New Acquisition Bulgarian Makarov - Should be C&R But Isn't

C

Capybara

New member
This is my latest acquisition, a very nice 1990 Circle 10 Bulgarian Makarov. I cannot figure out why the Russian Military and the E. German Maks are the only ones that the ATF considers C&R, these should be as well. I find the whole satellite Soviet territory thing to be just as compelling from the Bulgarian POV as from the East German POV but from what I hear, very little chance of anything new being added to the ATFs list under the current administration. So in my mind, this is definitely a C&R gun, it's just that the ATF doesn't concur.

Anyway, bought this in December on the day after Christmas from a very nice Calgunner, picked it up out of jail on January 1st so this is literally a New Year gun. It came with two mags, a rubber grip that is ugly but has the thumb shelf and the original leather holster. Other than a little holster wear, the bore is immaculate and overall the pistol is in great shape. Looking forward to putting some rounds downrange with it. I have the P64 and the CZ82 also but out of all three, this one is the best looking and balances the best IMHO. It will be interesting to shoot all three in a row to see what shoots best. I really enjoy shooting the P64 and the CZ82 so it will be interesting to see how this feels in comparison.

I always wanted a Makarov and a Tokarev, now I have both. On to the next boxes on the C&R handgun list.

IMG_0507-Edit_zps50447600.jpg


IMG_0506_zpsaf478636.jpg
 
That does look nice. Mine is very accurate so if your's shoots the same you'll be a happy camper. I see yours has the mil-spec bakelite grips. Mine has the rubberized grips that you commonly see on the commercial Russians even though it is a Bulgarian. I guess some previous owner or the importer decided to do a swap.
 
IIRC. none of the Bulgy's are 50 years old. I have 4 Bulgy. Maks, and 1986 is the oldest. Does yours have the number 30 after the cyrillic script ? I had a book years ago, that explained what the two cyrillic letters stood for on the circle 10, but havent been able to find it
 
Last edited:
IIRC. none of the Bulgy's are 50 years old.
Click to expand...

Russian military and E. German are on the C&R list regardless of age. I'm guessing is that those are the ones deemed to have some kind of cultural value.
 
Russian military and E. German are on the C&R list regardless of age. I'm guessing is that those are the ones deemed to have some kind of cultural value


Thanks Doyle...Did not know that.....
 
Correct. I tried to buy one of these in Lake Havasu last year, it was brand new looking but I looked up the Makarovs in the ATF list with the gun shop owner and lo and behold, saw that they skipped over the Bulgarian and the Chinese. The commercial Russians too (Baikals) only the Russian milsurps and E. Germans are C&R. So I had to leave that pristine example in Havasu, bummed me out.

My CZ82, built also in 1990 is C&R but this one is not so I had to go through an FFL01, pay the DROS and 10 day wait. Such is life in California.
 
Esoteric question for Mak owners. This one came with a set of black rubber grips with a thumb shelf and the stock grips you see in the picture above. Removing the black rubber grips to mount the red stock ones, the retaining screw (slotted screw) seemed to fit the rubber grips perfectly. But when I use the same screw to try to affix the red grips above, the screw that was used with the black grips doesn't seem quite long enough, no matter how hard I press with the screwdriver, the threads never make it to the frame.

Anyone know the size/length and thread pitch I should be looking for to affix the stock red grips above for when I go to the hardware store?
 
none of the Bulgy's are 50 years old.
Click to expand...
Being 50 years old is only one of the criteria that can be used to qualify a gun as Curio & Relic.
Q: What is a firearm curio or relic?
Firearm curios or relics include firearms which have special value to collectors because they possess some qualities not ordinarily associated with firearms intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons. To be recognized as curios or relics, firearms must fall within one of the following categories:

Have been manufactured at least 50 years prior to the current date, but not including replicas thereof; or

Be certified by the curator of a municipal, State, or Federal museum which exhibits firearms to be curios or relics of museum interest; or

Derive a substantial part of their monetary value from the fact that they are novel, rare, bizarre, or from the fact of their association with some historical figure, period, or event.
[18 U.S.C 27 CFR 478.11]
Click to expand...
Not sure if the E. German or Russian Maks have been deemed a museum piece, or they qualify because of the fall of the Iron Curtain, and subsequent political changes.
My E. German Makarov, Walther P1, Polish P64, and CZ82 are all a lot newer than 50 years old, but all were sold as C&R.
 
But when I use the same screw to try to affix the red grips above, the screw that was used with the black grips doesn't seem quite long enough, no matter how hard I press with the screwdriver, the threads never make it to the frame.
Click to expand...

You need to go to a gun parts place and find a "Makarov grip screw". Though the threading is standard, the screw's not a generic screw. (Some East German grips have a different part, also unique to it.) You may be able to get a generic screw to work.

MakGripScrewsEGrightBulRussleftback.jpg


EG grip screw on right. All others on left/
 
The one on the right is only for the EG Mak.
Click to expand...

And not all East German Maks, at that.

This is my latest acquisition, a very nice 1990 Circle 10 Bulgarian Makarov.
Click to expand...

I used to be big into Makarovs. I traded off my last milsurp 9x18 Mak 4 or 5 years ago, for a Firestar I've never quite warmed to. I do kind of regret it, sometimes. All that's left is my original Russian commercial .380 Mak.
 
Your Bulgarian looks nice, congratulations! I love mine and carry it daily. I installed E. German grips on it because they're thinner and more concealable, although probably not that much more so.
 
Sweet looking Bulgarian Mak! I've got seller's remorse from getting rid of my Russian Makerov before they were worth more than the $150. I paid for a new one. I like your rear site much better than the flimsy adjustable one on my Russian which eventually fell off. My Mak wouldn't jam, and was one of the most accurate DA/SA's I've ever owned. Have fun with it!
 
This Makarov is in very nice shape. I have a CZ 82 that has the polygonal rifling.
Does the Bulgarian has it too?
 
Having shot my brother's Baikal Makarov several times, I can confidently say you will greatly enjoy your new acquisition. I would reload for it if I owned one as commercial ammo is just too expensive (I'm not sure if there's milsurp out there, never looked) because you will want to shoot the snot out of that gun. Very low recoil and extremely accurate at the short distances it'd be used for. They are excellent guns and generally well liked by all.
 
I going to take it out to play tomorrow. Range report to follow. I usually just bring my graduated gong set to shoot and some of the self healing rubber balls and squares but I will bring some paper targets to see how I can really shoot this Makarov as I am curious.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top