Back To The USSR (Makarov)

[Cosmoline]

I owned one of these about 10-11 years ago and liked it. And I've been wanting to get back into the eastblock handguns lately due to the fact that there's a ton of ammo for them locally but not much else.

I wanted to get a nice East German model, but the sticker shock was huge. $500 or more for a good condition one. So when this Baikal/Ishvesk model popped up I snagged it. It's not exactly a Cold War relic, but it shoots remarkably well and is a handy little piece. It also has room for a gloved finger which makes me tempted to use it for winter CCW. I paid a whopping $370 for it but that included dies, cast bullets, a few hundred rounds of primed brass and even a mold for making the bullets.

Cleaning it up after the first trip I'm reminded how elegantly simple the design is.

 

[Mitlov]

Very cool! From what I've heard, it's reliability is fantastic, and the practicality-for-winter aspect of Russian designs (like room for the gloved finger) is present as always.

 

[OptimusPrime]

Beautiful! In Soviet Russia, the bullets aren't the only thing that dies.
Bad pun. Enjoy the pistol.

 

[Havok7416]

I like the adjustable sights on that Mak. Mine doesn't have them ... The price isn't bad either!

 

[Cosmoline]

Most of the fixed sights are true surplus and worth more these days. Though I also like to be able to fine-tune loads. For example I did some adjustments on this one to do better with cast loads.

 

[Pilot]

Maks are great. I don't mind the adjustable sights on the commercial Russians, but do prefer my fixed sight Bulgies for carry. The prices today are getting a bit crazy.

 

[Orion8472]

I like them. Not for me though. The position of the safety, when off, gets in the way with my natural grip. I have to modify my grip whenever I shoot one. They are nice, though. Accurate, and nice triggers.

 

[krupparms]

I have a beatbeat -up PMM, I picked up several years ago for less than $200 . I didn't know it was the Hi -cap model until I got it home. It came w/ a 10rd.magazine, but I was able to get a couple of 12rd. mag.s for it. It makes a nice carry gun & is a lot of fun to shoot!

 

[M2 Carbine]

The prices today are getting a bit crazy.

When I bought my first Makarov for about $100, years ago, I said,
This is a $400 gun selling for $100 and one day they will be selling for over $400.

$340 was what I paid for this redone East German Mak. I wouldn't consider over $500 for it today.




These are some of what I have now.
And none are for sale.

 

[Tecolote]

Congrats! At one point I owned an EG, unissued Bulgie and commercial Ruskie, but stupidly I sold them all. I wish I had kept at least the EG as prices get higher every year.

 

[GyMac]

Congratulations. Makarovs are great guns, the low cost does not reflect the value. My commercial Russian has never jammed and is very accurate. I don't care that much for the adjustable rear sight, but it works well enough and has never caused a problem. Enjoy.

 

[Ignition Override]

Having firing a just a few rounds from a Russian Makarov, maybe somebody else has tried both the Makarov and the Polish P-64 (?)

Can somebody remember how they would compare the snappy recoil on an actual Mak. versus the P-64? I can't remember exactly what the Mak was like, but found the Polish to be unpleasant, having twice tried the P-64.

 

[Cosmoline]

Not sure about the Pole, but the Mak recoil is very mild and easy to control. Nothing compared with a .357.

 

[runlevelsix]

Not sure why you would expect the P-64 to be similar to a Makarov pistol. Both fire the same round but that's where the similarities end. The P-64 is a PP clone and I believe is much smaller than a Makarov which is more a full-sized pistol. It would be similar IMHO to comparing shooting a Walther PPK to a CZ-75 in .380

That said I don't find the P-64 to be unpleasant but I also go against the grain in thinking the DA trigger isn't all that horrible either. Your mileage may vary.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I used to have a Bulgarian that was relatively nice to look at and reliable like a sewing machine built in a tank factory. If they made them with non-heel releases for the mags, I'd consider one for a knock around sort of carry gun where I wouldn't sweat it if it got beat up some, etc.

 

[righteoushoot]

I have 2 EG models left. I think they are considerably nicer that the Bulgies, not that there is anything wrong with the Bulgies. Funny, it seems at the gun shows around here some of the unscrupulous table jockeys like to advertise and price their Russian Commercial models like they are Russian Military. Pisses me off.

I also had to clarify to a guy who just bought one the difference between 9x18 and 9 Luger. He was going to try to find himself some wrong ammo, I had to interfere.

 

[Robbins290]

Hey m2, is that makarov chromed or nickel? I have a mavarov i had to parkerize. And i hate the look. That chrone looks nice. It was a balgarin makarov too. :-(

 

[Cosmoline]

I do like this Baikal's adjustable sights, esp with all the cast bullets I'll be going through. But I'm still hunting for a nice East German piece. Too bad they've gotten more expensive than Walthers.

For those who CCW with the Makarovs, do you train to just ignore the sights and point shoot? Or do you use the rib instead? I can't imagine trying to line up someone with those extremely fine sights in a pinch.

 

[bdb benzino]

It would be similar IMHO to comparing shooting a Walther PPK to a CZ-75 in .380

Recoil is subjective to each shooter, but the Mak is only a little bigger than a P64 and no where close to a CZ75. As a reference, the P64 only holds one less round in a single stack mag, so one rounds worth of length in the grip is all the bigger the Makarov is.

 

[Maj Dad]

P-64 vs PM/CZ-82

My P-64 has what gun writers would describe as sharp recoil. Me, too, but it's not as bad with the 94 gr (Brown Bear) bullets vs the 109 gr(TCW). I tend to use the heavier bullets in the CZ-82 and the 94s in the P-64, but if you are used to shooting it, the heavy bullets are manageable. The CZ has great ergonomics and the recoil is easy to handle (though it is still a little "sharp")...

 

[MrWesson]

I wonder how people just coming of age and the future of gun owners will react to not having access to great firearms for cheap to break them into the hobby.

$500 SKS's,Makarovs,AK's and just about everything else.

The days of $300 mosin's are around the corner.

All that while the economy heads the other direction.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Having firing a just a few rounds from a Russian Makarov, maybe somebody else has tried both the Makarov and the Polish P-64 (?)

Can somebody remember how they would compare the snappy recoil on an actual Mak. versus the P-64? I can't remember exactly what the Mak was like, but found the Polish to be unpleasant, having twice tried the P-64.

I had three P-64.
Kicks bad and the DA trigger sucks. A 16-18 pound mainspring fixes the trigger. A heavier recoil spring may help the recoil but I never tried one.
People wanted the P-64 so I finally sold mine.

One of my P64 hit left, one right and one center.
The guns are accurate, as is the Makarov.

This is my right shooting P64 at 50 yards, standing, two hands.

Hey m2, is that makarov chromed or nickel?

I think it's chrome. I don't know who did it but they did an outstanding job.

 

[Maj Dad]

Wolff springs make a world of difference in the P-64. I put an 18 lb hammer spring in it and it helped a lot and haven't had any misfires.