deerslayer303
New member
1000 rounds in two days? Dang !! That's awesome, and expensive. She's broke in now!
Makarovs? Good? Bad? Ugly? Any knowledge?
- Thread starter stonewall50
- Start date
Model12Win
Moderator
No I fired 250 rounds last week and this week I fired a 250 on three consecutive days for a total of 1000. Absolutely no problems whatsoever. This gun freakin' rocks.
deerslayer303
New member
Thats great to hear!!
Model12Win
Moderator
Thanks Deerslayer! Here is a picture:
Model12Win
Moderator
I know, it's probably not. I plan to get another 1000 round case to put through it very soon.
DDR East German PM
the best $139.00 I ever spent on a handgun
mfg in East Germany in 1963, by the original Walther factory
finest blueing and quality of all the MAKS
I dont shoot mine much, it's more for collecting, but it's 100% reliable, it's a very handy little semi auto pistol, I'll never sell mine.
the best $139.00 I ever spent on a handgun
mfg in East Germany in 1963, by the original Walther factory
finest blueing and quality of all the MAKS
I dont shoot mine much, it's more for collecting, but it's 100% reliable, it's a very handy little semi auto pistol, I'll never sell mine.
Model12Win
Moderator
Yes, I've heard great things about the East German Maks. supposedly, they are tremendously superior to any other Makarov.
But while inferior, my Bulgarian Makarov is just such a nice shooter, even if it's just a shadow of the greatness of the EG Makarovs.
But while inferior, my Bulgarian Makarov is just such a nice shooter, even if it's just a shadow of the greatness of the EG Makarovs.
Besides a better exterior polish/finish on the EGs I can detect no difference in my EGs and Bulgarians in terms of trigger, accuracy and reliability.
I have 2 of each and I gave my son a Bulgarian that was actually my first Mak purchase.
The second to last was purchased Aug, 2000, an East German for $137.65 including a $10.20 hand picked fee from SOG International that I bought on my C&R.
Its worth about 4 times that now. The other was at a LGS and the owner had no idea it was an EG as it was in a batch of Bulgarians for $158.99. PW Arms was the importer which is unusual.
I cannot remember the surplus vendor that had EGs on closeout for $99.99 back around that time. I thought I bought one of those but my receipts show the SOG purchase instead.
In terms of reliability, simplicity, accuracy and durability etc. I can't imagine a better firearms bargain than the Makarov Pistol at that time. Prices now have gone up to where it's not quite the buy it once was.
I have 2 of each and I gave my son a Bulgarian that was actually my first Mak purchase.
The second to last was purchased Aug, 2000, an East German for $137.65 including a $10.20 hand picked fee from SOG International that I bought on my C&R.
Its worth about 4 times that now. The other was at a LGS and the owner had no idea it was an EG as it was in a batch of Bulgarians for $158.99. PW Arms was the importer which is unusual.
I cannot remember the surplus vendor that had EGs on closeout for $99.99 back around that time. I thought I bought one of those but my receipts show the SOG purchase instead.
In terms of reliability, simplicity, accuracy and durability etc. I can't imagine a better firearms bargain than the Makarov Pistol at that time. Prices now have gone up to where it's not quite the buy it once was.
Model12Win
Moderator
^ That is very cool. I would love to own an EG one, but they seemed to be priced very high these days. Still, I can't remember a $299 gun that has made me so happy. I think these Bulgarian Makarovs available now are still great buys.
Model12Win
Moderator
Have you tried googling it?
Stuffing the magazine well with Googles creates many misfires 
I do not know a current source for GI mags but with five pistols that take the same mags I can have ten loaded at any given time. Usually i leave one in each pistol and the rest loaded and in a tool box filled with many different mags available for my many makes of pistols.
I do not know a current source for GI mags but with five pistols that take the same mags I can have ten loaded at any given time. Usually i leave one in each pistol and the rest loaded and in a tool box filled with many different mags available for my many makes of pistols.Cheapshooter
New member
Only a dozen or so listings of Makarov magazines on ebay. Most of which are "buy it now", not bid.
Several more on Gunbroker.
Here's the best deal on eBay right now. You may want to shop around. In general, I avoid the Russian pattern mags without the "hump."
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SET-OF-3-MA...639997?hash=item41ac108cbd:g:nl8AAOSwvg9XVPI9
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SET-OF-3-MA...639997?hash=item41ac108cbd:g:nl8AAOSwvg9XVPI9
Model12Win
Moderator
Any reason why you avoid the ones with no hump?
All my Bulgarian mags don't have a hump, but work nicely.
All my Bulgarian mags don't have a hump, but work nicely.
