Are Bulgarian Makarovs any good?

M

Mozart

Inactive
I have heard that Makarovs are reliable but differ in quality depending on where they made. What I seem to be able to find are the ones from Bulgaria. Do they have any problems or are they good right out of the box?
 
Skip over to www.Makarov.com
You want info on Maks? They have it.
As far as I have heard (mine is Russian) the Bulgies are great with ball ammo. If you want to feed it hollow points- another debate entirely- you might want to smooth down the feed ramp just a smidgen, not a big operation at all. Directions from Karl at Makarov.com. Reliable, accurate, lots of bang for your $!

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Those who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules.Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
 
I have had several maks(chinese, russian) and I just got a Bulgie a coupla months ago an love it. Accurate, reliable (even with corbon HP's!!), and a pleasure to shoot. Best deal on the handgun market, bar none.
 
just purchased a unissued "bulgie" Mak from
JCArmory, $139.00 I was shocked at the
accuracy, and the quality for the price.
I have been using hollow points but plan
on reloading when I get the dies.

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Yes! Excellent. All new Maks need a little work right out of the box with the trigger. Single action is good, but DA is usually a little rough. A little abrasive compound and a alot of trigger pulls and you will end up with a real sweet DA auto.
 
Folks complain about the finish on the Bulgies, but all I can see is that it's not shiny. I tried to make mine jam by loading the same magazine with 2 different kinds of hollowpoints and 3 different brands of hardball but couldn't get it to fail. The recoil is a little heavy for the power of the cartridge and hard on the hand, but I understand you can get some grips that will soak up a lot of that. Note: I don't consider my self abnormally sensitive to recoil. I shoot a .44 mag with heavy handloads and a .357 snub with full house factory loads, without too much problem.

Anyhow, I love the little commie beast. It's the best gun deal I've gotten since I picked up my S&W M66, which was a nice LEO trade-in.
 
Bulgies rule. I've never had a problem with mine, with JHP or FMJ. It loves Russian ammo. The unissued milsurp Bulgies have a deep blue finish while the commercial ones have a dull black finish, both are reliable. I prefer the milsurp because of their historical value. Bulgies are set to go from the box, no need for expensive custom work.

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So many pistols, so little money.

[This message has been edited by Tecolote (edited June 15, 2000).]
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Futo Inu:
Are the Bulgies you guys have .380 or 9x18?[/quote]

9X18 here. I've found cheapo Russky ammo at gun shows for $5.95/box of 50. I pay $7.95 at a gun store where I usually trade. If you want better quality you can go with Sellier & Belloit at $8.95/50. I paid about $15.00 for a box of 50 Blazer JHP's, $9.00 for a box of Hornaday JHP's (20). Dies are available.

Forgot one other problem: the front sight is miniscule. JMHO, because I rely heavily on an easily gained sight picture on any handgun due to a slight but noticeable hand tremor.
 
The Bulgarian Maks are good. I just think that the Russian ones are better. My Russian mak is great!!!

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BOYCOTT SMITH AND WESSON!!!
Defend the Constitution from the foreign threat!!!!

Yeah, I got a permit to carry,it's called the friggin Constitution.---Ted Nugent

Man killing is a nasty business.---Finn Aggard

"Man killing is nasty business"---Finn Aggard
 
Thanks for the info. BTW, what are the dimensions and weight of a Mak? I can't seem to find that anywhere. I am especially interested in the width with reguards to concealed carry. I was considering a kel-tec for that purpose but my dealer can't seem to get one for me and then I heard about Maks and they sounded more reliable.
 
Weight is around 25oz (unloaded). Width a little more than an inch, but not with Pearce grips. These things widen it out quite a bit.

I have exact specs somewhere.

Type: Double/Single Action Self Loading Pistol
System of Operation: Blowback
Safety: Hammer block, decocking, firing pin not secured
Caliber: 9x18mm (9mm Makarov)
Capacity: 8+1 rounds
Sights: Fixed blade front, dovetailed u-notch rear, drift adjustable
Length: 6.34"
Weight (loaded): 1.71 pounds
Barrel: fixed, 3.83", 4 groove, right-hand twist
Magazine release: heel
Number of Parts: 27
 
From Mak.com:

What caliber should I get, .380 or 9x18 Makarov?

By all means, get one in the original caliber of 9x18 Makarov, unless you are already familiar with the .380 ACP and reload for it. 9x18 Makarov ammunition availability is no longer an issue. In fact, you can often get surplus 9x18 Makarov ammo cheaper than .380 ACP! Note that you can now buy aftermarket replacement barrels in both 9x18M and .380 ACP (see accessories page). So if you made the unfortunate mistake of buying a .380 ACP Makarov, there's still hope for you (just kidding). Also, if you have .380 ACP ammo hanging around, feeling lonely, you can retrofit a barrel in .380 ACP and you're all set. May require some mechanical skill and a barrel press. See our Makarov Accessories page for how to order barrels. Barrel replacement is not a simple procedure, but can be done by mechanically inclined people. My general rule of thumb is that if you can change the oil on your car, you can do this. Read more about how to do this here.
 
Had a 380 when they first came in and traded it. The Arsenal Bulgie [matte finnish] worked flawlessly but a friend needed a compact defensive tool and i sold it to him. Why did i sell it to him, well there was a show that day and i was going to find me a milsurp Bulgie. They behave the same but the blueing cranks my tractor and it is milsurp. How good are they? Have you noticed the amount of posts and the lack of complaints? Parts availability, low cost ammo, accuracy, and SWEET! You might want to consider aftermarket grips. The Pearce add a little bulk but, man, do they reduce the recoil and improve the handling. I think i will order the Makawrap grips for my toter because they are slimmer (concealability) and reduce the bulk (small hands). Anyone tried the Makawrap grips yet?
 
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