Mike Irwin
Staff
For $129.00
Any thoughts?
Worth the price?
Any thoughts?
Worth the price?
Found a Russian Mak, with adjustable sights....
- Thread starter Mike Irwin
- Start date
Herr Walther
New member
They're of good quality, but they have a lot of SHARP edges. I dehorned mine, did a trigger job, dovetailed a Sig front sight on mine, enlarged the ejection port and refinished it.
I figured what the heck it only cost me $125. It turned out great.
I figured what the heck it only cost me $125. It turned out great.
Will Beararms
New member
The sights are worthless. Go with an EG or Bulgie. Trust me, you'll get frustrated quickly with those adjustibles. They were thrown on at the last minute to get past BATF regs.
I owned one and prefer the Bulgie with the fixed version which is at our hunting camp as I post this.
I owned one and prefer the Bulgie with the fixed version which is at our hunting camp as I post this.
I have one. I never had a problem with the sights. I don't nessessarily think you need adjustable sights. The Mak has only a very narrow range of bullet weights, so it isn't like you will need to do much adjustment. I adjusted the sights and have never moved them. My Bulgarian shoots about 3" high at 25 yards with the issue sights. My East German shoots about 6" high at 25 yards with the issue sights, so I guess you could justify them. You can't go wrong for $125. I would definitely go for it. I am pretty sure that I paid more than that for mine.
Will Beararms
New member
By the way Mike, those Novak Low profile sights really work well like the ones that come on certain American made pistols. A Bulgarian Mak can be retrofitted with such animals which makes it really nice.
Mike Irwin
Staff
I think I'll swing by tomorrow and take another look at it.
If there is any gun I TRULY don't need, it's a Makarov.
Why?
Because I've already got several guns of the same general size that I use for CCW. But, I figure it might be an excellent nightstand/occasional car gun.
I know the adjustable sights are really useless on a gun like this, I just know that I've seen the adjustable sight guns going for a lot more money than the fixed sight ones, usually between $50-$70 more at gunshows.
I'd love to get an East German one, as they're usually the best of the lot, but I've not seen one under $200 for a couple of years now. Sorry, but I'm not THAT interested in a Mak.
The triggers on the few that I've handled are really pretty crappy. Anyone have replacement springs, etc., or instructions on smoothing up the triggers?
If there is any gun I TRULY don't need, it's a Makarov.
Why?
Because I've already got several guns of the same general size that I use for CCW. But, I figure it might be an excellent nightstand/occasional car gun.
I know the adjustable sights are really useless on a gun like this, I just know that I've seen the adjustable sight guns going for a lot more money than the fixed sight ones, usually between $50-$70 more at gunshows.
I'd love to get an East German one, as they're usually the best of the lot, but I've not seen one under $200 for a couple of years now. Sorry, but I'm not THAT interested in a Mak.
The triggers on the few that I've handled are really pretty crappy. Anyone have replacement springs, etc., or instructions on smoothing up the triggers?
At http://www.makarov.com there are some instructions under the link "technical info." for improving the trigger. The triggers get better as shoot them also.
Mike,
I picked one of those up for $110 a while back. It was my first Makarov. It is a good gun. The sights do suck though. The little gun is totally reliable.
The biggest problem I've had with the sights is that they don't seem to hold zero and they are too small and hard to see. I put some bright sights paint on them and it is a little better. A gunsmith might be able to fit some better sights to it.
-10CFR
I picked one of those up for $110 a while back. It was my first Makarov. It is a good gun. The sights do suck though. The little gun is totally reliable.
The biggest problem I've had with the sights is that they don't seem to hold zero and they are too small and hard to see. I put some bright sights paint on them and it is a little better. A gunsmith might be able to fit some better sights to it.
-10CFR
I would and still want to get one as a companion to my Bulgie Mak. I had a stainless steel Russian Mak that I sold several years ago. I still regret selling that pistol.
I didn't have any problems with sight durability and the trigger pull is better than the Bulgarian one I have. They also seem to be slightly slimmer in the trigger guard area. I didn't have a micrometer to check (my father owns a Russian) but they do feel a bit different.
You really can't beat the price. Even if you bought it and didn't like it, you would be able to get your investment back plus a few dollars.
Makarov.com has some pretty good pointers on how to clean up the trigger.I also tried another method, I don't remember who suggested this, but they suggested to completely degrease the pistol, reassemble and dry fire the pistol for a while, then look for wear points and polish them. This method worked for me and my trigger pull is much improved.
Good Shooting
RED
I didn't have any problems with sight durability and the trigger pull is better than the Bulgarian one I have. They also seem to be slightly slimmer in the trigger guard area. I didn't have a micrometer to check (my father owns a Russian) but they do feel a bit different.
You really can't beat the price. Even if you bought it and didn't like it, you would be able to get your investment back plus a few dollars.
Makarov.com has some pretty good pointers on how to clean up the trigger.I also tried another method, I don't remember who suggested this, but they suggested to completely degrease the pistol, reassemble and dry fire the pistol for a while, then look for wear points and polish them. This method worked for me and my trigger pull is much improved.
