Summer time is here...would you carry a Mak for self defense?

[orangeninja]

"Documentation please on folks that have taken a solid hit or two from a Makarov and have continued to fight."


I took a hit from the Makarov, it only made me mad as hell. Shooting me with that puny weapon. They kept shooting and I kept fighting....I rufused to go down until someone with at least a .45 shot me. When that happened I quietly surrendered. Those 26 shots from the Mak's don't compare to 1 from a .45

Joking guys....

 

[Ivy Mike]

I have been carrying my commercial Bulgarian mak since I got my permit. I keep mine stoked with Winchester Supreme SXT in .380 auto.
.380 is plenty of power when you place the shot correctly. 9x18 puts a little more on target.
I am not under-gunned and for the price, you can't beat the quality and reliability. They are the best value on the market right now.
A new set of grips and a good holster (I use a Falco IWB available from Makarov.com) make this guy a joy to carry in the heat. I know about heat too. It gets north of 110° in the summer here.

 

[Chip Dixon]

What do you have against a .38 spec load? It has a more massive bullet than a Makarov, and just as much speed behind it. I'd feel more confident with a .38sp+P than a Makarov anyday. The makarov is more concealable, but if I was worried about concealment I'd just grab my 1911 and my IWB.

A Makarov is an ideal coat pocket gun, or for those other occasions where belt carry is out of the question.

All said, Makarovs are great guns. Their small bullets just make shot placement much more critical. If I had to go in deep cover to the point of carrying one, I wouldn't feel like I was carrying a mouse gun. I'd definately make sure I was back up against a wall before drawing it, though. That's why I'd grab a .38 revolver or my 1911 if I could instead.

 

[jc2]

What do you have against a .38 spec load? It has a more massive bullet than a Makarov, and just as much speed behind it. I'd feel more confident with a .38sp+P than a Makarov anyday.

What do you mean by "more massive bullet?" Generally, .38 Special bullets will weigh more (but not necessarily--there's some overlap in the light .38s and heavy Maks). The Maks are bigger in diameter (not by much).

I guess I just find this observation a little amusing:

All said, Makarovs are great guns. Their small bullets just make shot placement much more critical.

The bullets are just about the same size, and shot placement is no less critical (just harder to accomplish) with a .38 as with a Mak. About all you can really count on with a two-inch .38 Special is a .36 calibre hole. In other words, they have the same "small bullets" and require the same "critical" shot placement as the Mak. The difference is your .38 has five (or maybe six) of those "small bullets" while the Mak has nine slightly larger "small bullets," and generally speaking, you can place those "small bullets" a whole lot more accurately ("critically") with a Mak than you can with a two-inch .38 Special.

 

[allan]

Smith J frames don't have a 44 model

To fit a 44 caliber cartridge into the small cylinder of the J frame would only be able to hold four shots, instead of five 38s or 357s.