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About Makarov.com - References and Feedback
I'm sure we've all heard the Internet horror stories about people being ripped off, scam artists peddling their vapor-wares, and so forth. Actually, few days go by without us receiving some offers to get rich quick by just sending $5 to 5 different people.
We want to make sure that makarov.com is viewed as a fun, informative place to visit and a quality place to do business. We've taken a bit of time to put this page together to give you a feel for how makarov.com got started, what it's all about, what others have said, and a chance to view feedback references before you send a check to some faceless address or submit a credit card form over the net.
History of Makarov.com
The Fall of the Wall
In 1992, I visited a friend in Germany, and I wanted to see the newly opened East Germany and East Berlin. I became interested in East Germany and picked up a few military surplus things at the Brandenburg gate. Upon my return, I saw an ad for a local gun shop that had East German Makarovs. Since it was only $179, I bought it. I was hooked.
No Available Information
I found a drought of information on the gun, particularly reloading the then-odd 9x18 caliber, so I started experimenting. An article came out in American Rifleman (Rocky Raab), so I was off and running trimming my 9mm Parabellum brass and using my new dies from Hornady.
Soon I had collected enough information to write up a manual and with access to a scanner, I could even illustrate. When I was nearly finished, I realized that there was probably a very limited market for such an item. Also, I was doing it for fun and as a record of my own loads and experiences. Therefore, I wrote a short blurb about reloading the 9x18M on a Dillon 550 reloading press for the rec.guns FAQ. Pretty soon, I outgrew that and wanted to stop pestering Dave Putzolu to keep updating my text.
The World Wide Web
The next stop then was to add Makarov reloading information on my personal homepage. After a while I managed to get this listed with search engines and people starting asking questions not only about 9x18M reloading, but the pistols themselves. I was gobbling up all the information I could find and plastering it on my web page.
Where Do I Get... ?
The next step came after people kept asking me where to get grips, magazines, and other accessories. After a while I learned where to send people and found that there was enough interest for me to buy some items in bulk and sell them directly at good prices. Soon manufacturers and distributors started contacting me whether I would be interested in carrying their products. As this grew, I realized that my ISP would eventually catch on that I'm selling stuff and kick me off.
Also, I was beginning to outgrow my 5MB limit on homepages. With the combination of the domain name, makarov.com and the makarovpistol.com mirror site, web hosting, a toll-free voice/fax number, and addition of a shopping cart, the result has grown into what you see today.
So who are you anyway?
Karl Bloss is owner of Makarov.com, which, until 2001, was a Pennsylvania-based corporation. We have since reincorporated in West Virginia as Makarov.com, LLC. Karl has a full-time position as a chemical engineer and the occasional light-hearted reference to "Dr. Karl" stems from his Ph.D. in engineering that was completed during the first few years of running Makarov.com
Makarov.com now has a class 01 federal firearms license (FFL), a retail shop in St. Albans, WV and thus we can now sell firearms. We only legally sell to qualified individuals via BATFE form 4473 with the associated FBI background check OR to licensed FFL holders. We are NOT a class 03 FFL that deals in NFA weapons (full-auto, suppressors, short-barreled shotguns, etc.) and we will refuse to discuss manufacture of these weapons.
If you are interested in NFA weapons, we recommend D&D Guns. Please do not ask us to do anything else illegal (e.g. make a real suppressor). All of our dealings are strictly by the book.
Around the same time as our move to West Virginia, long-time customer and vendor George Fisher joined the Makarov.com team. George is the creator of the 9x18M semi-wadcutter bullet, the grip enhancers, and many other accessories. He has since been experimenting with Makarov laser pointers, scope mounts, and a number of other projects. George is now the operations manager of Makarov.com and oversees the day to day operation of the retail store as well as the on-line business.
When you call to place an order you will most likely speak with George or Clint, our other full-time employee.
makarov.com is a fun project for us and we enjoy corresponding with likeminded people. The business is self-sustaining enough to pay the bills (including salaries) and finance a few Makarov-related projects that we report about, but this isn't quite up to maintaining a full-time salary for Karl. We just try to get good deals for people and recover the shipping costs and have a few bucks left over, which we usually roll into other projects.
Security
As far as we know, nobody has ever had their credit card number stolen as a result of shopping on-line at Makarov.com. Our on-line shopping cart uses a secure credit card form that uses the latest encryption technology for secure on-line shopping. Look for the lock or key symbol on your browser.
We're privacy advocates and thus treat our customers as if they were similarly inclined. We do not sell or give away customer lists, ever! We certainly do not make our e-mail or customer lists available to spammers or telemarketers. Note that joining the Yahoo! clubs or groups may make you susceptible to advertising from Yahoo!
If your web browser has cookie warnings turned on, you'll note that we use no cookies to track your every move (or for anything else) on our main web site. While most commercial and government web sites will tell you the benevolent uses for cookies, others make no bones about collecting your every move on the web for marketing purposes and who knows what else! Just for fun, turn your web browser's cookie function to alert you every time a site tries to leave a cookie on your hard disk.
Also, if you're a Windows user, see C:\WINDOWS\Cookies and check out all the junk in there! Decide for yourself, but we don't engage in that stuff! The only exception to this is that the shopping cart system from adaptive.net and readyhosting.com, our web hosts, uses cookies to store the items you purchased on you local machine. All shopping carts do this, and we have outgrown our old order form that required you to do your own math.
