Who carries a Makarov for CCW

[Dr_2_B]

Every now and then I pull out this beauty from the cold war and admire its simplicity. I've carried it concealed on occasion.

Who carries a Makarov regularly? (Define 'regularly' in any way you wish)
Do you rotate it with other CCW carries?
What ammo for defense?
What carry rig?

Any pics wouldn't be frowned upon.

 

[Tallball]

Mine is Russian. I carry it sometimes and have complete confidence in it.

 

[Havok7416]

I intended to acquire a holster for mine, but I decided not to due to all my other guns and holsters. I do have a ton of 90gr XTP bullets I put into cases and several hundred more still sitting in their boxes.

 

[gripper]

I often do( EG,and / or Bulgarian circle 10). Both are appropriately resprung( as is the P64 with Wolff recoil & other springs.

 

[Terminatorret]

My primary summer CCW rotation is:
Shorts - NAA mini .22lr
Slacks - P64 in a Galco ankle lite holster loaded with FMJ
Wranglers - LCR .357 in front pocket (no holster) with .38 hard cast SWC.
I also have a Bulgy and CZ-82, but for me the P64 is just right for ankle carry.
I believe in 100% dependability, accuracy and deep penetration and the comm bloc autos give me all of this in the 9x18 platforms.
During the winter I move up to larger revolvers in .38/.357 and comm bloc autos in 9x18 or 7.62x25.
I demand reliability. My weapons of choice have it.

 

[bdrift10]

I sometimes carry my baikal. The ammo i have is not in English (IHNFC). I carry it maybe twice a month. I typically carry my new production 9mm tokarev.

 

[mgmorden]

I have carried mine in the past. It's one of the Russian commercial ones in .380. I replaced the stock grips (the lanyard loop dug into my side) and I swapped the adjustable sights to fixed ones.

Overall the gun was OK, but there's a few annoyances on mine. The trigger guard has some sharp edges which make shooting it painful (don't know if that's better on the military ones). Also, being a steel framed gun, it's rather heavy for its size. Still, overall I like the gun - just more as a range piece these days.

 

[Pilot]

I carry one of my Bulgie Maks on occasion, but have been carrying a Polish P-83 more these days.

 

[MedWheeler]

I do, sometimes. It's a Bulgarian in near-pristine condition I got last December. Excellent shooter, and it sometimes rides in an IWB-holster worn between the belt and pants, a method often referred to as "ITB (inside-the-belt) carry. That holster normally holds a Kel-Tec PF9.

In fact, my wife and daughter are due back from the former USSR tomorrow; maybe I'll carry it on the 2-hour drive to the airport when I go fetch them..

 

[Ignition Override]

The plan is to use it as an alternate gun, but first must decided on a suitable OWB holster for the stainless Sig 232 and try it out for a while.
Brand-new novice wearing any type of holster.

I would rather carry the commercial Russian IZH single-stack .380 Makarov than tarnish the excellent bluing on the Bulgy or EG. All of these were collector guns for the late owner.

Pilot: Just bought two of the excellent Polish P-83s; an underrated handgun, or mostly just unknown, because of the smaller, more available P-64?

 

[Pilot]

^^^^^^. Yeah, I bought two P-83's from Wideners. I think I like them just as much as my Maks. Very accurate, and reliable pistols that are easier to shoot than the P-64.

 

[antiquus]

The plan is to use it as an alternate gun, but first must decided on a suitable OWB holster for the stainless Sig 232 and try it out for a while.
Brand-new novice wearing any type of holster.

I would rather carry the commercial Russian IZH single-stack .380 Makarov than tarnish the excellent bluing on the Bulgy or EG. All of these were collector guns for the late owner.

Pilot: Just bought two of the excellent Polish P-83s; an underrated handgun, or mostly just unknown, because of the smaller, more available P-64?

Got any insight on the P-83? This is the one you barely hear about.

