Every American review of this pistol says that it was a Russian Army and the Police standard issue until 1991. I have no idea where this misconception comes from, but it has nothing to do with the truth. It is still to this day the standard-issue sidearm in the Russian army and law enforcement and it doesn't seem to change any time soon. The police officials say that Makarov is being slowly replaced by MP-443 and GSh-18 pistols since 2003, but I have NOT seen neither of them in police officer's holsters EVER in my life, even though I pass by many of policemen as I go to work in the city center of Moscow every morning. They all carry Makarov.
@@slambrew3849 the standard PM is out of production (there is more than enough of them made). PM-M (the one with 12-round mags) is still in production. It's just there are so many of them that it doesn't make any practice dance to replace them. Some police special forces are using CZ's and Glock's made in Russia under a license. But the regular police and army are still sticking with the old PM.
@@kirillkrugliakov1463 Makarov is reasonably reliable, reasonably accurate, reasonably sized, and reasonably powerful for hollow point expansion (unlike .380). Sturdy enough to outlive humanity like soviet zinc buckets. Ammo is cheap as dirt. Still very good for police use, don't fix what ain't broken. :)
OK, I'll fess up as a guy who carries the Mak. And, yes, I prefer it to a M&P Shield in 9m for cc. My reasoning? Reliability. 65+ years of Maks going bang whenever the trigger is pulled. And I find I'm a bit more accurate with the Mak, especially when firing multiple shots quickly...ymmv. Don't get me wrong, I really...and I mean REALLY...like the Shield. But for protection, I'll take the Mak.
There is a lot of talk about features, and new gun technologies. In truth, people are no tougher now than they were when this pistol was designed. The ranges you will need to shoot someone are well within the ability of this pistol, and there are 100s of thousands of owners over the past almost 70 years who will attest that their enemies are no less dead now than they would be having been shot with some other pistol. The Makarov is a pistol, and when you understand the limitations of any pistol, the choices one makes come down to, as you said, "Does it shoot the first time and every time I pull the trigger?" The answer is yes, and the pistol will do fine. "Your pistol is only a tool. It is a cold heart that kills"
I use the Mak because it's ideal for self defense and same decocker safety like beretta 92fs. You can safely carry it in condition 1 and modern loadings are made for it.
My first handgun was a Baikal IJ-70 in 9x18 with an adjustable rear sight. I carry a Shield in 9x19 now, but I still have the Mak. It's no longer my first choice for a carry gun, but it surely isn't my last. It's certainly accurate and reliable enough to make me look like I know what I'm doing. It will do its bit if I do mine.
Love these guns.. Huge fan and collector of the Mak and have been carrying one for years. Deadly accurate and super dependable. They don't call it the "AK of pistols" for nothing. ;)
I'm surprised you didn't address perhaps the most important feature of these Makarovs, the hammer block mechanism! Simple and safe both for carrying and general usage.
My first carry gun was a Bulgarian Makarov. I was in college at the time with a limited budget. I went in to my LGS to buy some .22 ammo and bought it on a whim. This was about 15 years ago. I have move to more modern guns for carry but I keep the Makarov handy in the living room. I will never give it up.
Why, reliability and safety. Plus it’s very well built. Idk plastic and cheap manufacturing can go bad sometimes. But it is a gun from the Cold War era. It’s like an ak though hard to have problems with them.
I had an East German model Makarov. I carried it concealed in a Assault Systems inside the waistband clip holster with the same type of spare mag holder. T he gun was flawless with all kinds of Euro/American ammo. I chose Hornady hollow points for defensive carry. This pistol was very accurate due to the fixed barrel design. Very easy takedown for cleaning. Aesthetics were beautiful. Mine was a STASI secret police gun. It came with police black bakelite grips. I installed the red military grips. Damn fine gun.
I picked up a Bulgarian Makarov and installed the PM-G grips for the Mak from Fab Defense in Israel. Very cool ergonomic grips! Plus, it converts it to a thumb release on the grip that drops the mag rather than the release on the heel. Magazine changes are now twice as fast.
I carry my Mak because i needed an inexpensive firearm to carry during the warmer months in place of my Glock 19. Its a reliable weapon with great combat history which cannot be said for other weapons at its price. As long as you place your shots accurately and carry a spare magazine, its a decent carry gun.
hi, enjoyed the vid. That being said let me answer the question "Why carry the Makarov"? Four reasons: 1. cost.2. durability. 3. the weight also helps soak up recoil. 4. simplicity, you would find repair(especially in the field). oh yeah one more reason, spare parts are cheap and VERY available. consider the pistol disassembles with the cleaning rod/takedown tool! finally the Makarov pistol passed the peoples rep. of KAL drop test so we know it is very safe (tongue in cheek).
Here's a tip on getting brass for the Makarov so you can reload ammo and save a TON OF MONEY.....head out to your local range and see if they will sell you some 9mm brass, yes, I said 9mm brass, as in 9mm parabellum, the same as 9mm Lugar. 9x18 MAK brass has the same head dimensions as the 9mm, so all you have to do is trim to length, load the first loading with about 15% less powder than you normally would, and then bell the mouth of the brass for the larger .365 9x18 MAK bullets and HAVE FUN. **[9mm bullets are .355 in diameter, whereas the Makarov bullets are LARGER AT .365, and, NEVER EVER, use 9x18 MAK bullets in gun marked 9mm, 9mm para, 9mm parabellum, or 9mm Lugar, as it could cost you your LIFE, or life long SERIOUS BODILY INJURY!!!!!!!!] *****NOTE - you need to load the first round from the 9mm brass with 15% less powder because in essence, you are fire forming the brass to 9x18 MAK dimensions for the case walls. But once fire formed, load them as you would any other cartridge, target strength, medium or +P, just be careful and follow the load data found in the many reloading manuals in sporting goods stores, and/or gun shops for the 9x18 MAK cartridge EXCEPT FOR THAT ALL IMPORTANT FIRST ROUND ;-) If you need more info, you can find me on facebook at "AK Bayonets" [I collect them!!!] and I'll be happy to help walk you through the process of fire forming brass, or any other questions you might have. HAVE FUN SHOOTING YOUR MAK :-)
One of my favorite handguns, I have 2 Bulgarian Maks, one that's a little rough that I CCW sometimes, another Bulgy that's very clean, a Russian commercial Baikal in .380, but the best of my collection is an East German that is extremely clean and has no importation marks. I also have a CZ82 and a P83. Hoping to add a Chinese Mak to my collection one day as well.
