Bulgarian Makarov?
- Thread starter Model12Win
- Start date
It depends on what you want it for.
As a pistol, the Makarov is well regarded for high accuracy and reliability. The design is also highly simplified in the Soviet tradition.
The Bulgarian Makarovs in particular are well regarded for relatively high fit and finish.
Would I personally buy one for myself? No. Should you buy one? Maybe.
As a Soviet-style general purpose or range pistol, it's an ok choice. For a defense or carry pistol, you might be better suited with a more modern option.
These days, the pistol is expensive for what you get. At $330, options start to open up.
Compared to more modern pistols, the Makarov is heavy, low capacity, and less powerful than a 9x19.
The ammo is an issue. Walmart doesn't carry it, nor do most sporting goods store. Do any of the gun shops near you carry it? Mine don't. You will need to order it online or get gouged at a gunshow. Online availability and price tend to vary wildly. There's a few months in recent times where it dried up almost completely due to events overseas.
As a cartridge, it's somewhere between a .380 and 9x19. Ammo is generally more expensive than 9x19. Modern defense ammo is available at modern defense ammo prices.
It can be be converted to .380 if you are so inclined.
In conclusion, for a Soviet fun gun, it's a good choice if you don't mind issues with the ammo supply.
As a pistol, the Makarov is well regarded for high accuracy and reliability. The design is also highly simplified in the Soviet tradition.
The Bulgarian Makarovs in particular are well regarded for relatively high fit and finish.
Would I personally buy one for myself? No. Should you buy one? Maybe.
As a Soviet-style general purpose or range pistol, it's an ok choice. For a defense or carry pistol, you might be better suited with a more modern option.
These days, the pistol is expensive for what you get. At $330, options start to open up.
Compared to more modern pistols, the Makarov is heavy, low capacity, and less powerful than a 9x19.
The ammo is an issue. Walmart doesn't carry it, nor do most sporting goods store. Do any of the gun shops near you carry it? Mine don't. You will need to order it online or get gouged at a gunshow. Online availability and price tend to vary wildly. There's a few months in recent times where it dried up almost completely due to events overseas.
As a cartridge, it's somewhere between a .380 and 9x19. Ammo is generally more expensive than 9x19. Modern defense ammo is available at modern defense ammo prices.
It can be be converted to .380 if you are so inclined.
In conclusion, for a Soviet fun gun, it's a good choice if you don't mind issues with the ammo supply.
9x18_Walther
New member
I was waiting for that. I may have come off a bit strong.
I very much enjoy 9x18 Makarov. I should also let you know that my username could also represent the 9x18 Ultra chambered Walther PP Super. I like to think of it as either.Buy the Makarov, it's a great pistol. But I'd recommend something else for CCW or home defense. I don't know what the OP is looking for; range toy or CCW?
Any gun that is reliable gets a check in my book.
I still think the S&W Model 10 is a great revolver which everyone should own. Do I recommend it for defensive purposes? Not so much.
My only concerns after having owned a commercial Russian, several Bulgarian and a pair of E. German maks....
Trigger pull was tough on all but one of the East German guns.
The finish made for daily wipe-downs (or more in humid climates)
Seems to me to be more of a standby gun rather than a daily CCW.
Your mileage may vary.
Bob
Trigger pull was tough on all but one of the East German guns.
The finish made for daily wipe-downs (or more in humid climates)
Seems to me to be more of a standby gun rather than a daily CCW.
Your mileage may vary.
Bob
I have a Russian Mak that I bought NIB for $149 in the late 1980's. It has been completely reliable and is surprisingly accurate. It is kind of heavy for cc, but I would recommend it to anyone who wanted a tough reliable pistol. The trigger pull is pretty good on mine. I don't recall if it was always that way, or if many thousands of rounds have smoothed it out.
Well, the democracy has arrived in 1989 in Bulgaria. Some say it was for good, some - the opposite. The fact is - before 1989 there was so called Army acceptance, or... I don't know how to translate it in English. The idea was that the production was thoroughly tested before accepting and paying. If something was wrong with quality the whole batch was returned to the manufacturer. After 199x this practice was closed, logically the quality dropped.
Probably you'll see the differences for yourself if you compare a handgun from 1985 and one from 1995
Probably you'll see the differences for yourself if you compare a handgun from 1985 and one from 1995
Trooper Joe
New member
My Bulgarion Makarov with Marschal grips is a real "Barbeque" gun. (Just learned that term while working in Texas last summer. I guess it means a great show off gun.)
It has a great DA trigger and an even greater single action trigger. Very accurate and prints one ragged hole at 20 feet, a little above point of aim.
Some folks do not like the European style mag release but this gun and my P-64 really do it right. The mag drops freely into the gun and only catches on the retainer at the bottom. In other words, the mag retainer system does not drag on the entire length of the mag like a Sig 232 and similar guns do.