All phone and fax messages sent to our toll-free number and answered by our answering system is secure. The messages are stored on a digital answering system with a security code that nobody but our order processing staff can retrieve.
If there is ever a breach of security on our server or ordering system, we want to know about it! We vigorously pursue credit card fraud attempts with our bank.
Orders
Please see our Orders page for details on how to place orders, shipping policies, package tracking, etc.
References and Feedback
Customers often write us after they've received orders. We're not mentioning names, except where approriate so as not to put these people on the spot. If you want references to e-mail, just drop by the Feedback Form and ask for them. Obviously, you can also go there to leave me feedback.
"I believe it [makarov.com] to be the most informative single source of Makarov information I've seen. I must have played with it for at least two hours." - Lane Pearce, owner of Pearce grips
"I just wanted to say you have the best service of anybody I have dealt with on the net."
"Sir, I have placed two orders from you recently. I just wanted to say that you have excellent service, great products and were very polite during my phone order. I received the items VERY FAST. Thanks for the great service."
"Great site! Lots (tons!) of information for all users, beginner and the pro. Hope to see more of this in the future. I think your name best describes this site. This IS THE makarov.com!"
"I received my order yesterday; thanks for the quick turnaround. [...] I was pleasantly surprised to find an entire site dedicated to this firearm, but I'm sure glad you're maintaining it! And you're doing a great job...I'm impressed!
"One of my favorite sites. Have it booked marked,and read the message board daily. "
"I had received my order on 1/23 and am very pleased to say the least. I must credit you with being very accurate in that it did indeed ship within 1 to 2 business days. Very well done sir!"
"Damn you're fast! I just placed that order maybe one hour ago! It has been noted on the mak.com www.board that you give good service. I disagree. I think you provide GREAT service. Of all the orders that I have placed over the net, you have provided the best service. I think it is good customer service to reply to the customer, in a timely manner, when one receives an order as you do."
"After reviewing the information on this site, I purchased my first Makarov (Bulgarian). Not only did this site help me with my decision, but after I brought my Mak home, I purchased the Falco Holster, and Pearce grips, they were here in two days. I just finished a complete trigger clean up using the technical information, instructions were complete and very easy to follow, tested with 100 rounds today, WOW what a difference. I am a web master as well, and know a good site, this is one of the best I have encountered."
"Thanks for checking my order. It doesn't surprise me, though. The first order I sent you was handled well and promptly. You seem to be establishing a standard to live up to!!"
"I got the holster and magazines. They are great."
"I have to thank you for the prompt service on my order. I was leary of ordering from a company I had only heard of only over the internet, but you proved me wrong. I enjoy my gun alot more with the improved grips."
"I was going to write you and tell you how happy I am with your service! I ordered at 10:15PM on the 4th and today, the 7th, the grips are here! EXCELLENT SERVICE!"
"Got my order yesterday, wonderfully packed! Thanks!"
"I was just looking at your Mak page and really like it. "
"A great page, as I'm sure you know. "
"Compliments on your website. Having just purchased a Makarov Izh 70-200, I was thrilled to find such a plethora of information available on this fine handgun."
"I recently got on line and found your web site! COOL!!!"
"I think your website is one of the most useful that I have come across recently."
"Again, thanks for the info and load data. I enjoyed reading it."
"Thanks for the great Mak site -- lots of useful & interesting info."
"I have just purchased my first two handguns and based, largely on your page, I made the Makarov one of those guns."
"I have been looking at your homepage and really like it."
"Have been reading your stuff.... good information!"
"Keep up the good work!"
Frequently Asked Questions List
See also the Makarov Basics page and MakarovInfo.com
Where did Makarovs come from and what types are there?
To the best of our knowledge, there are only 5 countries that ever produced the Makarov:
Russia - home of Nikolai Federovich Makarov
East Germany - The Ernst Thaelman Factory
China
Bulgaria - The Arsenal Factory and
Germany (post-unification) - The
If you think you have a Hungarian or Polish Makarov, check the
RussiaThere are several versions of the Russian Makarov. First of all there are the true surplus guns, which are recognizable by their fixed rear sight and a lack of any non-cyrillic markings including "Made in Russia." Second is the Baikal and Izhmech new production Makarov. These are recognizable by their rear adjustable target sight, "Made in Russia" and Baikal markings. Another variant of this is the 10-round double-stack Makarov, which was also made by Izhmech.
More recently, some of the Russian military Makarovs with fixed rear sights have snuck into the country with shipments of Bulgarian guns. You can usually spot these by the bifurcated triangle with circle marking.
How is Izmech different from Baikal?
IMEZ stands for Izhevskii Mechanicheskii Zavod or Izhevsk Mechanical Factory located in the city of Izhevsk near the Ural Mountains. They produce the Makarov, PSM, various shotguns, airguns, artificial pacemakers for the heart, oil drilling equipment. It is a goverment, state owned enterprise, but has the right to close its own business contracts and deals without govermental interferance.
Baikal is a foreign trade organization this is similar to North China Industries (NORINCO). This was a govermental organization that was used to market Soviet goods abroad. These days Baikal is hardly active in any trade with the US, largely because of the Bill Clinton imposed "voluntary trade restrictions." IMEZ used the grips with Baikal on it because...well, it was all they had.... Baikal also traded autos, trucks, various other consumer goods. Not only guns and ammo.
