Makarov PM

[JayFramer]

Hey friends!

In addition to my Browning Mk III Hi-Power, I have collected a Bulgarian Arsenal ((10)) military Makarov PM 9x18mm pistol with holster, lanyard, cleaning rod, spare magazine, ammunition, belt, and ushanka (ear flap) winter Soviet cap!

What a great pistol this is! I am glad to have the authentic Soviet era belt and holster, plus warm and cozy winter cap to go with it! A great gun to be sure, has been 100% reliable throughout 3000 rounds of ammo with 0 failures of any kind. This is my primary winter CCW and nightstand gun. Guys, my friends, if you don't own a Makarov PM, you really should!!

Take care,

Jayframer

 

[rickflst]

It looks great. Really in great shape.

 

[JayFramer]

It looks great. Really in great shape.

Thanks!

 

[Maddog 521]

You have the whole set up there and it looks good.
I've bought and sold a few but I still have a circle 10 Bulgy and an a Arsenal. They are great guns.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Nice! The Mak's, you get more than you pay for.

 

[RobertJ.]

Very nice!

The Mak is one of the most under-rated pistols out there!

 

[Inusuit]

Carrying my Russian IJ-70 Makarov as I type. My Bulgarian and German are in the safe at the moment. Great pistols!

 

[cstep]

Here's my Bulgarian mak. Great reliable gun, don't really carry it that often though. When I go to carry something in that size range my Kahr K9 usually gets the nod (better sights, same capacity and roughly same size but chambering a more potent round). All the holsters I have for the K9 also fit the mak.

 

[dusty3030]

You hath not a hair on your derrière unless you post a pic of you wearing the hat.

 

[les.b]

Wonderful guns. Here is my Russian version:



I also still have an East German, Bulgarian, and Chinese version. I was once into the East Block stuff, and have just hung onto it over the years. Also have a couple of other guns that fire the same cartridge.

Robust, and very reliable with just about any ammunition you can feed them.

You have a great historic set up there, JayFramer!! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Best Regards, Les

 

[SquarePizza]

I've always had a soft spot for makarovs, I honestly don't know why I never bought one.

This is my favorite video, showing MAC torture testing a makarov, and spoiler alert... it out preforms most modern pistols he tests.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAEbbhRJNYw[/ame]

 

[les.b]

Thanks for the video, SquarePizza!!! That is pretty good evidence of the reliability of these cool little marvels. I know that the design copied a lot from the Walther PP, but in typical Russian fashion, beefed the original up, over engineered it, and made it very rugged for the caliber. I haven't been to Russia for a few years, but they were still in general use throughout the country my both police and military when I was there.

I don't think I'll be getting rid of any of mine anytime soon, although I could make a nice profit on any of them. Sitting in the safe, or riding in the Jeep, they are like money in the bank.

Best Regards, Les

 

[JayFramer]

Thanks for the video, SquarePizza!!! That is pretty good evidence of the reliability of these cool little marvels. I know that the design copied a lot from the Walther PP, but in typical Russian fashion, beefed the original up, over engineered it, and made it very rugged for the caliber. I haven't been to Russia for a few years, but they were still in general use throughout the country my both police and military when I was there.

I don't think I'll be getting rid of any of mine anytime soon, although I could make a nice profit on any of them. Sitting in the safe, or riding in the Jeep, they are like money in the bank.

Best Regards, Les

Apparently they are still widely used. The newer generations of pistol, some 9x19mm, have not been bought in large enough quantities to totally replace the Makarov in Russian military and police circles.

Also the internal design is quite different from a Walther PP. The Makarov has much fewer parts, simplified, with many of them made to do more than one thing. Also all parts interchange between others Makarovs no matter the country of origin and no hand fitting is needed. Love them!

 

[Old TexMex]

Wonderful guns. Here is my Russian version:



I also still have an East German, Bulgarian, and Chinese version. I was once into the East Block stuff, and have just hung onto it over the years. Also have a couple of other guns that fire the same cartridge.

Robust, and very reliable with just about any ammunition you can feed them.

You have a great historic set up there, JayFramer!! Thanks for sharing it with us.

Best Regards, Les

I recognize that KGB badge
Tell me you kyped it from Vlad after a few too many vodkas.

 

[Rock185]

I've never owned a Makarov, and used to think they were just some kind of Communist junk. My opinion changed several years ago when I got the opportunity to shoot a friend's, Chinese, Russian and E. German versions. We shot ball and Corbon JHP ammo. Not a single malfunction of any kind with any of the 3. I was surprised and impressed that 3 guns, from 3 different countries, and designed to function with military ball ammo, functioned 100% with JHP ammo.

 

[JayFramer]

I've never owned a Makarov, and used to think they were just some kind of Communist junk. My opinion changed several years ago when I got the opportunity to shoot a friend's, Chinese, Russian and E. German versions. We shot ball and Corbon JHP ammo. Not a single malfunction of any kind with any of the 3. I was surprised and impressed that 3 guns, from 3 different countries, and designed to function with military ball ammo, functioned 100% with JHP ammo.

I have fired 3000 rounds of steel cased ball ammo through mine with no failures. Very reliable. Many people think these guns are total junk, but I think that's more anti-communist prejudice and misinformation more than anything. The vast majority of people who have actually shot or owned them seem to almost universally like them.

 

[pmosley]

Recently decided to get into the Makarov's and others chambered in the 9mm Mak round.

Here are a 1962 EG and 1994 commercial Russian in .380 - have since picked up a very nice Bulgarian and an equally nice P64.

Really enjoying these low cost, high quality pistols.

 

[JayFramer]

Recently decided to get into the Makarov's and others chambered in the 9mm Mak round.

Here are a 1962 EG and 1994 commercial Russian in .380 - have since picked up a very nice Bulgarian and an equally nice P64.

Really enjoying these low cost, high quality pistols.

VERY cool! BEAUTS!! I still have my Makarovs and love to shoot them. They are great guns!

 

[JohnRippert]

Great guns, and I would carry one if you could easily get good night sights installed.

 

[dr. mordo]

I really should pick up a P64 while they are so cheap.

I have an IJ-70 that I've owned since the 90s. I haven't fired a huge amount of rounds thru it, maybe 1500, but I can't remember a single malfunction. For some reason, I shoot this gun as well, if not better, than any other auto I've ever owned.

I have a FEG PA-63 that was perfect as well until it started firing when I decocked it. Thank god, the first time it happened I was at the range and the gun was pointed down-range. I took it completely apart and cleaned it well and I'm pretty sure it's working again, but obviously I won't be trusting it again.

That said, both guns are pretty hard on my hand to shoot. I need to shoot them again since I've been shooting magnums more lately. As I recall, the Mak isn't quite as bad, but like the PPK I used to have, blowback guns beat my hand up pretty bad.