I don't care what anyone says, I've shot many different platforms in many different calibers and, for me, no handgun shoots more smoothly or more accurately than a Makarov. Don't get me wrong, I like striker fired guns, I own Glocks and love the trigger consistency on the range, but if I'm going to carry with one in the chamber and possibly have the gun flagging me or anyone else, I like the extra safety of having the hammer down, safety on, and a long double-action pull to fire the round in the chamber. It's a tried and true design 67 years and counting and they are known for being damn reliable.
You forgot simplicity and reliability. Higher powered ammo such as Underwood or Buffalo Bore will launch a 95 grain projectile to about 1200 fps and if all else fails you can use the Makarov as a club. Try that with tupperware from the newer models.
Love my "Li'l Mak." Glad I bought it when they were $125.00! I could wish they'd used the Tokarev method, which allows ya to pull out all the major workings with the slide off; but it's a minor thing. Simple, and it always works. If I miss, it's my fault.
The Makarov is very accurate, reliable, and it used to be cheap (in price) I have owned two of these pistols. And I would buy another one in a heart beat. But it does have some minor problems, the screw that holds the grips on comes loose, and if you tighten the screw down too much it hits the mag, so what I did was grind the tip of the grip screw down just a bit. And do not lube the drop safety, if the drop safety gets lube on it, it will fall when fired. Small problems?, yes and the gun is well worth fixing these little problems.
Looking at J&G Sales again, I really should have picked up a Grand Power when they were around $330. The prices on them are absurd now, not just there either. A gun with virtually no support is costing more than a CZ75. I got a good deal on my Stingray-C there, the only shop that had the gun in Titanium.
The problem with these modern striker-fired guns -- to decock the damn things, you have to remove mag, empty chamber, then pull trigger - vs. the simplicity and certainty of a decocting safety. Most of them don't have loaded chamber indicators either, so you're never sure what condition they're in. Then you've got the idiotic Glocks with no safety at all and a light trigger, hence all the cops, FBI agents, and NFL players shooting themselves or others accidentally. Would you carry around a revolver in your holster with the hammer cocked? Hell no, but it's equivalent to these striker wonders.
Had two of these. Flawless function and very accurate. The Bulgies and East German ones were the best finished. Loved the case hardened hammer and safety. Silky action. Put rubber grips on mine. Triangular free floating firing pin. A little heavy for a small pistol in this era. Underpowered round in later years especially when they invaded Afghanistan in the 80's. Most of the troops were told to save it for themselves to prevent being captured by the Taliban. In standard loading it is sort of a .380 +P. Only real down point to design was the heel magazine release but it never fails; just not made for fast reloads.
Im from Russia and what i have to say and what you cannot find in the web is reason step back from TT was "producing". After great patriotic war\WW2 USSR was experiencing problems with terchnologies, we was realy hungry, poor & ruined country and TT was too complicated pistol for learn and produce. Soviet TT may have some malfunction (caused by produsing fail) which ruin the gun in general which cost a lot af USSR nations lifes and reasoned changing guns to military and police. PM was ideal cuz simple gun easy to produce and study. Time does not standing at one place PM has barrel fixed to the frame - no acurate, fix barrel to the slide is solution which supose to be done. We had some "СТРИЖ" pistol you know it like Sryke byy Arsenal i saw your videoabout it.
The Soviet Military hit a home run with the design of the Makarov. I bought a Bulgarian Mak a few years back and fell in love with it, so much so that I now own 5. ( 3 Bulgarian, 1 Polish and 1 Russian) The simplistic beauty and functionality of this hand gun is what makes it so charming.
I love my Bulgy Mak! I actually picked it over a modern design based on your P83 review. I wanted simple, easy to maintain reliability, but not the butt ugly aesthetics of the Vanad. I too installed the PM-G grip from Fab defense and I think it adds some great modern features to the Mak. My only complaint is that it doesn't come on Commie Bakelite Red color. Check it out if you're curious!
You know, a little more than a decade ago you could pick up a good Makarov for $150 or $200, and there weren't any reliable small guns available for less than three or four times that. At that point, they made good sense as a budget carry gun, but that just isn't the case anymore. There are a number of better options for three or four hundred. But they are still cool and great looking guns.
These little guns are so accurate, they do deserve better sights! If you know a skilled gunsmith, it would be worth it for him to put some great, modern sights on one of these gems!
Practice well your grip on a MAK. The back of the MAK slide is very sharp and will draw blood. I've seen it do that. The sharp edges on that pistol can be softened and re-blued. However, the thumb safety is backasswards, the main reason I don't have one...being used to the 1911 manual of arms.
I own and carry a Hungarian PA-63 in 9x18mm and I love it is small it’s lite the recoil is snappy but it’s accurate reliable and it’s something different
What's ironic was I just watched your Microtech Ultratech review since I just got my Stormtrooper. I'm carrying my Bulgarian from JG and Stormtrooper for EDC today. Great weapons!!
