Tell me about the Makarov Pistol....

[nero45acp]

I'm toying with the idea of buying a Makarov pistol, and other than the fact that it's a (former) Warsaw Pact pistol that is chambered in the 9x18mm cartridge and has somewhat of a cult following, I don't know anything about this pistol.

I'd appreciate any info/opinions/experiences anyone here has related to the Makarov. Also, what/where is a good source for good quality, and (comparatively) reasonably priced 9x18 ammo? Finally, which particular make/model of the Makarov is generally considered to be the "best"/highest quality, and where is the best vendor to buy one? Thanks.



nero

 

[M2 Carbine]

I'm a big Makarov fan. I've had them since the first E German Maks were imported.


All the Mak brands are good guns. The E German demands a higher price because not many were imported and the fit and finish is the best.

It's best to reload you own 9x18 or buy it in bulk from places like AIM.com.

The price of the Maks is steady climbing and they are becoming scarce. At the last gun show I didn't see one less than $320.

The Mak is very reliable.
I actually tried to make a new Makarov malfunction, by soaking in mud, freezing it, etc, and couldn't do it.

The guns are accurate, even out to long distances like 100 yards.

 

[AZAndy]

They're solidly made and easy to shoot. They point well. Double action is a little stiff, but nowhere near as horrible as, say, an FEG.

Winchester makes a decent 9X18 round, and there's always Wolf and its cousins for inexpensive plinking. Hornady makes a nice self-defense hollowpoint round.

The recent-issue Russian Baikal model (the IJ-70) even has an adjustable rear sight.

There are still some around in the $200 range; that's what I picked mine up for a couple of months ago. Both the Russian and East German models are on the C&R list (though I don't think the new Russians count, of course).

 

[Steve C]

The Makarov design has many features copied from the Walther PP series pistols, including the way it is field striped and the decocking safety. The ones I've shot are very reliable and accurate even with the small fixed sights.

They don't have a spring loaded retracting firing pin and the pin free floats in its channel. While it rests directly on the primer of a chambered round the hammer is rebouding and doesn't contact the firing pin unless the trigger is pulled so it is safe to carry loaded with hammer down as long as the gun is in good mechanical condition.

 

[nero45acp]

M2 Carbine, very nice Makarov collection! I especially like the far left one in the bottom row. What model/make is that particular one?

Thanks for the helpful/informative replies thus far.

A few more questions if I may. Is the 9x18 cartridge about on par with the .380 acp in terms of power? Is anyone familar with the Polish P-64? How does that little pistol compare with it's larger cousin(s)? Finally, is it OK to dry fire the Makrov and P-64 with it's free floating firing pin?


Again, thanks.


nero

 

[Jason_G]

Just generally speaking, they are a solid pistol. The sights on many are not that great IMO, but that is a fairly easy fix. Also, the safety mechanism can get worn out and cause problems. I think there is an easy fix for this floating around out there as well. It has a free floating FP, so keep the FP and FP channel free of crud and grease and it will be a solid firearm. They are built like a tank and will take a beating. Some folks I know think the recoil is bad, but I don't think so. Trigger pull is a bit heavy, but I've shot worse before. It's nothing you can't get used to by shooting it a bit.

Jason

 

[M2 Carbine]

M2 Carbine, very nice Makarov collection! I especially like the far left one in the bottom row. What model/make is that particular one?

Thanks for the helpful/informative replies thus far.

A few more questions if I may. Is the 9x18 cartridge about on par with the .380 acp in terms of power? Is anyone familar with the Polish P-64? How does that little pistol compare with it's larger cousin(s)? Finally, is it OK to dry fire the Makrov and P-64 with it's free floating firing pin?


Again, thanks.


nero

That's a Russian IJ-70 (adjustable rear sight).

The 9x18 is just a little hotter than the .380. Two of those Maks in the picture are.380's.
The 9x18 round has been available in the past with up to a 120 grain JHP bullet (Silver Bear).
The standard velocity for the Mak is 1,000 FPS.
Personally, if I carried the Mak I'd carry a hand load I worked up using a 95 grain Hornady JHP XTP bullet doing 1,125 FPS.

I've got three Polish P-64 (9x18) pistols. Not a bad gun but the main spring must be replaced with a lighter one because the factory DA trigger pull is TERRIBLE.
A decent price for a P-64 is about $170.
The P-64 is reliable and accurate (8-9 inch group at 50 yards, standing, two hands).


The P-64 gives the impression of being smaller than it is, but it's as big a gun as the Makarov.


