BULGY MAK!

[JayFramer]

Hello all! I know this is a traditional American revolver forum, but please bear with me!

I recently bought a Bulgarian Makarov PM pistol from J&G Sales. It came with a holster, cleaning rod, lanyard, two magazines, and a lot of grease! I have since cleaned the grease off, revealing a basically mint condition/unissued 1988 dated PM pistol:

It is an amazing gun for the very modest price I paid for it. The 9x18mm Makarov cartridge it fires is like a .380 with a little more velocity and potency behind it, and is pretty cheap to shoot. Not the most powerful round, but good enough for defense and also good enough for the entire Soviet Union from the early 1950's until today. Makarov pistols still see service in most nations that adopted them, alongside more modern guns.

These are well known to be extremely reliable. I can vouch for that. Why? Because in the past two weeks I've had the pistol, I've fired 1000 rounds through it with absolutely ZERO malfunctions of any kind. It is also very accurate with a J-frame-like double action pull, and a smooth single action pull. The fixed barrel also helps, as this is a simple blowback pistol based on the Walther PP operating system.

What a great gun... I couldn't be any more pleased with it. I understand some here are older and may not like "commie piece of junk guns" but you might rethink your feelings if you ever handle and shoot a Makarov PM.

Thanks for looking all!

 

[eb07]

How'd you figure out the date of manufacture?

 

[American1776]

Excellent choice.

I have a Russian MAK in .380. Great guns they are. Keep the recoil spring fresh (I'd change it every 1,200 round or so) so the frame doesn't get battered by the slide. Also, make sure to clean the firing pin and its channel often so that the fp doesn't stick in the 'out' position. You'll get a slam fire, and possibly a full-auto mag dump. The firing pin should 'rattle' back and forth when you shake the gun.

I find the MAK can fill the role that the J-frame fills, only with a little more ammo on tap.

 

[JayFramer]

How'd you figure out the date of manufacture?

Well from what I've read, the Bulgarians started manufacture of these in 1960. This gun has a "28" on the side, so you are supposed to add that number to 1960 so that comes out to 1988.

 

[les.b]

JayFramer:

Good choice. I've not been posting much about these lately, but I started a smalll collection of these back when they first appeared. I think the first one was a Chinese. Then a Russian, East German, and Bulgarian. I also added several Mak caliber East Block guns: the Hungarian, the Polish, and a Czech. I haven't shot any of them lately, but when I was, I was struck by the reliability of all of them. Probably the finest finished of all was the East German. But they are all really cool guns. I don't have any pics handy, but will try to take some soon and post them. I am sure that you will be happy with this fine firearm.

Best Regards, Les

 

[JayFramer]

JayFramer:

Good choice. I've not been posting much about these lately, but I started a smalll collection of these back when they first appeared. I think the first one was a Chinese. Then a Russian, East German, and Bulgarian. I also added several Mak caliber East Block guns: the Hungarian, the Polish, and a Czech. I haven't shot any of them lately, but when I was, I was struck by the reliability of all of them. Probably the finest finished of all was the East German. But they are all really cool guns. I don't have any pics handy, but will try to take some soon and post them. I am sure that you will be happy with this fine firearm.

Best Regards, Les

Thanks Les! I am very pleased.

 

[shouldazagged]

I've wanted a Makarov for years, but never got around to buying one. Nearly everyone I know, except those who sneer at any caliber not beginning with .45, has been very pleased with them.

I can't afford to buy guns anymore, but I've heard the prices on Maks are going up. True?

 

[Otreb]

I had my bulgy out a few months ago, they are very capable
This was 25yrds

 

[sheepdawg]

If you like the MAK you should try to find a CZ82, you'll love it. It's a double stack 9X18, holds 13. As accurate a pistol as you can find that sits in your hand like it was poured in it.

 

[les.b]

I think that J&G are asking about $300.00 now. When I started buying mine, they were just over a hundred. Of course, one way to look at this is that they are the same price, but that today's dollar is worth 33 cents compared to the one that we had back then.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Arik]

Had two. Overtime I sold them both. Great guns for what they are but I was standardizing my ammo and guns and these didn't fit anywhere.

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[les.b]

I agree, Sheepdawg, that is the Czech that I said that I had above. It is a classy little gun, and a little more modern than the classic Mak, with higher capacity mags. Fine gun.

Best Regards, Les

 

[JayFramer]

I like the CZ-82s a lot, what sweet guns. But I kind of lean towards the Makarov since it is slimmer down the middle. Plus, I feel as if 8+1 is enough capacity for my needs.

 

[Maddog 521]

I bought a Bulgy Mak many years ago for the paltry sum of $63. Never had a problem with it at all. I wish I'd of bought a pile of them. Great guns

 

[Rule3]

I got the CZ also mainly for the better trigger and I just love my CZ's The 9x18 ammo like Silver Bear used to be dirt cheap (well so was 22lr) It is the only gun I own that I don't reload for. Just don't shoot it enough. I also got it from JG.