I've got two early import Bulgarian maks and I was able to stretch the holsters just a little bit by wrapping my pistols and a plastic baggie preferably freezer bags with cardboard on either side of the gun and a little bit of mink oil and my hot air gun I was able to warm the holster put on a little mink oil not much just enough to keep from drying it out and heated up just enough till it starts to soak in the oil leave the gun in it let it cool and then pull it out and you'll find that the next time you put your pistol and it will be nice and free and easy slide in and out but I haven't seen one as nice as the one in this video since I bought mine back in the nineties for a hundred and twenty bucks each they were the first ones to come into the u.s. for commercial sale or at least part of the first batch of macarons they came in around the same time as the earliest Russian SKS is which I also have a full length and a slightly shortened version that was Arsenal shortened by 2 inches making the barrel 16 & 1 quarter inch instead of just over 18 I also have to actual Russian March makarovs my most recent Makarov chambered pistol is my CZ 82 which is the first 9 x 18 pistol I found since the Bulgarian and Russian Makarov that I can actually honestly say I like her better but I love my bulgarians great video by the way keep putting them out I watch everyone you put out not so much tonight videos except one in the market for a knife but everyone video you have put out I've enjoyed and I do trust your opinion my next purchase will be a CZ 75 compact clone any suggestions
I've got a Polish P-64 and a CZ82 which are both makarov style pistols... I shot a friends Bulgarian makarov a few months ago and they are the best looking of the bunch... The trigger and assorted parts that are the red/brown color really sets the pistol off... The bulgarian does have the wraparound grips that the others don't... The one downside I had while shooting was the front and backstrap are both smooth which let the gun move around a bit during recoil... But a small piece of grip tape, like you use for baseball bats etc. would fix that right up... Sweet shooting and nice little guns... And yes the makarov round is a bit larger than the standard 9mm... I accidently loaded a couple of makarov rounds in my glock 17 mag... Wouldn't chamber and had to push it out from the muzzle end... Oops, won't ever do that again... That's what I get for loading my mags late in the evening while I was half asleep...
If J&G sent you that Bulgy, they also sent a couple pounds of cosmoline...the stinkers. Seriously, gotta love the folks at J&G. They make a lot of good stuff available. And their prices are pretty reasonable. Yeah, My Bulgy Mak came totally covered in cosmo...but it wasn't that hard to wash it off. I used some naptha... and saved the rest of the can to fuel my Zippo lighter(8-). Like you, I put the red star grips on mine...they just look right, ya know? The others were okay, but... Also...mine's a little more worn. It has some "I wish it could talk" type stuff going on there.That's the kind of wear and tear you'd want on a family hand me down gun...and why one should never refinish a "memories" gun. Anyhow, Great video...and thanks for sharing.
I like that split screen during the chronograph testing. I haven't seen that on other channels (though I sometimes see kind of a picture-in-picture effect). I hope you'll be doing more of that in the future. I think it'll give your reviews more of a unique look.
TT-33 was based on 7.62x25 because at that time they still needed to shot somebody even through horse (guy riding a horse from front). But during 2nd world war they realised, that it will be better to have smaller and more portable pistol, because handguns were not used as classic backup weapon for, soldiers had automatic firearms. They also found, that even 9x19 Luger easily goes through human body mostly. They also found, that many german soldiers using 9x17mm Browning short pistols were very effective. So after war they designed 9x18M round, which is designed to eliminate people up to 50 meters. And it does it effectively, because these rounds usually stay in the body and they deliver all the energy. Another advantage was softer recoil and simple construction. Simple construction with generous tollerances resulted in extremely reliable Makarov PM design. It will be hard to find another pistol, which fires even filled with sand and mud. Put that stupid Shield gun into mud, run car over it and try to shoot. Makarov will fire. Shield probably will be inoperable forever. Considering holster, there is plastic holster which enables you to just drag the weapon throug and the holster even racks the slide. PM Makarov is nice carry gun. Especially with that round, which does not go through the target harming people behind like 9x19 rounds. And I like my ČZ pi. vz. 82, (almost same like ČZ-83) which is also chambered in 9x18 Makarov, but is a bit more modern, has 12 rounds magazine, polygonal barrel and better magazine release.
The 9x18 Makarov is a plain and dierct robbery from the ww2 german proyect 9x18 Ultra... it will be the new standar german caliber... but they lost the war and the soviet take the idea.
I have to wonder about the 9 x 18 Mak. What niche does it fill? Less than the 9 mm Parabeleum, more than a 380 acp. It would not have been my choice as sidearm for the military or police. (Better than German and French use of the 32 acp.) I would have gone with a more potent cartridge, like a 9mm Para before I chose the caliber. I would have leaned towards taking the TT 33 and rechambering it to the 9mm Para, while looking for a design that would have given me the power and the design I would have think of as more ideal. A mid sized DA/SA 9mm with at least a 12 round magazine.
Correction! The venerable Makarov pistol has NOT been replaced with anything else, get that out of your heads, not in Russia not in Bulgaria, not today, not for foreseeable future.
HI. Thank you very much for explaining my comments to Sual al - Mikarouf. He receives 8.5 shots as a Koman in Iraq, but he writes on the cartoon 9 and to know that the shots exist in our year of manufacture. Very old. The last one can be 1983 and most often do not break. What is the solution? The 9 to 9 is short but what we can not import the 9 short greeting Reply
Why would i choose Makarov over the small plastic toys u show? Same reason i would have Walter P1 over Walter P88 or P99. Its half the price and never fails. Btw, the Mak also shoots hollow point bullets.
D5quared91 I gotta get one. I recently ordered a Yugo SKS from Classic Firearms. The metal is immaculate other than slight dings. The same can't be exactly said about the wood, but that's easy to fix.
Taylor Perry Get one of the Bulgarians while they are still cheap! They are going for between $250-$300 all over and they are basically brand new Makarovs. Worth every penny and then some.
The reason for the discoloration of the the hammer and safety lever is hardness of each. The Bulgarians weren't too good at bluing hardened metals. They built the Makarov to Soviet specs I.e., hardening of appropriate components but failed with regard to adequately bluing hardened parts. Not a big deal because such hardened components are rust resistant even un-blued thanks to their hardness. But it explains the color difference of Bulgarian Mak parts. It was certainly not meant to be a color complement to the grips.
It looks better either way. Italy did the same thing to one of their semi auto rifles. It came out a bright red but still looked beautiful. I really do not consider it a failure.
I just put a deposit down on an East German Makarov, wonderful pistol and the fit and finish on them is exceptional. I have a Beretta Nano as my carry pistol but when I am hiking and out on a trail somewhere, won't have any issues carrying the Makarov. I think it's one of those guns that would be a great cold weather carry gun under a jacket.
