Makarov at 100 yards.

[M2 Carbine]

Some of you may have seen the thread I have in Non-Glock Firearms about shooting small handguns at 100 yards.
I thought I'd put the Makarov target here in Makarov Club.

I started to not post this target because I didn't really do the Makarov justice.
Hand is wandering too much this morning. :upeyes:
But I think it still can be seen that the Makarov is accurate to 100 yards (if the shooter does his job).

This is the target at 100 yards. It's the old Texas 15 yard concealed carry qualification target.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/100yardkimbershooting3.jpg

I used a Russian Mak because of the adjustable sights. The gun is sighted in at 20 yards, so I raised the rear sight two clicks. It hit high, so I lowered the sight back down the two clicks.
Interesting that it was right on at 20 yards and 100 yards.

The ammo was 95gr Barnaul FMJ.
The total number of shots, including the sighting in rounds was 44.

Each string of 9 rounds (8 spotting) was numbered.

The results.
O (spotting rounds)= 5 hits, 3 misses
1= 5 hits, 4 misses
2= 4 hits, 5 misses:sad:
3= 7 hits, 2 misses
4= 7 hits, 2 misses

28 hits--16 misses
That's a poor average, but not the fault of the gun.
Oh well, it gives me something to work on.:supergrin:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/100yardMakarov.jpg

[M2 Carbine]

I had to go try it again but with different ammo.
95gr lead RN reloads.

A little better this time with 7 misses out of 36 rounds.
1= 9 hits
2= 8 hits, 1 miss
3= 7 hits, 2 misses
4= 5 hits, 4 misses

The more I shot, the worse I got.:supergrin:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/100yardMakarov2.jpg

[North Bender]

Wow! Very cool post M2. I need to try some long-range shooting. I just bought a 1953 Winchester Model 94 and I'm getting set up to try for some longer targets. It never crossed my small mind to try the Mak at that range.

[wrangler5]

I routinely shoot my Mak at 50 yard steel targets - nothing to set up, so you don't have to wait for a break in other people's shooting, and you can hear when you hit. The targets are about 12" square or round, and I run about 90% hits with either my EG or PM fixed sight guns. Unfortunately our range has a general policy against 100 yard shooting with pistols below about 357 magnum power due to the likelihood of shooting short and having a ricochet over the berm into our neighbors' yard. But M2's results will make sure that I take some big targets with me next time I go to a friend's farm where we shoot into a whole mountain. :)

[alwaysshootin]

Thats some pretty good shooting with crude sights! The only problem is that the 9x18 ballistically is equal to a .380. not sure what the effect would be on a human at that kind of range, but you would certainly be hitting them regularly!

[M2 Carbine]

No, I'm not dissatisfied with what I'm doing with the Makarov at this point (or the Beretta Minx, S&W J frame or Kimber Ultra) but I'm pretty sure the Mak will keep 30-40 rounds inside the 4 circle.
So that's what I consider acceptable shooting.
Whether or not I can do it I don't know but it's fun trying.:)


I don't know how much of it's 1,000 fps the Makarov has lost at 100 yards.
I know how well the 9x18 JHP bullets expand when shot into water jugs close up. It might be interesting to see if they still expand at 100 yards.

I'll have to put that on my things to try list.:)

Another thing I have to check out is which of my Maks is the most accurate (I have 14 or 15).
From past shooting I have seen some accuracy difference. All are good but some are better.

[Berto]

Good stuff M2...I reallly enjoy your 100yrd range reports.

We all know how often the less informed folks claim handguns aren't accurate beyond 20ft...I don't own a handgun that isn't 'nostril accurate' at that range.
It seems properly held,any decent handgun has at least torso accuracy at 100yrds,with maybe 7/10 on the ass shot. :supergrin:

[Ron3]

Neat!

Thanks for posting!

Ron3

[JWP]

you guys should read about elmer keith shooting at long range - 600yds/etc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmer_Keith

"Keith was not only an avid handgun hunter, but also a very skilled one. He claimed to have shot and killed a mule deer at a range of 600-yards using his 4-inch S&W Model 29, a credible tale given the capabilities and accuracy of the .44 Magnum."

http://yarchive.net/gun/politics/elmer_keith.html

btw ross is the author of unintended consequences - a great book about batfe.gov's wickedness

[M2 Carbine]

If I'm not mistaken this SWC is a Keith design.:)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/SWmod60100yards.jpg

[russelldehart]

Originally posted by alwaysshootin
Thats some pretty good shooting with crude sights! The only problem is that the 9x18 ballistically is equal to a .380. not sure what the effect would be on a human at that kind of range, but you would certainly be hitting them regularly!

Not that it really makes that much difference but the 9X18 is actually slighly hotter than the .380 +P. A freind and I clocked them one afternoon and the S&B 9X18 was a little hotter than the .380 +P (I don't recall what exact load we were using). Still @ 100 yards I don't think that there would be a noticeable difference in effect.

[M2 Carbine]

I've got a couple Russian Mak .380's. I plan on trying them out at 100 yards. I wouldn't be surprised if there's not much difference between the .380 and 9x18.