I have a chance on getting a Bulgarian Makarov this week,I have seen lots of reviews,mostly good. But do any of you smithers own one. And if you do whats your take on it.

When the Mak's started hitting the market (maybe 20 yrs. ago) they were touted as the best thing since sliced bread. At that point in time 9mm Mak was represented as a pretty good defense round but in reality it is close to .380. The big deal was you could get a Mak for $125-$150 when the competition in that market like Beretta and Sig .380 were considerably more expense. I had a couple Maks myself and they are reliable, but I'm seeing asking prices of $300 for them now. For $50 more you can get a more versatile / concealable gun.
I'm sure there's some Mak guys around here that will now tell you I'm full of ....

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SOS USA

I have a Bulgarian Makarov and love it, although I've never considered
it for carrying. I use it more as a back-up house, or range gun.

Mine hasn't missed a lick yet but I can't say, as a rule, that they
are all as reliable as mine has been.

I have few guns that I'll never sell, knock on wood, and my Mak is one of them.
For some reason this surprises even me......

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Ogy

I have an old Mak that I paid $62 for many years ago. It has never failed in any way. I have carried it many times and never felt like I needed something different. I have a NIB Arsenal that is a safe queen. They are very reliable with any of the ammo offered. I carry Hornady HP in mine. Prices have went up in the past years.

Mine has never failed in 500+ rounds.

They're a little heavy, but I love mine. It has never failed to function. Recoil and noise is impressive. Ammo isn't very hard to find now. I dislike the plastic grips, but that is the only negative issue I have with it.

I have one. I have only put a couple of hundred rounds thru it. All Russian steel case ammo. It has worked fine, no malfunctions. Small fixed sights, adequate for short range, just what it was designed for. I have had it for a few years. I don't remember what I payed for it, but I am happy. I say if the price is right, buy it.

I have four of the little beasties, two Bulgarian and two EG's. They are
heavy for thier size, but very very reliable and, to my thinking, better
than a .380acp. YMMV

Chipmunk6

People I know got the Bulgarian Mak's when they were
around $100, and I got to shoot them. They feel good in the hand,
are accurate. No problems with them since; they're still
going strong after at least three years. They are said to
have better quality of workmanship than other Mak's.
I was very impressed, but that's just my opinion. TACC1

Maks, Maks . . . did I hear someone say Maks?

From left to right, top to bottom - IJ-70 18A (Russian commercial IMEZ 1994); Russian PM (Soviet military/police 1976); IJ-70 18A (Russian commercial Baikal 1994); Bulgarian PM (military/police 1981); Pistole M (East German military/police 1962)



The Bulgarian shoots well, too.



Here's a video of how some Russians handle the Makarov . . . How to dismantle Makarov pistol - YouTube (Be sure to turn on the sound, nothing like hearing Russian spoken when handling a Mak. )

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1st Signal Brigade, RVN '70

I have two of them. Both are faultlessly reliable, and the ONLY gripe I have of any kind is that the sights suck. Good sights, and these are amazing.

I have three of them and used to carry one of them. Good guns at good prices when I bought mine. I found some after market grips for one of mine and they're much nicer than the ones that come on them. I forgot who made them and looked just now but they're not marked. A search might find them.
As mentioned the sights are small. I've heard of a couple companies that will put better ones on them but rather expensive for an inexpensive gun. One that did that work was in Oxford, Michigan but again I don't recall their name.

The Pearce grips are nice. Pearce grips on my Russian commercial Mak.