Good Shooting
RED
It was back in 1993 when I came back from Germany and bought the pistol from a local dealer here in Florida. I ended up trading it in 1994.
If I recall correctly it had a brushed type stainless finish on the weapon. I also remember it having a scratch on the slide when I purchased the pistol. I ended up polishing out the scratch with some steel wool.
I doubt it if Murf's guns in Duncan Oklahoma still has the weapon, if they did I could give them a call.
I ended up trading it for a Leupold 2x7 scope for my TC Contender.
Good Shooting
Red
If I recall correctly it had a brushed type stainless finish on the weapon. I also remember it having a scratch on the slide when I purchased the pistol. I ended up polishing out the scratch with some steel wool.
I doubt it if Murf's guns in Duncan Oklahoma still has the weapon, if they did I could give them a call.
I ended up trading it for a Leupold 2x7 scope for my TC Contender.Good Shooting
Red
Apple a Day
New member
Mike,
I bought a Russian Makarov in 1994 with adjustable sights. I've never had a problem with the sights. I have heard some people were nervous about losing the elevation spring so they put a drop of glue in it but I don't see the need. I did paint the sights with phosphorescent paint [rear orage, front green] and got a set of Hogue grips for comfort. It shoots REALLY well. I've lost count of how many rounds through it and it has failed to feed once, the fourth round I tried to put through it. The lip of the casing was bent.
The trigger is crisp and well defined.
For $125 I'd pounce.
I bought a Russian Makarov in 1994 with adjustable sights. I've never had a problem with the sights. I have heard some people were nervous about losing the elevation spring so they put a drop of glue in it but I don't see the need. I did paint the sights with phosphorescent paint [rear orage, front green] and got a set of Hogue grips for comfort. It shoots REALLY well. I've lost count of how many rounds through it and it has failed to feed once, the fourth round I tried to put through it. The lip of the casing was bent.
The trigger is crisp and well defined.
For $125 I'd pounce.
Ed Brunner
New member
MeToo!!!
Mike; I would get it. You will probably love it. They are essentially bulletproof and will feed and digest just about anything. The price is good if the gun is in good gondition. Most used Maks have had very few rounds run through them and usually only need to be cleaned and lubed. I too have heard about the Russian rear sight coming loose, but neither of mine has shot loose. I suppose you could sight it in and lock-tite the screws. If you do, be careful not to lose the detent ball and spring. Kind of like a S&W, they will FLY.
Bottom line: I'd get it.
Mike; I would get it. You will probably love it. They are essentially bulletproof and will feed and digest just about anything. The price is good if the gun is in good gondition. Most used Maks have had very few rounds run through them and usually only need to be cleaned and lubed. I too have heard about the Russian rear sight coming loose, but neither of mine has shot loose. I suppose you could sight it in and lock-tite the screws. If you do, be careful not to lose the detent ball and spring. Kind of like a S&W, they will FLY.
Bottom line: I'd get it.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Crap.
Well, the Mak has competition. SERIOUS competition.
I've wanted a telescope for a long time, and one I've had my eye on is on sale.
Decisions, decisions...
Well, the Mak has competition. SERIOUS competition.
I've wanted a telescope for a long time, and one I've had my eye on is on sale.
Decisions, decisions...
Herb Fredricksen
New member
Russian Mak in N Va
Hey Mike,
Anymore of those Ruskies at $129? I'm one state north of you (Maryland) but my C&R will cover the purchase with no hassle, assuming it is C&R. Otherwise a low cost transfer through a friendly 01FFL holder is second best and workable.
Herb Fredricksen herbfred@cpcug.org
Hey Mike,
Anymore of those Ruskies at $129? I'm one state north of you (Maryland) but my C&R will cover the purchase with no hassle, assuming it is C&R. Otherwise a low cost transfer through a friendly 01FFL holder is second best and workable.
Herb Fredricksen herbfred@cpcug.org
Herb Fredricksen said:
Sorry Herb, not on a Russian with adjustable sights. This is the commercial offering. They are not C&R, only the milsurp Russians are.
Now, if you go to your BATF C&R list, it will not make a distinction between the milsurp & commercial Russian. This has been a hot topic over on the Makarov.com message board in the past. I believe at one point someone posted a scan of a response letter received from the BATF on this, & the commercial gun was excluded from C&R qualification.
If you post a message over on The Mak Board you might be able to get more documented info. For what it is worth, I would accept anyone's offer to sell me a Russian Commercial Makarov using my C&R.
Sorry Herb, not on a Russian with adjustable sights. This is the commercial offering. They are not C&R, only the milsurp Russians are.
Now, if you go to your BATF C&R list, it will not make a distinction between the milsurp & commercial Russian. This has been a hot topic over on the Makarov.com message board in the past. I believe at one point someone posted a scan of a response letter received from the BATF on this, & the commercial gun was excluded from C&R qualification.
If you post a message over on The Mak Board you might be able to get more documented info. For what it is worth, I would accept anyone's offer to sell me a Russian Commercial Makarov using my C&R.