East GermanyThe Ernst Thaelman factory in Suhl, Thueringen made what are considered by some to be the finest pre-fall-of-the-Berlin Wall Makarovs. The finish is nice, the fit and machining is of quality you'd expect from a German shop, and they shoot like a dream. Almost all that came into this country had already seen service, so their quality varies by how they were treated by the person who carried them. Nonetheless, most have more holster wear than bore wear. They occasionally still pop up at dealers and at gun shows. If you can get them for a good price, these are the ones to buy.
Markings on them include a letter 'y' with a circle of dots, which some Russian folks think stands for for uchebneii or "training". This would be strange for a German pistol, but we haven't heard any other explanations.
Note that this table is not complete and there appears to be a sequential pattern, so don't panic if yours doesn't fit into the ones listed.
East German production codes
(not a complete list)
Production year
Letter Code
1958
S
1959
J, K, L, N, U
1960
B, F, G, H, M, T
1961
AP*,AR, AS, AQ, AT, AU, AV, AW, AX, AY, AZ
1962
BR, BT, BU, BV, BW, BX, BY, BZ
1963
DA, DB, DE, DF, DH, DK, DL, DP, BO, BP
1964
ES, ET, EV, EX, EZ
1965
ER, FB, FH, FF
* One person noted that his gun was marked 'AP' and '62,' so there appear to be inconsistencies.
ChinaNot terribly much is known about these, except that they were brought in as Norinco Model 59. Not many are available, so they often command a premium over other Makarovs. On the whole, the quality of these is not as good as some of the others, but there have been notable exceptions. Very rarely you may run across a Type 59 with an Arsenal mark (number) in a circle. Most common found are 56 and 66.
These were Military pistols that were remarked and packed for Commercial Export. A Chinese Makarov with "SHI" mark is of Military issue, and normally if found in the USA means it was a War Trophy "bring Back" from some conflict, and commands a Premium price. With bring back papers, these can cost as much as $2,500, without the papers, about half that. If it has the original issue holster, add another $100 or so to the price.
BulgariaThe Bulgarian Arsenal Makarovs are the only ones that are currently being imported into the country. Miltex had an exclusivity agreement with Arsenal before they decided to get out of the small arms business. Many other Bulgarian Makarovs are out on the market including some military surplus. As the Bulgarians start to switch to other guns as standard police and military issue, these should continue to pop up everywhere and can be purchased at a very good price.
Fortunately for US shooters, these are very nicely done and some interesting variants were delivered by
Miltex. Again, since Miltex is out of this business, collectors might want to consider picking up one of the Miltex "Special Edition" Makarovs still floating around on the market.In recent years, the Bulgarians have held the most market share of all the Makarovs. As such, there are variants among these, primarily in grips and markings, including police, military, commercial, and even mis-marked Russians.
Bulgarian production codes
To find the Year of Manufacture of your Bulgarian "Circle 10" Military Makarov, look at the serial number (S/N), normally found on the left side of the frame, above the grip. The first two letters are the Production series, the next two digits are the Year code, see list below. The last four digits are the unit number in that production series. Please note, the 1970 date is start of all Production at this plant using the "Circle 10" code, the Makarov was first produced under Russian supervision in 1975, and first year of Production under Bulgarian control was 1976. Some Bulgarian pistols made in 1975 will have the Russian Date format, with the full year in place of the later date codes.
Bulgarian "Circle 10" military proof mark
Year Code
1970 = 10
1971 = 11
1972 = 12
1973 = 13
1974 = 14
1975 = 15 (Begin Makarov Production under Russian Supervision)
1976 = 16 (first year Makarov Production, under Bulgarian supervision)
1977 = 17*
1978 = 18*
1979 = 19*
1980 = 20*
1981 = 21*
1982 = 22
1983 = 23
1984 = 24
1985 = 25
1986 = 26*
1987 = 27
1988 = 28
1989 = 29*
1990 = 30
1991 = 31
1992 = 32
1993 = 33
1994 = 34
1995 = 35
1996 = 36
1997 = 37
1998 = 38
1999 = 39
2000 = Date codes dropped, year of production added after S/N. Production Series dropped to one letter, S/N moved from 4 digits to 6 digits to 9 digits with leading zeros used as placeholders.
*= Limited or interrupted production years
Some Late 1999 Production models may be found with a "39" S/N code and the Year 2000 after the S/N. These are pistols that were assembled from parts and frames that were made in 1999. Some Makarov pistols made for commercial export are also stamped with year of production, or non-standard S/N series at the request of the Importer. (Example, Miltex Commercial and Special Edition series and "Arsenal Brand" export models)
Example:
Old Style numbering system AB 21 1441 = 1981 production, 1441 unit in the "AB" series
New Style numbering system A001441 2001 (full year given, no Dash used) or A001441 - 01 (last two digits of year used, dash between S/N and Year)
It is possible to have a two pistols with the same unit number but a different series number under the Old Style Numbering system.
Example:
AB 19 1441 and KO 19 1441 are two different pistols. This is what lead to the X’ing out of non-English letters in the S/N, or in some cases a new S/N being issued to a pistol for importation to the US if the modified S/N was already of file with USA BATF, or the resulting number did not conform to guidelines.
