Stepped to the dark side, bought a Makarov ...
- Thread starter riverdog
- Start date
- Status
Gary in Pennsylvania
Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2003
- Messages
- 683
Richard - That is one waaaaaaay cool chromed Mak! Who did the grips?
Richard
Member
Gary, I don't remember who made the grips and they aren't the prettiest but the damned things work and work well. They didn't cost that much, maybe about $25. I now wish I had bought three pairs as I have two EG Maks and my Bulgie Mak. I am sorry I can't help. Regards, Richard
Here's a post about some that are similar.
http://www.gunsnet.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82344&perpage=30&pagenumber=1
Richard
Member
I am sure those are the same grips. The E-mail given at the other site is [email protected]. I am going to send mail. Thanks, Richard
jar
Contributing Member
He does good work. I have a set on one of my EGs.
The Mak is pretty heavy for pocket carry but I've found that with a good holster it works just fine.
Here's an EG in a High Noon Holster Pocket Grabber.
The Mak is pretty heavy for pocket carry but I've found that with a good holster it works just fine.
Here's an EG in a High Noon Holster Pocket Grabber.
No disprespect to Jar or to HighNoonHolster (I love my iwb highnoon for my steyr) but that pocket grabber looks like a poor fit for the makarov. Why not buy a pocket holster that is made for your mak? See Eric Larsen of HBE Leather works.. he makes pocket and iwb holsters for the makarov....see his page of pocket holster pics here: http://www.imageseek.com/hbeleather/gallery/album06
Missouri Mule
Member
Darkside???
I say it's more like seeing the light!!!
Maks are awesome little pistols.
I say it's more like seeing the light!!!
Maks are awesome little pistols.
dandean316
Member
I carried mine while my Para Carry was getting night sights installed. It's not bad to carry, but considering its only 5oz lighter than my Para Carry .45 (which isn't a light gun by any means), I can't see the Mak for a CCW carry piece. Truck gun? Yeah. A couple Mak's stashed around the house? Yeah. But seeing how the 9x18's performance levels are about the same as a .380, I think the Kel Tec is the better bet and 1/3 the weight.
I guess I can't see the arguments Mak’s are great for CCW because they are inexpensive. For the law abiding guy who lives on the bad side of town who can't afford much, the Mak is great for CCW. But we all have computers or at least work at a job with a computer so my guess is we make at least decent money. Probably enough to get a decent 9mm or .45. Not wanting to spend a few hundred extra bucks when your life depends on it I don't get. The informal testing I've done with the 9x18 and the reports I've read, and I don't really trust the performance of the 9x18. I've seen the 9x18 bounce off 2x2 pine boards at 7 yards.
My Mak did jam with that Barnul ammo. So to say all Mak's never jam is wrong (some have made this claim).
It is a fun gun to shoot. It has its place. It is better than carrying nothing. Something about Cold War era guns are intriguing. I don't mean to sound like I am ripping the Mak, I just think sometimes the claims have been a little overblown.
All that said, I will be adding to my Mak collection. Those EG’s and Chinese ones look real nice.
Missouri Mule
Member
Maks are great pistols a three times the going rate and i plan to carry mine at least part time.
But seeing how the 9x18's performance levels are about the same as a .380, I think the Kel Tec is the better bet and 1/3 the weight.
As much as I like my Maks I couldn't have said it any better ^^^^^^^^.
My beloved 1911s are big and heavy. I will carry them when possible but. I am buying a P-11 and a P3-at for those times I don't feel comfortable trying to cover the bigger pistols.
But seeing how the 9x18's performance levels are about the same as a .380, I think the Kel Tec is the better bet and 1/3 the weight.
As much as I like my Maks I couldn't have said it any better ^^^^^^^^.
My beloved 1911s are big and heavy. I will carry them when possible but. I am buying a P-11 and a P3-at for those times I don't feel comfortable trying to cover the bigger pistols.
I've usually found weight to be a good thing when it comes to shooting and recoil management. Ergo, I'm not big on alloy frames regardless of caliber, particularly in .45ACP.
IF I buy another minor caliber gun I might be forced to change my mind because most have alloy frames and those with steel frames are limited -- Mak and CZ and that's about it. Sig, FEG, Beretta, Bersa are all alloy framed. Obviously that's where the demand is, but I've rarely followed the crowd. IMO the steel frame on the Mak is a plus.
IF I buy another minor caliber gun I might be forced to change my mind because most have alloy frames and those with steel frames are limited -- Mak and CZ and that's about it. Sig, FEG, Beretta, Bersa are all alloy framed. Obviously that's where the demand is, but I've rarely followed the crowd. IMO the steel frame on the Mak is a plus.
standingbear
Member
im not big on alloy frames either.for me,the mak fits my budget perfectly.its design is simple,its accurate,reliable and made from steel.its not a 44 or 357 sig but middle ground between 380 and 9mm which is exactly what i wanted and could afford.
Update
Just brought the Mak home and gave a cleaning, something I'd recommend for any "new" Mak. Mine had a year code of 19 making it of 1979 manufacture. The pistol was clean except for the spare magazine which had an abundant amount of grease inside. The spare mag had been used as evidenced by marks on the follower.
The pistol itself has some holster wear, not enough to see in the store's lighting, but enough to see on my bench. Regardless, it's still 95%+ and in excellent condition. The bore was very clean, as in never fired clean. But the holster wear says it isn't new, the trigger feels pretty good but the thumb safety/decocker is real tight, as in brand new tight. I'm getting mixed signals as to how much range time it's seen; carried a lot and shot little comes to mind.
Still waiting on ammo.
Just brought the Mak home and gave a cleaning, something I'd recommend for any "new" Mak. Mine had a year code of 19 making it of 1979 manufacture. The pistol was clean except for the spare magazine which had an abundant amount of grease inside. The spare mag had been used as evidenced by marks on the follower.
