I Think I Want A Mak...

[Sulaco]

What should I be looking at? I am a C&R, can I find one that is eligible? Are the Romanians C&R? I don't know much about them, or which ones are available now so one of you addicts help me out. ;)

[Bushbacker]

No Romanian Maks, you must be thinking of Bulgarians. Read up a bit about them. The FAQ addresses the C&R issue:

http://www.makarov.com/makfaq.html

http://www.makarov.com/makbasics.hth.

[Jeeps]

I had passed on buying a few when I was still back in NC...now I kick myself.

[Sulaco]

Thanks for the links. Yeah, I meant Bulgarian, I have AK's on the brain. ;g

[fowler]

You can not go wrong with a Mak,its the most bang for your buck! They shoot good and are reliable to the extreme. Our local range has them for $150 out the door with 4 clips. I have had the Mak East German for near 15 years. It is super accurate. Buy it you will like it.

[diamondmike]

I bought a Bulgarian Makarov from a place here in Hebron Ohio called Buckeye Outdoors, it had never been issued, came with perfect blue finish, extra magizine, cleaning rod, brown pair of extra grips with a star on them, a black pair of grips with a thumb rest came with the gun.

I paid $149.00 for it and I never owned a gun that shot so straight, I have just the plain factory sights on mine and using the SilverBear 115gr. Hollow point can hit the head of a railroad spike at 50 feet.

There is no way you can go wrong for the money at $149.00 but I dont think this price will last much longer!, I look for in the next 3 years the unissued Makarovs will greatly go up in value

[Guy Powell]

sulaco, man, you're losing it. Haven't you read the laws on Makarov buying? You simply can't buy just one. That MUST become two, and then three, all the way up to six. Minimum order, six of them!;Q
Seriously, of all the pistols I own, 1911's, Sigs, and a few others (EXCEPT my G19)I truly don't think any are built better than the Makarov. A real, no-holes barred battle piece.

[Bushbacker]

Exercising incredible self-restraint, I've held the line at 2 Maks. First was an East German in excellent condition. It was in such good shape and has such a great trigger that I had no choice but to get a Bulgarian for everyday use and save the EG for special occasions. If I run across a good deal on another EG though, I'll own 3.

[redwinger]

i had one of those new in the box bugies.fan fucantastic! 149 was well worth it with holster,cleaning rod,extra mag what a deaL.I made the mistake of trading her and had to replace her with a used in like new condition a 1960 EG MAK. ANOTHETR FANTASTIC GUN EVEN SMOOTHER THAN THE BULGIE WITH A BEAUTIFUL MIRROR BLUE FINISH.210 OUT THE DOOR.BOTH GUNS ARE KEEPERS.

[Fingolfin]

I was bitten by the Mak bug too a couple weeks ago and am loving it! Very impressed with the gun, you won't be sorry.

[N723RW]

I just bought my first Mak (Bulgarian) a few weeks back and all I can say is what a great pistol. Mine came with a leather holster and lanyard, 2 mags, 2 grips, and a cleaning rod all for $169. You won't be disappointed with this gun.

[Sulaco]

So what is the best place online to buy one now? I can't find them locally at all, I've looked. Also, is $150.00 about the going rate? What extras should I get for that price?

Thanks.

[N723RW]

Dans Sporting Goods (http://www.dansammo.com/firearms.asp) has them for $165, Ammoman (http://www.ammoman.com/) has them for $179 delivered, and Aim Surplus (http://www.aimsurplus.com/) has them for $149.

[guncollector]

I'm one of the luck C&R holders who picked these up a few years ago when minty East German Pistole M (Makarov variant) were on selling from C&R Dealers for $99 a pop! For East German maks!

Now, I wish I had bought 5 or more of 'em.

Great shooter, acceptable stopping power, reliable as all get out.

[Guy Powell]

Sulaco, I bought my Makarov about a month ago from Centerfire Systems. The price was $99.00, but one has to call their 800 number and speak to Tara Burton to get that price. Don't know if they've still got any left for that, but mine came in excellent condition. It only had one magazine and the typical Soviet holster, but for the pistol's condition and price, it can't be beat. Also, it was a pleasure dealing with Tara and her company.
www.centerfiresystems.com

[ccw_bearcat]

The Maks that AIM Surplus is selling come with 4 mags each, so if you want more mags that might be the easiest way to go. (I'm not sure what mags go for but I'd guess $8-$10 per mag) They are like new in box. I have one and it looks great. The nice thing for me is they are just down the road so I don't pay for shipping.

[guncollector]

Originally posted by guncollector
I'm one of the luck C&R holders who picked these up a few years ago when minty East German Pistole M (Makarov variant) were on selling from C&R Dealers for $99 a pop! For East German maks!

Now, I wish I had bought 5 or more of 'em.

Great shooter, acceptable stopping power, reliable as all get out.