I carry my Polish P-64 daily. I wouldn't trade it for any modern pistol. My Bulgy Mak is bulkier and heavier. Incidentally the Bulgy Mak is about the same size and weight as a Glock 19.
That is exactly my thoughts. I have two P-64's, both in excellent condition. I put some Hungarian wooden grips on my best one. I've been debating about getting a Bulgy Mak. I've been reviewing videos and websites about the Bulgarian Makarov, but my Polish P-64's are more useful and better quality. I put 18-lb Wolff hammer springs on my P-64's and the double action trigger pull is reasonable now. The Polish P-64 is just a more concealable gun than the Makarov, and the edges, design, and finish is just superior. They both shoot the 9x18mm round. Maybe I should buy more P-64's...lol. I'm like you, I wouldn't trade my P-64 for any modern gun. My P-64 is my favorite handgun.
Nice vid,i have a question if anybody can help i bought a Bulgarian makarov and its stamped arsenal bulgarian makarov but it has the circle triangle marking and not the 10 marking.
I think what you MAY have is what they call a "Russian sneak" Pistol. what I have heard is that the soviets sent some Makarov pistols sometime in the past to Bulgaria for some reason. anyway supposedly some of those made it past BATF inspection and ended up in USA. I would give that some credibility in view of the fact that circle 10 in kazanlak Bulgaria was renamed OR there was another industrial concern (unlikely) named Friedrich Engels (to honor dead commie) anyway it is likely you have a Russian that sneaked through WITHOUT having to have that absurd adjustable rear site. Knda collectible!
Good video, much appreciated. The Mak is an under-utilized carry pistol, to me. I got one just a month ago and put a few hundred rounds through it. Needed a lot of cleaning to get all the cosmoline off. Accurate, easy to carry and use. Two things though: the screw hole in the back of the grip gave me a welt on my soft, womanly hands. And several times, it would fail to fire in single action, however a double action trigger pull afterwards fired the round 100%. Not really sure what's up with that.
do they sell makarov 12 shot pmm's in the US? ive seen one for sale on a private sales website but ive never found one past that. id love to get my hand on one of those. and not a cz82, i want a legit makarov.
Nice video, Thumb Up. I like makarov pistols. I recomend you a couple of customisations. A Zahal PMG pistol grip. And a EFA 2K holster. If you wanna try them, please make a video about it.
+The Late Boy Scout dang, it was my first time going I was hoping to see you. it was pretty good, but the crazy part was that I had a conversation with liong mah. I didn't really know what to say honestly
WHY? Because I can get full grip on the Mak. and only two fingers on the S&W and 1 &1/2 on the lcp. It's not made out of recycled Tupperware. Most important the Mak. goes bang when I pull the trigger and then cycles like it is supposed to ALWAYS. Not so much with the lcp. And as you said the Smith is uglier than home made sin. ;)
Question *Why?* is answered: Because here in Eastern Europe you can get Police surplus makarovs/baikals/IZH-70H's for 70-150 Euro's thats 2-3 times cheaper than modern handguns like Glock or Sig
Simple the makarov is about a zillion times more durable and reliable then any of the modern equivalents you mentioned, it's cheap, durable and you're not going to be worried about scratches and everyday wear and tear.
Every American review of this pistol says that it was a Russian Army and the Police standard issue until 1991. I have no idea where this misconception comes from, but it has nothing to do with the truth. It is still to this day the standard-issue sidearm in the Russian army and law enforcement and it doesn't seem to change any time soon.
The police officials say that Makarov is being slowly replaced by MP-443 and GSh-18 pistols since 2003, but I have NOT seen neither of them in police officer's holsters EVER in my life, even though I pass by many of policemen as I go to work in the city center of Moscow every morning. They all carry Makarov.
Kirill Krugliakov is it still in production? That might be where the misconception comes from.
@@slambrew3849 the standard PM is out of production (there is more than enough of them made). PM-M (the one with 12-round mags) is still in production. It's just there are so many of them that it doesn't make any practice dance to replace them. Some police special forces are using CZ's and Glock's made in Russia under a license. But the regular police and army are still sticking with the old PM.
@@kirillkrugliakov1463 Makarov is reasonably reliable, reasonably accurate, reasonably sized, and reasonably powerful for hollow point expansion (unlike .380). Sturdy enough to outlive humanity like soviet zinc buckets. Ammo is cheap as dirt. Still very good for police use, don't fix what ain't broken. :)
@@kirillkrugliakov1463 In Bulgaria is the same thing.
@@Васил-н4ч yep. I've seen it in Bulgaria too. But your police has modern holsters though :)
OK, I'll fess up as a guy who carries the Mak. And, yes, I prefer it to a M&P Shield in 9m for cc. My reasoning? Reliability. 65+ years of Maks going bang whenever the trigger is pulled. And I find I'm a bit more accurate with the Mak, especially when firing multiple shots quickly...ymmv. Don't get me wrong, I really...and I mean REALLY...like the Shield. But for protection, I'll take the Mak.
There is a lot of talk about features, and new gun technologies. In truth, people are no tougher now than they were when this pistol was designed. The ranges you will need to shoot someone are well within the ability of this pistol, and there are 100s of thousands of owners over the past almost 70 years who will attest that their enemies are no less dead now than they would be having been shot with some other pistol.
The Makarov is a pistol, and when you understand the limitations of any pistol, the choices one makes come down to, as you said, "Does it shoot the first time and every time I pull the trigger?" The answer is yes, and the pistol will do fine.
"Your pistol is only a tool. It is a cold heart that kills"
I use the Mak because it's ideal for self defense and same decocker safety like beretta 92fs. You can safely carry it in condition 1 and modern loadings are made for it.
Also to the Maks advantage is half the price of S&W shield or glock 26. Thanks...
My first handgun was a Baikal IJ-70 in 9x18 with an adjustable rear sight. I carry a Shield in 9x19 now, but I still have the Mak. It's no longer my first choice for a carry gun, but it surely isn't my last. It's certainly accurate and reliable enough to make me look like I know what I'm doing. It will do its bit if I do mine.
