Range report, new Bulg Mak 9x18

[firestar]

I got to shoot my "new" never fired Mak today. I only had one box of S&B 9x18 but I got a small taste of the gun I think.

In short, it shot really high and was not very accurate. I was using 6-7" paper plates as targets from about 50' and even holding at the bottom of the plate, I was hitting just the tops. Group size was about 4" from a sitting rest slow fire SA.

I am not happy with this preformance as a plinker or a target gun but it is fine for what I bought it for. I guess I expected much more from a gun that has received so many rave reviews. It is still new and I expect that as I break it in and get used to it, I will be able to get better groups but I need to get it shooting POA. It is shooting 6-8" high at 50' right now and that is really not something that I can live with even on a defensive pistol.

The recoil was not bad at all even though it is a blow-back. I did a little rapid-fire and found it quite easy to control and it pointed well enough. I took off the plastic thumb rest grips and shot it with the red star grips that were original issue and I think I like the way they feel better.

One thing that was nice was there were no jams or malfunctions of any kind. This is a huge factor when I consider a pistol for CCW or any self defense situation, if it jams, I have problems ever trusting it again unless I shoot many hundreds of rounds without any additional problems.

My take on it is, it a good gun for what it was intended to do and I think that it will be reliable enough to trust. I give it a thumbs up for anyone looking for a simple and cost effective self defense handgun. It is no SIG 239 or Kahr K-9 but at 1/3-1/4 of the price, I think it does about the same thing. If it shoots 500 more rounds without a problem, I may move it to car gun duty and sometimes CCW. The rep for reliability is what the Mak is best known for and if it lives up to it's rep, I will be plenty happy.

 

[mlk18]

Sweet, the Makarovs are incredible guns. I own and have owned several, from east germans to russian to chinese to bulgarians. They were all a little different in fit and finish, but all were accurate and reliable. Every handgun enthusiast should own one. Here's a pic of my Bulgarian refinished with Brownell's backing laquer.

mlk18

 

[mlk18]

Ooops.

 

[David4516]

" it shot really high and was not very accurate"

You might be able to fix that by using different ammo. I have never fired S&Bs 9mm Mak ammo, so I don't know from personal experiance if it is any good or not.

"The recoil was not bad at all even though it is a blow-back"

I hear things like "the Mak kicks too much" all the time, but for me at least the Mak is very controlable. I guess I'm not the only one

"I took off the plastic thumb rest grips and shot it with the red star grips that were original issue and I think I like the way they feel better"

Those "star" grips are the best ones I've found for the Makarov. I hated the thumb rest ones, and the perce grip was too fat.

"One thing that was nice was there were no jams or malfunctions of any kind"

This is what really makes the Makarov so cool. 99% of the Maks out there are totaly reliable. Every now and then I hear somebody say they have a Mak that jams all the time. I'll take their word for it, but I personaly have never seen one jam...

If you can fix that POA issue I think you'll have one heck of a gun there. I hope you'll be able to work it out...

 

[Groupguy]

Strange about you're gun shooting high. Not to offend, but are you sure it's not the shooter shooting high? I do that every now and then, though not as often as I used to.

I bought 4 maks from SOG and all shot dead nuts on for altitude, though one shoots a bit left at 15 yards. I could move the sight, but they're in there pretty tight. I just old to the right a little since it's a shooter and not a bullseye gun. I've got guns that shoot tighter groups, but not for $140 hand-picked.

 

[denfoote]

Oddly enough, try the 109gr Wolf!! When used in commie guns, this round is quite a performer!! I think you will find that the sights are regulated for this grain weight!! The Tula arms factory is the one who made the Mak ammo during the Soviet era!! The S&B uses a lighter bullet and loads the case to 9mm Kurz pressures!! Wolf fixes both problems!!

 

[lee n. field]

Here's a pic of my Bulgarian refinished with Brownell's backing laquer.

How hard was that to do? How durable is the finish?

I've wondered how well those do-it-yourself refinish spray things work.

 

[Kestrel]

mlk,

What kind of grips are those on your Mak?

Steve

 

[SnWnMe]

Well, you can file the front sight a bit. Mine shoots POA at pocket pistol ranges.

 

[Pilot]

I am really suprised at this range report. I have five Makarovs, two Russian, two Bulgies and an E.G. All are very accurate and perform flawlessly. maybe you just got a lemon, but I'd replace the plastic grips with Pearce rubber grips and give that a try. It will give you a better hold and will be MUCH more comfortable. Good luck.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I'd shoot it again and if it still hits high, file the REAR sight. Filing the front sight will only make it hit higher. It won't take much.

Best.

 

[makdaddy03]

I have the Russian Mak in 380acp. It has adjustable rear sights and is extremely accurate.
For accuracy I would try a different brand of ammo. Wolf ammo is a pretty good performer.
I have never liked S&B ammo. Dont give up on this gun you will get use to it.
Ive had mine for about 2yrs now and with over 2000 rds through it. With only 2 malfunctions.
I will post pics of my Maks accuracy later this week. Stephen Camp also has a Excellent report about the Mak. You may have to do a search.

 

[firestar]

I am not even close to giving up on the Mak yet! I have only shot one box of ammo through it so it is still too soon to make any solid judgments on the gun. Some guns don't like certain types of ammo.

It points to POA (more or less) and that is how I would use this gun in a emergency anyway because of the small sights. I am basically happy with it and as long as it continues to function, I will remain happy. I didn't really believe all the stories of the accuracy anyway. I figuired that if mine was really accurate, it would be a bonus but not something that was really needed. I am not going to shoot bullseye with it anytime soon.

 

[firestar]

Also, the gun is basically new and the bbl and chamber may need time to smooth out. This isn't a big concern with more expensive guns like a Beretta or a SIG but the Mak was built to be cheap to produce.

I noticed that my caseings were quite scratched up, as if the chamber is rough. I may polish it but 500-1000 rounds of steel cased Russian ammo would probably smooth it out also.

 

[Zip06]

Give the Mak a chance, you will love it. Everyone seems to love them. On the other hand, I have had ONE squib round in my life. That was courtesy of S&B 9x18 hardball ammo. Shoot anything else.

 

[Murphster]

My Bulgarian Mak shot high as well. Had to file the rear sight down a bit. Used the file to round the rear sight's too-sharp corners off as well. Mine is/was very accurate with Wolf ammo and with reloads. Never tried the S&B. Might want to ammo shop before you pass final judgement.