Oh, BTW, they're also all Ernst Thaelman-factory Maks (considered by many to be the best of the pre-Berlin Wall falling Maks; for more info check out the Makarov.com FAQL (http://makarov.com/makfaq.html).

[KiloPhoton]

You won't regret buying a Makarov. I'm up to 12 and counting and still have another 6 or so to get before I feel the collection is complete (probably not though ;) ). Guy Powell said it earlier and I agree 100% the Makarov is the most additive pistol I've ever come across.

[Fingolfin]

Originally posted by Guy Powell
Sulaco, I bought my Makarov about a month ago from Centerfire Systems. The price was $99.00, but one has to call their 800 number and speak to Tara Burton to get that price. Don't know if they've still got any left for that, but mine came in excellent condition. It only had one magazine and the typical Soviet holster, but for the pistol's condition and price, it can't be beat. Also, it was a pleasure dealing with Tara and her company.
www.centerfiresystems.com

I feel a great disturbance in my wallet, as if $100 suddenly cried out in terror and vanished...

[RMTactical]

I love my Bulgarian Makarov. These really are awesome little guns. The price is outstanding. Can't say enough good about them.

[FATSEXY]

Do they fire 9mm Luger?

[wyoguy]

NO!

The Makarov fires 9x18. Sometimes referred to as 9mm Makarov or 9x18 Makarov.

Some Makarovs have been produced or re-barrelled for .380, however.

Again, you cannot fire 9mm Luger (9x19) in a Makarov.

Ammo is plentiful and cheap, though, in 9x18.

[cowboywannabe]

if i could only afford 1 gun, and had only $200.00, i'd take a bulgy mak for a semiauto any day!


i'd take a model 10 for a revolver......

[Fingolfin]

Originally posted by wyoguy

Ammo is plentiful and cheap, though, in 9x18.

Eh, well, your mileage may vary.

[wyoguy]

Online sources for 9x18 ammo at approx. 10 cents per round are NUMEROUS. Nobodies mileage varies on this one - everyone can enjoy shooting a Makarov for cheap!

[Fingolfin]

Some of us prefer not to have to order ammo through Al Gore's intraweb. No doubt it's cheap at places, but you can't run down to Wal-Mart to get it in a pinch. My only local source is $17/box of 50. ;P

[RMTactical]

$6-7 a box at places I have seen. Online is even cheaper... Why boycott the web to spite Gore? Just buy things on the web that would piss him off... Not like you're not using it to talk on a gun forum or something...

[Fingolfin]

Heh I don't boycott the web, as I said your mileage may vary on ammo availability and price.

Waiting on www.dansammo.com to get more FMJ in, free shipping east of the Mississippi River!

[Moprine]

Makarov pistols are without any doubt imo the most reliable pistol you can own for under 200$ The first handgun i ever owned was a mak.I've owned 5 over the years and can't say a bad thing about any of them.I pay 6-8$/50 rounds of ammo..Easy ammo to find my area.
Last one i bought i payed 140$+tax.{bulgarian}

[Sulaco]

Well, I found one locally. It's a military Bulgarian with two mags, two grips, holster and cleaning rod. The guy wants $175.00 for it. I thought that was a little high and I wasn't so impressed with the gun (sights) that I would pay that. Compared to my .380 Bersa, I can't really justify it. Thanks for the info, though.

[M2 Carbine]

I started buying Maks when the East German ones were first imported.

I've got 11 now and looking for the 12th or maybe 13th. :cool:


When I was fixing to buy my last Kimber, a friend said, you know for the same money you could get 5 or 6 Makarovs.

I did think about it for a while.;f

[KiloPhoton]

Originally posted by M2 Carbine
I started buying Maks when the East German ones were first imported.

I've got 11 now and looking for the 12th or maybe 13th. :cool:


When I was fixing to buy my last Kimber, a friend said, you know for the same money you could get 5 or 6 Makarovs.

I did think about it for a while.;f

I agree with you M2 Carbine. I bought a two tone Sig P220 and couldn't help but think in terms of the Makarovs I could have bought.

[KiloPhoton]

Originally posted by Sulaco
Well, I found one locally. It's a military Bulgarian with two mags, two grips, holster and cleaning rod. The guy wants $175.00 for it. I thought that was a little high and I wasn't so impressed with the gun (sights) that I would pay that. Compared to my .380 Bersa, I can't really justify it. Thanks for the info, though.

Sulaco,

I don't own a .380 Bersa but do plan on getting one someday, maybe after I get a CZ 75 and CZ 83 first. Stephen Camp wrote a really good article comparing the two (Makarov and .380 Bersa) which is worth reading.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/MakarovBersa.htm

[RAH]

If you don't want to use the web call the vendor. If you don't want to call send them a money order. In less than a week a brown truck will drop off your order without having to hassle with lines at Wally World.