abaddon
Member
I guess the title explains it all. By condition one I mean with a round chambered, the hammer back and safety on. My suspicion is that it's not safe but I'm not very familiar with the action of the gun.
Jeff
Jeff
Makarov - safe to carry condition one?
- Thread starter abaddon
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jefmad
Member
The safety is also a decocker so condition 1 is really tough to achieve.
Teakwood
Member
Condition 1 is not possible with the Mak since (as noted above) the safety is also a de-cocker and engaging the safety completey locks up the pistol. When the safety is engaged, the hammer is blocked from hitting the firing pin.
Since the Mak is a DA/SA pistol, it is unnecessary to attempt to carry it in condition 1 like a .45, which is a SA pistol. Simply carry it with a round in the chamber and safety off since it is DA/SA and has a firing pin block.
Since the Mak is a DA/SA pistol, it is unnecessary to attempt to carry it in condition 1 like a .45, which is a SA pistol. Simply carry it with a round in the chamber and safety off since it is DA/SA and has a firing pin block.
abaddon
Member
Okay, didn't know that. The reason I ask is because I'm not a fan of DA/SA and was hoping there was a way to use it only in single action. I don't like having the first pull of the trigger being different from the second - it seems like it'd make double-taps harder and would mess up your general accuracy. Is there a way to do some amateur gunsmithing and make it a single action gun? Or not exactly single action but to disable the de-cocker so that it could be used as DA/SA or just SA?
Also, what is the purpose of having an exposed hammer on a DA/SA gun? Is it so you can take the safety off and cock the hammer? I can't see anyone having time to do that in most self-defense situations.
(edited to clarify something)
Also, what is the purpose of having an exposed hammer on a DA/SA gun? Is it so you can take the safety off and cock the hammer? I can't see anyone having time to do that in most self-defense situations.
(edited to clarify something)
grendelbane
Member
I wouldn't trust the Mak with a round chambered and the safety off. I have seen one discharge when the hammer was struck.
Fortunately it was a controlled experiment. I ceased to carry mine in that fashion promptly.
The Evil Empire made some nice weapons, but they were not always overly concerned about safety.
Fortunately it was a controlled experiment. I ceased to carry mine in that fashion promptly.
The Evil Empire made some nice weapons, but they were not always overly concerned about safety.
George Hill
Member
You know, a long time ago people would just use a thumb to cock the hammer back.
I guess that's too much effort in our pushbutton remote control world these days.
/idle thoughts.
I guess that's too much effort in our pushbutton remote control world these days.
/idle thoughts.
alamo
Member
Same reason double action revolvers have an exposed hammer.
M2 Carbine
member
The only way I carry a Mak is with a round in the chamber and the safety off.
Most of the time I'll cock the hammer before firing.
Been using the same method for 50 years with semi autos so I don't think I'll change now.
See the above two posts.
Most of the time I'll cock the hammer before firing.
Been using the same method for 50 years with semi autos so I don't think I'll change now.
See the above two posts.
lazhuward
Member
The hammer on the Mak is blocked from hitting the firing pin even if the safety is off. It has a "safe" notch that's kind of similar to a half-cock notch. The trigger has to be pulled for the hammer to fall past this notch and strike the firing pin. The hammer will decock to the safe notch when you use the safety/decocker.
Putting the safety on doesn't lock or block the firing pin though. If you shake the gun, you can hear the firing pin slide back and forth. It taps against the primer of a chambered round.
The Mak is a great gun and a great design, but you should probably accept it for what it is. Trying to make it SA or DAO or whatever is wrought with danger.
Putting the safety on doesn't lock or block the firing pin though. If you shake the gun, you can hear the firing pin slide back and forth. It taps against the primer of a chambered round.
The Mak is a great gun and a great design, but you should probably accept it for what it is. Trying to make it SA or DAO or whatever is wrought with danger.
There are only two ways that can happen. Either the hammer was struck with enough force to break internal parts, or it was struck while the trigger was held to the rear.
There is an interlock which prevents the hammer from contacting the firing pin unless the trigger is held to the rear.
It's true there is no firing pin safety, but in spite of that Maks are pretty safe with one chambered--even with the safety off.
grendelbane
Member
Sorry to have to disagree with you. This mak fired, and there was not that much force applied to the hammer. Nor was the trigger held to the rear.