I also like the fact that I do not feel like I am ruining the gun by shooting Russian made steel case ammo. It burns really clean and is also is very accurate.
Trooper Joe
It has a great DA trigger and an even greater single action trigger. Very accurate and prints one ragged hole at 20 feet, a little above point of aim.
Some folks do not like the European style mag release but this gun and my P-64 really do it right. The mag drops freely into the gun and only catches on the retainer at the bottom. In other words, the mag retainer system does not drag on the entire length of the mag like a Sig 232 and similar guns do.
I also like the fact that I do not feel like I am ruining the gun by shooting Russian made steel case ammo. It burns really clean and is also is very accurate.
Trooper Joe
Slaf, Guess i will with hold my comments until comparing the later pistol however, i do not support the blanket theory that because outside demands were different the factory would immediately cut the quality of their product. In fact i would think the opposite as they are suddenly in free world competition for sales.
Ibmikey, no problem with that. I personally don't own a PM but have shot it quite a bit. The hand gun "old-army" production last much longer at the shooting ranges than the "new-ones". I carried one from the old ones in my military service.
Would like to see someone else's opinion on that.
Would like to see someone else's opinion on that.
To OP, NO BRAINER
Like the AK47, SKS, Mosin, etc. the Mak was built for war by people who experienced it at its worst and by weapons designers who knew the stakes.
These weapons were made for the real thing and to function reliably in the harsh deserts of Kazakstan and the frozen wastes of Siberia., etc.
I own 4 MILITARY Maks. Two EGs and two Bulgarians. The EGs are cosmetically finished better but in terms of function and reliability, including double and single action trigger pull, there is little discernible difference between any of them.
The difference is, when I got into Maks they were considerably cheaper and without a doubt one of the best firearms bargains ever offered.
Like the AK47, SKS, Mosin, etc. the Mak was built for war by people who experienced it at its worst and by weapons designers who knew the stakes.
These weapons were made for the real thing and to function reliably in the harsh deserts of Kazakstan and the frozen wastes of Siberia., etc.
I own 4 MILITARY Maks. Two EGs and two Bulgarians. The EGs are cosmetically finished better but in terms of function and reliability, including double and single action trigger pull, there is little discernible difference between any of them.
The difference is, when I got into Maks they were considerably cheaper and without a doubt one of the best firearms bargains ever offered.
also... there was another good reason the Makarov was a desirable weapon when they were inexpensive and that is AMMO. Quantities of Russian steel case ammo from Wolf, Barnaul, etc. (I think all from the same factories) could be had at very cheap prices...The Mak was actually designed around this ammo. This ammo is obviously still available but at much higher prices.
This ammo had/has lacquered cases and was usually sealed at the primer pockets and case mouth. The Russians have apparently done away with this practice but some is still available this way....This would indicate that quantities could be kept if stored correctly and also allow a lot of shooting for practice.
But alas, the prices for this ammo, just like the pistols, are more than double what they were say 10 or 15 years ago. 9X18 cost about the same as 9MM and in some places costs even more!
This ammo had/has lacquered cases and was usually sealed at the primer pockets and case mouth. The Russians have apparently done away with this practice but some is still available this way....This would indicate that quantities could be kept if stored correctly and also allow a lot of shooting for practice.
But alas, the prices for this ammo, just like the pistols, are more than double what they were say 10 or 15 years ago. 9X18 cost about the same as 9MM and in some places costs even more!
^^^^^^^^^For anything to "double" in price over 15 years only requires a 4.7% increase per year. Therefor 9x18 ammo has only gone up slightly higher than inflation. To call it "expensive" is a true misnomer. If bought on line 9x18 can be had a reasonable cost. It is also less expensive than most .380 which many people buy and shoot with no issue with cost.
I just bought a thousand Brown Bear for $220. Delivered, i do not think one can beat that with .380. As reported the days of cheap import ammo of any caliber seem to be a thing of the past. I really enjoy shooting my Com bloc pistols and have representation pieces from most of them, the CZ 82 being my favorite followed by the Mak's.
You are correct Pilot but I seem to remember 9X18 being considerably cheaper than its big brother 9X19 back then. I could be wrong about that but being a reloader I remember not even considering loading 9X18 back then. When you figure in the work, cost of components, etc. it just wasn't cost effective given that good ammo could be had for cheap.
IBMikey reports $220 for a case of Brown Bear which is a pretty good price but I just bought a case of Speer Lawman 115 FMJ 9MM for $199.80 plus $15 to ship from SGAmmo. So things have more than evened out over the years. At least that's my impression.
IBMikey reports $220 for a case of Brown Bear which is a pretty good price but I just bought a case of Speer Lawman 115 FMJ 9MM for $199.80 plus $15 to ship from SGAmmo. So things have more than evened out over the years. At least that's my impression.