You Have $200 For a PD Pistol AND Ammo, read on....

The Makarov would get the nod, no doubt about it. One of the last remaining true bargains in handguns. It's as reliable as a Glock, all-steel construction, rugged, simple, highly accurate, and reasonably powerful. Spare mags can be had for $5 each, and ammo is around $6 a box online. I'd trust my life to one, and I won't say that about much that doesn't say Glock or SIG Sauer on it.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lendringser:
The Makarov would get the nod, no doubt about it. I'd trust my life to one, and I won't say that about much that doesn't say Glock or SIG Sauer on it.[/quote]

Agreed! The Mak is a great bargain. It's very dependable for a cheap gun. That much I agree with Lendringser. The part about the Glock and Sig is a different matter.
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I frankly don't see a major difference among the Maks. Some have a nicer finish and initially the parts are a little smoother than others, but after a hundred rounds or so all are equally smooth. All are reliable too.

IMHO I would rank them as follows:

East German (about $200 delivered from SOG)
Russian military (rare, good condition $205 and pristine $275 from Dan's, I don't know if he has any left)
Bulgarian military/police ($147 delivered from www.jcarmory.com)
Russian commercial models ($160 to $200)
Norinco (expensive due to rarity)

Again, I stress all are reliable and excellent. Check out www.makarov.com

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
jlflegal wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Get the phone number for Dan's Sporting Goods in Pennsylvania and order a brand new one in cosmoline and a 500 round case of ammo for your $200.[/quote]

Happy to give the contact info, but he is out of Bulgarian pistols & I take it there won't be anymore. Still sells ammo though:

dansportammo@alltel.net
Dan's Sporting Goods
(724) 727-2648

bullet44 asked:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>can anyone tell me the best version of the Makarov.?? Steel frame,etc.[/quote]

This may be a little confusing, as the name of the caliber & the name of the pistol are the same. The Makarov caliber is also known as the 9x18 (as mentioned above). The Makarov pistol is a former Soviet bloc manufactured item. All of them are 100% steel. Military surplus pistols are available from Bulgaria (plentiful & unissued), the former East Germany (not as plentiful by a considerable margin, but considered by many to be the finest example & they are used), Russian (rare, range from unissued to well used & usually command a much higher price) & China (Norinco, the rarest of all). Commercial versions are currently imported from Bulgaria (plentiful, exactly the same as the military except they have the word "ARSENAL" imprinted on the slide). There are also Russian commercials available (getting more rare, Klinton stopped importing them), they are easily identified by the adjustable rear sight (which some consider a weakness, due to the unavailability of replacement parts - Klinton again).

You can find a whole ton of info at Makarov.com, a lot of enthusiasts hang around at that site & you'll find a pretty active message board there too.

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"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work"
Thomas Alva Edison

[This message has been edited by MakAttack (edited April 23, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by MakAttack (edited April 23, 2000).]
 
All suggestions tonight were great. I picked up a used PA 63 a year ago and played with it. My wife used it to qualify for CC and we have run over 1000 rounds through it various types of ammo without one jamb. The only drawback was the light mags not dropping (we added weights later)when re-loading. Gave her a real disadvantage but she still made it. Wouldn't trade it for anything, it's lightweight and came with a holser that holds a mag. Mags are easy to find at the online auction houses. Great subject, you're right, not everyone can afford the $2000 custom job and these Makrov/Walther look alikes are great weapons.
 
A 2,000 race gun is worthless if you are not proficient with it. In view of the 200 buck limit for weapon and ammo I would try to find the ugliest mak or whatever I could. As long as the function is not impaired; missing finish, dings, scratches etc are in your favor. If you can get an ugly duckling for 50 bucks, that leaves 150 for ammo.

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Sam I am, grn egs n packin

Nikita Khrushchev predicted confidently in a speech in Bucharest, Rumania on June 19, 1962 that: " The United States will eventually fly the Communist Red Flag...the American people will hoist it themselves."
 
Surplus used Helwan 9mm = $ 130
100 rounds of Blazer for practice = $15
20 rounds of premiun ammo = $ 15
Good used Holster = $ 25
Range time and snack = $ 15
 
Would agree with the Mak. I don't have one yet but when a deal comes up "and I have the cash" I will grab one. Also consider a used revolver. S&W model 10 or others can be had for $130 in darn good shape. Get some cheap 38s and a box of good +p ammo and use the rest to pay for a night at the range.
Now if you don't need a handgun get a 12guage "or 20" used for about $160 for a 870 pump "LNIB" and $15 for 100rds of #7 and use the balance to try trap shooting. Just make sure you practice so you know how to safely handle the firearm. Under stress is not the time to try to learn how to load or find the safety...
 
