What is the life expectancy of a makarov?

HOGWASH!!

First, I find it interesting that Arsenal lists a 4000 round "life expectancy" for both the 9x18 and .380ACP guns. I would certainly expect the wimpy .380ACP gun to last longer that the 9x18.

I would also like to know how they determined this limit. Barrel rifling wear? Internal parts wear? Spring fatigue/failure?

At any rate, internal replacement parts, springs, and barrels are all readily available and inexpensive, so I don't see why a Mak's life wouldn't be indefinite.
 
life expectancy

I'm also curious as to how Arsenal came to the 4,000 round number. It could be a conservative or liberal number. Maybe parts begin breaking at 4,000 rounds. I would think that using .380 instead of 9mm x 18 ammo would significantly extend service life though. Is there any kind of recoil buffer that works with the Mak?

I'm still shopping for a Bulgarian unissued Mak with red grips, still packed in cosmoline .............. any suggestions? I haven't been able to find one.

The first thing I'd probably do is convert it to .380 with an aftermarket Federal Arms barrel.
 
9MAK PISTOL LIFE...HMMM

I OWN ONE OF THE EARLIEST EG MAKS TO DEPART THAT LOVELY PEOPLES PARADISE. I'VE SHOT THE LIVIN' SNOT OUT OF IT BURNING UP A BIG, AND I DO MEAN BIG!!! , BATCH OF CORBON SECONDS, LOVINGLY LOADED BY A BOZO ON HIS LAST DAY OF EMPLOYMENT HERE AT THE PLANT. HE USED THE WRONG SEATING DIE AND ALL THE BULLETS WERE CROOKED. IT WASN'T BY MUCH BUT WAS EASILY SEEN IF HELD UP IN PROFILE TO THE LIGHT.
SO, BEING THE FINE CORPORATE CITIZEN THAT I AM I VOLUTEERED TO SHOOT 'EM UP JUST TO RECLAIM THE STORAGE BARREL, AS I SAID THERE WAS A SHIQHOUSE FULL OF 'EM. AT THIS POINT IN TIME I'D PUT A LOT OF AMMO THROUGH THAT MAK PISTOL AND IT GOT A BIG BUNCH MORE AT THE RATE OF 500 PER WEEK FOR MONTHS ON END.
I MANAGED TO BREAK THE HAMMER SPRING WHICH I REPLACED WITH ONE FROM NUMRICH AND ON I WENT. I DON'T HAVE MY PERSONAL RECORDS [ I HAVE RECORDS OF EVERY SHOT OF EVERY GUN I'VE SHOT SINCE 1960 ] HERE AT WORK BUT IT WENT SO FAR PAST 4000 IT AIN'T EVEN FUNNY. THE PISTOL LOOKS THE SAME AS WHEN I STARTED, FUNCTIONED PERFECTLY WITH THAT GOOFY CROOKED AMMO, AND IF IT WEREN'T MADE BY A BUNCH OF G.D COMMUNISTS I COULD ACTUALLY LIKE THAT MAK PISTOL. IT HAS NEVER MALFUNCTIONED. NOT ONCE, EVER!
EDITED FOR TYPOS...
 
Having seven, including an Arsanal, I find it hard to put a lot of ammo through any one given Makarov. However, I will take the challenge!!! It may take a while, but at least, it will be fun trying. ;)
 
I am sure that the number '4000' for the life expectancy was only put for political/legal purposes. I have 3 Maks, 2 Bulgies and one E.G. I have put WELL over 4000 rds. of ammunition through each one. I havn't had one failure in either pistol. These are great pistols, and I hope no one is concerned that the pistol is unsafe after this amount of ammo throgh it, and therfore discouraged to buy one. It may be a good idea to replace certain items (e.g. blowback spring, barrel, etc.) after a good amount of ammo and your mak should last forever.:)
 
Hello. The four-thousand figure is either a misprint or a mistake, unless done for "political reasons" as one poster mentioned.

In any event, it is wrong.

I'm not a huge Makarov fan, but do own one commercial Bulgarian and after seeing the amount of steel in the gun for a low-pressure round like either 9x18Mak or .380ACP, I believe the gun will go and go and go. The gun is large-for-caliber, but I think that and its few number of internal parts speaks well for its durability.

Too many people are shooting the fire out of these little gems for the life expectancy figure to be correct or even close. We'd have heard or experienced this were it otherwise. Instead, we hear testimonials to the Makarov's durability and dependability.

Enjoy your gun and shoot the heck out of it.

Best.
 
My manual states that the barrel life of my Arsenal Mak is rated at 10,000 rounds.

Since it's a chrome-lined bore I think that's very conservative for a 1000fps pistol.

If anything wears out on these guns, it's going to be springs. The major parts look bullet proof to me.
 
I seem to remember Karl, the guy who runs Makarov.com mentioning somewhere that he has put ~17,000 rounds through one of his. This has been hashed over on the Makarov board a few times. You might be able to do a search there and find what a lot of other Makarov owners had to say (mostly laughter).
 
The only thing Karl did was to replace the recoil spring at some point.

I've got 8,000 through one of my Arsenal Bulgies, and it's still tight as a drum with excellent rifling in the bore. My Miltex SE had over 5000 through it before I sold it, and one of my hi-caps has about that many through it.

Keep the springs fresh, and the average Mak will likely outlive any of us.

Take care. Marko
 
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