Tell me about the Makarov

[High Planes Drifter]

Impact has a running special on Hungarian Makarovs; they're selling around 170.00. I have been considering one of these little guns for some time, but dont have alot of experience with them. My Dad owns one, but he doesnt shoot it alot, and I've only fired a handfull of rounds thru it. Generally, how reliable are Maks? Would you put them in the same league as say, CZ's, or Rugers? I know thats asking alot from a gun selling for less than 200 bucks after shipping, but I just want to get a rough idea of what to expect if I do decide to buy it. Are the Hungarian models ok, or is that a line to stay away from? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[000Buck]

Thats not the same as the original Makarov. The Bulgarian, East German and Russian are the orginal Makarov style guns. I am not sure why everything that ever used 9x18 is called a Makarov. I dont think the Makarov guy designed them all. Its like calling everything that shoots 9x19 a Luger. Is the one your Dad has the Hungarian?

Edit: Sounds like I am attacking you, Im not! I am just always purplexed by that. Have you looked at the price of 9x18 ammo recently? There doesnt seem to be any surplus left. The cheapest I have found is S&B for $7 for 48.

 

[115grfmj]

The Hugarian "Mak" is the Pa-63..

An excellent gun....designed closer to the walther pp, than the Pistolet Makrova.....(Russian Mak). The PA63 gets great reviews on this site, do a search. Don't worry about people looking down there nose at you and sneering thats its not a "True Makarov", it's a great design in its own right.
I get that all the time...I own another "Un-Makarov" thats all steel. I think people call them Makarov's in the same way that hunters refer to their guns by caliber....ex......"So Bob way are you using for this deer season?....I'm Using the old 30/30".....

 

[000Buck]

Please note, I was not looking down my nose at anyone! I just find it confusing when someone wants an opinion on one gun that is completely different than another gun but they share the same name! I remember when I was first buying Maks I almost bought another Mak, I believe it was Polish, just because of the name, I thought it would be nice to have two Maks. What a horrible trigger pull that thing had, I am glad I didnt buy it.

Its like calling a Glock 17 and a Sig 226 both Lugers. So anyone got an opinion on Lugers? "I love the decocker on the Lugers. They work great" Then the guy goes out and buys a Glock and wonders where his decocker is.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

Well, I didnt know Buck, thats why I was asking. I looked again, and Impact is calling it a Makarov clone. Would you consider a true Makarov a reliable, rugged firearm? I've found a few surplus dealers online that have East German Makarovs, thats why Im asking. As for ammo, J&G has 9Mak for the same price as 9Luger per K rounds (silver Bear).

 

[000Buck]

Hi HPD, I seriously wasnt going off on a rant on you or any other person, its those commie bastards in Eastern Europe that called everything Maks, and you are correct calling it a Mak, I just find the fact that they named everything a Mak irritating because of my Polish Mak story. Its like if the Czechs called the CZ52 a Tokarev because it shoots the same round invented for the Tokarev pistol, thank God they dont.

If you want the original style gun, the Bulgarians can still be found for under $200 if you look hard enough, but that is getting rare I think. That is all I have are two Bulgarians. They are super guns, they are super reliable and very high quality. The East German and Russian are worth alot more now because they were imported first and bought up first. But like 115 said, the Hungarians are probably great too, its just up to you and what you are looking for. I like the original Maks just because they are the older original design that more countries probably used. I was just pointing out that there are different Maks, and one of them as far as I am concerned isnt as nice compared to the original design, I believe it is the Polish 64. But some people might love that one.

On the ammo, I just remember getting 50 rds for $4 everywhere a few years ago. Now I have to go out of my way to find 50 rds for $7, so it is just sad. I am on a 762x25 kick right now(CZ52s and Tokarevs) because there is still good surplus for under $5 for 50 at Aimsurplus. I am stocking up while it lasts, and I like the thunder of the 762x25 anyway.

EDIT: This is what is on the wikipedia page, the last sentence is the point I am making in my idiotic rants:

Countries like Poland and Hungary have developed their own handgun designs that use the 9x18 mm round. Hungary developed the PA-63 and Poland has developed the P-64 and the P-83 Vanad. While similar in appearance to the PM, and chambered for the same round, these 9 mm Makarov firing pistols are often found labeled at gun shows by some US gun retailers as "Polish Makarovs" and "Hungarian Makarovs". Nonetheless, these similar designs are independent of the PM and have more in common with the Walther PP. They are simply pistols that happen to be chambered for the same 9 mm Makarov round.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Companies that advertise Polish P64's and Hungarian PA-63's as Makarovs should be shut down for false advertising.

The PA-63 and P64 have NOTHING in common with the Makarov except they shoot the same ammo.

Those dealers know that what they are doing is as unethical as selling a Llama and calling it a Kimber because they both shoot the 45ACP.

Even calling the PA-63 or P64 a "clone" is still a bald face lie.
The dealers pull this scam to sell the cheaper pistols, usually at a Makarov price, to people that don't know better and think they are buying a Makarov. I've seen it done.

This hasn't anything to do with the pistols. I have 17 Makarovs, 3 P64s and a PA-63 and they are all decent pistols in their own right (except the PA-63 and P64 aren't half the pistol the Mak is).
It has to do with unethical dealers and distributors.

