Makarov upgrades?

[Tom Servo]

Well, just as I was leaving the range today, a guy came in with an Arsenal Bulgie in great condition. Dirty, but no rust. Very tight fit and good finish. I snagged it instantly, and at a good price.

It's got the awful black plastic grips, which I need to replace (the thumbrest is too low for my hands). Are the Pearce rubber ones tacky enough to catch on clothing? Also, does anyone make nice wood for them? I know about Hakan, but he's far behind with health problems.

As far as holsters, who do you guys like?

How about sights? I can live with the stock ones, but I might consider upgrading at some point.

Then there's the question of refinishing...yes, I'm turning a $100 gun into a big investment, but what the heck. NONE of my "beater" guns end up staying that way long

 

[grimjaw]

Erik, GunBoards has a forum sponsored by Makarov.com, has tons of good information on accessories.

I found the Pearce grips to be too spongy, but I don't think they would snag. There was a guy other than Hakan showing Mak grips on Gunboards at one point. I'm using the Red Star grips and I'm happy with them.

I have a Falco leather IWB holster that I've always liked for mine.

Yes, the sights are crappy. You might be able to find some Novak upgrades running around, but you'll have to get the slide permanently altered to install them.

jmm

 

[CajunBass]

I carry mine, stock out of the box, with the red star grips, in a Fobus paddle holster. I've found the sheath for a 3" blade, folding buck knife to be a perfect fit for a spare Mak magazine.

 

[Bob F.]

Definitely check out makarov.com!! Some wood grips there, also, as well as holsters. Gotta talk Jeff (Rocketman Holsters) into making a Low Rider for the Mak. Mak.com used to adv mak slides with Novak sights. A Mak is a heck of a gun for the $$, any money for that matter. Accurate, reliable, durable, able to digest tons of crappy com blok ammo without belching!!

Have fun!
Bob

 

[wrangler5]

Pearce grips are both thicker and stickier than any of the plastic ones. I don't think they would be a very good choice for most concealment situations, but I do find them very comfortable to shoot. I have a Pearce grip on the Mak I take to the range, but like the smooth (no thumb rest or lanyard ring) black East German grips for my carry gun. Because of the single piece/single mounting screw design of the Mak grips, the wooden ones I've seen have all been two wood panels glued onto the plastic backstrap section of a regular grip that had had the plastic side panels cut off. It's pretty tough to maintain a lot of structural integrity with a setup like that.

I carry a Mak in a FIST adjustable IWB Kydex holster that does a VERY good job of holding the gun securely against my side and to the belt, but is also fairly easy to draw from. I'm considering one of their Kydex & leather models in the same style, just for a bit more elegance. I also have a nice shoulder holster from Ken Null - very simple, and holds the gun muzzle up just in front of your armpit. It conceals very easily under a sweater as well as with a jacket.

The Mak sights are actually quite useful once you get used to them. As grimjaw noted, any substitute sights will require at least one milling cut for a front sight dovetail, and perhaps milling work at the rear as well, and none of the substitutes will be as compact as the issue sights. I have not found the issue sights to be particularly "grabby" when I have done draw-from-concealment work at the range, so I don't think you need to replace them just for that purpose.

I haven't thought much about refinishing any of my Maks. But I just saw this http://glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=551600 and thought WOW!

 

[lee n. field]

It's got the awful black plastic grips, which I need to replace (the thumbrest is too low for my hands)

Stock milsurp hard plastic grip.

As far as holsters, who do you guys like?

Falco IWB from Makarov.com. Lots more options out there now than when I got my first, 9 years ago.

 

[1 old 0311]

Hi Eric,

I have two pistols that I have put in twice what I can get out of them. If you like it, and plan on keeping it, go for it. If you like it you will shoot it. If you shoot it you will get better with it.

Kevin

 

[joneb]

I wish I could find some "Makarap" grips

 

[macavada]

I like the Makawrap grips too. Nice and thin. I like them better than the Pearce grips.

 

[wrangler5]

Another thread elsewhere recently reported that the Makawrap grip has been out of production for several years. Story was that the original dies wore out, and nobody thought it was worth remaking them. So whatever's out there is all that there is.

 

[steelhead]

Here is an EG Mak that I had modified. I like the Pearce grips but the material does grip on clothing, etc.. For carry, I would stay with the black EG's or some wood. Mine had the sights installed by Makarov.com and the finish by Mac's Shootin Iron Restorations.

 

[Shane333]

I don't mean to troll, but if you're looking for a Mak with upgrades, why not just get a CZ82?