Of coure, it may have been struck a heavier blow earlier, which did break something!
FWIW, I don't trust the CZ52 with the safety off, or the CZ50. Both of these have a firing pin lock similar to the Colt series 80 system. I have made both of these fire also.
Teakwood
Member
I carry my Mak chambered with safety off and hammer down. I can rip off the first few shots as well as about anyone. When I took my CCW exam, I used my EG Mak and had to fire 48 rounds from a mixture off postions. The first round in every mag was always DA. The target wound up with a nice 6-inch ragged hole in the middle.
If you insist on carrying a piece cocked and locked, then I suggest you find something like a model 1911 and forget the Mak.
If you insist on carrying a piece cocked and locked, then I suggest you find something like a model 1911 and forget the Mak.
abaddon
Member
Sigh. All right, I guess my hopes of getting an inexpensive single action have been dashed once again. Although I may check out that East German safety 49hudson mentioned.
grendelbane,
Ok, let me rephrase my statement.
Ok, let me rephrase my statement.
The design of the pistol will NOT allow the hammer to contact the firing pin unless parts are broken or the trigger is held fully to the rear. Obviously if the gun is damaged before the test, all bets are off.
Ok, I'll bite--how did you manage that? If the gun is not broken or defective the firing pin safety will prevent the firing pin from contacting the primer unless the trigger is fully to the rear. There is an aftermarket firing pin for the CZ-52 that disables the firing pin safety and there was a mod to fix some CZ-52s that had defective firing pin blocks--could one of those be a factor here? If the gun has the mod it will have a 'Z' stamped on the trigger guard. I don't know much about the CZ-50 pistols...
grendelbane
Member
Well, I just checked the CZ52, and there is no Z anywhere. So this may explain why it fired.
In any case, firing pin locks and other safety devices are mechanical objects, and Murphy is always looking for a place to make an appearance.
I used these as range guns only, so it was not a problem. For carry, I prefer a SIG.
Maks are great, but if I had to carry one, I would use the safety.
In any case, firing pin locks and other safety devices are mechanical objects, and Murphy is always looking for a place to make an appearance.
I used these as range guns only, so it was not a problem. For carry, I prefer a SIG.
Maks are great, but if I had to carry one, I would use the safety.
Zundfolge
Member
jc2 is correct. The Simson Suhl safety allows the slide to be racked with the safety on (which cannot be done with a regular Mak) so you can press check or clear the pistol with the safety engaged.
I pretty sure the safety on the Mak locks the firing (but does not block it). I would guess that if a Mak is hit hard enough with the safety off, the firing pin could conceivably be propelled forward with enough force ignite the primer (regardless of the hammer). The Mak does pass the drop test for California (but that may be with the safety engaged) so I'd say it would have to be a heck of blow (or a soft primer or a primer seated to high). I know the 1911 can fire when dropped, and it has an inertial firing pin which the Mak doesn't.
Teakwood
Member
The Mak is designed to disenage when the trigger moves forward. The hammer cannot strike the firing pin unless the trigger in pulled, or unless parts are broken.
As to the safety:
"Manual safety is located on the left side of the slide, and, when engaged, safely brings hammer down from cocked position, and then locks the hammer, sear and slide."
As to the safety:
"Manual safety is located on the left side of the slide, and, when engaged, safely brings hammer down from cocked position, and then locks the hammer, sear and slide."
wally
Member
Don't give up! I found a very nice RAP 440 .40 S&W at a gun show for $200.
"Tripe action" safety like on the newer Taurus PT92 -- Cock'N'Locked or push past off for decock and DA/SA carry like with SIG or Beretta 92. They are made in 9mm and .40 S&W both are significantly more powerful than 9mm Mak and the gun is about the same size and weight as my Maks
--wally.
Cruiseron
Member
Condition one
It is 9MM but the Star BM is an excellant buy if you have a dealer near you that will place the order.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Star_Model_BM_9mm.html#a22
It is one sweet gun already broken in. Really like mine.
It is 9MM but the Star BM is an excellant buy if you have a dealer near you that will place the order.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Star_Model_BM_9mm.html#a22
It is one sweet gun already broken in. Really like mine.
abaddon
Member
Star BM? I've never heard of it. It looks like a 1911 style pistol. Are they reliable? How many rounds can it carry in the mags?
Jeff
Jeff
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