Makarov Madness - Bulgarians and Germans

[Black Blade]

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/MakarovBulga.jpg

Bulgarian Makarov

I took a few Makarovs (German and Bulgarian) from my collection including three recent acquisitions to the gun club. It was a nice partly cloudy day, 65F with a moderate ~10-15 mph crosswind from the north. I had made a quick trip to the range mid-afternoon.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/GunClub5-152a.jpg

I grabbed 7 Bulgarian and 2 German makarovs. I used 95 gr. FMJ 9x18mm Brown Bear ammo.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/Makarov1a.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/Makarov4a.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/Makarov6a.jpg

I had only enough ammo on this trip to shoot one magazine from each firearm. I took a position 15 yards from the targets.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/MakarovTarget1a.jpg

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/a1c36ad81062d885c415dd7cb71ddc61361a0f78_r.jpg

At 15 yards

As usual they are quite accurate but with significant felt recoil. Even so I am comfortable shooting the Makarov. German Makarovs are more difficult to find and acquire at a great price, however with the recent importation of Bulgarian Makarovs we collectors can readily find them available in stock at many online vendors. Unfortunately the Bulgarians are not C&R eligble like the German Makarovs.

http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/a361631eaa2015399351883488420a0c663643dd.pjpg

I typically carry a German Makarov in a Wolverine ankle holster as my BUG.

Some may have seen Spike TVs "Deadliest Warrior" where Russia's Spetsnaz was compared to the US Green Berets. The Spetsnaz use the Makarov pistol as their sidearm (at least until recently).

- Black Blade

[big country]

Thanks for the report.

I've got to find me one of these somewhere!

Thanks for all the contributions to the firearms section!

[CrufflerJJ]

Maks are quite nice! I've only got a couple, but wish I'd bought a half dozen or so back when the Bulgie Maks were cheaper.

Due to the blowback action, my wife HATES the recoil of a 9x18 Mak vs a 9x19 locked breech action (Browning High Power).

I like my suppressed .380 Baikal IJ-70 Mak. Double action trigger pull isn't great, but it works.

[Black Blade]

Makarovs can be quite "snappy" with the recoil. That said,they are quite accurate and perfect for CCW purposes. The calibre is just about right for most people as well.

Heads Up - J&G Sales has the Bulgarian Makarov on sale for $230+shipping and transfer fee. That should come out to about $280 per gun.

http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/handguns/makarov/cPath/16_151?osCsid=6e0b16c4f9191275e3af2320666777d5

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/6c526c9108db4ce7d56bb5da3941b8a504ada9da_r.jpg

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/f2d3633311ccde21cb30dccdbd99db88b2c0dff5_r.jpg

The 9x18 mm ammo has always been available even when the Obamalypse occurred and ammo supplies for more popular calibres tightened up. Even now getting a 1,000 round case of either FMJ or HP ammo is about $200 and falling (Brown Bear and Silver Bear).

http://images.yuku.com/image/pjpeg/f2336e651274a8aa2970157c378e9e1e794914fa.pjpg

[Black Blade]

Can't discount the Hi-Cap 12+1 round Russian Makarovs either. I got these two consecutive numbered Russian Baikals a few years ago. The thicker grips are probably a little more ergonomic according to those who shot them.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/RussianMak1b.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/RussianMak1a.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/RussianMak1.jpg

The problem is getting extra magazines as they are extremely rare. The usual 8-round magazines will work and there was a base plate available at one time that took up the "slap" in the mag well. I was lucky enough to track down four extra KBI 10/12 round Hi-Cap magazines for about $30 each but they usually sell for at least twice that on auction sites.

[Black Blade]

A nice little pawn shop find:

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/74c16914dccdd9b8d8f2e88886f1de49aeecd5c3_r.jpg http://images.yuku.com/image/jpg/8af1631dd9c5dfb6da0c9922757d554641c95fb2_r.jpg

An East German (1962) Makarov for $300.