Makarov Advice

[drw2514]

So I want a Makarov. Desperately. Need advice:

I can get:

1985 Bulgarian, excellent condition, for $330

OR

1964 East German, excellent condition, $300.

My understanding was that the East German Makarovs were THE BEST (correct me if I'm wrong...). The condition on both of the guns is equivalent (they look unissued, which I believe is almost unheard of for EG guns, again, correct me if I'm wrong...).

This gun is going to be a shooter, a CCW gun, and something I will cherish as I've wanted one FOREVER.

My question... which would you buy?

And P.S. ... I know it doesn't make any sense as the guns were made for it, but I would almost feel bad shooting steel cased ammo out of the EG, but not the Bulgarian... my brain works funny I guess

 

[jonnyc]

The Bulgarian is a $250 gun and the DDR is a $400 gun. In addition, the German is better in every other category. I call.....No Brainer!

 

[Old Scratch]

I've never fired the Bulgarian, but the 60's era DDR are great. I put thousands of rounds of steel cased ammunition through mine and never experienced any problems.

 

[drw2514]

What is the trigger like on the East German/DDR? I'm assuming it's better than the Bulgarian?

BTW, I had to use my google-fu to figure out what DDR is: Deutsche Demokratische Republik!

 

[harmon rabb]

East German all the way. If you want a Bulgy, SOG and JGSales have very nice ones for $230. No need to pay $300+ for one.

 

[PinoyInFL]

I just shot my EG mak last Saturday and it's a very good gun. Go With the EG.

 

[Cactus Jack Arizona]

I have a real nice Bulgarian Makarov and I only paid $175 for it early in 2010. $330 for a B Mak is a bit high.

As far as the German Mak is concerned, is it a true E. German Mak or a post-unification German Mak? Reason I ask is because I've seen two German Maks and both only carried the "Germany" markings. Those were being sold for $325 and they were not impressive. I passed on both.

Undoubtedly, I will patiently wait until I find a true Ernst-Thalmann, Suhl East Germany Mak.

 

[drw2514]

I've been assured that it is a genuine "Ernst Thaelman" and carries an EX date code.

 

[jon_in_wv]

The bulgy should be cheaper. Mine is Bulgarian and its a great shooter. I would call it compareable to the EG personally but if I could get a EG for the same price of cheaper I would surely get the EG. Both are fine weapons.

 

[cheygriz]

East German! I practice with cheap, steel cased Hungarian MFS, and carry Hornady XTP when it's in the glove compartment.

 

[drw2514]

I was thinking about picking up the 1440 round canned ammo from Wideners... it says it is 2007 production so I don't doubt that it is non-corrosive, but I am worried about the lacquered cases... does that stuff chip/peel/melt/otherwise gum up the gun?

I have an SKS that I only uses polymer stuff in, but that is the extent of my knowledge on Russian steel cased ammo. Should I be worried about the lacquer?

LINK:
http://wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8522&dir=18|829|836

 

[gbelleh]

No contest. Get the East German. I shoot steel cased ammo in all my Maks and they're all just fine with it.

 

[drw2514]

Yeah, I knew being worried about steel was stupid LOL

I suppose worried is too strong of a word, I knew it wouldn't do anything, but the way people talk about the EG/DDR Makarovs you'd think that feeding them anything other than freshly annealed, hand-loaded, virgin brass would be blasphemous.

I found a better deal for ammo anyway, silver bear from SG... no lacquer, no worries!

 

[Thorgrim]

I have a Bulgarian that I bought 8-10 years ago for less than $100. The prior (briefly) owner was one of the gun shop clerks who saw something shinier and sold the Mak to pay for it. I am immensely please with the pistol, it's super-reliable, accurate, and easily concealable.

 

[drw2514]

it's super-reliable, accurate, and easily concealable.

That's why I want one!!

 

[jeepguy]

i don't know if you have looked at the cz 82 yet but it is a heck of a shooter & verry accurate. it can be carried cocked and locked and it holds 12rds of 9x18. these are great firearms for the money. i know it wasn't on your list but i thought i would mention it since it fires the same round and is usually mentioned with the other maks.