[

 

[les.b]

JayFramer:

I found a picture on my laptop from quite awhile ago. Here is my Bulgarian Makarov:



While I was digging through the old photos, I found several from the time frame when I was really into the East Block stuff. I had a chance to spend a few weeks in Russia, with the Moscow police. Here I am (the guy not in uniform) I got to shoot with these guys, and spent quite a bit of time at some of the Moscow military museums examining firearms. Had a lot of fun.



Best Regards, Les

 

[loknload]

I have an East German, great handgun for the money! Bought this several years ago. Fit and finish on this is excellent, I almost didn't want to take it out to shoot. Haven't had it out for a long while but it has its special spot in the safe!

 

[Brasky]

Very nice Mak. Makes me miss my p64

 

[CBus660R]

I have a Russian Mak that I inherited, dad bought it back in '94 or so, whenever they 1st started coming in. He bought it as a souvenir of the Cold War he grew up with. We both found it to be a fun little gun to shoot and it's accuracy impressed us.

 

[American1776]

Here's my Russian MAK in 380 auto (makes ammo easier to find).

Got 4 mags and a few recoil springs. Keep her oiled and the gun will run for a long long time.

 

[Texas Star]

Do any US or other Western firms make 9X18 ammo? I don't fully trust Combloc ammo or the sources, which might be cut off by a Presidential decree.

BTW, my homepage had a feature this week about the AK manufacturer in Russia no longer being able to export here, as sales were cut off due to the Ukraine issue and the US view of that. They are changing their sales thrust to domestic sales, as some Russians can own rifles or shotguns. Almost no LEGAL handguns. Of course, the organized crime people have them, and no doubt many ordinary crooks. They will also presumably target sales elsewhere that citizens can buy firearms. Their marketing philosophy seems to be changing to be more like that in the West.

The availability of former Combloc arms, binoculars, etc. here has been interesting. I've thought that a Soviet/Russian pilot who can shoot a Mak well might not be as bad off for an effective sidearm if he has to bail out as would a US airman armed with a .38 and the weak M-41 ball round. Unfortunately, many of our pilots couldn't shoot well even with that light recoiling load. And it was also issued to our LE and security personnel. I promise you, I was glad when my unit in Denver went off base and bought some .38 Hi-Speed ammo.

Les, I noted the Krinkov that you're holding in the Moscow photo. Did you get to shoot it?

 

[RobertJ.]

I love the Mak!

This is a commercial Russian model in .380 ACP. I didn't care for the commercial grip so I swapped it for military.

This one, like the one I foolishly traded away years ago, has never malfunctioned. And if I do my part, it'll keep them all in about an inch and a half at 10 yards.

 

[OLDSTER]

Bulgarian

Well from what I've read, the Bulgarians started manufacture of these in 1960. This gun has a "28" on the side, so you are supposed to add that number to 1960 so that comes out to 1988.

Correct Enjoy that Bulgy. I own a Bulgarian and an EG and I'm on the market for a Chinese and Rusky to complete the "four" ( the four countries that have manufactured the Makarov pistol)

 

[Arik]

Do any US or other Western firms make 9X18 ammo? I don't fully trust Combloc ammo or the sources, which might be cut off by a Presidential decree.

BTW, my homepage had a feature this week about the AK manufacturer in Russia no longer being able to export here, as sales were cut off due to the Ukraine issue and the US view of that. They are changing their sales thrust to domestic sales, as some Russians can own rifles or shotguns. Almost no LEGAL handguns. Of course, the organized crime people have them, and no doubt many ordinary crooks. They will also presumably target sales elsewhere that citizens can buy firearms. Their marketing philosophy seems to be changing to be more like that in the West.

The availability of former Combloc arms, binoculars, etc. here has been interesting. I've thought that a Soviet/Russian pilot who can shoot a Mak well might not be as bad off for an effective sidearm if he has to bail out as would a US airman armed with a .38 and the weak M-41 ball round. Unfortunately, many of our pilots couldn't shoot well even with that light recoiling load. And it was also issued to our LE and security personnel. I promise you, I was glad when my unit in Denver went off base and bought some .38 Hi-Speed ammo.

Les, I noted the Krinkov that you're holding in the Moscow photo. Did you get to shoot it?

Geco and PPU make brass case but at double the price. Hornady makes self defense 9x18 ammo.

It can be cut off I suppose, that's why you buy now. But so far the only thing that has been cut off was "armor piercing" handgun ammo.

Not sure what there is to not trust. It's not rigged to explode. It's been coming in for decades and barely a peep about problems

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[Texas Star]

Geco and PPU make brass case but at double the price. Hornady makes self defense 9x18 ammo.

It can be cut off I suppose, that's why you buy now. But so far the only thing that has been cut off was "armor piercing" handgun ammo.

