Bulgarian Makarov?

For people with several guns in 9x18:), a Mak or CZ-83 in .380 Auto keeps you from having an entire category of guns vulnerable to a 'possible' future ban/high tax on Russian ammo.

9x18 Walther: That's a very good reminder about ever-present threats to imported military handguns. They are taking one bite at a time, like a small school of piranha fish. When the Feds delay a certain ban, state politicians do it because of support in the leftist urban areas which prefer Big Govt making their decisions for them.

If a certain mass tragedy involved a Makarov, any remaining foreign stockpiles could be banned from import. All the Antis are waiting for are unthinkable events, which they can exploit for political benefit.
Obama admitted using the Roseburg OR comm. college nightmare "for political gain".:rolleyes:

I read personal remarks that a Seattle murder of a Federal Prosecutor years ago was the pretext for the ban on Russian military Makarovs.
Is this fairly accurate (the story, not the gun)?
 
Last edited:
If the foreign supply of 9x18 dries up i feel some of the slack will be taken up by American manufacturers. Where there is demand there will soon be supply from additional producers. In the mean time, like i do with all calibers, a few thousand will always be on the shelf.
 
I agree, if there is demand there will be a supplier, but demand ( and supply ) also influences price...

The left is at it "one bite at a time" for very sure. That is leftist strategy.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the current ruling class decides to ban imports of Russian ammo using Russian aggression in the middle east as a lame excuse.

This would be an example of "a bite"...... I'm surprised they haven't done so already.
 
Pawn shop near me has a circle 10 Bulgarian Mak for $299.

Straw colored hammer and safety.

Considering $300 buys you a Kel-Tec around here, well the Mak is still a good buy.

I do see 9x18 on the shelves (and I reload it to.)

I already have a EG.. Paid $105 back with they were cheep!

Deaf
 
I have one. I used it for CC for a few years before I could afford better.
Dead nuts reliable. Absolutely genius design that puts together a total of 26 or 27 parts (including mag) while providing da/sa and de-cocker.
Accurate. Powerful enough cartridge. Fits most small hands as a single stack. No recoil to speak of.

I've got a number of other modern pistols now, but I keep my Mak in case I need to loan a gun to someone I like.
 
doofus47...you make a great description and then say you have better. I know what you mean by that but a couple more qualities of the Mak

1)Chrome bore

2)Complete disassembly without tools if you have the cleaning rod/combo tool which also provides a flat screw driver blade for the grip screw. Use the tip to remove the extractor, trigger pin.

3)The firing pin/safety removal has to be the easiest to remove and reinstall of any handgun.

4) Makarov magazines are also the easiest to strip and maintain. I can completely field strip a Mak mag and reassemble it in about 15 seconds.

Negatives I have run into is the pin on the inside of the safety can break. Not as corrosion resistant as say the newer chromite types or stainless.
 
jj45 mapped out the other half of the equation.

I have a p99AS in 40 and 9 compact. So I have the DA/SA combo in more capacity and power. I have a single stack 9x19 in flavors XD-s and PPS that are lighter and with as much or more capacity.

20 years of techology progress aside, the Mak is a solid pistol I would recommend to anyone I liked.
 
I have 2 Bulgies. The first one I paid about $120 for. I used it when I started shooting IDPA. It has never had a single problem. I remember many a time at the 15 yard pistol bay shooting steel plates against others and beating most of them easily.

The 2nd came to me through a trade. The first couple magazines went through without a problem. After those it got to the point it wouldn't shoot at all. Turns out the previous owner thought he could improve the trigger by bending the main spring. I replaced it and now it is boringly reliable.

Buy one, you won't be disappointed. I used mine for my primary carry for a few years till I got the CZ-75BD and an FN Hi-Power. I still carry it every now and then and don't worry about it doing the job if needed.
 
If we are talking strictly for practical use, then no. A Makarov is a poor choice. Straight blowback instead of short recoil, hard to find parts, low magazine capacity, hard to obtain magazines, obscure ammunition, questionably heavy DA pull. There are much better choices at this price range for a practical handgun.
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with blowback.
Parts are plentiful and common, as are magazines.
8 rounds seems sufficient for normal carry.
Ammo is plentiful.
DA, so-so. Certainly no worse than some of the plastic monstrosities currently on the market.

Makarovs are virtually 100% reliable, 9x18 is an adequate self defense round, with a slightly higher sectional density than a .380, and, I don't know what you experience finding parts has been, but I seem to see them available all the time.
 
...a slightly higher sectional density than a .380...
Click to expand...
Not that I think there's any practical difference, but I think the 9mmMak actually has a slightly lower sectional density than the .380 given that they both use similar bullet weights and the Mak's diameter is very slightly larger.
 
Now that Bulgarian Makarov's are pushing $300-330, are they still as worthwhile?

