Russian Makarov

I own a Russian commercial Makarov and a CZ 82 both 9mm Makarov caliber.

I stocked up on the ammo years ago when it was tough to find but cheap.

The Russian IJ 70 recoil is noticeably heavier than the CZ 82...probably because the CZ is a bit heavier weight and has wider grips
 
S-W4EVER said:
I thought the P64 was a Polish design?
Click to expand...

It is.

Mine is a1975 manufacture date.

It can be a handful, and the DA trigger is something like 37lbs (I'm not kidding, it's ridiculously heavy).

But the single action is light and I find it well made.

Its replacement, the P83, wasn't as well made, but it was somewhat easier to shoot.
 

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dr. mordo said:
I've had an IJ-70 for 25 years or so. I don't think it has ever malfunctioned, and that gun shoots like a dang laserbeam. It is far more accurate than I am.

QUOTE]

I have a Russian commercial Makarov and it shoots just like this. It always goes bang, even with hollow points. At seven yards with two hands it puts them in the 10 ring all day long.
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Earlier I posted about my Maks and how reliable they are.

The subject of the polish made P64 then came up, and I have to comment. I have a nice collection of them (when they were selling for $165.00, it would have been silly to buy just one). They are well made and ultra reliable as well. Yes, the DA trigger breaks at 26 lbs, but can corrected with Wolff springs. While I carry my S&W 640 ND and semi autos, my at work carry is my P64 in a pocket holster. It lies flat and is not noticed by anyone. When I first shot it, the kick was snappy, but now after years of range time, I no longer notice it.

The 9x18 Makarov caliber is nice to shoot, and was the last caliber I could readily buy before the current frenzy cleared the LGS shelves.
 
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Erich said:
My old Soviet:
MiltaryMak20apr70020001resized.jpg
Maknewstocks5jun70060001resized.jpg
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Is this a Russian made pistol, or is yours an East German (Ernst Thalmann) pistol? Maybe I'm wrong, but the bluing seems just a little too nice for a Russian Makarov, but very similar to the East German Makarovs I've seen. Either way, she's beautiful.

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk
 
About 10 years ago I saw an East German 9x18 in an LGS for around $160. Since I had a Glock 36 on consignment that I was paying on, I mentioned it to a dear friend (who taught me how to shoot when I was 50 yrs. old). He was an incorrigible cheapskate, so much so that his wife refused to accompany him for any major purchases. I knew about this gun and suggested that he check it out. He did, and did he usual "sell-it-to-me-for-nothing" routine. Some weeks later he was having a TV dish installed and mentioned the gun to the installer. The installer paused and asked: "A friend of yours gives you a lead on a $160 used EG Makarov and you are TALKING to ME about it?" So my friend purchased it and just loved it. When he passed away, his widow had one of his sons and a son-in-law take away the guns, while she kept a recent-manufactured S&W SS snubbie for her own protection. I think the Makarov went with them, but my dear friend had a bad habit of leaving loaded firearms all over the house. (The widow and I were the ones who found that snubbie hidden away.) I have to check with the two recipients to make sure that they have the Makarov. If not, the widow and I will continue to search. The lessons: (1) Please make a paper inventory of firearms. (2) Orally tell your spouse or a trusted relative or friend the storage locations. (3) In a paper document please list for the survivor(s) which firearms go to the survivor(s), relatives, friends, or for resale (upon good advice) in benefit of the estate. I have still to do #3.
 
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I have an East German and a Bulgarian , both shoot great . My East German wears a set of Israeli grips . I read about them on another forum . They do away with the Euro style mag release . I got these from my brother , him and a friend bought 50 of them back when they were $50 each .
 
Did somebody say "Makarovs?" I've got one of each - these are all the original military models with fixed sights, chambered for the 9mm Mak round. I have a few issue holsters as well. These were quite affordable not all that long ago, which pushed my "gotta have 'em all" button. My favorite as far as quality is concerned are the ones made in the former East Germany.

