Does the PM Makarov have such a cult following?
- Thread starter chrismc1
- Start date
Mike Irwin
Staff
It's certainly developing one if the posts here are to be the indicator.
I can't say "cult" but I will say it is getting a larger group of loyal fans who realize the value and quality of the pistol. Other than grips and sights, there isn't much to do to a Mak. I guess that simplicity endears it to their owners. I know I trust mine.
Good Shooting
RED
Good Shooting
RED
Accurate, dependable, sturdy, robust & simple design, DA/SA with safety & decock, 8+1 capacity, low-cost ammunition easily available, most parts are available at very reasonable prices, and the initial purchase can set you back as little as $140 or so.
What's not to like? Well, I think it is a little heavy for its size - a product of an all-steel construction. The DA trigger is heavy & rough, but the roughness smoothes out considerably after a few hundred pulls and is lighter than a Walther, which loosely patterned its design. The sights leave something to be desired - as does my Colt Mustang which cost over twice as much. Of course sights can be replaced although it will require machining. Then there are the grips which I find are uncomfortable for range work. The aftermarket pays little attention to the Mak, there are very few options available in grips. Fortunately, the Pearce offering is very comfortable for extended shooting. However, it might be a little large for smaller hands and it compromises concealability in CCW applications.
So...a lot of positives & a few negatives which would be considered minor and most can be remedied to suit the owner.
I'm not into cults, but I like my Maks!
What's not to like? Well, I think it is a little heavy for its size - a product of an all-steel construction. The DA trigger is heavy & rough, but the roughness smoothes out considerably after a few hundred pulls and is lighter than a Walther, which loosely patterned its design. The sights leave something to be desired - as does my Colt Mustang which cost over twice as much. Of course sights can be replaced although it will require machining. Then there are the grips which I find are uncomfortable for range work. The aftermarket pays little attention to the Mak, there are very few options available in grips. Fortunately, the Pearce offering is very comfortable for extended shooting. However, it might be a little large for smaller hands and it compromises concealability in CCW applications.
So...a lot of positives & a few negatives which would be considered minor and most can be remedied to suit the owner.
I'm not into cults, but I like my Maks!
These suckers are built Timex tough and for the money you can't go wrong 
If you don't own one, Do yourself a favor and get one. You won't be sorry you did A "CULT" implies that we are a splinter group. We that believe in the Makarov Pistol are sure we are the true believers. Does our idol (MAK) deserve this status? Yes, it is the best buy there is in a handgun which is available to the general public. It is accurate, reliable, and easy to use. What more do you ask of a pistol that costs less than $200? Regards, Richard
Destructo6
New member
A cult, yes. A relatively small group, but dedicated to the fact that you're getting a $500+ pistol for less than half that price.
FYI - saw on the Yahoo Makarov forum that http://www.makarov.com is down due to some problems.
Karl has created a mirror site that can be used now and in the future when there are other problems affecting the main site.
The new mirror site is: http://www.makarovpistol.com
Karl has created a mirror site that can be used now and in the future when there are other problems affecting the main site.
The new mirror site is: http://www.makarovpistol.com
I bought all three of my Maks (2 East Germans and 1 Russian .380 high cap) and they are great guns. They are all steel and eveyone knows that the Germans have great steel and machinists. The East German Maks are the finest of all of them, quality and workmanship wise. But the others are fully serviceable pocket pistols and will last a life time. Shotgun News has 8 shot magazianes for $2.95 if you buy several at a time and they will fit any of the Maks. I l bought 8 spares for my East Germans, I just wish that the Russian .380 high caps were that cheap.
7th
7th
East German Maks are good, no doubt about it.
However, all this assumption that they are made from better steel and stuff are dead wrong. This is EAST German product, not
German product. East Germany had much stronger traditions of gunmaking than, say Bulgaria, but most of their steel and other raw materials were imported from the USSR. Mak was a military product licensed to them by the Soviets, and metal used in its
production was either imported from Russia or it was possibly East German but manufactured strictly to the Russian mil. specs.
I've been in East Germany before Unification, and saw things they used to make, including car (actually, moving tin can) called Trabant, and belive me, East Germany had very little in common
with West Germany except language. They did make an excellent
optics, but prefered to buy Russian-made photo cameras...
However, all this assumption that they are made from better steel and stuff are dead wrong. This is EAST German product, not
German product. East Germany had much stronger traditions of gunmaking than, say Bulgaria, but most of their steel and other raw materials were imported from the USSR. Mak was a military product licensed to them by the Soviets, and metal used in its
production was either imported from Russia or it was possibly East German but manufactured strictly to the Russian mil. specs.
I've been in East Germany before Unification, and saw things they used to make, including car (actually, moving tin can) called Trabant, and belive me, East Germany had very little in common
with West Germany except language. They did make an excellent
optics, but prefered to buy Russian-made photo cameras...