kserg
I haven't heard of Makarovs being banned in California but you can call the CA Dept of Justice in Sacramento and ask them...they are actually nice folks to deal with and are happy to answer any question you might have. My experience with them has always been pleasant.
Concerning buying guns from online auctions...yes it's legal as long as the gun is shipped to a Federally licensed gun dealer who will in turn transfer it to you after you pass a background check and 10-day waiting period. You will have to pay the standard Dealer Record of Sale fee plus the dealers transfer fee. (if that fee is over $25 keep looking!!!!) Auctionarms.com is the most popular auction site and it lists FFL dealers all over the country so you can look one up in CA and find out what their fees are...some are outrageous and others are fair...you have to look around!
As far as one standard issue Makarov being "legal" (Russian, East German, Bulgarian) in CA and another isn't makes no sense as they are all the same internally except for the high capacity model...that one takes a magazine over 10 rounds so that would not be legal in CA but the others hold only 7 or 8 rounds.
Good luck and hope you find the Mak you want...you will love it!