I devoted a chapter in my book 101 Classic Firearms to them - they have a very interesting history.

John

 
I own 2 of the "Commercial" Russian Makarovs. a 9x18 & .380 I have put the Israeli FAB DEFENSE GRIPS on both - they move the magazine release from the heel of the grip up to the top of the grip where your thumb can release the magazine - they also have a built in beaver tail & are ergonomically shaped to give a more positive grip + easing felt recoil.
Mine have the adjustable sights which work fine - but I am looking for some of the Military rear sight replacements some one was selling some years ago. I love & carry my Makarovs regularly.
Even MORE COMPACT is my POLISH P-64 (9x18 Makarov), It fits into a pants pocket very well. It to, is accurate & reliable. I lightened the DA trigger pull - by using a lighter hammer spring. A stiffer recoil spring does help tame its sharp recoil
My Maks are all keepers & highly recommended.
 

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Is there any truth to that old story that parts wear out prematurely on Makarovs with high round counts? Or are they as durable as other Soviet weaponry?
 
Mine are shot often. It is not an exaggeration that thousands of rounds of both .380acp and 9x18 MAK have gone down range over the past 29 years! Never had any parts fail or "wear out". I have both regular Russians, East German and the high capacity Russian Makarov. One is factory chromed and did double duty with my 640 for 12 years. I have every confidence that if needed, any of the Maks I own would be dependable when the chips are down.
 
at least 500, likely 1K or more fired in mine, still thinking of the updated safety mod and grips but fine as is.
I've made 'dum-dum' bullet hand loads by sawing an X into cast RN bullets
using a fine tooth coping saw with loaded rounds carefully held in a small table/bench vise. damage in soaked wet cardboard stacked in a box is impressive.
 
Had a Russian and a Chinese version back when they were cheap n plentiful,
Had no love for either and they got traded off.
Besides the sharp and rough metal finish inside that tended to cut my fingers I still recall how cleaning the internals after shooting would turn a white cleaning rag bright orange from all the rusting slag in the metal.

Purchased a 1971 Polish P64 pistol for $99 which has a very high fit and finish,
Imo the P64 is more like the ppk in size and quality (The Mak is much larger),
The only P64 short coming was its ridiculously heavy factory trigger spring which was easily replaced with a Wolf set solving the issue.
 
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I had great fun shooting a Bulgarian Makarov at a fancy pants shooting school i attended some years back. I remember taking the Makarov along instead of my Sig 239 because i had a large supply of 9x18mm ammo on hand, and regular 9x19mm was very difficult to find.

The Makarov aquitted itself with distinction and not only ran with the best guns on hand but beat the pants off of most of them.
 
mainegrw said:
Is this a Russian made pistol, or is yours an East German (Ernst Thalmann) pistol? Maybe I'm wrong, but the bluing seems just a little too nice for a Russian Makarov, but very similar to the East German Makarovs I've seen. Either way, she's beautiful.

Sent from my SM-N976V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Russian. I had an EG and probably shouldn't have traded it away.
Old thread on my Russian:
Pristine Soviet military Makarov | Handguns and Ammunition Forum
 
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Erich said:
Russian. I had an EG and probably shouldn't have traded it away.
Old thread on my Russian:
Pristine Soviet military Makarov | Handguns and Ammunition Forum
Click to expand...

Erich, that's a very nice Soviet Mak - better than most I've seen. I have one of each variation - all of them were military issue in their respective countries. My Soviet example came out of the Tula arsenal in Russia in 1987. The Chinese gun dates from 1991, the Bulgarian from 1995, and the German from 1962. Interestingly, the German gun originated in the E. German arms factory in Zella-Mehlis. I suspect that was the original Walther facility before and during WWII. I share your view that the East German guns were of superior quality and better finish. Here are my guns in their handy carry case.

John

 
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