Makarov Slide Closing On Mag Insert

[Mr. Mosin]

I have a new-to- me ‘86 production Bulgarian Makarov… upon seating a magazine with the slide locked to the rear; and ensuring it is seated with the heel of my palm; the slide runs home- stripping the top round from the magazine and otherwise functioning as intended.

Is this supposed to happen ?

 

[Carl N. Brown]

From the Wikipedia write up on the Makarov PM (which marches my limited experience wth my son's Makarov):
"... After firing the last round, the slide is held back by the slide stop lever/ejector. ... After loading a fresh magazine, the slide can be released by pressing the lever on the left side of the frame or by racking the slide and releasing it; either action loads a cartridge into the chamber and readies the pistol to fire again. ..."

I'd say it is not normal for the Makarov slide to release on insertion of a loaded magazine. Even when the magazine is seated with a robust smack of the heel of the shooter's palm.
Some guns do that as a feature but with the Makarov it is a bug.

I would guess that something is preventing full engagement of the slide stop lever to the slide if insertion of a magazine releases the slide.
May be the magazine spting is not pushing the follower up enough to fully activate the slide stop.
The slide stop could be worn. I did have to replace the slide stop lever on my 1911A1 copy due to 20 years wear averagiing 200 rounds a year.

 

[dodo bird]

I have a new-to- me ‘86 production Bulgarian Makarov… upon seating a magazine with the slide locked to the rear; and ensuring it is seated with the heel of my palm; the slide runs home- stripping the top round from the magazine and otherwise functioning as intended.

Is this supposed to happen ?

I am not a Mak owner but that is common with many pistols especially when it is inserted with authority. Enjoy your new pistol. Range report would be great!

 

[Telekinesis]

A Makarov is not really supposed to do that. While it’s not the end of the world if it happens, if it happens consistently it probably points to some issues or wear on the parts.

Generally what happens is that inserting the mag causes the slide stop to bounce and it releases the slide forward. You can run into problems if the slide starts moving before its able to cleanly pick up the round from the magazine, resulting in either the slide going home on an empty chamber or potentially the slide picking up the round but having a misfeed and jamming the gun. I’ve never seen the last one, but I have seen a gun where the slide went home on an empty chamber.

I’d take a close look at the engagement between the slide lock and the slide, and potentially replace the slide lock.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

A Makarov is not really supposed to do that. While it’s not the end of the world if it happens, if it happens consistently it probably points to some issues or wear on the parts.

Generally what happens is that inserting the mag causes the slide stop to bounce and it releases the slide forward. You can run into problems if the slide starts moving before its able to cleanly pick up the round from the magazine, resulting in either the slide going home on an empty chamber or potentially the slide picking up the round but having a misfeed and jamming the gun. I’ve never seen the last one, but I have seen a gun where the slide went home on an empty chamber.

I’d take a close look at the engagement between the slide lock and the slide, and potentially replace the slide lock.

It happens with or without the mag, forcefully ramming the mag well with the palm of my hand does it 9 times out of 10

 

[ontarget]

No experience with a Mak, but most Veterans will remember how easy it is to drop the bolt on an M16/AR15 by simply smacking the end of the butt stock.
It compresses the buffer enough to drop the bolt stop with a loaded mag inserted or no mag at all. An empty mag of course would be holding the bolt stop in place.
It could be kinda the same thing going on with your slide stop.
Does it drop the slide if you gently insert a mag and push it to seat? Will it drop the slide if you have an empty mag installed and slap the bottom?

 

[lysanderxiii]

Soft ejector/slide lock. It has worn and needs replacing.

Pretty soon it won't hold the slide back after the last round.

 

[lincen]

The most common wear part on the Makarovs is the slide stop/slide release. It does seem that if you wack some of them hard enough that it can release the slide. There really is no reason to hit the magazine that hard. Seems to be the thing to do but all you need is to seat the magazine.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

No experience with a Mak, but most Veterans will remember how easy it is to drop the bolt on an M16/AR15 by simply smacking the end of the butt stock.
It compresses the buffer enough to drop the bolt stop with a loaded mag inserted or no mag at all. An empty mag of course would be holding the bolt stop in place.
It could be kinda the same thing going on with your slide stop.
Does it drop the slide if you gently insert a mag and push it to seat? Will it drop the slide if you have an empty mag installed and slap the bottom?

Last two questions-
No
No

 

[lee n. field]

I have a new-to- me ‘86 production Bulgarian Makarov… upon seating a magazine with the slide locked to the rear; and ensuring it is seated with the heel of my palm; the slide runs home- stripping the top round from the magazine and otherwise functioning as intended.

Is this supposed to happen ?

No, but...

Replace the slide stop, or think of it as "a feature".

 

[JohnMc]

My Bulgy doesn't do that. It was in dang near new condition when I got it 20-plus years ago, it had very little wear. It only sees the range occasionally, so it still behaves well.

 

[ThomasT]

My Bulgarian Mak didn't do that. I am going to go with poster #2. I think he nailed your problem pretty well. Thats probably why that guy traded you out of your Zastava 32 auto.

 

[tark]

It probably thinks it is a Garand.

 

[Terry G]

Bulgarian, Russian, and East German, none do that but it really wouldn't bother me too much unless it fires also. If I smack my Colt Series 70 hard enough it will close, but not wi th normal use.