Any own a Makarov?

[GasX]

I am considering buying a handgun and a milsurp Makarov might be just the ticket. A powerful enough round to be effective, small form factor in case I want to CCW (easier than getting a driver's license here in FL), easy enough for the wife to fire, cheap ammo.

Anyone have one they care to share their experience with?

oh and TTIWWP

 

[Bulk Beef]

I have a Bulgarian. Works fine, goes bang every time. Won't win any matches with it, but who cares? Everything you want it for is valid.

 

[K1052]

I have a Bulgarian.

They're pretty heavy for their size (being an older military pistol) and still have a fairly sharp recoil but are very reliable. The military sights leave a lot to be desired and I'd recommend replacing them if you're going to use this for a primary carry piece.

 

[KB]

I shot a friends and found it to be a typical 9mm pistol. Similar in feel to a Beretta 92, but heavier/bulkier feeling.

You sound like you don't currently have a handgun. Are you trying to decide between any other guns like 9mm Luger?

The price of ammo is similar to 9mm Luger, but makarov is harder to find. The knockdown power of luger and makarov is similar as the ft/lbs are very similar, thus recoil may be similar depending on the weight of the gun. 9mm luger however has more ammo configurations like +P, subsonic etc. Lastly there are more guns in 9mm luger, including some small form factor ones like the glock 26. Every advantage goes to the 9mm luger in a comparison. So why is the makarov "the ticket"? Is it just because you found a low price for it? (good enough reson for me, but I say get both)

 

[QuantumPion]

I used to have a Mak. It was pretty accurate but heavy as a brick and the straight blowback action on a 9mm gives extremely harsh recoil, especially with a non-ergonomically designed frame. I would definitely not recommend it for a beginner or a wife-gun. I bet your wife wouldn't even be able to rack the slide on a Mak. There are far better options available for CCW, e.g. Ruger LCP.

 

[NEWKILLA]

i have a stainless FEG it goes bang like stated above
they are really cheap now

 

[olds]

Isn't the Mak a 380?

 

[Farang]

Giving your wife a pistol is not the best of choices.

 

[Colt45]

Isn't the Mak a 380?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9x18mm_Makarov

similar to parabellum, but not.

 

[Zargon]

just get a glock 19

I like the marakov's, but they make everything more difficult. if you are going to own ONE handgun, get a regular 9mm luger like a glock or beretta which have tons of available parts and easy to find ammo

Taurus makes a slew of reliable accurate 9mm's like the Mil Pro and the 24/7's as well, and they are dirt cheap

 

[edro]

just get a glock 19

I like the marakov's, but they make everything more difficult. if you are going to own ONE handgun, get a regular 9mm luger like a glock or beretta which have tons of available parts and easy to find ammo

Taurus makes a slew of reliable accurate 9mm's like the Mil Pro and the 24/7's as well, and they are dirt cheap

I agree. I would just get a used Taurus for $200 if money was a concern.

 

[sourceninja]

You can get a Kal-Tec 9mm for under 300 bucks brand new. They are ugly, but small, decently accurate, and reliable.

Ammo is hard enough to find right now, I'd go with the good old standards.

 

[nutxo]

You can get these chambered in .380. I used to have one. Neat little guns.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I considered purchasing one, but after my last firearm purchase that involved rare (in the US) Soviet ammunition, I decided not to go with the 9x18mm. Soviet ammo (aside from the abundant 7.26x39mm) is hard to find at my local gun shows.

 

[Raduque]

I personally don't like the way the Makarov looks. I want a Tokarev, though.