Where oh where have the Maks all gone, oh where can they be

[Mr. Tettnanger]

Wow. These thing have dried up! I have been looking for a Bulgy for almost 2 years with no luck. I have had a few internet almost sales, a few gun show hacks try and rob,I mean sell me some, a few gunshop wingnuts who swear a P-64 IS a MAK but no real luck! I know that I missed the boat load of cheap Bulgys flooding the market a few years back, but sheesh....nothing! Whats up? I keep telling myself that it is a good thing that I did not waste my $$ on any because now the ammo is almost as scarce!


Mr. Tettnanger

[Ron3]

There's plenty of ammo on the net for cheap. $6-$7/50.

Haven't looked up the guns in a while though so I can't tell ya about those.

Ron3

[aaronrkelly]

Originally posted by Mr. Tettnanger
Wow. These thing have dried up! I have been looking for a Bulgy for almost 2 years with no luck. I have had a few internet almost sales, a few gun show hacks try and rob,I mean sell me some, a few gunshop wingnuts who swear a P-64 IS a MAK but no real luck! I know that I missed the boat load of cheap Bulgys flooding the market a few years back, but sheesh....nothing! Whats up? I keep telling myself that it is a good thing that I did not waste my $$ on any because now the ammo is almost as scarce!


Mr. Tettnanger

I know it probably makes you feel better to think that but the ammo is not scarce. You cant get it at Wal-Mart but I ordered hundreds of rounds last week and had no problem finding it. I think I ordered from J&G Sales.....but could have easily bought from

Midway
Natchez
Cheaper Than Dirt
Sportsmans Guide
.....to name just a few.

As for the Mak......I decided I wanted one and posted a WANTED ad on a few gun boards. Had someone contact me within 2 days and the deal was made. Got a flawless bulgy with bulgy, russian and east german grips, 3 magazines, 2 holsters and 400 rounds of ammo shipped for a total of $250.

They are all over GunBroker.....just look.

[tim43]

I found an "88" Bulgy last month for $199.00. Grabbed it on the spot. Very good condition and shoots great!

[aaronrkelly]

I heard that SOG has a small number of Bulgy MAKS but it was such a small number they didnt bother advertising them.

Anyone needing one might get one if they call quick.

[spober]

whats that make my ruko importer buffole new york)1960 east german makarov worth these days?

[aaronrkelly]

Originally posted by spober
whats that make my ruko importer buffole new york)1960 east german makarov worth these days?

Depending on condition $300 to $400ish.....

[BilltheCat]

Hmm then I wonder what my true East German Mak is worth 1960?

I leave it in the car as a car gun! If I got rid of it I would replace it with a revolver of some sort.

[johnd]

I had noticed there arent so many for sale lately.
Im sure glad I bought a bunch of EG and then later the Russian ones when they were first introduced at $99.
My first ones, the Chinese ones were $79

[Mr. Tettnanger]

No Bulgy Maks?...I guess I better just save up for another G30!!!

[Canucksvt]

I have a Bulgarian Makarov I may be willing to part with. PM me if you are interested, and I will see about getting a few photos taken if you are interested.

[axel]

I know I'm coming to the party late but .... last week, Makarov.com had over a half dozen Maks for sale. Now I see they're down to one, a 1962 E. German for $350. That's over twice what I paid for my Bulgies just a year and a half ago.

http://www.makarov.com/guns/gunlist.htm

[ralphie98]

It looks like kyimports.com might have some bulgies. They have them listed on their website and they don't say out of stock, but i haven't verified.

[Bushbacker]

Best to call before getting too excited. I seem to recall they don't update their website often.

[Mr. Tettnanger]

Well, I have a few strong leads finally. Hopefully I will join the ranks as a full fledged commie mak gun owner soon! I am getting mixed messages about the ammo.

Some say none around, and good luck finding any. And others say, plenty around..pick your deal? I don't plan on shooting this firearm alot, but do want to have enough ammo to feed the addiction.