Bulgarian date code information compiled from information from Patman, ScottB, M. Madden (
Germany (post-unification)Please see the
How do I know which is which?
Most gun stores will specify. You can also go by the guidelines above. The East Germans, Chinese, and Bulgarians typically have fixed rear sights; the Russians (except for the early military version) have "target" adjustable sights. Check the
Bulgarian Makarovs are often made by Arsenal and this should be engraved on the slide and frame. East German Makarovs were made by Ernst Thaelman and some (although not all) have the Thaelman mark on the front of the grip metal. The importers made these engravings, so if yours doesn't have this, it's perfectly normal.
What markings should I look for? What do they mean?
We're still in data collection mode on this, so if you have anything to add, please stop by our
Importer marks will vary depending on which company imported it. For example B-West is the now defunct B-West importer in Arizona. C.A.I. is Century Arms, International. KBI is in Harrisburg, PA, Big Bear Arms, PW Arms, and so on.
RussiaMost of the Russian Makarovs are new production and have either Baikal or Izhmech markings, including "Made in Russia." Model numbers are typically IJ-70-18A. "18" means 9x18M caliber; "17" means 9x17 or .380ACP. "A" is the standard capacity; "H" is the high capacity (double stack magazine).
East GermanyThese are often, but not always, marked "Ernst Thaelmann," which is the factory in Suhl, German, where they were made. Note that the importer, such as Century Arms International, usually made those marks. Therefore, if your East German Makarov doesn't have those markings, it's perfectly normal. Ernst Thaelman was apparently a communist party official of some notoriety. Iaco Saca means International Arms co. Sacramento California.
Apparently they were the original importer. 9.25mm is the actual size of the caliber.
BulgariaMost are production and bear the "Arsenal" factory name. Some are police and military surplus. Also, special editions are imported by
Which Makarov is best?
While this is a somewhat subjective question, there are some guidelines. First ask yourself what you want to do with your new toy. Shoot it, right? Well, not everyone does.
If you're looking for a pure collector's piece, look for an original Soviet or Chinese Makarov. Also, consider the limited-run Simson Suhl and the discontinued Miltex.
If you want a shooter, look for a good quality East German gun. For a gun with good fit and finish right out of the factory, get a Bulgarian Arsenal Makarov. For around $150, they're quite a bargain. The triggers can be a bit gritty with the brand new guns, but they break in nicely. FFL fees may add a few more $, but for under $200, you've got an excellent shooting gun.
The Russian Makarovs are also quite competent, but they have some rough edges. These can be worked over, of course, and from a pure shooting and reliability standpoint, these are quite good as well. If you wish to use the Makarov for concealed carry, the target sights can snag on clothing, particularly if you use an inside-the-waistband holster. We offer a
As the effects of the voluntary trade restrictive agreement with Russian become apparent, the Russian Makarovs are beginning to be less ubiquitous.
While some people just can't seem to stuff enough rounds in their pistol, we do not care for the high-capacity 10/12-round double-stack Russian Makarovs. In our opinion, they were hurried onto the market and some engineering was left unfinished, particularly in the magazine.
Some people have reported problems getting the last two rounds into the magazine, leaving you with the same capacity as the standard Makarov, whose design has been proven in over 50 years of service.
Also, magazines are often difficult to find. 12-round magazines are quite rare and expensive. The 10-round magazine that probably came with your gun is often poor quality, largely because they were not original Russian. ProMag makes a replacement, but our experience (and that of our customers) suggests that they do not load or feed reliably. The original Russian 10-round magazines are much better because of their dual spring system and heavy nylon follower.
At the time of this writing, we do carry those on the
Makarov.com Makarov Shopping Cart, but the nature of availability in the surplus market is volatile.
Note that you can use a standard 8-round single-stack magazine in your high-capacity Makarov. The magazine will seat and function properly, although it's loose at the base. We carry a floorplate conversion made by MJ Facets that slips on to any 8-round Makarov magazine and allows it to seat properly in a high-capacity Makarov. It's investment cast brass with a black oxide finish, just like the other floorplates we carry from MJ Facets. See the
One thing helped us get comfortable with our 10-round test gun: the 10-round Pearce grip. The 10-round Pearce has the same outside profile as the 8-round, making the grip much more manageable compared with the huge squarish block of hard plastic the Russians chose to call a grip.
What's my Makarov worth?
Price is always difficult to nail down because ultimately it comes down to what the buyer and the seller are willing to agree upon. Having said that, here are some guidelines for the most common Makarov pistols. We assume that the pistol is in very good to excellent condition and includes at least 2 magazines. Aftermarket and original accessories are extra.
East German: $250 - $350
Bulgarian military or police: $125 - $200
Bulgarian Miltex "Special Edition": $250 - $400 depending on finish.
Norinco Type 59: $250 - $400 Note: These are becoming exceedingly uncommon and thus may fetch an even higher price
Russian Military: $250 - $400
Russian commercial (IJ-70, fixed rear sight, single stack magazine, 9x18M or .380 ACP, blued): $250 - $400
Russian commercial high capacity (IJ-70-18H or IJ-70-17H): $250 - $4000 Note: 12-round magazines add about $75 - $90 each to the value
Russian commercial, "satin" stainless steel: $300 - $400. About 15,000 were imported.
