Got my new Mak

Zundfolge · January 18, 2002, 10:20 PM

Picked up my new Makarov yesterday and was extremely pleased by the condition it was in.

Here's a pic of it ...

I found it on Gunbroker and paid $149 for it (before shipping and transfer fee). The guy who was selling it had several up on gunbroker and also had them on his website ( http://www.thewarbirds.com )

After carrying the Mak all day today I've decided that even though my Steyr is larger and heavier it's much more comfortable to wear IWB.

The safety, sights, lanyard hoop, back corner of the slide, back corner of the grup and the hammer on the Mak all tend to poke me in the back (especialy when driving) whereas the Steyr is smooth with no sharp corners.

So I think I'll stick with the Steyr for self defense (also having 11 .40S&W 165gr Gold Dots instead of 9 9x18mm 95gr Hornady JHPs is a bit more reassuring).

But the Mak should be a fun plinking gun

The Plainsman · January 18, 2002, 11:06 PM

Me too. I'm still waiting for mine to arrive, but it's on the way. Have you fired it yet? If so, what's the verdict?

straightShot · January 18, 2002, 11:31 PM

Too bad the Bulgarian Maks aren't C&R eligible...

Zundfolge · January 18, 2002, 11:55 PM

I haven't fired it yet but I picked up a couple of boxes of ammo and hope to get away to the range this weekend

you guys can expect a range report after my first trip.

joebogey · January 19, 2002, 09:59 AM

You might try a pair of the walnut grips to get rid of the lanyard. Also some people have removed the lanyard from the original grips. Check out www.makarov.com for specifics. If you plan to shoot it very much, I would reccomend the Pearce Grips although I can't reccomend them for ccw as they tend to stick to clothing.
I don't think you'll be in the least bit disappointed in the Mak. A great little gun that you can count on 100% of the time. I carry mine in a Versa Max II. Even had it nickled plated to help in corrosion resistance. How's that for a first class pimp gun?

Mike H · January 19, 2002, 09:00 PM

Scrub out those serial nos. bud, never know who could be looking in.

Also - see those tiny markings right at the rear of the frame just under the slide, I still don't know what they are.

Great gun, now you can take the ammunition tour that all Makarovniks must travel.

Mike H

Zundfolge · January 19, 2002, 10:16 PM

oops ... doubleposted

Zundfolge · January 19, 2002, 10:16 PM

Look again ... serial numbers on Bulgarian Makarovs are 6 digits not 4

And you're right about those markings on the right ... I can't make them out either.

I've made 2 stops on the ammunition tour (hopefuly I'll get to the range tomorrow and see how well they work) I got a couple of boxes of Wolf 109gr FMJs and a box of Hornady 95gr JHPs .

While I really like the look of the stock grips, I think I'm going to replace them with the Makawrap grips http://www.makarov.com/makawrap/index.html (I don't care for the Pierce ... too bulky)

joebogey · January 19, 2002, 10:22 PM

Zunfolge,
I tried the Makawrap and wasn't at all impressed. You may love them, but to me they just don't have a good feel to them and mine didn't fit all that well. Not to mention I hated the way they looked on the gun.

Redlg155 · January 19, 2002, 10:44 PM

I just use the grips that came with my Bulgie Mak. They are pretty comfortable and much better than the lanyard type.

As for ammo check into some of that Barnaul 9x18 JHP. $65.00 for 500 is a pretty good deal. Good for defense and cheap enough for practice. http://ammoman.com/

The Hornady XTP's are nice, but they seem rather anemic compared to the Barnaul ammo. I keep them loaded in a mag for the wife when she wants the Mak, otherwise I keep Barnaul in it.

Good Shooting
RED

joebogey · January 19, 2002, 10:51 PM

Might also want to check out www.dansammo.com for the barnaul and he has free shipping east of the Mississippi.

Zundfolge · January 20, 2002, 12:54 AM

What I would love to get my hands on is the grips off of a brand new Baikail 442

http://baikalinc.ru/eng/prod/hguns/baikal442/

January 18, 2002, 10:20 PM	#1
Zundfolge Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2001 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,751	Got my new Mak Picked up my new Makarov yesterday and was extremely pleased by the condition it was in. Here's a pic of it ... I found it on Gunbroker and paid $149 for it (before shipping and transfer fee). The guy who was selling it had several up on gunbroker and also had them on his website ( http://www.thewarbirds.com ) After carrying the Mak all day today I've decided that even though my Steyr is larger and heavier it's much more comfortable to wear IWB. The safety, sights, lanyard hoop, back corner of the slide, back corner of the grup and the hammer on the Mak all tend to poke me in the back (especialy when driving) whereas the Steyr is smooth with no sharp corners. So I think I'll stick with the Steyr for self defense (also having 11 .40S&W 165gr Gold Dots instead of 9 9x18mm 95gr Hornady JHPs is a bit more reassuring). But the Mak should be a fun plinking gun __________________ "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws...you create a nation of law-breakers â€“ and then you cash in on guilt." Ayn Rand

