Comments on: Makarov Pistol Review

By: Jonathan D Crow

Jonathan D Crow — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 12:30:08 +0000

I don’t understand why more company’s Don’t make Guns in this Caliber instead of 380 it’s alot cheaper and there’s alot Available a little carbine would be neat

By: Mike B.

Mike B. — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 22:56:22 +0000

I would have to take some issues with the writer, although most of the comments correct him. The Mak does not have bad ergonomics at all, and I am left handed. You can get better grips for them if you wish. I took one of my Bulgarians and polished the sear and hammer, and thinned the mainspring down where it operates the hammer. Greatly reduced double action trigger pull, made the trigger action better, and I have never had a misfire. Also, a stronger recoil spring will substantially reduce felt recoil. Overall, one of the best shooting milspec guns ever!

By: Sam M

Sam M — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 11:47:29 +0000

In reply to Len Chenette. Hi, I can't give you a definitive quote, but you could probably get around $450 for your Makarov collection.

By: Len Chenette

Len Chenette — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 15:40:00 +0000

I have a .380 Russian Makarov “Biakal”
with a holster and spare clip I would like to trade in for a Ruger LCP. Any idea what I can get for it?

By: Keith G. Stillwagon

Keith G. Stillwagon — Tue, 19 May 2020 03:58:46 +0000

In reply to Keith G. Stillwagon. I was just looking at my first reply posted in October, 20 1919. I noticed that my recent trip down memory lane was off by about three months. Folks, the Old Grunt should fact check himself before going down memory lane. My Makarov story remains the same, but yours truly has a little trouble with the chronological details at times. In other words, my memory ain't worth a damn at times. (lots of times). Please forgive me the three month slip up, and just remember all the nice things I said about the Makarov. Every word of praise about the sweet little commie pistola makarova is true. If you ever get a chance to shoot, or better yet, buy one, by all means DO IT! Tell em' the old Infantry Grunt with diminishing memory cells told ya so. Honets!

By: Keith G. Stillwagon

Keith G. Stillwagon — Tue, 19 May 2020 03:32:32 +0000

In reply to John Morton. Ammo is very easy to get. When I first got my first Mak it was a little scarce but myself and the other cops I worked with knew where to look. That was in 1990. It became a cult secret among cops when these things first hit the U.S. We were all clamoring to our dept.'s gun boss, Captain Cool (I call him) for permission to carry them off duty or back up. This was a little before polymer and Glocks, and we fell in love with the Makarov. If we bought our own, and got qualified on the pistol range, we were good to go! A couple months ago (2020) I saw an opportunity to get my second Makarov (30 years later). Been retired a long time, and now enjoy leisurely target shooting at my neighborhood range. I now happily own a Bulgarian (1990) and a Russian Baikal (2020). So I could go on and on about how tried and true mine are, but not tonight. Just wanted to give my take on the Makarov, which I am obviously still in love with. They are really great guns! I have been carrying, shooting, and defending myself and family for three decades with them. To further qualify myself, I am a former 1stCav Infantry sergeant, U.S Army, and have ample small arms experience. Get yourself a Mak, and don't look back. Tell em' an old Grunt told ya so!

By: David

David — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 10:51:00 +0000

I would have to agree with other commenters about the accuracy. I have owned several pistols and revolvers over the years. Some old, some brand new. I pride myself in being the best marksman I can be. Therefore, I can’t stand a gun that is consistently inaccurate. The Makarov I own has always been one of the most accurate pistols I own. Everyone who shoots it agrees. It consistently performs better than many Glocks, S&W M&Ps, and Springfield XDs.

By: Keith G. Stillwagon

Keith G. Stillwagon — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 04:12:32 +0000

I regret that I only own two of them. I got my Bulgarian about twenty five years ago, when my fellow cops were snapping them up cheap and getting authorized to make them off-duty guns. My service piece was a Ruger Security Six .357 mag. But I love my Mak as much now as I did then. Somebody here said they weren’t accurate. Really? My Dept qualified twice a year with both service arm and off duty. We Mak shooters had no problem out shooting the guys who were admiring them, and looking for places to buy them. For the kind of shooting cops do, the Makarov was more than accurate enough. If I could have, I would have carried the Makarov on duty too! Twenty five years later (six months ago), I met a guy who was selling his IJ-70 Baikal. I had to have it. The price has gone way up, but life is short, and the gun looks brand new. Now I have to clean two Makarovs after having a ball at the range. In my opinion, a great gun for self defense, home defense, or target shooting. These are well made pistols, and I have never, ever, had a misfire with either gun. It bothers me that some show-offs brag about having several of them. Poor me. I might be having another Mak attack. It’s a good thing I’m not rich!

By: Frank Orbin

Frank Orbin — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 15:58:46 +0000

When the USSR broke up they flooded the market with surplus weapons. I bought several SKS’s and one Makarov 9mm. The rifles were all original (not pieces like so many were after a while) and & under $80 and the Makarov was under $90. The rifles were no disappointment for shooting sports and the Mak was surprisingly good for general purposes, I even prefer this over the Glock 42. Frank O.

By: Gregg Hodgson

Gregg Hodgson — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 05:12:40 +0000

Yeah, the Makarov IS pretty much perfect, except the steel makes it kind of heavy versus most other pocket-pistols. Another big positive that wasn’t mentioned is that it’s so easy to take down. It has just 27 parts, because many parts have been ingeniously designed to serve double purposes, And while I agree that it’s not the ideal competitive pistol,I’d argue that (A) that’s not what it was designed for, and (B) it’s pretty darn accurate nevertheless,

As Sam says, it’s amazingly difficult to make it discharge accidentally, unless there’s some pretty extreme user-stupidity. Many reviewers have subjected it to dozens of drop-testis, and I’ve never heard of a single discharge.

The ammo isn’t everywhere, but it’s pretty easy to find here in the Chicago area–although the brand-options are much wider on-line. Delivery seems pretty quick, considering that it’s a type of cargo that could go “Boom!” I just order a couple boxes at a time.

Sam doesn’t seem to think the Makarov is very attractive, but personally, I love that graceful Walther PP design. Makes it look like someone really cared about the visual impression this workhorse military side-arm would make. Why shoot a gun that looks exactly like all the others at the range? You can spot a Makarov from a block away. .

And if you do spot one,I’d suggest you consider making an offer for it.
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