It seems at that price range, options such as the Ruger LC9 or S&W Shield become available.
 
kozak6 said:
Now that Bulgarian Makarov's are pushing $300-330, are they still as worthwhile?

It seems at that price range, options such as the Ruger LC9 or S&W Shield become available.
Click to expand...

First off, let's be careful to keep it apples to apples.

The LC9 and the Shield are polymer carry pistols, and incorporate either DAO/Striker fire triggers.

The Makarov is a SA/DA steel frame pistol.

If you are looking solely at a small CCW pistol, the Makarov is not the piece for you.

If, however, you prefer metal frame pistols or hammer fired pistols in a small, concealable size, then the Makarov is a good option for you.
 
Kozak, I look at the Combloc pistols as yet another excuse to collect firearms with significent military/police history not as a CC pistol, therefore the cost is quite acceptable. To compare a Makarov with modern concealable pistols is ok if the Mak were being solely considered as a viable concealed carry pistol, in my (and many others) case carrying the pistol is on the bottom of my "reasons to want" list. I purchased Maks and their related 9x18 cousins to shoot and use as conversation pieces as well as to compare with Western counterparts. With this in mind it is worth the $300 bucks as I have no reason to even purchase a civilian concealed carry pistol as those needs have previously been met.
I suppose there are some who have purchased the pistol to fit their carry needs (even if considering the weight and size) and to them your post is more applicable and worthy of their consideration.
 
Last edited:
JimmyR said:
If you are looking solely at a small CCW pistol, the Makarov is not the piece for you.

If, however, you prefer metal frame pistols or hammer fired pistols in a small, concealable size, then the Makarov is a good option for you.
Click to expand...
+1. IMHO the Mak is best compared to a Bersa Thunder/383, Walther PP, Astra Constable, SIG P230/232, or Beretta 85 rather than the new generation of polymer-frame 9mm subcompacts. Some shooters will inevitably accuse these types of having a poor power-to-size and power-to-weight trade-off compared to an LC9 or Shield, but there are obviously plenty of folks who think these pistols are still good CCW choices.

Compared to most of the pistols I mentioned, with the possible exception of the Astra or Bersa, the Mak is arguably a better value. It's also simpler mechanically than they are, not to mention simpler mechanically than virtually any other DA/SA metal-frame pistol ever. :)
 
I owned one for a few years. Here's my take. I love having firearms with "history" and this one has history. It was solid, built like a tank and will eat anything you feed it. Mine was extremely reliable. They are slim and carry nicely in an IWB holster. Here are some negatives: They are heavy for their size. The sights are very small. The triggers are a bit heavy. They are snappy in recoil for their weight. - I like them but its the coolness factor that tips the scales. As far as strictly utilitarian, there are better carry guns, especially now that we have several single stack 9mm's in small packages. I do miss mine, but ultimately there were other guns I wanted more. I feel the same about selling my M1 Garand....although the Makarov was more useful to me than the Garand.
If you have extra $$, get one, but if the gun is primarily for use, not for nostalgia, look elsewhere. Edited to add: The main reason I sold mine was because I couldn't shoot it that accurately. Every time I shot it I was under impressed with how few bullets I had on target. Others shoot them better, I'm sure.
 
Good for historical relevance but also excellent carry pistol, IMO...there is something about carrying a relic that was also worn by the STASSI and KGB...after all, how many things East German do you know of, let alone a combat pistol?....there is not gonna be any more East German anything.

Some carry a lot bigger pistol like the 1911, I don't find the 1911 objectionable in the right holster,....I sometimes do carry a Mak concealed and often forget I am carrying it....but this can happen with just about any pistol...

I do have IWBs for the Mak but my favorite holster is a Don Hume H726 M59 pancake which is a thumb break that leaves the top strap exposed.

I don't feel under gunned but if any of us knew absolutely that when you walked out of the house you would be in a gun fight, what would you carry? For me, it wouldn't be a Makarov
 
JJ45, If i knew I would be in a gunfight as soon as I walked out of the house I personally would stay home with an AR and lots of mags on my lap. Oh yea don't forget to call 911. And clean the house before guests arrive.....seriously I agree my CC is going to be different than a Mak, but maybe not as good a firepower as what the Makarov will produce. Being old I gave up aggressive response to a threat for the idea that my CCW will aid in defensive withdrawl and let the young LE folks take the initative (as I did so many years ago when a uniformed police officer).
 
IBMikey, I agree no doubt, avoidance at all costs. Distance being your best defense. The concealed handgun there as a last ditch defense....

but don't forget, there are some vicious predators out there that would not hesitate to harm you and yours if given half a chance God forbid, but it is possible and it's nice to know you have access to a deterrent...
 
You bet there are unpleasant persons out there that is why i am seldom without my Kimber Micro, Sig P238 or G42 for my every day carry piece. I like all three of these for ease of carry and other reasons although I have dozens of other pistols that can fill the need....... like the Mak.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top