Makarov basics

The papers are in the mail, so I'm hopefully soon to be a C&R holder. One of the things I'm itching for in my first phases of the addiction is a Mak ('one' he says, yeh right). I like the history and mechanics and ballistics of the pistols, on paper, and have held a couple and they feel decent in my hand, so I want one.

There are so many sources and conditions and special versions and so on that it's like collecting Garands, or 1911s, or Mosins, or... !! So where does a guy read up to learn the basics? First one I get I don't want to be looking for collectability, but for shootability.

Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian, East German? Good web supplier or IP with better connections? Price for the actual gun vs. how much more is the back story worth? Are the other mak-chambered guns more my thing? CZ, others?

Questions everybody works through.

And then what about the Tokarevs? (I don't think I like the round characteristics, I'll have to fire some to see) but the same stuff will come back. For now, let's stick to Makarov pistols and compatibles chambered in 9x18 mak rounds...

Let the education commence!

Only the East German and Russian are C&R, as I understand it. And I think the commercial Russians (with adjustable sights) are not C&R.

The other C&R 9x18s are the Polish P64 and the Czech CZ 82. You should get both.

There's also a Hungarian 9x18, made by FEG. It is very similar to a Walther PP, a sharp looking gun, but not C&R.

The CZ82 has a fantastic trigger and a twelve round mag. The P64 is small, with tiny sights and about a 30 pound DA trigger. They're actually quite accurate. The trigger can be improved with an 18 lb replacement spring.

These are snappy little guns, especially the P64, due to the blowback action.

I thought only East German Maks and True (and scarce) Russians were C&R.

Werent most of the Bulgarian Makarovs made in the 70s and 80s? Shame because the Bulgies are quality and available. A Bulgy was my first handgun (and yes I still have it).

E German are the way to go for a true Mak. I picked up a clean one a few years back, and it has been a great shooter, smooth predictable trigger in DA and SA, accurate, and really easy to shoot well. CZ82s are great too, not a true Mak, but the greater capacity and wider grip to spread the snappy recoil are worthwhile improvements. The tok round is a different animal, bought a CZ52 and a bunch of milsurp ammo, it's a ton of fun to shoot, especially at longer ranges, the pistol is accurate, and the small thin sights that suck for combat are great for targets, it's essentially 32cal, about the same weight as the 9x18Mak, but 500fps faster and about twice the energy, loud and throws a decent fireball.

Believe the P64 is C&R as well due to someone getting a museum curator to sign a letter that the pistol model was of historical value.
AIM has them in stock as C&R and I have seen them other places as well.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?groupid=2091&name=Polish+Radom+P-64+9x18+Pistol

Yup, P64s and CZ82s both.

Buy 'em by the bagful...


Meanwhile, someone should get those fugly, fugly Croation things declared C&R, so maybe someone will buy the fugly things already and we won't have to see them advertised everywhere.

This is from my view.

I have handled just about every Makarov and Tokarev variation. Every one is comparable for function and use. Some might be more collectable or rarer than others, but to get you started off get the cheapest one you can get. Once you determine you like shooting MAK and TOK, then go for the maker you want.

IMO, for the money you have to shell out for an actual C&R true Makarov, it isn't worth it if you just want a shooter for the first one.

They are awesome, no doubt, but as cool as the CZ82 is, and since you want a shooter first, that's your best bet. Many would argue that it is a better gun, it is C&R, and the prices are still very reasonable.

Don't get me wrong, I have a Russian Mak and my dad has a Bulgarian, they are sweet and an important part of history, but I would pick a CZ82 over one all day.

OH, and do yourself a favor and grab a Polish Tokarev ASAP, while they are still available at a nice price. Do it!

I love my 1963 East German Makarov. Feels great in my hand and has very little kick. Clean action and goes bang every time.

only the east german and russian are C&R, sometimes the baikal will be sold as one, sometimes not- I'd be wary of purchasing a commercial model that way.

As for the pistol it's self

THEY ARE AWESOME

There is a reason they were the soviet sidearm for so long. They are built like tanks and it is almost impossible to make them not fire.

MAC on youtube did a video where he literally filled the magazine and gun internals and slide rails with WET SAND among other things, and that pistol did not miss a beat.

I tend to go through phases where i will prefer the CZ-82 or the Mak. both are OUTSTANDING weapons.

I did some wetpack and gelatin tests, 115 grain XTP and critical defense have the best terminal ballistics, and also strangely sliver bear ball ammo leaves relatively large wounds, and I don't know why. seems weird that it would tumble as the projectil is almost spherical in the silver bear, but it does some serious damage.

The XTP tend to be the better performers in my experience, and I often will carry a mak as my CCW just because it is so damned small and dependable, although if I'm being completely honest, the vast majority of the time now I am carrying either my SR-40c or my P64 (also a mak family member)

I tend to use Maks as desk guns because I can keep them with a round in the chamber hammer down for pretty much ever without having to worry about spring fatigue or anything. It's literally ready at a moment's notice, and they are by and large INCREDIBLY ACCURATE handguns. One thing I will say is this- compared to the other pistols firing the 9x18 the Makarov PM tends to have the most pleasant recoil impulse. Even the CZ-82 can become a bit irksome after a box or two of ammo, but the Mak PM is just fun fun fun.

I almost always bring the bulgy when introducing new shooters to pistols. the guns are just intuitive to use, and novices tend to be more accurate with them than other handguns. The look in their eyes when they realize they are hitting what they are aiming at is priceless, and a great way to make a convert.

In the days of cheap Makarov's there used to be a website Makarov.com. It was great, but has since vanished.

A Mak will be my next C&R purchase as I just got a Tok (Rom) and a Nagant. Will likely persue a Russian Tok and a true Russian Mak

KPSpeller said:

I love my 1963 East German Makarov. Feels great in my hand and has very little kick. Clean action and goes bang every time.

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Me too. Mine is ex-Stasi mit papieren.

I enjoy shooting my Bulgarian Mak the most. The double action is sooo smooth. My ex and I used to joke about the gun from Bulge Area.

Threeband said:

Yup, P64s and CZ82s both.

Buy 'em by the bagful...

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Those P64s look pretty well-finished, like someone cleaned up some rough edges on the Mak design.

The CZ82 will be harder, I don't have an out of state address to send the mags to. Tempting, though.

Damn, I don't even have the C&R yet and listen to me - planning my way to the poorhouse!

echo6mike said:

Those P64s look pretty well-finished, like someone cleaned up some rough edges on the Mak design.

The CZ82 will be harder, I don't have an out of state address to send the mags to. Tempting, though.

...

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The DA trigger on the P64 is really heavy. Figure on replacing the spring with an 18 pounder from Wolff.

Out of state address?

http://www.mdshooters.com/showpost.php?p=3653734&postcount=20

BigDaddy said:

In the days of cheap Makarov's there used to be a website Makarov.com. It was great, but has since vanished.

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Sad I missed that whole era. They had all kinds of products for sale too, bummer.

toolness1 said:

Sad I missed that whole era. They had all kinds of products for sale too, bummer.

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Yeah, maks, mausers, skss, ect. all were "cheap". I try to look for the bargains of today... 24 months ago it was Nagant revolvers for $89 (now they are much more).... will Mosin Nagant rifles or Star B pistols be what we are talking about in 5 years? Your guess is as good as mine.