It is very accurate.
Love these guns.. Huge fan and collector of the Mak and have been carrying one for years. Deadly accurate and super dependable. They don't call it the "AK of pistols" for nothing. ;)
I'm surprised you didn't address perhaps the most important feature of these Makarovs, the hammer block mechanism! Simple and safe both for carrying and general usage.
My first carry gun was a Bulgarian Makarov. I was in college at the time with a limited budget. I went in to my LGS to buy some .22 ammo and bought it on a whim. This was about 15 years ago. I have move to more modern guns for carry but I keep the Makarov handy in the living room. I will never give it up.
Why, reliability and safety. Plus it’s very well built. Idk plastic and cheap manufacturing can go bad sometimes. But it is a gun from the Cold War era. It’s like an ak though hard to have problems with them.
I had an East German model Makarov. I carried it concealed in a Assault Systems inside the waistband clip holster with the same type of spare mag holder. T he gun was flawless with all kinds of Euro/American ammo. I chose Hornady hollow points for defensive carry. This pistol was very accurate due to the fixed barrel design. Very easy takedown for cleaning. Aesthetics were beautiful. Mine was a STASI secret police gun. It came with police black bakelite grips. I installed the red military grips. Damn fine gun.
One of my favorite surplus guns. I loved the Great Salt Lake in the background. Such a beautiful state.
I picked up a Bulgarian Makarov and installed the PM-G grips for the Mak from Fab Defense in Israel. Very cool ergonomic grips! Plus, it converts it to a thumb release on the grip that drops the mag rather than the release on the heel. Magazine changes are now twice as fast.
I carry my Mak because i needed an inexpensive firearm to carry during the warmer months in place of my Glock 19. Its a reliable weapon with great combat history which cannot be said for other weapons at its price. As long as you place your shots accurately and carry a spare magazine, its a decent carry gun.
hi, enjoyed the vid. That being said let me answer the question "Why carry the Makarov"? Four reasons: 1. cost.2. durability. 3. the weight also helps soak up recoil. 4. simplicity, you would find repair(especially in the field). oh yeah one more reason, spare parts are cheap and VERY available. consider the pistol disassembles with the cleaning rod/takedown tool! finally the Makarov pistol passed the peoples rep. of KAL drop test so we know it is very safe (tongue in cheek).
Here's a tip on getting brass for the Makarov so you can reload ammo and save a TON OF MONEY.....head out to your local range and see if they will sell you some 9mm brass, yes, I said 9mm brass, as in 9mm parabellum, the same as 9mm Lugar.
9x18 MAK brass has the same head dimensions as the 9mm, so all you have to do is trim to length, load the first loading with about 15% less powder than you normally would, and then bell the mouth of the brass for the larger .365 9x18 MAK bullets and HAVE FUN.
**[9mm bullets are .355 in diameter, whereas the Makarov bullets are LARGER AT .365, and, NEVER EVER, use 9x18 MAK bullets in gun marked 9mm, 9mm para, 9mm parabellum, or 9mm Lugar, as it could cost you your LIFE, or life long SERIOUS BODILY INJURY!!!!!!!!]
*****NOTE - you need to load the first round from the 9mm brass with 15% less powder because in essence, you are fire forming the brass to 9x18 MAK dimensions for the case walls. But once fire formed, load them as you would any other cartridge, target strength, medium or +P, just be careful and follow the load data found in the many reloading manuals in sporting goods stores, and/or gun shops for the 9x18 MAK cartridge EXCEPT FOR THAT ALL IMPORTANT FIRST ROUND ;-)
If you need more info, you can find me on facebook at "AK Bayonets" [I collect them!!!] and I'll be happy to help walk you through the process of fire forming brass, or any other questions you might have.
HAVE FUN SHOOTING YOUR MAK :-)
Is the Bulgarian Makarov legal in California ?
Excellent advice!
I've done this many times!
One of my favorite handguns, I have 2 Bulgarian Maks, one that's a little rough that I CCW sometimes, another Bulgy that's very clean, a Russian commercial Baikal in .380, but the best of my collection is an East German that is extremely clean and has no importation marks. I also have a CZ82 and a P83. Hoping to add a Chinese Mak to my collection one day as well.
I don't care what anyone says, I've shot many different platforms in many different calibers and, for me, no handgun shoots more smoothly or more accurately than a Makarov. Don't get me wrong, I like striker fired guns, I own Glocks and love the trigger consistency on the range, but if I'm going to carry with one in the chamber and possibly have the gun flagging me or anyone else, I like the extra safety of having the hammer down, safety on, and a long double-action pull to fire the round in the chamber. It's a tried and true design 67 years and counting and they are known for being damn reliable.
You forgot simplicity and reliability. Higher powered ammo such as Underwood or Buffalo Bore will launch a 95 grain projectile to about 1200 fps and if all else fails you can use the Makarov as a club. Try that with tupperware from the newer models.
Love my "Li'l Mak." Glad I bought it when they were $125.00! I could wish they'd used the Tokarev method, which allows ya to pull out all the major workings with the slide off; but it's a minor thing. Simple, and it always works. If I miss, it's my fault.
The Makarov is very accurate, reliable, and it used to be cheap (in price) I have owned two of these pistols. And I would buy another one in a heart beat. But it does have some minor problems, the screw that holds the grips on comes loose, and if you tighten the screw down too much it hits the mag, so what I did was grind the tip of the grip screw down just a bit. And do not lube the drop safety, if the drop safety gets lube on it, it will fall when fired. Small problems?, yes and the gun is well worth fixing these little problems.
Just use locktite on the grip screws.
Looking at J&G Sales again, I really should have picked up a Grand Power when they were around $330. The prices on them are absurd now, not just there either. A gun with virtually no support is costing more than a CZ75.
I got a good deal on my Stingray-C there, the only shop that had the gun in Titanium.
I keep telling myself I need to grab one of these for the Cold War collection but then I forget.