January 18, 2002, 11:31 PM	#3
straightShot Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: MI, USA Posts: 616	Too bad the Bulgarian Maks aren't C&R eligible... __________________ Take a kid shooting. www.straightShotShooting.com

January 18, 2002, 11:55 PM	#4
Zundfolge Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2001 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,751	I haven't fired it yet but I picked up a couple of boxes of ammo and hope to get away to the range this weekend you guys can expect a range report after my first trip. __________________ "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws...you create a nation of law-breakers â€“ and then you cash in on guilt." Ayn Rand

January 19, 2002, 10:16 PM	#7
Zundfolge Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2001 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,751	oops ... doubleposted __________________ "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws...you create a nation of law-breakers â€“ and then you cash in on guilt." Ayn Rand

January 19, 2002, 10:16 PM	#8
Zundfolge Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2001 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,751	Look again ... serial numbers on Bulgarian Makarovs are 6 digits not 4 And you're right about those markings on the right ... I can't make them out either. I've made 2 stops on the ammunition tour (hopefuly I'll get to the range tomorrow and see how well they work) I got a couple of boxes of Wolf 109gr FMJs and a box of Hornady 95gr JHPs . While I really like the look of the stock grips, I think I'm going to replace them with the Makawrap grips http://www.makarov.com/makawrap/index.html (I don't care for the Pierce ... too bulky) __________________ "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws...you create a nation of law-breakers â€“ and then you cash in on guilt." Ayn Rand

January 18, 2002, 11:06 PM	#2
The Plainsman Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2000 Location: Kansas Hill Country Posts: 446	Me too. I'm still waiting for mine to arrive, but it's on the way. Have you fired it yet? If so, what's the verdict?

January 19, 2002, 09:59 AM	#5
joebogey Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2000 Posts: 211	You might try a pair of the walnut grips to get rid of the lanyard. Also some people have removed the lanyard from the original grips. Check out www.makarov.com for specifics. If you plan to shoot it very much, I would reccomend the Pearce Grips although I can't reccomend them for ccw as they tend to stick to clothing. I don't think you'll be in the least bit disappointed in the Mak. A great little gun that you can count on 100% of the time. I carry mine in a Versa Max II. Even had it nickled plated to help in corrosion resistance. How's that for a first class pimp gun?

January 19, 2002, 09:00 PM	#6
Mike H Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 1999 Posts: 1,160	Scrub out those serial nos. bud, never know who could be looking in. Also - see those tiny markings right at the rear of the frame just under the slide, I still don't know what they are. Great gun, now you can take the ammunition tour that all Makarovniks must travel. Mike H

January 19, 2002, 10:22 PM	#9
joebogey Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2000 Posts: 211	Zunfolge, I tried the Makawrap and wasn't at all impressed. You may love them, but to me they just don't have a good feel to them and mine didn't fit all that well. Not to mention I hated the way they looked on the gun.

January 19, 2002, 10:44 PM	#10
Redlg155 Senior Member Join Date: March 13, 2001 Location: NW Florida Posts: 2,315	I just use the grips that came with my Bulgie Mak. They are pretty comfortable and much better than the lanyard type. As for ammo check into some of that Barnaul 9x18 JHP. $65.00 for 500 is a pretty good deal. Good for defense and cheap enough for practice. http://ammoman.com/ The Hornady XTP's are nice, but they seem rather anemic compared to the Barnaul ammo. I keep them loaded in a mag for the wife when she wants the Mak, otherwise I keep Barnaul in it. Good Shooting RED

January 19, 2002, 10:51 PM	#11
joebogey Senior Member Join Date: October 27, 2000 Posts: 211	Might also want to check out www.dansammo.com for the barnaul and he has free shipping east of the Mississippi.

January 20, 2002, 12:54 AM	#12
Zundfolge Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2001 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 1,751	What I would love to get my hands on is the grips off of a brand new Baikail 442 http://baikalinc.ru/eng/prod/hguns/baikal442/ __________________ "There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws...you create a nation of law-breakers â€“ and then you cash in on guilt." Ayn Rand