Russian commercial, nickel: $200 - $300. About 15,000 were imported. The finish on these is VERY thin.
Which Makarovs are considered Curios and Relics?
For those not familiar with the Curio and Relic FFL, visit the
While the list of C&R weapons includes both the East German and Russian Makarovs, the general concensus is that only the original Russian military Makarovs are included among the Russian guns. That is, the commercially produced Baikal IJ-70 with a rear target sight does not qualify under the spirit of the C&R law. While there are some dealers that will sell IJ-70s to C&R licensed individuals, we recommend that you do not engage in such a transaction.
The Bureau of ATF has not made a definitive written statement about the IJ-70, but in our opinion, it does not qualify under C&R. The East German guns are clearly C&R eligible.
The Bulgarian (including Miltex), Chinese, and Simson-Suhl are not considered curio & relics. Note that occasionally, dealers will have a batch of Bulgarian Makarovs with a Russian military Makarov tucked in among them. Know your markings.
Of course, convincing the dealer that it's a Russian and thus C&R may be an uphill battle.
For a complete list of C&R Firearms, check out this BATF
Will 8-round magazines fit into the high-capacity Makarov?
Yes, they will fit and function. They may be loose at the base, but our experience is that they work flawlessly. Since many 10-round magazines are bad at feeding well, we have an extended magazine floorplate (see also the
Can I change my 8-round Makarov to accept high-capacity 10- and 12-round magazines?
No. The 10- and 12-round magazines are wider and can only be accepted by the Russian commercial IJ-70-18AH and 17AH (or similar) wide-grip Makarovs. Short of altering the frame, there is no way to use these magazines in standard 8-round Makarovs.
We found a stash of the +2 magazine extenders for 8-round magazines with the folks who make the Pearce grips. We had a chance to test them, and we came up with a solution to both problems of the magazine release and the mag spring power. Click here for details
How do I pronounce "Makarov?"
I'm not really sure I have a Makarov.
What other guns like this are there?
It turns out I have a Hungarian FEG (PA-63, APK, SMC, etc.). Are these OK?
The Hungarian guns are quite nice, but they're not Makarovs, even if the dealer told you so. If it says "9mm Makarov" on the slide, this refers to the caliber, not the gun. We don't say "they're not Makarovs" to be snobby, but to make you aware that the similarity ends with the superficial external appearance. Magazines, grips, barrels, parts, etc. do not interchange with Makarov parts. We do carry parts and accessories for both at Makarov.com (see next question, below).
The FEG guns are quite nice in that they're the Walther design, are slimmer and lighter than the Makarov, have a thumb magazine release, and seem to be realiable and most of all, cheap.
Many people who buy FEG guns end up buying a Makarov as well. Each has strengths and weaknesses.
Will Makarov parts interchange with the FEG guns and were can I get accessories?
Well, that's exactly the problem...parts do not interchange. This includes magazines, replacement grips, firing pins, etc. Please save yourself and us at Makarov.com the trouble and do not order Makarov parts and accessories for your PA-63 or other FEG gun. They will not work and you'll have to end up sending them back. Exceptions are generic parts like non-custom molded holsters, cleaning kits, cleaning rods, etc.
However, we now carry parts, spring upgrade kits, replacement grip panels, and some parts for the PA-63 and FEG SMC pistols. Please check our
The PA-63 magazine will fit and function in an FEG APK and SMC (note they will stick out further in the SMC-series, but they will fit, lock into place, and function). We continually look for more parts and accessories for this pistol.
My Makarov didn't come with a manual. How do I field strip it for cleaning?
Most importers will send you a manual for free. We also have a
You might also consider getting the Ultimate Makarov Guide or the Official Makarov Manual, both of which are available from us at Makarov.com.
We typically recommend the Ultimate Makarov Guide since it has a more practical approach. For those wanting to get into more detail or just find out more, consider the American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) video on the Makarov, which we also have in stock.
I took my Makarov apart and it has no firing pin return spring. What's up?
The short answer: That's just the way it is. It's part of the design. Live with it.
In any case, keep the firing pin clean and lightly lubricated. We have firing pin channel cleaners on the Makarov shopping cart page. If this still gives you the willies, you may have to carry it with no round in the chamber. The only real safety you need is the one between your ears. Practice proper gun retention and basic safety and you shouldn't have any problems. SKS rifles are another story, although I suspect this is also largely due to, what we call in computer support, "user error."
You'll probably have to jar it pretty hard (like drop it on its muzzle from 4 feet up) to get it to go off. The state of California (despite all its faults with respect to gun laws) tested and approved the Makarov for safety including a drop test.
However, if you reload, make sure you seat primers below flush with the butt of the case.
Here are some more thoughts on the "drop worthiness" of the gun with respect to the firing pin from a reader:
I have conducted my own drop tests using my Mak 9 mm hi-cap model manufactured by Imez and imported by KBI. Although not scientifically done, I am satisfied that my firearm, at least, won't discharge by dropping.
I removed the ball from a 9mm Mak round manufactured by Cor-Bon, emptied the propellant, but retained the primer. I then cleaned the bolt repeatedly with solvent until the firing pin would move back and forth easily. A drop of oil was added and movement was again affirmed. The floor was a pine board to protect the firearm as well as the real floor, and the firearm was dropped 200 times, per the CA test. The drop height varied from table top to ten feet. The primer round was in the chamber and the safety was engaged.