I'm not a fan of extended dry firing any gun but I don't think it would hurt the Mak.
Nothing else does

 

[Navy joe]

You should get one. I fell into a deal for gun and 700+ rounds for $200 some years back. I sold it for $200 after shooting nearly all the ammo. Simple reliable guns. I slicked out the DA trigger on mine, it was actually pretty sick. I shouldn't have sold it and I need another.

 

[dogma]

Experience from owning a East German Mak:

Sights are small, accurately shooting at speed at 25 yards wasn't easy for me with this pistol. But, the sights were more than capable of accurate slow fire at this range. The mak was accurate with any round I tried, most of which was cheep com-block ammo.

I have big, "ham" hands; the grip was barely big enough to fit all of my fingers on, but still fairly comfortable. The bottom of the slide would cut two small grooves into my hand (between the thumb a trigger finger 1st joints). [for hand size reference: I use every bit of a 1911 front strap (little finger touches mag floor plate with a high grip), hammer/slide bite is a given on unmodified 1911/Hi-power, and a Glock 19 leaves at least 2/3 of my little finger hanging]

The trigger on mine was smooth in da and sa, surprisingly so.

Reliable to the extreme; nary a fault of any kind.

Extremely simple mechanism, beautifully so.

The slide mounted safety was an odd plum shade.

Take down and cleaning is easy for this design.

I've sold or traded several pistols to help finance the next firearm I coveted, but to this day, the EG Mak remains the only one I regret letting go.:banghead: If I came across another East German one in good shape, I'd have a REAL hard time passing it up.

 

[woad_yurt]

Check my signature file for my opinion about Maks.

 

[fletcher]

Makarovs are reliable, simple (only something like 23 parts in the entire gun), and solid pistols. 9x18 is a smidgin' more powerful than .380, and ammo cost is comparable to 9mm.

I've had a Bulgarian for 3 years as a carry and range gun and have yet to have a malfunction with it after a few thousand rounds. Bulgarians are the econo-versions, have a little more crude finish (but not bad), but are just as reliable. General opinion is that East German Makarovs are the best.

Best place to get them now is Gunbroker or Slim Tim's Makarov Trader, with the latter being the best:

http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=47

They'll typically run you $250-400 depending on the model, quality, etc. Ammo can be had from any online vendor, I generally order mine from AIM Surplus.

 

[Chester32141]

Buy it by the case and save ... a case of 9x18 can be burned up as fast as a couple bricks of 22's .... my preferred source w/ reasonable shipping is ....

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=7121&dir=18|829|836

Chester

 

[krs]

I bought four East German Makarovs many years ago - seems to me they were $112. each.

I've had them around the house in various places so that we are never far from a gun, and have recently begun shooting one of them frequently because of ammo cost.

I've always thought they were ugly, but I figured out long ago that they're completely reliable no matter what.

I did buy one of the commercial run of Bakail double stacker Russian. That was a real pain in the ass pistol - the increased capacity wasn't worth the feeding troubles that gun had.

All in all - one of the world's greatest guns IMO.

I've got a barrel to convert one of them to .32 - that hot North American Arms cartridge, but haven't done it. Might not.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I have a Russian commercial model, it's my carry. I roll my own for it, but practice with the steel-cased cheap stuff. it's very 'pointable' and fast on the follow-up. I get saucer size groups off a rest at 30', rapid fire. never had a jam with good ammo and only 2 with cheap stuff (FTE) likely due to low-power cartridge, I installed the heavy recoil spring for my hot-loaded carry rounds. I keep it in a spare holster velcroed to my bedpost replaceing my .357 GP100. very confident in this pistol.

 

[Chester32141]

I am a big believer in the Makarov pistol using 9x18 round nose for self defense ... My previous preference was 38 spcl +P ... Now I'll be the first to admit that it may not be the preferred caliber for a 300 pound crazy on PCP, especially if center mass turns out to be a wound to an arm or a shoulder ... at that point I'd be wishing that my 44 mag was what was smoking in my hand and not my Mak ... that said I have a couple questions ... has anyone done any balistic tests showing penetration after a 9x18 round ball has passed thru a heavy wool/ leather coat at about 15 feet or less and if so what were the results ... second question is I always load my mags w/ seven rounds. I realize that this is shorting myself 2 rounds that might actually come in very handy ... would anyone care to share their opinion on reliability and longevity of loading Mak mags to their capacity of 1 in the tube (preferably HP) and eight in the mag ... Also ... recently read here about a member that loads their's w/ an HP in the pipe and 8 round balls in the mag ... sounds like a brilliant idea to me ... what do y'all think ...

