Makarov, should I get it?

S

Steve Smith

New member
A certain supplier is selling German Maks with 2 mags, 2 grips and a holster for $159. Should I get it?

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Frontsight!
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"Put a rifle in the hands of a Subject, and he immediately becomes a Citizen." -- Jeff Cooper
 
I got mine from SOG in Ohio for the same price hand picked. It was really a nice one and could have been the cream of the crop. ;)
By all means you can't go wrong. I had mine out to the range the other week and it impressed hell out of me. Great little gun
for the money :)

Hope this helps

Happy shooting :)

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We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous

[This message has been edited by loknload (edited May 11, 2000).]
 
Frontsight! Buy it. I paid my FFL $180 for my East German Mak and have no regrets. On top of that add sales tax, the cost of Pearce grips (really necessary), and a new recoil spring (the EG maks are used, the spring may be as old as the gun) and it's still a great gun for the price. Meanwhile, what did I see at a recent gun show? East German Maks like mine with an asking price of ~$225. That's without new grips and a spring. The grips and holster that come with the gun add to the appeal of the package but they are not practical. The plastic grips came off my gun the minute I had it home. The shoulder holster does not fit the gun, but you can make it fit following instructions at makarov.com. Magazines go for $5 a pop so getting a spare magazine with the package is not a big deal. I saw one table at the recent gun show where there was a sign saying "Makrov (sic) sale, each gun comes with two magazines, a holster, and a spare set of grips." Well, that's how they arrive in the country. Not much of a special deal there.

To me my Mak has a strong irrational appeal. I'm not sure why I like it so much but I do. It's not THAT accurate a gun. Mak fans talk a lot about accuracy but that is at combat distances. It's an accurate gun for the price and it's accuracy suits its purpose - self defense. I like the gun in part because I find it easy to shoot it well. With the Pearce grips it fits my hand well. It is also highly reliable. With >500 rounds through the gun the only significant malfunction was a mis-fire, perhaps ammo related. I have had some trouble with the slide not locking back after the last round but may be magazine or ammo related - I need to work that one out.

Calif Hunter. I am not an expert on Maks but I think the new Bulgarian ones are stamped "Arsenal" and are not considered as desirable as milsurp Bulgies. On the other hand, according to http://www.makarov.com/makfaq.html you may have a good deal. What the heck. Buy it. It's only your first Mak so it doesn't have to be perfect.

Glockarov (formerly Glockdoc)
 
I paid $200 (with tax and DROS) for my E. German Mak and I still think I got good deal. Oh yeah, I didn't get anything more than a single mag, which isn't really a big deal because parts and accessories are so inexpensive.

Calif Hunter, if the Bulgarian Mak is military surplus, it's a good deal. If it's a new Arsenal Mak, it's just mediocre. By the way, who has that Mak, Arrowhead Outdoor?
 
Yes, it's Arrowhead Outdoor Sports. The ad says "Bulgarian Military Makarov, 9x18mm, 3 1/2" barrel, 50s new military unissued, holster w/accessories." (Direct quote.) I guess I will have to check it out, of course, in person, to see if it's a military or marked "Arsenal."
 
I recently ordered one of the new milsurp bulgarians. It is a very nice pistol for how much I paid($150 including transfer). Evidently several thousand of these "new" grease packed guns have recently come into the country. As someone here also posted Makarov.com is a wealth of information. The discussion board there is currently down due to a web host change, however all the other info is there. The arsenal bulgies are recent commercial imports. If a dealer is advertising new milsurp ones specifically it will not be an arsenal one. For the price these things are right now, I would recommend that everyone get one. Very well made, ultra reliable, at a bargain basement price.

[This message has been edited by RCS (edited May 12, 2000).]
 
Calif Hunter, I picked up my milsurp Bulgie from Arrowhead a few weeks ago. :D Yes they are milsurp and the one I bought appears to be unissued, with traces of cosmoline still in evidence. Arrowhead has the Russian TCW brand 109gr Makarov ammo at a fairly reasonable price, $7.00 a box. If you buy some of this you will find it does add a little "umph" to the recoil of the Makarov, besides burning cleaner then some other brands of ammo i.e. Fiocchi. Contact Karl at http://Makarov.com for the Pierce grip, most find it more comfortable then the standard issue military grip. Enjoy!
 
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