Twenty-three of the drops resulted in the firearm landing slightly askew as its center of gravity made muzzle drops from more that three feet difficult. Nevertheless, of the 177 successful drops not one resulted in so much as a mark on the primer cap. This is probably due to the low velocity of the drop at such minor heights, but I suspect that the minuscule mass of the firing pin and the fact that it can only travel about three millimeters at best precludes sufficient energy transfer to impact the primer.
Anyway, I feel confident that my gun, at least, is safe for carry. I have talked to a number of Mak owners since my first email, and no one has heard of such a faulty discharge.
A.B. - Bellevue, WA
I hate these cheesy grips! Does anyone make better ones?
Yes, there are multiple types available, most of which you can buy from us See our Online Shopping cart for more information
Mine came with aftermarket grip and I'd like to get some originals
We have those too.
I like the gun, but I want to replace the sights
Common Model paint in bright colors can be used to enhance your stock Military sights, or even the newer Glow in the Dark paints can be used for a "Poor Mans Night sight", however these are prone to wear, and will fade fast.
Beyond that, you'll have to spend some money. However, the difference in sight picture can be amazing. If you have a Makarov with fixed rear sights and want something easier to spot,
Occasionally, we also have a spare slide with the sights already done for sale. However, slides are hard to find, so we don't typically have many spares. If and when these are available, they will be posted on our Closeout and Specials shopping cart page. If you don't see it there, than we are out of them at that time.
If you have the Russian Makarov with the rear target sight you cannot just buy the surplus fixed sights we offer because the Russians milled off a considerable amount of metal to accommodate those fixed rear sights. However, we offer a drop-in replacement rear sight for the Russian commercial Makarovs (see the
What caliber should I get, .380 or 9x18 Makarov?
By all means, get one in the original caliber of 9x18 Makarov, unless you are already familiar with the .380 ACP and reload for it. 9x18 Makarov ammunition availability is no longer an issue. In fact, you can often get surplus 9x18 Makarov ammo cheaper than .380 ACP! Note that you can now buy aftermarket replacement barrels in both 9x18M and .380 ACP. So if you made the unfortunate mistake of buying a .380 ACP Makarov, there's still hope for you (just kidding). Also, if you have .380 ACP ammo hanging around, feeling lonely, you can retrofit a barrel in .380 ACP and you're all set.
Changing a barrel requires some mechanical skill and we highly recommend a barrel press. See our
Can I fire .380 ACP ammo in my 9x18M Makarov?
NO NO NO NO NO !!! There are those that disagree with me including an author of an article in Handguns magazine and gun dealers who wants to sell you a Makarov. The 9x18M cartridge is not a "true" 9mm because it's really 9.2mm. Therefore the bullets are sized .364" and .365" (barrel sizes vary...slugging yours is best to find out your bore size). Yes, you can probably get away with it a few times, but accuracy will suffer, you'll get gas blow-by, your barrel will wear out faster and for what? Save a few pennies? Hardly. 9x18M ammo is usually cheaper since you can get it surplus. If you absolutely want to shoot .380 ACP ammo from your Makarov, then buy a .380 Makarov or a .380 replacement barrel.
For a car analogy, have you ever seen or owned a car that burned oil? How long did the engine last after it started blowing blue smoke? Probably not long. The reason is that the pistons and rings are now smaller than the cylinders and each explosion sends gasses by-passing the piston ("blow-by"). You're literally burning the sides of your pistons now and engine death is imminent. That's basically what you're doing by shooting undersized bullets.
I have a .380 ACP pistol and want a little more power. Can I shoot 9x18M in it?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! This is even worse than the other way around. The bullet is too big (.364") to fit into the barrel (.356"), the cartridge will probably not even chamber, and even if it does, you may blow the gun and yourself up. Really, 9x18M Makarovs are not that expensive...just get one if you want to fire 9x18M. You can also change the barrel and you gun will now fire 9x18M. And if you want more power, get a .454 Casull.
How about 9mm Parabellum? It fits in the chamber.
Holy smokes...what are you trying to do? Kill yourself?!? 9mm Parabellum is a very high pressure round intended for locked-breech pistols. Look, fire .380 ACP from a .380 ACP pistol. Fire 9x18 M from a 9x18 M pistol. Fire 9mm Parabellum from a 9mm pistol. It's that simple. If you want multi- calibers, get a .357 Magnum; then you can fire .38 Special from it.If you're really hellbent on tickling the last bit of performance out of your Makarov, see the
I see on Baikal's web page that there's a 9mm Parabellum Makarov. Are they available?
According to the director Russian Affairs at former importer B-West, they tested the 9x19 Makarov available from Baikal. The way the 9x19 Makarov works is that the chamber is scored or serrated, the brass gets blown out into those serrations thereby retarding blowback. The result is that the brass is shredded and unusable for reloading, the brass is tossed into low orbit, and the recoil of the gun is horrendous. For liability reasons, B-West refused to import these.
Similarly, reaming the chamber of a .380 ACP pistol by 2 "silly millimeters" is discouraged. Naturally, if you want to shoot only handloads and know what you're doing while working up a load, you can try this. I suggest a good life insurance policy first though.
I found a good deal on 9x18M ammo.
Can I fire it in my 9mm Parabellum?