I have more than a few Makarov Mags, some with the hump and some without and have never given it a thought. They all work the same as intended....
One thing I have noticed that may be a tip. When field stripping a Mak mag I have found that using a hard surface to brace the magazine on while compressing the spring may in time unintentionally bend the feed lips...again, given enough time doing it over and over again.
When I disassemble a Mak mag I hold it up with both hands, squeeze the spring towards the follower with one hand and slide the floor plate off with the other hand. Sometimes you have to use a fingernail to compress the nub on the spring that fits in the slot in the floor plate...easy enough and no danger of bending the feed lips.
One thing I have noticed that may be a tip. When field stripping a Mak mag I have found that using a hard surface to brace the magazine on while compressing the spring may in time unintentionally bend the feed lips...again, given enough time doing it over and over again.
When I disassemble a Mak mag I hold it up with both hands, squeeze the spring towards the follower with one hand and slide the floor plate off with the other hand. Sometimes you have to use a fingernail to compress the nub on the spring that fits in the slot in the floor plate...easy enough and no danger of bending the feed lips.
Nothing wrong with the mags per se. It's the exposed tab on the follower that cuts into your spare mag pouch when the mag is fully loaded. The types with the "hump" offer a covering that shields the leather in your mag pouch from the tab. The hump type also allows a little extra structural rigidity at the bottom. although this has little or no effect on function.
CryptoWeenie
Inactive
Love me some Maks - both the guns and the rounds.
Not all "Maks" are actually Maks. The PM Makarov is a blow-back pistol, inspired my the Walther PP series of guns - particular the Wather Ultra which was still in the developmental stage when the Ruskies liberated the Walther plant. The Ruskies tweaked the design and developed a round that actually worked in it. The rest is history.
Not all guns chambered for the Makrov round are Malarovs. The Polish P64 is closer in lineage to a Walther PPK, the Hungarian PA63 is closer in lineage to a Walther PP, and the Czech VZ-82 is a truly unique development by the Czechs.
The Makarov round is more like a .380ACP +P than a 9MM Luger, and there are no commercially available rounds that are going to meet the FBI's 12" penetration protocol. The Hornady Critical Defense line of ammo can give you about 11" of penetration, and that is good enough for many who do not necessarily treat the 12" protocol as God's word on effective ballistics.
Any of Makarov chambered pistols, with the exception of the VZ-82 are going to give you slide bite and a stout trigger pull. The Polish P43 is gonna give you slide bite from Hay-Deez and a trigger pull running north of 25 pounds. However, give it a 19 pound Wolf hammer spring and a good set of aftermarket grips and it's not a bad little carry gun.
Any of them are a hoot to shoot. The ammo isn't unreasonably priced, but you will have to go on-line to get it. The accuracy is outstanding on any of these guns, but that's a reflection of their straight blow-back designs. They're all built like tanks, are a breeze to field strip and clean, are uber accurate, and are boringly reliable. They're inexpensive, but the prices are rising. If you can find one - any Makarov chambered gun - for $250 - $300, then buy it while you can.
Not all "Maks" are actually Maks. The PM Makarov is a blow-back pistol, inspired my the Walther PP series of guns - particular the Wather Ultra which was still in the developmental stage when the Ruskies liberated the Walther plant. The Ruskies tweaked the design and developed a round that actually worked in it. The rest is history.
Not all guns chambered for the Makrov round are Malarovs. The Polish P64 is closer in lineage to a Walther PPK, the Hungarian PA63 is closer in lineage to a Walther PP, and the Czech VZ-82 is a truly unique development by the Czechs.
The Makarov round is more like a .380ACP +P than a 9MM Luger, and there are no commercially available rounds that are going to meet the FBI's 12" penetration protocol. The Hornady Critical Defense line of ammo can give you about 11" of penetration, and that is good enough for many who do not necessarily treat the 12" protocol as God's word on effective ballistics.
Any of Makarov chambered pistols, with the exception of the VZ-82 are going to give you slide bite and a stout trigger pull. The Polish P43 is gonna give you slide bite from Hay-Deez and a trigger pull running north of 25 pounds. However, give it a 19 pound Wolf hammer spring and a good set of aftermarket grips and it's not a bad little carry gun.
Any of them are a hoot to shoot. The ammo isn't unreasonably priced, but you will have to go on-line to get it. The accuracy is outstanding on any of these guns, but that's a reflection of their straight blow-back designs. They're all built like tanks, are a breeze to field strip and clean, are uber accurate, and are boringly reliable. They're inexpensive, but the prices are rising. If you can find one - any Makarov chambered gun - for $250 - $300, then buy it while you can.