Sidenote: Any suggestions on proper take down and put together? And extra or spare parts that I should always have on hand? I will browse over at Makarov.com /Gunboards.

Thanks all for the replies. And if any maks come available..please post here. I fear that one may not be enough.......


Happy New Year.


Mr. Tettnanger

[aaronrkelly]

Originally posted by Mr. Tettnanger
Well, I have a few strong leads finally. Hopefully I will join the ranks as a full fledged commie mak gun owner soon! I am getting mixed messages about the ammo.

Some say none around, and good luck finding any. And others say, plenty around..pick your deal? I don't plan on shooting this firearm alot, but do want to have enough ammo to feed the addiction.


Sidenote: Any suggestions on proper take down and put together? And extra or spare parts that I should always have on hand? I will browse over at Makarov.com /Gunboards.

Thanks all for the replies. And if any maks come available..please post here. I fear that one may not be enough.......


Happy New Year.


Mr. Tettnanger

Ammo is plentiful....I have no idea why the think this isnt the case. You can order it almost anywhere online that carries ammo. My Bulgie doesnt feed hollowpoints reliably so I stick to FMJ.

I get mine from J & G at the below page....costs $7ish a box.

http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/ammo-for-handguns/9x18-makarov/cPath/25_30

[Deaf Smith]

Lucky me. I picked up a Bulgie, excellent condition, with mag that had the same serial numbers as the gun, for $230 OTD with a box of ammo. Shot 50 rounds out of it Saturday. Shoots 4 inches high and a inch or two to the left at 25 yards (no biggie as it's not Brown Bear ammo but some weird FMJ I've never seen and marked +p (but sure didn't feel like it.) This Bulgie has the red military grips, circle 10 on the frame, and is stock military. Finish is very good but a bit thin (which I understand is normal.)

I have a EG Mak I got along time ago for $105 bucks. I don't even shoot it, it looks so good. Very well done little gun I tell you.

The only other commie gun I'd want is a Polish Turk military in 7.62x25. Maybe one day..

Deaf

[deputy tom]

Not to worry Mr. T.You'll get a Mak and ammo is available at most gunshops,gunshows or on-line.The K-mart in my area doesn't have it nor does Wally-world but getting ammo is still not a problem.Good luck.tom.;)

[CarolinaKat]

Try http://www.coledistributing.com/ . They have E German Maks.

[Bushbacker]

More bad news on Mak availability from Makarov.com - they went to the SHOT Show and posted this:


Makarov's - Good news and bad. Bad news, they are getting SCARCE. Many importers have told us "good luck". Good news - There are suppose to be about 125 New / unissued Bulgie Makarov's available, property of a little known Bulgarian Government Police Unit (and the last Government Agency to get upgraded equipment). We have agreed to purchase the whole lot. Just a matter of paperwork and rubber stamps now. Will post here with updates.

East German Stuff - Found a small lot of East German Makarov related stuff. Paying thru the nose for it, but look for more Unissied EG Mags, a few EG Maks (less than 50 total, and thats IT) Some parts, holsters, the "Makarov" Shoulder holster will make a brief return to our website, along with some odd ball original tools from Armor's tool kits, and some original fatory Assembly and testing tools.

[axel]

I saw four Maks today at the Indy 1500 show, two Bulgies and two East Germans, all for $299 each.

[chowchow]

Try the CZ 82 in mak caliber. It is hi cap mag.

[Bushbacker]

Originally posted by chowchow
Try the CZ 82 in mak caliber. It is hi cap mag.

I'd sure like to have one of those but have other priorities now. I've heard good things about them. Price is good too:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Czech_CZ-82_9x18_Pistol.html

[axel]

Originally posted by Mr. Tettnanger
And extra or spare parts that I should always have on hand? I will browse over at Makarov.com /Gunboards.
At Buck's suggetion, I replaced the springs. I think they come with 16# and I replaced them with 19# if I remember correctly.

As far as field stripping, the manuals will tell you the trigger guard doesn't have to be in the retracted position to put the slide back on but in fact it does. Keeping it retracted will save you a lot of aggravation, believe me, I learned the hard way.