The problem with these modern striker-fired guns -- to decock the damn things, you have to remove mag, empty chamber, then pull trigger - vs. the simplicity and certainty of a decocting safety. Most of them don't have loaded chamber indicators either, so you're never sure what condition they're in. Then you've got the idiotic Glocks with no safety at all and a light trigger, hence all the cops, FBI agents, and NFL players shooting themselves or others accidentally. Would you carry around a revolver in your holster with the hammer cocked? Hell no, but it's equivalent to these striker wonders.
1987 s10 blazer and Russian Makarov works for me. Simplicity and reliability.
Had two of these. Flawless function and very accurate. The Bulgies and East German ones were the best finished. Loved the case hardened hammer and safety. Silky action. Put rubber grips on mine. Triangular free floating firing pin. A little heavy for a small pistol in this era. Underpowered round in later years especially when they invaded Afghanistan in the 80's. Most of the troops were told to save it for themselves to prevent being captured by the Taliban. In standard loading it is sort of a .380 +P. Only real down point to design was the heel magazine release but it never fails; just not made for fast reloads.
Im from Russia and what i have to say and what you cannot find in the web is reason step back from TT was "producing". After great patriotic war\WW2 USSR was experiencing problems with terchnologies, we was realy hungry, poor & ruined country and TT was too complicated pistol for learn and produce. Soviet TT may have some malfunction (caused by produsing fail) which ruin the gun in general which cost a lot af USSR nations lifes and reasoned changing guns to military and police. PM was ideal cuz simple gun easy to produce and study. Time does not standing at one place PM has barrel fixed to the frame - no acurate, fix barrel to the slide is solution which supose to be done. We had some "СТРИЖ" pistol you know it like Sryke byy Arsenal i saw your videoabout it.
Great input. Thanks!
The Soviet Military hit a home run with the design of the Makarov. I bought a Bulgarian Mak a few years back and fell in love with it, so much so that I now own 5. ( 3 Bulgarian, 1 Polish and 1 Russian) The simplistic beauty and functionality of this hand gun is what makes it so charming.
Ken Lambert hey save some for the rest of us!
First handgun I ever bought was a Makarov. It shot the .380 round and was reasonably accurate. I wouldn't mind owning another one.
Pronounced: Ma-Car-Awf
I love my Bulgy Mak! I actually picked it over a modern design based on your P83 review. I wanted simple, easy to maintain reliability, but not the butt ugly aesthetics of the Vanad.
I too installed the PM-G grip from Fab defense and I think it adds some great modern features to the Mak. My only complaint is that it doesn't come on Commie Bakelite Red color.
Check it out if you're curious!
you should check out the fab defense makarov grip it really updates the gun relocating the mag release
You know, a little more than a decade ago you could pick up a good Makarov for $150 or $200, and there weren't any reliable small guns available for less than three or four times that. At that point, they made good sense as a budget carry gun, but that just isn't the case anymore. There are a number of better options for three or four hundred. But they are still cool and great looking guns.
anyone here from bulgaria?I am
Yeap i am from Bulgaria ..! :) :)
U listen gmm....9
Yep! Born and raised in Utah but I am a Bulgarian with a makarov 😁
10:07 I like when they show off a trigger pull on Makarov. As if it was CZ Shadow2 or Tanfoglio or something...
These little guns are so accurate, they do deserve better sights! If you know a skilled gunsmith, it would be worth it for him to put some great, modern sights on one of these gems!
Practice well your grip on a MAK.
The back of the MAK slide is very sharp and will draw blood. I've seen it do that.
The sharp edges on that pistol can be softened and re-blued.
However, the thumb safety is backasswards, the main reason I don't have one...being used to the 1911 manual of arms.
I own and carry a Hungarian PA-63 in 9x18mm and I love it is small it’s lite the recoil is snappy but it’s accurate reliable and it’s something different
What's ironic was I just watched your Microtech Ultratech review since I just got my Stormtrooper. I'm carrying my Bulgarian from JG and Stormtrooper for EDC today. Great weapons!!
I've got two early import Bulgarian maks and I was able to stretch the holsters just a little bit by wrapping my pistols and a plastic baggie preferably freezer bags with cardboard on either side of the gun and a little bit of mink oil and my hot air gun I was able to warm the holster put on a little mink oil not much just enough to keep from drying it out and heated up just enough till it starts to soak in the oil leave the gun in it let it cool and then pull it out and you'll find that the next time you put your pistol and it will be nice and free and easy slide in and out but I haven't seen one as nice as the one in this video since I bought mine back in the nineties for a hundred and twenty bucks each they were the first ones to come into the u.s. for commercial sale or at least part of the first batch of macarons they came in around the same time as the earliest Russian SKS is which I also have a full length and a slightly shortened version that was Arsenal shortened by 2 inches making the barrel 16 & 1 quarter inch instead of just over 18 I also have to actual Russian March makarovs my most recent Makarov chambered pistol is my CZ 82 which is the first 9 x 18 pistol I found since the Bulgarian and Russian Makarov that I can actually honestly say I like her better but I love my bulgarians great video by the way keep putting them out I watch everyone you put out not so much tonight videos except one in the market for a knife but everyone video you have put out I've enjoyed and I do trust your opinion my next purchase will be a CZ 75 compact clone any suggestions
I've got a Polish P-64 and a CZ82 which are both makarov style pistols... I shot a friends Bulgarian makarov a few months ago and they are the best looking of the bunch... The trigger and assorted parts that are the red/brown color really sets the pistol off... The bulgarian does have the wraparound grips that the others don't... The one downside I had while shooting was the front and backstrap are both smooth which let the gun move around a bit during recoil... But a small piece of grip tape, like you use for baseball bats etc. would fix that right up...
Sweet shooting and nice little guns...
And yes the makarov round is a bit larger than the standard 9mm... I accidently loaded a couple of makarov rounds in my glock 17 mag... Wouldn't chamber and had to push it out from the muzzle end... Oops, won't ever do that again... That's what I get for loading my mags late in the evening while I was half asleep...
Why carry a Mak?
How about it being straight blowback, 27 parts and way more reliable and accurate than any of the modern guns you mentioned.