 

[steelhead]

A lot of satisfaction comes from customizing a firearm and making it your own. Whether that is a Mak, 1911, Beretta, Sig, etc., etc.. CZ82's are very nice but I'm sure someone will eventually find reasons to customize/upgrade that one as well .

 

[grimjaw]

steelhead, that's some of the best looking work I've seen on a Mak. You must be pleased with it, and I envy you the sights.

jmm

 

[steelhead]

Thanks! Here is a CZ-52 that I did as well.

 

[Shane333]

Steelhead,

Both with the Mak and the CZ52, you are an artist.



You are right that there is something very satisfying with adding your own personal touch to a firearm.

 

[Tom Servo]

Steelhead, that's beautiful work. Anyone know where I can get Novaks for the Mak? I don't see them on Makarov.com, and they're not listed on Novak's site.

 

[lee n. field]

They've actually got them listed on the closeout page.

 

[yhtomit]

Nice work, Steelhead

Not to invite reprisals, but I generally find both the CZ-52 and Makarovs generally to be ... well, to me they look awkward and ugly. There, I said it. Not such a big deal; I don't want to deal with digging up any furrin' ammo

But sheesh -- the ones you've worked up there are really handsome! Do you by chance have a page where you describe the work in greater detail?

timothy

 

[Mortech]

Well a CZ82/83 is does not have the same grip size or profile as a Makarov . My CZ83's tang hits on the bottom joint of my thumb while my Mak doesn't . Also the Makarov has a slimmer profile than the CZ (it uses a double stack magazine ) especially if you use the Red Star grips . Another point is that the Mak appears to have a lower bore axis . Finally , Steelhead I'm jealous of that Mak , what did the modifications cost you ? I would love to have those sights installed on my Bulgie .

 

[steelhead]

The beauty resides in the accuracy and reliablity of the Mak. The CZ, however,.............

Just so no one gets the wrong impression. I didn't install the sights or do the refinish myself on the Mak or CZ. I did clean up and polish the internals myself. I also installed the Simson Suhl safety upgrade.

The refinish cost was about $125 and the sight install ran $100. I used to carry it in a Mitch Rosen but now it mainly gets range time. Just get a set of Novaks (same size that will fit Walther PPK or other small autos) and any smith should be able to mill the slide and install them. Then send it on down to Mac's Shootin Iron Restorations in Arizona (he might be able to do the sight install as well).

 

[RUT]

I had Novak "Low Mount" sights installed on my Bulgy. Big improvement!

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

My wife and I both have Makarovs - she has a Baikal IJ-70 with adjustable sights and mine is a Bulgarian Arsenal brand Mak. I've put 19 pound Wolf recoil springs on both, and walnut grips (which I Dremeled and sanded to better suit each of us, though I would like to pick up one of the red military grips if I ever come across one). I have a Falco leather IWB holster that I really like; my wife carries hers in a fanny pack. I also have a Shrade Old Timer knife pouch into which I sewed a slip of leather; now it is a two-mag pouch for a Mak and no one looks at it twice.

I recommend the Simson-Suhl safety upgrade if you can find one (or when Makarov.com gets some in again); this allows you to rack the slide with the safety engaged, and drops the hammer onto the safety.

I do not recommend the profile muzzle break; this is nothing but dead weight and will do nothing perceptible to help with recoil. I put a threaded barrel and compensator on mine and it shoots the same with or without that compensator. Since it's such a PITA to change the barrel out, I just left the threaded barrel in place with a thread protector in place (besides, it adds a half an inch or so to the barrel and maybe that will help a little with velocity).

I got all of my parts and accessories (other than the Old Timer belt pouch) from Makarov.com

 

[Apple a Day]

I put Pierce grips on both of mine and they're comfortable for me. I also put the 19 pound recoil springs on them.
The sights I painted with a little dab of primer and then a dot of flourescent paint. It makes a big difference.
I carry with a good old Uncle Mike's IWB holster. Works for me.
Happy shooting.

 

[Trebor]

The Novak sights are the same size as the sights for the Colt .380 autos. I had a pair installed on my Bulgy Mak by a local smith.

I carried my EG Mak with Pearce grips for 2 years with no problems.

I have an extra, new, Makwrap grip I'll sell for $25, if anyone is interested.

I put it on the gun once, didn't like how it felt, and took it off for good after about five minutes. I just didn't like it nearly as much as the Pearce grip and I wound up ordering a second Pearce grip instead.