 

[High Planes Drifter]

I bit the bullet

I just ordered an East German Makarov from New Philly Sports about 20 minutes ago. I paid 320.00 for it. How'd I do? Can someone suggest a good IWB holster for it? How dependable can I expect it to be?

 

[alamo]

$320 is about par for the course for EGs these days unfortunately. I got an EG about 7-8 years ago and paid $170 and felt like I overpaid a bit for one in excellent condition. Ha! A bargain today.

 

[000Buck]

Good price, I never see those around at the local shows or stores. You got me all excited, I thought that store was in PA by the name and I was going to drive down there and get one, but it is in OHIO!!!

 

[High Planes Drifter]

Yeah, I thought it was in Pa. also Buck. They are only charging 15 bucks to ship tho. So, holster recomendations anyone? What can I expect as far as reliability? Anything to look out for when I get it?

 

[Old Dog]

I tried hard to think if I'd ever met anyone that had ever bought a Makarov and been sorry they had -- I haven't; I've been most happy with mine (an E.G. and a Russian).

The PM is simply one of the most durable and reliable autopistols ever produced. Built like little tanks, solid and really, really hard to mess up. Both of mine have been surprisingly accurate (in spite of the pitifully small sights) and have never, ever malfunctioned in any way, shape or form. Since I bought the Russion for $139 and the E. German for $150 (both about ten to twelve years ago), I can't complain.

I use 'em for plinking and truck guns. They're easy to maintain (they have been known to show rust though, so note that) and great fun to shoot (I tried shooting my department's handgun qual course with one of my PMs and did surprisingly well - just under what I normally shoot it with my HK USP).

I've got a Kramer Belt Scabbard for mine (in black, of course), great OWB concealment, and a Bianchi "Professional" clip IWB (easy on/off, not the tightest fit, though).

 

[M2 Carbine]

High Planes Drifter
I just ordered an East German Makarov from New Philly Sports about 20 minutes ago. I paid 320.00 for it. How'd I do? Can someone suggest a good IWB holster for it? How dependable can I expect it to be?

$300+ is about right for a nice East German Makarov now days.

I don't know about a IWB holster, I use a Don Hume JIT belt holster.

They are so dependable that last year I did a thousand round torture test on a new out of the box Bulgarian Makarov TRYING to make it malfunction. I even sank it, loaded, up to the muzzle in mud and in over a thousand rounds didn't have one gun caused malfunction.



The accuracy might be interesting to you as a new Mak owner.

100 yards. Standing, two hands.

 

[MrDig]

I'm no expert.......

But I have access to some pretty reliable information.
Here are the Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makarov_PM

http://www.makarov.com/

The veracity of previous statements is not in question,and or being challenged, I am simply pointing to some references not previously cited.

 

[Fabi75]

Another excellent (and not widely known) page with quite a lot of infos about Makarovs:

http://www.makarov.ch/eng/index.htm

Fabian

 

[Teakwood]

The article in Wikipedia is interesting, but contains at least one error.
N F Makarov did NOT invent the 9x18 round. It had been invented a few years before by B V Semin.

 

[bluetopper]

You won't be sorry you bought your East German Mak. It will do nothing but go up in value as time goes by. Shoot the heck out of it and enjoy it.

 

[FieroCDSP]

The PA-63 isn't bad for being less expensive. My friend picked one up, and after some polishing of the aluminum frame in the mag-well, and some feed-ramp work, it shoots smooth and reasonably accurate. A nice conceal gun.

 

[ezypikns]

You won't be sorry....

that you bought an East German Mak. My Bulgarian has been absolutely reliable and is as accurate as any pistol I've shot. Your Mak will be one you'll keep.

 

[The_Shootist]

Grin

Shot my Bulgy Mak and my POS Colt Defender side by side today - what a difference.

Seems like I had at least 5-6 FTE on the Defender on 100 rds. Finally just put 6 rds (7rd capacity) in the Wilson mags and had no problems. Might as well have a G36 (unless a change of mags are in order but I dunno - Wilson is pretty much at the top of the food chain).

The Mak? No problems in 100+ rounds - really refreshing to know when the trigger gets pulled it will go BANG! and cycle another round flawlessly. I think I really am going to use it (again) as my summer carry, once I stop at AIM and pick up some Silver Bear hollow point rounds.

 

[fatelk]

I have an East German Makarov I bought a few years ago ($140 IIRC), I like it a lot.
Personally I think when it comes to buying a gun (or anything you plan on keeping and using for that matter) it's better to pay perhaps a little too much for something you like than to get a real bargain for something you don't.
Ten years down the road you will look at that cheap gun and still not like it that much. The nice one you still like, and the few dollars too much that you may have paid is ancient history.

I've known people that will quibble over five bucks on a used rifle, then go out and spend fifty for dinner!

Perhaps if I were buying and selling to make money it would be different, but I only buy a gun if I plan to keep it, and I don't buy very many.

Anyhow, congrats on the German Makarov! I think you will be happy with it.
Another "Makarov" that I think is a heck of a deal is the CZ82. I just bought one and it looks great!