If J&G sent you that Bulgy, they also sent a couple pounds of cosmoline...the stinkers. Seriously, gotta love the folks
at J&G. They make a lot of good stuff available. And their prices are pretty reasonable.
Yeah, My Bulgy Mak came totally covered in cosmo...but it wasn't that hard to wash it off. I used some naptha...
and saved the rest of the can to fuel my Zippo lighter(8-).
Like you, I put the red star grips on mine...they just look right, ya know? The others were okay, but...
Also...mine's a little more worn. It has some "I wish it could talk" type stuff going on there.That's the kind of
wear and tear you'd want on a family hand me down gun...and why one should never refinish a "memories"
gun. Anyhow, Great video...and thanks for sharing.
Love the mountains and lake in the background. It makes me want to travel out of Flatland.
I like that split screen during the chronograph testing. I haven't seen that on other channels (though I sometimes see kind of a picture-in-picture effect). I hope you'll be doing more of that in the future. I think it'll give your reviews more of a unique look.
TT-33 was based on 7.62x25 because at that time they still needed to shot somebody even through horse (guy riding a horse from front). But during 2nd world war they realised, that it will be better to have smaller and more portable pistol, because handguns were not used as classic backup weapon for, soldiers had automatic firearms. They also found, that even 9x19 Luger easily goes through human body mostly. They also found, that many german soldiers using 9x17mm Browning short pistols were very effective. So after war they designed 9x18M round, which is designed to eliminate people up to 50 meters. And it does it effectively, because these rounds usually stay in the body and they deliver all the energy. Another advantage was softer recoil and simple construction. Simple construction with generous tollerances resulted in extremely reliable Makarov PM design. It will be hard to find another pistol, which fires even filled with sand and mud. Put that stupid Shield gun into mud, run car over it and try to shoot. Makarov will fire. Shield probably will be inoperable forever.
Considering holster, there is plastic holster which enables you to just drag the weapon throug and the holster even racks the slide. PM Makarov is nice carry gun. Especially with that round, which does not go through the target harming people behind like 9x19 rounds.
And I like my ČZ pi. vz. 82, (almost same like ČZ-83) which is also chambered in 9x18 Makarov, but is a bit more modern, has 12 rounds magazine, polygonal barrel and better magazine release.
The 9x18 Makarov is a plain and dierct robbery from the ww2 german proyect 9x18 Ultra... it will be the new standar german caliber... but they lost the war and the soviet take the idea.
I have to wonder about the 9 x 18 Mak. What niche does it fill? Less than the 9 mm Parabeleum, more than a 380 acp. It would not have been my choice as sidearm for the military or police. (Better than German and French use of the 32 acp.) I would have gone with a more potent cartridge, like a 9mm Para before I chose the caliber. I would have leaned towards taking the TT 33 and rechambering it to the 9mm Para, while looking for a design that would have given me the power and the design I would have think of as more ideal. A mid sized DA/SA 9mm with at least a 12 round magazine.
Correction! The venerable Makarov pistol has NOT been replaced with anything else, get that out of your heads, not in Russia not in Bulgaria, not today, not for foreseeable future.
يشاع في البلدان العربية ان روسيا سحبته من جيشها وشرطتها عام الف وتسع مئه وواحد وتسعين..هل صحيح ذلك
HI. Thank you very much for explaining my comments to Sual al - Mikarouf. He receives 8.5 shots as a Koman in Iraq, but he writes on the cartoon 9 and to know that the shots exist in our year of manufacture. Very old. The last one can be 1983 and most often do not break. What is the solution? The 9 to 9 is short but what we can not import the 9 short greeting
Reply
My dad had one issued back in Georgia. Still have scars on my hand from it😂 it will scrape your hand as you shoot like you were in knife fight.
I love mine!! but it's actually a Russian Baikal Makarov... (basically the civilian version with adjustable sights from what I understand)
Why would i choose Makarov over the small plastic toys u show? Same reason i would have Walter P1 over Walter P88 or P99. Its half the price and never fails.
Btw, the Mak also shoots hollow point bullets.
The "accent" colors on the safety, slide release and extracor are a byproduct of the bluing process and the metal hardening in those areas.
Looks beautiful anyways. Isint like rust or something?
Taylor Perry
Well bluing is actually a form of controlled rust, so technically yes. :) Beautiful guns that shoot great, Makarovs are awesome.
D5quared91 I gotta get one. I recently ordered a Yugo SKS from Classic Firearms. The metal is immaculate other than slight dings. The same can't be exactly said about the wood, but that's easy to fix.
Taylor Perry
Get one of the Bulgarians while they are still cheap! They are going for between $250-$300 all over and they are basically brand new Makarovs. Worth every penny and then some.
D5quared91 How common is factory 9x18 Mak? I'm only concerned about that.
I love J&G. I think they rock. I got my Krink booster and an M70ab2 from there. I am thinking by about getting a Malariv and an SKS from them
meant to add very easy after field repair.
J&G sales and shotgun news was my lifeline before smartphones!
I'm totally going to order one right now! Wait, I still live in California. I'm not buying crap.
J & G sale could you send catalog on the makarov I love these guns hard to fine in north carolina
The reason for the discoloration of the the hammer and safety lever is hardness of each. The Bulgarians weren't too good at bluing hardened metals. They built the Makarov to Soviet specs I.e., hardening of appropriate components but failed with regard to adequately bluing hardened parts. Not a big deal because such hardened components are rust resistant even un-blued thanks to their hardness. But it explains the color difference of Bulgarian Mak parts. It was certainly not meant to be a color complement to the grips.
It looks better either way. Italy did the same thing to one of their semi auto rifles. It came out a bright red but still looked beautiful. I really do not consider it a failure.
Either way I like the Case Hardened Finish on those parts. Like Old West guns. Character!
Was this filmed on the west side of Utah Lake? I think I can see my dad's house in here.
I just put a deposit down on an East German Makarov, wonderful pistol and the fit and finish on them is exceptional. I have a Beretta Nano as my carry pistol but when I am hiking and out on a trail somewhere, won't have any issues carrying the Makarov. I think it's one of those guns that would be a great cold weather carry gun under a jacket.