Not sure what there is to not trust. It's not rigged to explode. It's been coming in for decades and barely a peep about problems

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Nope: did you miss the loss of Norinco .45's and other models and AK's from China and the USSR? Done at just a Presidential order, from what I've read. Congress never even got involved. Can't say more on this board, but think ahead a little and you'll see the potential problem in having your ammo supply depend on countries generally deemed likely to have dificult relations with the USA.

 

[American1776]

The ammo issue with 9x18 is pretty much why I have the 380 auto Russian Makarov. 380 is everywhere in the US, and only getting more popular with the small pocket pistols being made by every major gun maker.

If I had a 9x18 MAK, I'd buy a 380 barrel for it, and have a gunsmith install it in the frame, and keep the 9x18 just as the 'original'

 

[Arik]

Nope: did you miss the loss of Norinco .45's and other models and AK's from China and the USSR? Done at just a Presidential order, from what I've read. Congress never even got involved. Can't say more on this board, but think ahead a little and you'll see the potential problem in having your ammo supply depend on countries generally deemed likely to have dificult relations with the USA.

We were talking about ammo but ok. The Chinese lost their import as punishment. It wasn't just China, most of Asia was cut off too. That was the last you saw of Daewoo as well. This is what happens when you import and sell clearly illegal select fire AKs, some of which are still floating around. Saw one a few years ago. And they occasionally pop up at gun shows from sellers who don't know or are not aware of what they have. The ban not only named countries but also named weapons. .....by name and function, effectively catching anyone else. In other words a short stroke gas piston Dragunov sniper rifle cannot be imported by anyone else from anywhere. Even if you change the name it still functions the same.

The current ban only names Izhmash/saiga. It doesn't name Vepr. Vepr, another Russian AK made buy Molot, the makers or Russian RPKs still imports their rifles to the US.

This have been said since 1994 and yet ammo keeps coming in. All those people who have been saying this since 1994 could have bought 10 fold already instead of waiting for the "I told you so" My advice, instead of worrying about what MAY happen, buy it now. Dispite owning 308 and 556 my main calibers are 7.62x39 and 5.45. Yes 5.45 SURPLUS got banned (commercial didn't) but surplus was $100/ 1080 rounds. And since I also buy commercial ammo I'm sitting on a lifetime supply of 5 45 surplus.

For 7.62x39 ......it's still imported and I still buy. $220 for 1000 rounds. So my point is ....we all know what coming later this year ,even if it's just temporary pre election panic. 9x18 is $190 for 1000 rounds steel case.Brass case effectively doubles the price. Buy now. If you can afford to buy two cases at a time...great!



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[serger]

I've got several Mak's. the reason i initially got my C&R license was to get an East German one. Never got one. But have Bulgarian and Russian commercial versions. I see the Chinese ones on Gun Broker but haven't gotten one of those.

Just before Makarov Dot Com went out of business I bought some springs and other stuff from them. Below is the link from their FAQ page that gives you East German and Bulgarian production date codes.(Someone is keeping it alive for now)

Makarov.com - FAQL

FWIW, at one point in time there was a Brown Bear JHP loading that was imported. It was hot and reliably expanded in water to 60 caliber and retained it's weight. The loading was just below 9mm in equivalency and slammed the slide. It was the 9X18+P for sure.

These are accurate, tough little guns. You did good.

 

[Arik]

BTW Buffalo Bore makes 9x18 as well. Forgot about them

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[josywales]

I joined the Mak party a little late. I bought a Bulgy Mak online for $235. When I went to my FFL, he had two Maks in the case, $210 each, so I bought those as well, I think for $200 each out the door. Then I went to our local gun show, where I never find anything I'm really looking for. At the second table, I meet a guy working with his friend, who is a dealer. The non-dealer guy is selling an East German Mak, with magazines, holsters, etc. $325, I grab that as well.

At least one of the Bulgy Maks was still in grease. I ended up with various cleaning rods, grips, etc. and a ton of ammo. In fact, I ordered handmade wooden grips from a guy overseas. The first were really nice, but he actually made a mistake in the design I asked for, so he shipped me another set of grip.

A while later, I decided, foolishly, to reduce my inventory. I thought, sell of the leat accurate of the guns. I know the East German models are better fit, etc., but all my Mak were in Excellent condition. So I figured let them duel it out at the range. Good luck with that. They all shot exactly the same. Didn't matter what ammo, etc., they are all accurate as can be. When that's the case, I tend to sell off the cleanest guns, simply because they will bring the most and these are tools. So I sold off two of the Bulgy Maks. Plus, I thought the East German held a different history to it and holds value, so why not keep that one.

If I had kept all of them, I'd have 4 quality pistols, holsters, spare mags, and plenty of ammo, to equip a small entourage. Oh well. Live and learn.

FYI, watch the hotter rounds in these pistol. Google the Mak forum. There's a ton of info about these on there. I almost bought the 22 rimfire conversion that was availble a while back.