Makarov carry mode

4

4DIR

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How do you Makarov owners carry your Makarov's in CWP mode? Safety on or off. I'm thinking inside a IWB holster. I'm curious because of the floating firing pin. As long as its in the holster, what can go wrong?
 
I carry mine with the safety OFF.

Remove the magazine from your Makarov, check the chamber to be sure it is unloaded. Point the gun in a safe direction with the safety off, and dry fire the gun but hold the trigger back, don't let it come forward. While holding the trigger back, with your off-hand push on the back of the hammer.

You will notice that you are able to push the hammer forward, into contact with the firing pin.

Now, release the trigger and allow it to come fully forward to rest. Again, push on the rear of the hammer.

You will now discover that you cannot move the hammer forward into contact with the firing pin.

The Makarov has a built in safety that allows the hammer to strike the firing pin only when the trigger is pulled completely to the rear. I'm comfortable with that level of safety, so I carry mine with the manual safety off. Of course, I make sure the firing pin channel is clean - if the pin is stuck forward, none of the safeties are adequate!
 
Hammer down, safety on, DA mode is how I carry.

It only takes a simple thumb swipe to move the safety lever to the down position while drawing, a seemingly natural motion.

While the safety is on the weapon cannot be fired nor can the slide be moved to chamber or unchamber a round. This may or not buy you a bit of time in the unlikely event you lose your weapon from the holster during a scuffle.

Good Shooting
RED
 
Safety OFF for sure.
It is like a revolver with a long, hard DA trigger pull on the first shot.
When you need it, grab it, pull trigger and bang!

Hmm...what do ya know, a gun that fires when you pull the trigger.
 
So is there a safety reason NOT to use the safety? Or is it just a matter of the safety not being necessary to be safe?
 
I actually carry mine safety on in a Fobus paddle holster. The other pistol I'll carry in the winter (with a big coat or pullover) is a Ruger P95.

Both require an action with the thumb when drawing, and I've practiced enough that it's second nature. With the Mak, thumbing down the safety is part of drawing. With the Ruger, which I carry in a Galco, I have to use my thumb to unsnap the retention strap. Both are similar motions with the thumb.
 
Safety OFF. It's TOOOOO dangerous to leave the safety on, if I need it in a hurry -- I want to be able to pull it and shoot.

I only carry in the woods and my concern is dogs. I know from experience that they give no warning, no bark, no growl, nothing till you hear the motion of a ring around you.

Once under stress I pulled a pistol that I had trained on for years to take the safety off as I got ready to fire. Under stress I never took the safety off. Luckily I lived. I've not put a safety in the on position since!
 
WOW! I'm shocked at how many folks carry with the safety off!

It really doesn't matter to me either way because I carry a Glock 90% of the time, but when I do carry a pisol with a manual safety I usually engage the safety unless for some reason it hinders me or is an unnatural motion.

So I wonder...do folks routinely carry other DA pistols with the safety off such as the Sigs, Smith, Ruger, HK, Beretta and a host of other DA pistols equipped with a safety? Or is this mostly a Mak thing?

Good Shooting
RED
 
WOW! I'm shocked at how many folks carry with the safety off!

It really doesn't matter to me either way because I carry a Glock 90% of the time, but when I do carry a pisol with a manual safety I usually engage the safety unless for some reason it hinders me or is an unnatural motion.

So I wonder...do folks routinely carry other DA pistols with the safety off such as the Sigs, Smith, Ruger, HK, Beretta and a host of other DA pistols equipped with a safety? Or is this mostly a Mak thing?

Good Shooting
RED
 
Safety Off. The only handgun I carried with the safety on was my issue M1911, which contrary to USMC policy I carried cocked & locked w/rd chambered. I think of a DA auto in the same terms as a DA revolver. ID target,point,squeez,fire!
SgtMaj13
Semper Fi
 
I'm left handed.

When I carry my Mak it is with the safety off (decocked) and a round chambered. It gives me a very long DA pull which is all the safety that I really need if I have to clear leather for real.

Greg
 
I've never carried my Makarov with the safety on!!!! It's only function, as far as I'm concerned is as a de-cocker after I chamber a round. ;)
 
as Cocojo and others have said:

Round chambered and safety OFF

and mine is in a Fobus paddle holster but there are lots of other good holsters out there.
 
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