The pistol itself has some holster wear, not enough to see in the store's lighting, but enough to see on my bench. Regardless, it's still 95%+ and in excellent condition. The bore was very clean, as in never fired clean. But the holster wear says it isn't new, the trigger feels pretty good but the thumb safety/decocker is real tight, as in brand new tight. I'm getting mixed signals as to how much range time it's seen; carried a lot and shot little comes to mind.
Still waiting on ammo.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Riverdog ..... listen up - I gotta warn you ...........
Once that ammo comes and you get to shoot it ..... I'll wager you will LOVE that lil puppy, from magazine #1 !!!!!! If I'm wrong then you'd have got a lemon .. and that is extremely unlikely.
Enjoy and come back and tell me I was right!
Once that ammo comes and you get to shoot it ..... I'll wager you will LOVE that lil puppy, from magazine #1 !!!!!! If I'm wrong then you'd have got a lemon .. and that is extremely unlikely.
Enjoy and come back and tell me I was right!
BIGJim223
Member
Riverdog: You will love your Mak! I also have a '79 Mak (BE 19 XXX), some holster wear, but appeared unfired internally. I have put near 1000 rnds through it and have NEVER had any problem whatsoever! Most of this ammo was Barnual HP which has been most impressive, especially for the price ($4 something a box of 50).I have custom made exotic wood grips on mine (around $35) and they work great as well as look great. I would post a picture but have no clue as to how to do it.
Even at $200 for your pistol, you would have to look very hard to find a pistol as well made, and reliable as a Mak! It is heavier than my Kel-Tec P-11, but I still carry my Makarov!
BIGJim223
Even at $200 for your pistol, you would have to look very hard to find a pistol as well made, and reliable as a Mak! It is heavier than my Kel-Tec P-11, but I still carry my Makarov!
BIGJim223
PAshooter
Member
I love mine. IIRC I paid about $130 for it a year or so ago. Gun was perfect except for a small scratch on the left side of the slide from the extra grip screw that was rolling around loose in the box.
Maks are just plain cool - the AK of the handgun world - simple, reliable, easy to strip, clean, and maintain. Had mine completely detail-stripped in a matter of minutes in order to soak everything in paint thinner and remove the gallon or so of Bulgarian cosmoline that was included at no extra charge
Looking for a nice EG to keep her company (Rule of Twos, y'know!).
Maks are just plain cool - the AK of the handgun world - simple, reliable, easy to strip, clean, and maintain. Had mine completely detail-stripped in a matter of minutes in order to soak everything in paint thinner and remove the gallon or so of Bulgarian cosmoline that was included at no extra charge
Looking for a nice EG to keep her company (Rule of Twos, y'know!).
CZSteve
Member
mdshooter,
Are those the 'comfort carry' grips from makarov.com?
If so; how do you like them?
If not; did you modify the factory grips yourself?
They look good.
Are like the Red Star myself, just a worried about being too slick for carry.
Are those the 'comfort carry' grips from makarov.com?
If so; how do you like them?
If not; did you modify the factory grips yourself?
They look good.
Are like the Red Star myself, just a worried about being too slick for carry.
PAshooter
Member
Steve:
What's pictured is the standard Bulgarian-issue hard plastic grip that came on the pistol. It's got the thumb rest on the opposite side - which doesn't work for me as I'm a southpaw. The gun also came with a set of red plastic "star" grips.
I wanted something with a little cushion to it so I first tried a Makawrap but found it too blocky for my taste. Currently the gun sports a Pearce rubber grip which is nice but does add some bulk to the gun... not an issue for me as we don't have CCW in these parts.
What's pictured is the standard Bulgarian-issue hard plastic grip that came on the pistol. It's got the thumb rest on the opposite side - which doesn't work for me as I'm a southpaw. The gun also came with a set of red plastic "star" grips.
I wanted something with a little cushion to it so I first tried a Makawrap but found it too blocky for my taste. Currently the gun sports a Pearce rubber grip which is nice but does add some bulk to the gun... not an issue for me as we don't have CCW in these parts.
TooTaxed
Member
Your MAK makes a fine carry gun with the Gold Dot ammo and Fobus roto holster. Besides my single-stack Bulgie, I also have a Russian double-stack high cap model with adjustable sights, which is surprisingly accurate at 25-yd. I also handload for the MAK...you can get American boxer-primed cases, as well as the Sellier & Bellot.
Richard
Member
Bill Hook,
I felt the same way when I received the grips. Guess what? They are great grips for shooting and carry. These grips work so well I am going to buy a set for my two EG Maks. Regards, Richard
Mr Jody Hudson
Member
You will be basking in the light.
Just try and remember to clean them about every twelve million rounds or so and all will be well.
I prefer the 115 gr. LVE HP ammo at about 1100 fps...
EVERYONE in the gun shop that I work in sometimes has a Makarov on when working... no matter what other gun we prefer otherwise, if we think we might just need a gun that never, ever, fails to function... It's the Makarov.
Try it for a million rounds or more and you too will liklely join the Church of Makarovia where Makarovniks have total faith in the reliability, accuracy and perfection of the HOLY MAKAROV.
Just try and remember to clean them about every twelve million rounds or so and all will be well.
I prefer the 115 gr. LVE HP ammo at about 1100 fps...
EVERYONE in the gun shop that I work in sometimes has a Makarov on when working... no matter what other gun we prefer otherwise, if we think we might just need a gun that never, ever, fails to function... It's the Makarov.
Try it for a million rounds or more and you too will liklely join the Church of Makarovia where Makarovniks have total faith in the reliability, accuracy and perfection of the HOLY MAKAROV.
- Status
