil a day or so before you try to move the sight. Three inches might not seem like much for a short range handgun. I like mine to shoot to point of aim if possible. The German Mak is the best of the bunch. I sort of regret selling mine.
 
These were designed mainly for shooting political dissidents and deserters behind the ear.

As mentioned, they’re a point-blank weapon. Think a commie belly gun.

If you must fool with one of these relics, yes the rear sights are dovetailed and can be adjusted.
 
Savage30L said:
I discovered I could drift it with my thumb! :) I'll get it worked out next time I take it out to shoot.
Click to expand...

Shouldn’t be that loose, but doesn’t surprise me. Commie manufactory at its “finest”. Only the best for comrade Ivan and his brainwashed godless hoard buddies!

I drop of loctite should help snug up the rear sight long enough for you to tire shooting the thing.
 
Loctite may or may not work. You might try dimpling the bottom of the dovetail with a punch. That usually gives a better, more secure job, and is a proper fix. A loose rear sight is not really all that uncommon a thing, and its not just a Makarov issue, happens with a lot of guns from all over.

You might also solve the issue by just buying a new rear sight as well. Numrich would probably have them.

Dont be led to believe that the ComBloc stuff is junk. Some of it might be a little rough looking, but any Ive owned were always reliable and accurate. If you can shoot, I think you'll find it's going to shoot much better than just at "behind the ear" distances. ;)


ETA..... Found this on Numrich....

https://www.gunpartscorp.com/products/468020
 
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One other thing that is a big help with the smaller, military type sights. If you put a little orange nail polish on the edge of the blade of the front sight, it makes a major difference in making the sights easier to pick up.

I have a number of guns with those type sights, and I have nail polish on every one of them, and even with older eyes, I have no trouble picking them up quickly and shooting with them. Also helps with just point shooting as well.

Gloss white NP first as a base coat, then a bright color of your choice. I think youll be amazed. :thumbup:
 
Contrary to the detractors, excellent, simply firearm. I believe it only has 14 parts. Mine is point of aim at 25 yards. The furthest I have shot it so far. Cleared a dueling tree at 10 yards a few times my last time out. Adjusting fixed sights is part of the game. Expensive firearms sometimes need adjustment also.
 
East German Makarovs are wonderful! It's actually kind of handy that your rear sight moves without having to drift it with a punch. You can easily get it set exactly for windage, then give the edge of the dovetail and sight a dimple with a center/staking punch to insure it stays in place. Enjoy!
 
I've owned Russian, German, and Bulgarian Makarovs. Absolutely reliable, never a bobble of any kind. Actually a sophisticated design. Accurate because of the fixed barrel. I keep the Russian in a desk drawer next the computer.

Pearce sells a rubber grip that makes the gun more pleasant to shoot.
 
Makarovs, whether East German or otherwise, are largely point-shooting propositions due to their teeny-weeny Commie sights.

If you ever actually had to use the gun in a quick stand-up gunfight, there’d be no time to find the sights let alone acquire a sight-picture with them anyway.
 
My wife works from home, and I was thinking of training her on that gun, to let her keep it in her office desk.

I probably don't need to, at least not yet, as we live in a very-low-crime area, all of our neighbors are as good as gold. Things will have to deteriorate horribly for us to worry about our surroundings.
 
S.Crockett said:
Makarovs, whether East German or otherwise, are largely point-shooting propositions due to their teeny-weeny Commie sights.

If you ever actually had to use the gun in a quick stand-up gunfight, there’d be no time to find the sights let alone acquire a sight-picture with them anyway.
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If youre well practiced and accustomed to shooting the gun (doesn't matter what the gun is either), the sights will be lined up on presentation, no matter the size of the sight. Theres no need to go looking for them.

A dab of something bright, bright any of them makes acquiring the front sight quicker and easier, and helps with just getting the gun on target quickly, no matter how youre shooting.
 
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/7/24/east-german-makarov-a-cold-war-classic/

"So What's The Makarov's Appeal
The East German Makarovs have wide appeal to collectors and shooters for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, the East German variant is a beautifully made handgun with a high level of fit and finish. They are prized by their owners because they are considered to be the most well-made of the Makarovs. The gun also has a strong following among collectors of Communist-Bloc pistols and those who collect Makarovs specifically. Collectors like the fact that the pistol was not significantly altered for importation (other than the import marking and grips with a thumb rest), which is not the case for other surplus pistols (such at the TT-33, which had an external safety added). Astute collectors also appreciate the engineering of the Makarov and its simplicity. For example, the pistol has only 25 parts, including the stock and stock screw, which is an extremely small number for a pistol of its type. The Makarov also has a small but loyal following for those who use it as a highly reliable concealed carry handgun. Others simply enjoy the Makarov because of its excellent shooting qualities. For all of these reasons, the price of these pistols continues to rise, with typical specimens selling between $350 and $500."
 
Savage30L said:
My wife works from home, and I was thinking of training her on that gun, to let her keep it in her office desk.

I probably don't need to, at least not yet, as we live in a very-low-crime area, all of our neighbors are as good as gold. Things will have to deteriorate horribly for us to worry about our surroundings.
Click to expand...
Just some food for thought here, the time to start worrying about things and addressing them, is "before" things happen. ;)

And the way things are going these days, you'd best start shoveling on the coal! :)
 
My Makarov was made in the USSR. The finish is okay. The ergonomics are okay. The grips are okay. It's all kinda meh.

But the darned thing shoots and shoots. It's accurate. I've had it since the late 80's and it has never, ever jammed.

I'm not a fan of totalitarian regimes, but the USSR small arms I've owned have functioned very effectively.

Makarov Target

Makarov Target

 
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