I have several FEG's, had one in Mak but sold it to a friend, still have one in .380 and one in .32acp and have carried all of them.

Have a Chinese PM I would carry, reliable and I found out every piece was a forging, so probably the strongest PM ever.

Also have a CZ-82 I've carried, they are heavy though. But a fine, fine gun, the best of the Mak shooters.

 

[Ignition Override]

antiquus: I have no inside news on the P-83.

But I Do know two guys who were mugged: one leaving a bank at Poplar/Highland in Memphis, and the other while stepping out of his car in the garage of our former home---an attempted home invasion.

The overall importance here is that both of them were surprised so quickly that neither had time to pull out any weapon.
What chambering your gun has is probably never going to matter.....the bad guys almost always keep in your blind spot, knowing how to intercept you while your head is turned. They know that you might be armed.

 

[GyMac]

I usually carry a Bulgarian OWB, but sometimes a Russian commercial in .380 IWB if I'm concerned about sweat coming in contact with the gun.

 

[gearhead]

It's not a Mak, but I carry a P64 almost daily. I'm not allowed to carry a firearm into work (and they have armed security and metal detectors to ensure they don't enter) so I carry the P64 to and from, then leave it in the console of my vehicle while at work. I use Silver Bear JHP.

 

[mikemx5]

I have a Russian .380. It's accurate and has never malfunctioned in any way. If I didn't have smaller or similar sized guns in 9mm, .40, and .45, I would not hesitate to use it for CCW and would have total confidence in it.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Though I don't have one, the 9mm Mak is/was "ccw first choice" for some Russkie folks and I'm sure if it is good enough for KGB & Spetsnaz it is good enough for you FWIW there's a small pile of 9X18 Mak empties on the corner of my reloading bench that snuck in from a public range with some 9X19 & .380ACP brass. Can't decide whether to toss into recycling brass bucket or keep for trade goods.

 

[Apple a Day]

I carried a Russian, then a Bulgie for years in an IWB holster. The holster wore out and I'm still looking for a good replacement. I switched to something lighter but sometimes in the winter I've still strapped a Mak to my belt when I'm headed out the door.
That Russian Makarov was the first pistol I ever bought. For some reason even now it just feels good to shoot and carry.

 

[gripper]

I've had good service from Fobus paddle rigs,and Bianchi Universal belt slides. I'm a skinny sort,so IWB is not always feasible; but these two work fine for me as OWB CC rigs.

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

I used to carry one as my main CCW, until I found a great deal on a Sig P225. Still, I sometimes carry the Mak. It is a solid, reliable and accurate gun. I use a Falco IWB holster I bought through the old Makarov.com store (sadly long-gone).

My wife also carries a Mak as her main gun - she has short fingers and most guns do not fit her hands well. The Mak is a perfect fit. She uses a Coronado shoulder bag with a carry pouch in back.

 

[2na]

Bulgarian in a don Hume jit or bianchi x15.

 

[entropy]

Carried my CZ 82 alot when I still had it. Used the 9mm Versa-Carry, short version. (Not XS)

 

[frito guy]

Anyone CC a Tokarov? I have a Romanian 1953 model. It is a blast to shoot and VERY accurate. Never had a FFE Or FTF.

 

[jon_in_wv]

I used to carry my Bulgarian regularly and its a fine carry pistol but I swapped it out for a pistol with better sights. The Makarov is a great pistol. Accurate, slim, powerful enough, and reliable as a hammer. Also, a CZ82 is not a Makarov.

 

[krupparms]

I have a Russian PMM. It is beat up & I got it cheap at a gun show a number of years ago. At first I did not know it was a PMM. But the mags let me know. It came with 1-10rd.mag. But I bought 2-12 rd.mag.s. for it. With the 2 extra mag.s, I have 35 rd.s ready to go. The Makarov PMM is a fine self defense gun. Especially with the new ammo. I use Blazer G.D.s. I have also used the Tokarev as it is slim and is super reliable. I prefer the 9mm, model.