I strongly advise against Hell's Wand. Those things are terrible. Buddy of mine bought one and he had 6 jams out of ten shots. The Makarovs are the ticket.

Mags for the PA63 aren't easy to find. You might want to consider getting some from www.maakrov.com ($12 for one or $10 each for more than one) The little beast kicks hard too, because of the alloy frame. It's reliable though.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
Hey what happened to used shotguns? If I were in this predicament I would go with a used Rossi or Taurus(hopefully in .357). The .357 wheel gun is versatile, and shooting .38's would be economical. The Mak's or pa63 would be next.
 
Why are autos the only option any more? The poster who suggested a used .38 or .357 S&W revolver was on the right track. These can often be had for well under $200 and enough change for one or more boxes of ammo. People keep down-rating the .38 special, yet it is in almost exactly the same category as the much touted 9mm P. It is superior to the 9x18 (either one) and the .380.

The only drawback to a revolver is that it can't be "childproofed" by simply leaving the chamber empty; it must be locked in some way.

Jim
 
With the $200 budget, I would forget about semi-autos and go with a used S&W Model 19 w/4" barrel. An old one will probably also be a smooth action one. I wouldn't be concerned with bluing that's rubbed off or drag marks on the cylinder. As long as the lockup for each chamber was decent and the forcing cone was in good shape(no sign of a steady diet of full-house factory 357s) I'd buy it.

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Forgot something. Ammo would be 110/125 gr 38 Spl +P hollow points within the house, otherwise I'd go with 125 gr 357 Hydra-shocks.

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Yeppers,

Makarov has my vote too. I think the east german ones are the best.. they used to be sold with a shoulder holster and spare mag for around $170. All steel.. fast pointing stone simple. Sights are a bit skinny but a dab of orange paint makes it better.

Second choice would go for a poilce trade S&W 38 special.

If you aren't going to carry it a shotgun is the best defense there is.. its hard to get a quality shotgun for under $200 but if you look carfully they are available.

Dr.Rob
 
I like the Makarov, although probably a better quality used revolver can be had for that money. Buy anything, but a HELWAN
mad.gif

You'll regret it.

Most gun shops have a used holster box with $5-10 price tags. I've gotten several nice holsters that way.



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Panzerführer

Die Wahrheit ist eine Perle. Werfen sie nicht vor die Säue.

Those that beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those that don't.
 
Jim Keenan said:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Why are autos the only option any more? The poster who suggested a used .38 or .357 S&W revolver was on the right track. These can often be had for well under $200 and enough change for one or more boxes of ammo. People keep down-rating the .38 special, yet it is in almost exactly the same category as the much touted 9mm P. It is superior to the 9x18(either one)and the .380.[/quote]

Jim - autos aren't the only option - just the most popular. In the case of the Makarov, you can buy a quality new pistol for the price of a used revolver. If it is a used imported revolver, care must be taken to procure a model that was manufactured in the last few years, as QC on some of the early models (Rossi & Taurus to name 2) was questionable at best. I would also question how many quality manufactured .357 revolvers are available for well under $200. My S&W 686 was given a trade in value of $270 a few weeks ago (which I turned down - but bought the new gun anyway!).

Carry, if intended, becomes another issue. No question here, a flat sided auto conceals much easier than a comparatively chambered revolver. Not wanting to open the nasty "my x caliber is more powerful than your y caliber" wars (especially when we are talking about the 38 special & anything else), an auto generally will give you more (meaning ammo) of a given energy level in a smaller, easier to carry package. In defense of a revolver, they are reliability in its most simple form. In comparing the 9x18 to the 38 special, cost of ammo is not really of concern as both are very cheap to shoot.

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"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work"
Thomas Alva Edison

[This message has been edited by MakAttack (edited April 24, 2000).]
 
get the MAK it also comes in .380
I want one my self

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Glocks are not perfect, just better than every other handgun.
 
Mak is a good choice, as long as you don't need a rapid reload. Mine was accurate and dependable.

For overall usage, hard to beat a shotgun, when on a budget.
 
Used pump 12. Much more versitile.
If a handgun is your main goal, go for used Ruger .38 and load MagSafes. I've never seen a revolver stovepipe.


Oh. And revolvers don't leave brass on the deck...Just joking. Really...uh...
 
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