Makarovs? Good? Bad? Ugly? Any knowledge?

stonewall50

New member
So I am looking for more info on these. I love the way they look. I have done some reading and I liked the way the only one I held felt. But does anyone have any experience with them? Anything you can share? Just wondering. It is a gun on my list to own just because I'm fascinated with Cold War era espionage stuff (and it is a Russian pistol from that era lol).

I am also curious about these as actual concealed carry/self defense guns. Mainly just for giggles.
 
The 9x18 Mak is very underpowered by western standards and is not a good defense round, but other than that they are good guns. I just bought a Bulgarian one and it shoots well.
 
I was a little intrigued by them, until I had a chance to fire one ( and I wasn't impressed )...fit & finish is not great / trigger was not very good..../ and I felt the same about the browning high power.../ I was intrigued by them, until I had a chance to fire one....

I compared both of them to a well made Wilson combat 1911 in 9mm....and i'm very happy to stay with the Wilson 9mm .
 
The East German Mak is one of the best guns made. The round 9X18 is a hair less than a 9mm. I reloaded them years ago when I would cut down 9mm brass on a drill press to used the 9mm brass to reload for the gun. Ammo was hard to find back then. It is a very accurate gun. If you find a EG Makarov today in good condition you could pay from $400.00 to over $500.00 for it.
 
Using Hornady ' Critical Defense Numbers.
Muzzle
.380- 1000fps 200 lb ft
9X18- 1000fps 211 lb ft
9mm Luger- 1140fps 332 lb ft
Both of them penetrated the gel about 10 inches. The Luger went 11.25". If all that means anything to ya. Carrying my CZ82 with 13 rounds of Mak wouldn't make me feel unarmed.
 
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I was a little intrigued by them, until I had a chance to fire one ( and I wasn't impressed )...fit & finish is not great / trigger was not very good..../ and I felt the same about the browning high power.../ I was intrigued by them, until I had a chance to fire one....



I compared both of them to a well made Wilson combat 1911 in 9mm....and i'm very happy to stay with the Wilson 9mm .



Well I'm certainly not gonna compare it to an expensive 1911 lol. I am mainly in it for the history. I already have a carry gun. XDSC in 9mm. Works great and shoots great. Just gotta get new sights.
 
They are very good guns. Solid steel and made with few parts. They are close to a .380ACP in ballistics. Very accurate do to the fixed barrel. It's design is close to the Walther PP with even fewer parts. If you think .380ACP is too weak for defense, then you won't like it. I carry one when I need something a little smaller than my full size 1911. I have four Maks at this time, and I want more :)

Just note that the only true Makarov pistols are the Russian, Bulgarian, East German, and Chinese. The Polish and Hungarian pistols are only chambered in the 9X18 Makarov cartridge, but they are different guns.

 
It's a great little pistol. Simplified, rugged, and reliable in traditional Soviet fashion. It has fewer parts than a Glock, which is impressive for a DA/SA. You'll laugh in surprise when you that the pins are integrated into the parts themselves, and marvel at how each piece does two or three functions.

The fixed barrel lends to high accuracy, the Art Deco styling is attractive, and it's ergonomically designed. It points beautifully and feels lively in the hand.

However...

As a pistol, it's dated. A modernist would moan and groan about the DA/SA trigger (which is just fine, by the way) and steel frame. The heel magazine release is unfashionable, if sensible. Smaller, lighter, higher capacity, more powerful 9x19 pistols are readily available, and in the same general price range. 9x19 is cheap, available everywhere, and high quality defense ammo is well established.

Ammo might be an issue. It can be difficult to find locally, so you may need to order it online. I was shocked when I saw a pile of it at my local Sportman's Warehouse, and especially since the price was fair. Most of the gunshops I've been to don't carry it, and one shop only had a single box for $30. The ammo is only produced overseas, which means an import ban could be troublesome.

It can be converted to .380, but it's a little work and you may need a gunsmith. But then it makes for a large low capacity .380.

Actual Russian Makarovs are a little scarce these days since Bill Clinton banned their import back in the 90's. However, we are at the end of a wave of Bulgarian Makarov imports. They are still available in like new/unissued condition for $300. However, we're at the end of the wave, so you'd better move quickly if you want one.

TLDR version:

It's a great pistol, but the ammo is annoying. It's perfectly adequate for carry/defense, but modern pistols offer more for the buck.
 
They are very good guns. Solid steel and made with few parts. They are close to a .380ACP in ballistics. Very accurate do to the fixed barrel. It's design is close to the Walther PP with even fewer parts. If you think .380ACP is too weak for defense, then you won't like it. I carry one when I need something a little smaller than my full size 1911. I have four Maks at this time, and I want more :)



Just note that the only true Makarov pistols are the Russian, Bulgarian, East German, and Chinese. The Polish and Hungarian pistols are only chambered in the 9X18 Makarov cartridge, but they are different guns.






Well given my fascination, I would want an East German or Russian one lol. Would be cool to get one with a suppressor to complete the KGB equipment.
 
Ammo can be found at Academy Sports on occasion. It is not expensive. Around $11 a box of 50. I have no problem finding Hornady Defense rounds at various local gunstores including Academy Sports.

I currently have two Bulgarians, a Russian Commercial in .380, and an E. German. If you only want one and only for collectors appeal, a Russian Military one or an E. German would be tops. They will run you between $500 to $700. The Bulgarians are very nice and the current ones being sold are brand new unissued for the most part. The reason for the higher price for the E. Geman is the nice fit and finish and rarety. The Russian Military version is more expensive because it is rare and build by the country of origin. The Bulgarian is almost equal to the Russian IMO. The Russian Commercial models are very nice also, they have an adjustable rear sight and can be had for around $400. If you collect guns, you will want all models after you get your first. They are addicting ;)
 
I have an E. German and Bulgarian Mak and function/accuracy wise they are pretty much the same. When it comes to fit and finish the E. German Mak is hands down the winner. But its just cosmetics. As others have said, these were firearms made for combat roles. Cosmetic is pretty low on the list of what's important at that point.
 
One other way of looking at the comparison between 9x18 and 9mm Nato:
An apples to apples comparison of gel test results with Hornady Critical defense ammo.
There are more vids of similar tests on youtube.
I have not seen gel tests,but Buffalo Bore offers 115 gr cast flat points at approx. 1000 fps.

I was a die hard 45 ACP proponent for a long time.It was looking a ballistic gelatin and wound channel data that convinced me .Its about penetration and wound channel,not numbers.
The Hornady Critical Defense bullet performs.Gel tests show not much difference 9x18 vs 9x19.
Is the 9x18 a mouse gun? Sure!.But,pretty much,it punches a hole not so different than a 9x19 ....for that matter,not so different than a saber,rapier,or bayonet.
I'm not so much an advocate for the 9x18.
But the 21 oz PA-63 that I have with me is far more effective than the 1911 I left at home because it makes my pants sag.
Is it the ultimate? No.I think I'd rather have an M+P 9C.Before I dropped $279 on a Mak,I'd go a little more for the S+W,myself.
For now,the PA-63 I paid $79 for a long time ago fills the first rule of a gunfight "Have a gun"
Link to some gel tests:
https://youtu.be/rHBB5GujeUA
 
Agree with those above praising the German Maks. Every bit as nice as contemporary Walthers in quality. Very nice trigger. The only real weak spot, IMHO, are the tiny sights, otherwise reliable and accurate. A suitable pistol for any collection.

 
Add me to the cheering squad for the East German Mak. Mine is very well built, nicely finished, and is a great shooter. Ammo is readily available, at least range ammo, and reasonably priced.
 
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