AGAIN...NO! Like with .380 guns, 9x18M should not chamber and may rupture your barrel. Don't do it!
OK, I get the picture...what 9x18M ammo is best?
Best for what? We make (i.e. reload) the best 9x18M...for us and our Makarovs, but we don't sell it. :-) If you don't feel like reloading (can we talk you into it?), Norinco, Sellier & Bellot, B-West (now defunct), Fiocchi, and CCI Blazer (aluminum case), Tiger, RAM, Barnaul, Novosibirsk, etc. are perfectly OK for normal target shooting and "plinking."
Please see the
Some of the Russian TCW is pretty hot and we recommend changing to a 19# recoil spring. Choices for self-defense include CorBon (discontinued), Barnaul JHP, RAM, Tiger, Novosibirsk JHP, Hornady XTP, CCI-Speer Gold Dot, Fiocchi, and MagSafes. The new Silver Bear has promise, but many people report feeding problems. "Your mileage may vary." Try different loads in your gun and see how they work for you.
Again, with any of these high-performance rounds, you might want to consider a stronger 19# recoil spring (the original is 17#).
What's the best place to buy 9x18M ammunition?
We carry ammo, See the
Here's a list of mail order vendors - Additions welcome.
Of course, the best and cheapest place to get ammunition is from your own reloading press. Think about
Are 9mm Kurz (Short), 9mm Makarov, 9x18 M, 9x19, 9mm Parabellum, 9mm Long all the same?
Some are, some aren't. Here's a quick run-down of the popular 9mm cartridges:
9x17 = 9mm Kurz = 9mm Short = .380 ACP. Bullet diameter = .356"
9x18Ultra = 9mm Police. Bullet diameter = .356" (used in some Walther pistols...do not shoot this in your Makarov).
9x18M = 9mm Makarov. Bullet diameter = .364"
9x19 = 9mm = 9mm Parabellum = 9mm Luger. Bullet diameter = .356"
There are others such as 9mm Ultra, 9mm Police, 9x21, 9mm Largo, etc. Note that none of these, except those with equal signs, are the same things.
Do not exchange them for what your gun is chambered for.Also try this link from the rec.guns FAQ:
Comparison of 9mm Diameter Calibres and get this picture of various 9mm case dimensions.I bought some surplus ammo that says "corrosive".
Can I fire this and not ruin my gun?
Sure, no problem. Just make sure that you clean it properly after you come back from the range. And we mean right after you come back. Moisture in the air is drawn to the salts that are formed when firing corrosively-primed ammo and salt water + carbon steel = rust. That includes all the nooks and crannies of your gun.
We've always just cleaned our guns with boiling hot water before starting the normal powder solvent and gun oil routine. The boiling water dissolves the corrosive mercuric salts that are left in the gun after firing corrosively primed cartridges. Why boiling hot water? Better solubility and it evaporates faster when you're done. Check the gun a day later for any signs of rust and repeat for a few days...just in case.
Should I keep all the spent cases from the surplus ammo?
Surplus ammo is typically Berdan primed and often steel cased. Berdan primers use an anvil that is in the case, not the primer itself and has two flash holes inside the case. If you try to punch them out with a Boxer depriming tool you risk breaking the depriming tool and the case will be worthless when you're done. You may put a bigger hole than a Boxer primer and this is a safety hazard. There are special tools for removing Berdan primers, but the primers themselves are hard to find. Steel cased ammo will probably ruin your reloading dies. We don't recommend messing with them. Toss the Berdan and steel cases (and aluminum Blazer cases).
I am looking for a CCW Holster for my Makarov.
Do you have any suggestions?
There are a number of option for concealed carry and we carry a good assortment of them. Probably the best quality are the
There are also some lower cost options such as a nylon "pancake" belt holster, and an inside-the-waistband nylon holster. Again, we carry these and customers have found them to work well with the Makarov. See our online Shopping cart for more options.
Are there any parts that fail frequently for which I should have spares?
Not really. The Makarov is an extremely robust gun that doesn't really have a weak point like the CZ-52's brittle firing pin. Typically, we recommend "fix on failure," i.e. don't bother replacing stuff unless it breaks.
If you were to be out in the field for a while with your Makarov as your only gun, you might consider having a spare firing pin and a spare safety. The safety can lose its pressed-in detent spring and thus always be on fire. Also, it is then loose and can fall out of the gun if it rotates back far enough. If the safety falls out, the firing pin comes out very easily and can be lost.
The only other parts probably worth having as spares are the slide release (it can wear and no longer hold the slide open after the last shot) and the extractor assembly (extractor, spring, and plunger). If the extractor wears, it no longer pulls the cartridge out reliably. If you take it out (see the
We do offer an emergency parts kit on the
Will parts interchange between countries of Makarovs?
Yes, as long as they're real Makarovs and not one of the other Makarov-like pistols (FEG PA-63, etc. - see discussion above). We typically carry factory new Bulgarian spare parts that will work in Bulgarian, East German, Russian, and Chinese Makarovs.
I bought a 10-round Makarov and it doesn't seem to feed right. What can I do?
First of all, get rid of that aftermarket junk magazine and get a sturdy Russian-made 10-round or 12-round magazine, shown on our
Check the pictures on the
Also, a reader reports:"The model came with 1 mag and I purchased another. The extra [10 round magazine] I purchased would jam every time with XTP's in it. It had a web that was not filed or ground in the front of the mag where it was welded together.