[Bushbacker]

Originally posted by axel


As far as field stripping, the manuals will tell you the trigger guard doesn't have to be in the retracted position to put the slide back on but in fact it does. Keeping it retracted will save you a lot of aggravation, believe me, I learned the hard way.

So did I. I'm still annoyed about it. I suppose it's theoretically possible but I couldn't do it.

[Mr. Tettnanger]

Finally got one. Local gunshow had one and I was going to pass it up because I have a deal pending on another, but couldn't pass it up. It is a PW import, very good condition, and only one or two very-very small blemishes in the blueing. I am a little unsure of the date info on this and would like some help please. I have been to Makarov.com and found the date info, but it states that the first two #'s are production series and the second are year codes and the last four are the # within the production series. Well, mine does not follow that. The left side above the grip and on the frame has the circle ten mark then, A then a weird mark(squarish O with little legs?)then, two numbers, then only three numbers, but after that first set there is a very small and faint J and two other #'s? The slide has the matching A and funky O, first two numbers, three numbers. Am I missing something here? Could someone shed some light on this for me please. Thanks.



Mr. Tettnanger

[Bushbacker]

That's a good question. Ask at the Makarov gunboards forum.

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=3

[Parisite]

Mr. Tettnanger, The two numbers on your pistol before the three numbers are your year code. It's just that the ser. # on your gun on that production series hadn't reached 1000 yet. Still in the hundreds.
Also the production series evidently shows cryllic (Russian alphabet) letters. Some of them do.

[Mr. Tettnanger]

Thanks Parisite. I was thinking along those lines, but was unsure. Any particular reason for the cryllic alphabet, or any significance? Thanks for the insight.

Mr. Tettnanger

[Parisite]

I think the Bulgarians use the cryllic alphabet too is the reason they are on the guns. On some Maks where the cryllic letters are different from ours, Century Intl. etched the cryllics out and re-etched English letters. Really maimed the pistol. My first Mak was like that and I didn't know any better at the time. I wound up giving it to my brother.

[hogship]

Originally posted by Parisite
I think the Bulgarians use the cryllic alphabet too is the reason they are on the guns. On some Maks where the cryllic letters are different from ours, Century Intl. etched the cryllics out and re-etched English letters. Really maimed the pistol. My first Mak was like that and I didn't know any better at the time. I wound up giving it to my brother.

Hey, I got one of those CAI Bulgarian Maks with the crossed out serial numbers. It was as new condition when I got it.....maybe new, but I couldn't tell if it had been fired or not. Anyway, the crossed out serial number doesn't look all that good, but the gun itself is a real good one......I kept mine!:thumbsup:

I took off those terrible looking red grips and added a black set I found on ebay.

hogsxxt

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL431/781008/1425902/199724918.jpg

[Bushbacker]

I got my Bulgarian before the BATF started making them line out cryllic letters and use another serial number.

I have an "NH" one, with the backwards "N" like hogship's. I notice they only mark out the serial number on the frame which makes sense.

[Russ in PA]

Originally posted by hogship
Hey, I got one of those CAI Bulgarian Maks with the crossed out serial numbers. It was as new condition when I got it.....maybe new, but I couldn't tell if it had been fired or not. Anyway, the crossed out serial number doesn't look all that good, but the gun itself is a real good one......I kept mine!:thumbsup:

I took off those terrible looking red grips and added a black set I found on ebay.

hogsxxt

http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL431/781008/1425902/199724918.jpg

'Funny how my tastes have changed. Ten years ago, you couldn't have given me such a homely looking pistol. Now, I wanna buy every one that I see! Go figure. (nice pistol!)

[axel]

Originally posted by Russ in PA
'Funny how my tastes have changed. Ten years ago, you couldn't have given me such a homely looking pistol. Now, I wanna buy every one that I see! Go figure. (nice pistol!)
They shoot like a dream, don't they! I love mine. Sadly, I don't get to shoot them as often as I would like.