I carry my Polish P-64 daily. I wouldn't trade it for any modern pistol. My Bulgy Mak is bulkier and heavier. Incidentally the Bulgy Mak is about the same size and weight as a Glock 19.
That is exactly my thoughts. I have two P-64's, both in excellent condition. I put some Hungarian wooden grips on my best one. I've been debating about getting a Bulgy Mak. I've been reviewing videos and websites about the Bulgarian Makarov, but my Polish P-64's are more useful and better quality. I put 18-lb Wolff hammer springs on my P-64's and the double action trigger pull is reasonable now. The Polish P-64 is just a more concealable gun than the Makarov, and the edges, design, and finish is just superior. They both shoot the 9x18mm round. Maybe I should buy more P-64's...lol. I'm like you, I wouldn't trade my P-64 for any modern gun. My P-64 is my favorite handgun.
I seem to remember earlier everyone compared the Makarov to the Hungarian FEG as it was more refined than the Polish 9mm Makarov chambered gun.
it costs 219 on JG sales. worth it?
Toxic9813 yes
Nice vid,i have a question if anybody can help i bought a Bulgarian makarov and its stamped arsenal bulgarian makarov but it has the circle triangle marking and not the 10 marking.
I think what you MAY have is what they call a "Russian sneak" Pistol. what I have heard is that the soviets sent some Makarov pistols sometime in the past to Bulgaria for some reason. anyway supposedly some of those made it past BATF inspection and ended up in USA. I would give that some credibility in view of the fact that circle 10 in kazanlak Bulgaria was renamed OR there was another industrial concern (unlikely) named Friedrich Engels (to honor dead commie) anyway it is likely you have a Russian that sneaked through WITHOUT having to have that absurd adjustable rear site. Knda collectible!
Looks like they sent you a pristine model too,.. Id definitely buy it if I were you !! I hope I can get one before they're gone,....
I actually think the Tokarev is probably a better pistol for combat use, much better round.
awesome, love the makarov
Beautiful background while shooting!!!!!
Good video, much appreciated. The Mak is an under-utilized carry pistol, to me.
I got one just a month ago and put a few hundred rounds through it. Needed a lot of cleaning to get all the cosmoline off. Accurate, easy to carry and use.
Two things though: the screw hole in the back of the grip gave me a welt on my soft, womanly hands. And several times, it would fail to fire in single action, however a double action trigger pull afterwards fired the round 100%. Not really sure what's up with that.
do they sell makarov 12 shot pmm's in the US? ive seen one for sale on a private sales website but ive never found one past that. id love to get my hand on one of those. and not a cz82, i want a legit makarov.
Lighter and more powerful doesn't mean better
27 parts and a captive barrel assembly......simple and efficient, just as the Soviets intended.
how is the recoil on this weapon
have you had a chance to test & review the .380 Automatic Pistol, I have a .380 Automatic Pistol that is a Russian Makarov.
هل هناك فرق في الجوده بين النسخ الروسيه من مكاروف
Nice video, Thumb Up.
I like makarov pistols. I recomend you a couple of customisations.
A Zahal PMG pistol grip. And a EFA 2K holster. If you wanna try them, please make a video about it.
Fun fact the mags have to be loaded to fit in the holster
lucky you I can't get this beauty here in Canada
Damn you strict Canadian guns laws! I live in Canada too.
Why you call it Makarow if it is based on Walter?
Great Thai you. In consideration of one, Bulgaria!
Why use one for a carry gun? Because it works!
Did is the 9x18 makarov ?
Can you tell us the difference between the Bulgarian versus the Russian Makarov?
Thanks so much.
Any one knows the numbers written in this pistol
so does the walter p38
Hey Late Boy Scout, I really want one, but J&G are out of stock at the moment. Anywhere else you recommend for purchasing one?
Just bought one from Bud's if you don't already have one.
...got mine from Classic Firearms about fall of 2018...$ 279ish...at one point they had them on sale for sale $ 249...highly recommend...
Is the Bulgarian Makarov for sure legal in California ?
great video and detail
even better back drop
Hey, did you go to blade show this year?
Nope. :(
+The Late Boy Scout dang, it was my first time going I was hoping to see you. it was pretty good, but the crazy part was that I had a conversation with liong mah. I didn't really know what to say honestly
WHY? Because I can get full grip on the Mak. and only two fingers on the S&W and 1 &1/2 on the lcp. It's not made out of recycled Tupperware. Most important the Mak. goes bang when I pull the trigger and then cycles like it is supposed to ALWAYS. Not so much with the lcp. And as you said the Smith is uglier than home made sin. ;)
Screw plastic civilian guns. I love my Makarov.
Question *Why?* is answered:
Because here in Eastern Europe you can get Police surplus makarovs/baikals/IZH-70H's for 70-150 Euro's thats 2-3 times cheaper than modern handguns like Glock or Sig
I would carry it for sure.
Can this gun accidental or easily go off?
Can these handle the plus p ammunition?
That is a good looking gun! Great Review!
Nice gun. You lost me as soon as you said you were going to take sandpaper to the sharp edges. Plan on buying one from J&G Sales.
how the decocker works?
Why no Blade Show this year?
Time and money, same as always.
+The Late Boy Scout Gotcha! It's just that you did such an awesome job at Shot Show with the Spydie Godfathers!
+zero 4U I would love to travel for Blade, NRA, and other shows, but taking time away from work and family is very hard. I wish I could do more.
As to the holster. If your a Russian police officer you’ll likely have the gun in your hand already if your facing trouble
哪里能得到它
Great video, as far as carry I rock a CZ 82
you're making it hard to put this purchase on much longer
Simple the makarov is about a zillion times more durable and reliable then any of the modern equivalents you mentioned, it's cheap, durable and you're not going to be worried about scratches and everyday wear and tear.
Excellent review.
I love that pistol.
Bulgarian Makarov is a notch better quality that the other. (fit and finish) imo.
Going on 19 or so years with mine.