Maks need better sights!

[9x19]

Here is my first attempt at milling a sight dovetail and installing a new front sight on a Russian Mak.

I'll use use a diffent model front sight when I do my Bulgarians (along with a Novak rear) as this one is kinda long... but a target rear sight deserves a target front, no?

I had to mill down the height of the sight and open up the rear notch (actually pretty easy with an 1/8" end mill)

Mini Mill - $430

Carbide cutters - $150

Kurt style vise - $100

Collet set - $50

Cracked Star slide to practice on... priceless! (Thanks Bren)

Total so far is only $730 , but honey... I saved myself the $50 installation fee!

 

[9x19]

A bit different angle.

 

[ftw46]

They look good. That is the one big problem with my Russian. I widened the rear notch but cannot do anything with the front.

Let us know when you are ready to do this to everyone elses. You could probably quit your day job and just do Maks!

 

[denfoote]

Everybody sez that the stock sights on poor Pistolet Makarova suck!!!

I don't happen to think so!!

However, for s**ts and grins, I might have my IJ-70-17A "fixed"!!! But, not any of my other Maks!!!

 

[JohnKSa]

Someone sells a Mak slide with Novaks installed for about $150 IIRC.

 

[alamo]

This might have been cheaper depending on how many more Maks you have, but then you wouldn't have had the satisfaction of doing it yourself!


http://www.makarov.com/cart/custom.htm

 

[Zundfolge]

I had the boys over at Makarov.com put the Novaks on my Bulgarian.

I highly recommend them for every non historic Mak owner (you E German,Simson Suhl and Soviet Milsurp guys might not wanna devalue your Maks).

 

[makdaddy03]

Agreed. Mak sights suck. Thats why I dont use them. I use the point and shoot method. or "Point" shooting. Works for me.

 

[denfoote]

I know it ain't supposed to be a 25 yard gun, but my East Deutsch and Bulgarian Makarovs actually do quite well at that distance!!! Stock sights are OK!!!

 

[9x19]

Thanks all.

The next project is putting a Novak (.380 Mustang) rear and new front on one of my Bulgarian Maks.

denfoote,

Perhaps when your eyes are a bit older, you'll long for larger sights.

Maks are just the first projects, since they are inexpensive enough to not worry too much about screwing up... helps ease the pucker factor when that carbide end mill starts chewing its way into the slide!

 

[Handy]

9x19,

With your uber sights and good ammo, what kind of 25 yard bench groups you getting?

 

[9x19]

Handy,

I haven't shot it with the new sight yet... after taking the pics, I decided I'm not happy with the overall appearance, so I took it back off and am going to mill the sides of the cross piece to more closely match the slide width, plus I'm going to shorten and angle the rear face a bit.

I'll shoot it after all that and post an update.