The hollowpoints caught this and hung up. Hardball would feed fine. I filed it down with a 3/8 inch chainsaw file inserted through the bottom of the mag after disassembling it. I have yet to have the first jam in this mag now. I also lubed and wiped them with rem-oil(teflon) to make the bullets glide better. "
What other accessories and services are available?
Please check the Makarov Accessories and Services page for information on rubber grips, gunsmithing services, books, do-it-yourself accurizing projects, etc.
Any additions to this list are welcomed.
Collector's Corner - Types of Makarovs
by George Fisher
We often get the question from Makarov collectors what all the different types of Makarovs there are. While the simple answer is what you see on the Makarov FAQ and the Makarov Basics page, there are quite a few variations of the Makarov pistol. So as you surf you local gun shops, gun shows, pawn shops, and even on-line resources, keep your eyes peeled for these variants.
Russian
- First Model Pistolet Makarova (PM) with frame cut out at top of triggerguard- Pistolet Makarova (PM) (IZH manufactor)- Pistolet Makarova (PM) (Tula Manufactor, which I had not seen until one showed up in a previous post today)- Pistolet Makarova, Modernized (PMM, hicap frame, fluted chamber for use with High Pressure 9x18 Ammo- IJ70 (8rd Commerical Model, 9x18 with "Fake" PMM type grip, Adjustable rear sight)- IJ70-17A (.380 ACP, 8rd Commerical Model with Adjustable rear sight)- IJ70-17AS (.380 ACP, 8rd Commerical Model, Adjustable sight, Satin Chrome Finish)- IJ70-17AH (.380 ACP, HiCap Commerical Model, Adjustable Rear Sight)- IZH71-17 (.380 ACP, HiCap with fixed rear sight, none known to have been imported to USA)- IJ70-18A (9x18, 8rd Commerical Model with Adjustable rear sight)- IJ70-18AS (9x18, 8rd Commerical Model, Adjustable sight, Satin Chrome Finish)- IJ70-18AH (9x18, HiCap Commerical Model, Adjustable rear sight)- IZH71-18 (9x18, HiCap with fixed rear sight, none known to have been imported to USA)- Bakial 442 Sporting Pistol, 8rd, 10rd or 12rd versions, in 9x18, Modern version of the PMM, with squared triggerguard and push button magazine release. None Known imported to the USA- Bakial MP654K, Co2 BB version of the PMM- Bakial MP654KS, Satin Chrome version of the CO2 BB PMM- Bakial MP-471, Version of the Makarov that fires 10mm rubber bullets only, None Known imported to the USA- Bakial IZH-79-9T, Version of the Makarov that fires 9mm Gas or rubber bullets only.
None Known imported to the USAGerman
- Pistole M, 9x18 Standard Version of the PM, East German- Pistole Mk, .380 ACP Experimental version of the PM (only two known to have been made)- Simson-Suhl Makarov, Post Unification made German MakarovChinese
- Type 59, Military version of the Makarov- Norinco Sporting Pistol, Commerical Export version of the MakarovBulgarian
- "Factory 10" marked Military version Makarov, 9x18, 8rd version only- "Factory 10" Made, Military Export model, normally does not have Factory 10 mark, S/N code system does not always match normal Bulgarian Coding system. A few of these have turned up from Mid-East.- "Factory 10" with Chrome plating, believed to be for Navy (Black Sea Navy) Issue- Miltex Special Edition (SE), High Gloss Blue, 9x18- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, High Gloss Blue, 9x18, squared triggerguard- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, High Gloss Blue, .380 ACP, squared triggerguard- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, Satin Nickel, .380 ACP, squared triggerguard- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, Satin Nickel, 9x18, squared triggerguard- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, Polished Nickel, 9x18, squared triggerguard- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, Polished Nickel, .380 ACP, squared triggerguard- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, Polished Nickel Frame, Satin Nickel Slide, .380 ACP, squared triggerguard- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, Polished Nickel Frame, Satin Nickel Slide, 9x18, squared triggerguard- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, High Polish Blued Frame, Satin Nickel Slide, .380 ACP, squared triggerguard- Miltex SE Sporting Pistol, High Polish Blued Frame, Satin Nickel Slide, 9x18, squared triggerguard- Arsenal Brand Sporting Pistol, may or maynot also have Miltex logo on slide. 9x18, Blued.- Arsenal Brand Sporting Pistol, may or maynot also have Miltex logo on slide. .380 ACP, Blued.- Arsenal Brand Sporting Pistol, 9x18, Gray Parkarized Finish.- Arsenal Brand Sporting Pistol, with Large Aarsenal (with two "A"'s) Logo on Slide, 9x18 Matte Blued (Model P-M01)- Arsenal Brand Sporting Pistol, with Large Aarsenal (with two "A"'s) Logo on Slide, .380 ACP Matte Blued (Model P-M01)
I must have missed some, but that should be about 90% of them. Feel Free to add any I missed.
Note that while there are other pistols out there that fire the 9x18M cartridge, they are not necessarily Makarovs. We often get reports of Hungarian, Polish, and Czech Makarovs, but these are likely PA-63s, P-64s, Zastavas, etc. Check the Other Pistols page.
Teddy
posted by Teddy Jacobson at 4:15 PM
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