22 conversion

[dino1]

Anyone have one? Do you like it?

[uhlawpup]

I've got one on the way. I'll let you know as soon as I can range test it...

[M2 Carbine]

Who makes it?

[uhlawpup]

The Bulgarians, I think. It's supposed to be one from Makarov.com

[M2 Carbine]

Originally posted by uhlawpup
The Bulgarians, I think. It's supposed to be one from Makarov.com

Thanks, I hadn't been to makarov.com in a while and didn't know they were importing the 22 conversions.
I should receive it in about 3 days.:)

[uhlawpup]

Mine came yesterday. It looks like the Bulgarians made it for the East Germans, because the box is bilingual and the instructions are in German.

I think I've figured it out, though. If I don't get to the range today or tomorrow, I should make it by Monday and post any results.

I guess it's only fitting that I'll be testing it on Natasha, my carry EG.

[uhlawpup]

OK... Got to the range this afternoon. It was a little disappointing.

Putting it all on wasn't so bad, once I figured out which way was up. The tolerances on the EG Makarov were a little tight, but I got it all on.

At first, the recoil spring provided would return the slide to battery, but the bullets I used seemed to catch on the top of the chamber and stop. I tried some different ammo, but it worked about the same. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to polish the chamber just a little.

It went bang every time I pulled the trigger. (Well? It IS a Makarov, isn't it?) But the bullet in the chamber problem would not let it go into battery. A tap from the heel of my hand on the back of the slide would seat the bullet, and it would go bang again. It extracted and ejected every time.

So. I'm going to polish the chamber just a tad. I'm also going to polish the slide surfaces that come into contact with the frame, as, after shooting it a bit, there seemed to be a little resistance, and the recoil spring is a bit weak, being for zwei und zwanzig cal.

This may take me awhile, as it will be some time before I can get back to the range.

Bottom line is, this is NOT a plug and play device. If you get one, you're probably going to have to work with it a bit.

It's fun, though. I'll get mine working eventually.

[M2 Carbine]

To add to uhlawpup's report.

It took me 3 Bulgarian Maks to find one that worked with the conversion.
The first pistol's action was screwed up by the conversion. The double action wouldn't work and the single action was being interfered with.

The 22's magazines would not fit in the second Mak. The 22 mags are a tight fit in every gun I tried.
The magazines are surprisingly crudely made with metal that looks almost like it had been badly rust pitted, but they work.

The third gun was the charm.
Overall the conversion works OK and is surprisingly accurate. I can plink at a 5 inch steel plate at 25 yards and rarely miss. At 10-15 yards it will shoot nice groups rapid fire.
I've run 200+ rounds through it so far and plan on shooting several hundred more this week.
The gun feeds RN bullets good and is fun with Aguila "CB Caps" with the slide manually operated.


BUT I'm having a random problem of light primer strikes.
This usually happens when the thumb safety spring is weak and allows the thumb safety to move halfway ON blocking the hammer between shots.
This isn't the case with the conversion as far as I can tell.

The thumb safety seems to be the exact same safety as used in the 9x18. But in the 22 the safety does not hold the firing pin in the slide. The 22 firing pin is kept in the slide with a roll pin.
So the safety can be completely removed and the gun still works normally.

The last shooting I did was with the safety installed and removed but I haven't shot enough to prove the safety is somehow the cause of the light primer strikes.

As uhlawpup said this conversion may give you trouble.

Considering I've already shot what would be over $25 worth of Makarov ammo the conversion will pay for itself pretty quick.:)

The gun gives a fairly realistic 9x18 feel with the 22 conversion. It has some of the 9x18 kick, not at all like a 1911 22 conversion.

And uhlawpup is right, it's fun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/Mak22conversion.jpg

[Catbird]

On average, taking one's time, how long does it take to properly install the .22 conversion unit?

How does it perform with some of the hyper-velocity ammo, i.e., Stingers, Spitfires, etc.?

I presume that the magazine holds 10 rounds... is that correct?

From your experience(s), does it shoot to POA @ 10 yds. or so?

[M2 Carbine]

Originally posted by Catbird
On average, taking one's time, how long does it take to properly install the .22 conversion unit?

How does it perform with some of the hyper-velocity ammo, i.e., Stingers, Spitfires, etc.?

I presume that the magazine holds 10 rounds... is that correct?

From your experience(s), does it shoot to POA @ 10 yds. or so?

It just takes a minute or two to install once you learn the short cuts.
It's a tight fit and as the conversion is slid forward into the barrel the gun's ejector, built on the slide stop, tries to interfear.
Something like a plastic tooth brush handle can be used to hold the ejector back (to the left) and the conversion will slide easily forward.

I found it's best to install the lock washer and thumb nut last, after the recoil spring and slide are installed. Because the spring and slide don't want to install over the nut and washer.

Mine shoots slightly left by maybe 2 inches and maybe 2 inches low
at 25 yards. I haven't really tried for accuracy yet, it's been fun just blasting. ;f
At 10 yards it's pretty close but you know how it is, I may shoot a couple inches left and you may be right on with the same fixed sights.

I haven't tried any Stingers yet, maybe today. I understand there's feeding problems with the flat nose hyper-velocity ammo like Spitfire (I think Spitfire is flat nose).

Yes, the mags hold 10 rounds but will only seat in the gun with 9 and the slide forward.
The slide can't be locked back. I seat a 10 round mag as I pull the slide back.

[M2 Carbine]

Here you go Catbird from 10 yards.

Aguila standard velocity will scare the heck out of 1 inch groups.
This cheap ($13 a brick) ammo is one of the most accurate 22 rounds I've ever shot in all my 22 pistols and rifles.
The flier in the last group ticks me off.;f

I've been shooting up this old blasting Federal ammo. It's so old the lube has turned to white powder but it still goes bang and shoots a fair group.

The Stinger never shoots good groups for me in anything and it was jamming bad in this conversion.

uhlawpup, note I was getting the same jamming on the top of the cylinder with Stinger that you describe.
Aguila, Federal, Remington and even CB Caps fed good.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/Mak22target.jpg

[richardoldfield]

How much do the conversion kits cost and where do you buy them? Would it help to have a trained gunsmith do the initial fitting and sighting in? Thanks in advance for your replies. Regards, Richard ;f

[uhlawpup]

Richard, they're $200 plus shipping from Makarov.com.

To tell the truth, I don't think I want to put the time into this to make it work. I bought mine from a guy in New Mexico for $185 shipped. If you want it, you can have it for that price. All I need is a postal money order. Mine comes with two magazines. Email me if you're interested.

[Catbird]

M2 Carbine -
Thank you for your feedback... very informative (as usual). ;)