 

[drw2514]

Thanks for the heads-up, jeepguy.

Yeah, I'm familiar with the CZ-82. I'd prefer the Mak for several reasons... I prefer the functionality of a decocker, I prefer single-stack, and I prefer the original! Plus, it's a cold-war relic, and I studied the history at U of M and wrote my thesis on a Cold-War subject! How perfect?

 

[drw2514]

And now to (semi) hijack my own thread...

Does anyone have a good lead on Makarov magazines? Is $20 per mag a good deal, 'cause that's about all I can find with any regularity... on gunbroker. Seems high to me... as most stuff on gunbroker usually is, at least in my experience. I don't know why I consider $30-$40 okay for double stack magazines for modern-day plastic pistols but $20 per seems too high to me for a classic, but...


I found some at a soviet surplus site for $8.95 each, but that also seems a little weird... http://www.soviet-military.com/product/soviet-russian-pmmakarov-pistol-mag-sm-43-108

What do y'all think? Thanks so much.

 

[towboat_er]

I'd take a chance on the $8.95

 

[Telekinesis]

Although I have a Bulgarian Makarov for sale right now in the classifieds (hint hint ) I have to say go with the East German if you can get it for $300.

As far as mags go, $20 seems to be about right. I don't know if I'd trust that company if you're going to be getting a large number of mags, but if its only one or two I'd say go for it. Worst case, you loose about $15 or $20. On the other hand, if it turns out to be legit, give the forum a heads up and we'll all be getting new Makarov mags!

P.S. My Bulgy has a pretty nice trigger, 3 mags, 2 grips and a hard case for under $300

 

[drw2514]

Wow... that is a ringing endorsement! I'm heavily leaning toward the EG... gonna contact the seller tomorrow... I'm kinda excited LOL.

Anyway, about the mags... that same soviet site has lots of 10 Makarov mags for $79.99. They are coming from Ukraine so I'm thinking they are the real-deal... are Russian/Soviet mags good? (I think I probably already know the answer to that, but... ). The kicker is that shipping for 1 is $11, and about $25 for 10, so the total for 10 would be about $105. That is still better than $20 per.

 

[Telekinesis]

Russian/Soviet mags should be good (though I'm not an expert, I'd assume the country of design would have good manufacturing). As far as price goes, buying 10 from that site gets you to half price even with shipping. My only worry would be that there is a REASON those mags are so cheap...

My typical rule of thumb is to order from known places unless the quality of the item doesn't really matter. When I start getting into stuff that costs upwards of $100, I usually prefer to save up another hundred or so to get something that I know will work. That way I don't end up with a $100 box of paperweights and still have to go out and spend another couple hundred dollars to get where I wanted to be to begin with.

Then again, I'm just a college student, so a couple hundred dollars is a lot of money for me. (Plus, I've got no idea what I'd do with that many mags!)

 

[drw2514]

Can never have too many mags!!! It makes shooting that much more fun when you don't have to stop and reload after every 8 shots! To each their own, though...

And I'm not too far away from being a college student myself... and I think I'm still on that budget anyway... tax refunds are wonderful! Especially when you get to claim all your student loan interest!

So I think I'm gonna order a couple of East German mags at $20 a pop from gunbroker and order a couple of soviet ones from that Ukraine website just to check 'em out. If they're good, I'll order some more and let y'all know!

 

[M2 Carbine]

$330 for a B Mak is a bit high.

Not really any more.
Nice Bulgarian Makarovs are selling at the gun shows for about $300. A nice EG sells for about $400.

I have seventeen EG, Russian and Bulgarian Makarovs. They are all good guns.
I'd jump on a EG Mak, in good condition, for $300.


All the magazines are good, depending on the condition. $20 is too high. $8.99 is a decent price.


BTW, a while back I tried to make a new Bulgarian Makarov malfunction in 1,000 rounds, by sinking it in the mud, freezing it, filling the inside of the gun with trash from the clothes washer filter, leaving the gun and ammo in water, etc, etc. There wasn't one gun caused malfunction.









.

 

[makarovnik]

Unless I'm missing something, the Bulgarian pistol is overpriced. Check slide to frame fit, trigger and function.