Chester

 

[JeepGeeek]

mixed loading is a bad idea. Hollowpoints are designed to expand in order to damage more tissue. Roundnose in particular isn't going to crush much tissue as it's got the round nose. A large flat meplat might be better if you want to avoid using hollowpoints. Also, FMJ is more apt to overpenetrate. Depending on the loading of the Makarov case, this may not be such an issue (bear in mind the hotter loads are roughly equivalent to standard-P 9X19, and there have been instances of overpenetration with that)

I've heard folks say they load alternately HP and FMJ, as "they'll be able to shoot through a car door with the FMJ and then shoot through that hole with the JHP". Yeah, good luck with that.

 

[rust collector]

If you like oversize, heavy blowback pistols, you will love the Mak. They are solid, but I couldn't see any advantage of my IJ-70 over my PPK/S so it was traded off. Bought new for $129 12 years ago or so. Pierce grips made it more pleasant to shoot but even bulkier. In fairness, it was never intended as a pocket pistol. It was chambered in a pocket pistol caliber to reduce production cost or complexity.

Most interesting part was cheap ammo from the Novosibersk Low Voltage Equipment Factory from AIM, $7 for 50 jhp. The gun was very reliable, but the adjustable sight could get out of whack. Came with a cardboard leather flap holster and a second magazine. Extra mags were $6 or $7, and I got a lot more for it in trade than I paid, so I'm not complaining. If it meets your needs, it will be dependable.

 

[M2 Carbine]

This 22LR Makarov conversion is a bit unusual.
I bought it a while back from makarov.com (out of business now).

It's Bulgarian.

It is ammo sensitive in both feeding and power.

Good for inexpensive Makarov practice. The conversion, like most 22 conversions, paid for itself quickly in reduced ammo costs.

 

[Hoffy]

One great thing about my Makarov...

...I am able to do more DIY projects with my Makarov that I would never attempt with another pistol. My wife does not trust me to fix the toilet (I do anyway), but my '62 EG needed a new sear and I replaced it myself.

 

[Pilot]

If you like oversize, heavy blowback pistols, you will love the Mak. They are solid, but I couldn't see any advantage of my IJ-70 over my PPK/S so it was traded off.

The advantages of the Mak over the PPK are more accuracy, it doesn't bite your hand and its easier to shoot well. Its not that much bigger, but you can find smaller, lighter 9MM's today, but that's not the point. The Mak, especially the fixed sight Bulgies, EG, Russians or Chinese are extremely rugged, dependable and accurate. Its a proven military and police sidearm.

The only people that don't like them are ones that mistakenly traded them away. Its also got great Combloc history.

 

[M2 Carbine]

The only people that don't like them are ones that mistakenly traded them away. Its also got great Combloc history.

I've had to sell about five of them. It seemed like everyone that shot one of mine wanted it. I'd sell it, then buy two more.

 

[bluetopper]

A Makarov is twice the gun as a PPK at half the price.

Well, used to be half the price.

I had 5 East German safe queens at one time but sold them all at a substantial profit to purchase other gun toys.
I will always have a few Bulgarians and my IJ-70 though.

 

[wnycollector]

I had a russian commercial mak that was my primary CCW for~ a year. It was reliable and accurate, but a bit on the heavy side. I sold it and picked up a SIG P6. I will say that I missed having a pistol 9x18. I'm thinking of picking up a CZ-82

 

[jjohnson]

They're Hard to Beat, Especially for Price/Performance

Yep, I bought one of the Russian IJ-70s some years ago in .380.

Oh, man, that thing is solid, dependable, accurate.... and cheap

As pointed out, it's a sturdy design built by our former enemies for working under poor field conditions. Mine has never had a malfuction (a few thousand rounds now) and is as accurate as either of my Glocks. Wow!

It's my more common carry piece - it conceals much better than many similar firearms, and in Mak or .380, it meets my "minumum standard" for firepower with premium HP ammo. I do like my 1911 much better as a field gun, but I can't carry it concealed in a lot of the places the little Mak goes. I paid under $200 for mine, and at that price, I am very happy with the return on investment. Do yourself a favor and buy one.

 

[alamo]

Finally, is it OK to dry fire the Makrov and P-64 with it's free floating firing pin?

They are safe to dry fire. No snap cap needed. Not just my opinion but also that of those on the Gunboards Makarov forum. I dry fired my unissued Bulgarian in excess of 2,000 times to loosen up the DA trigger pull with no ill effects.

I've got an EG and a .380 commercial Russian as well. They are great pistols.

I have no experience with the P-64 but I would assume it would be OK as well.