After I heard about their rugged reliability, a la AK47, I decided to get two, one for a backup. My local pawnshop had three for $125 ea., sequentially numbered Bulgarians with accessories. Looked unissued. I bought them all.
Then I went to Makarov.com and learned a lot, ordered some spare parts and goodies. I struggled with the DA 13+ lb first pull, so I developed a trigger lightening trick. After polishing trigger/sea/hammer surfaces, I thinned the width of the leaf spring for the DA pull to get the weight down to about 8 lbs. Makes for a much easier to shoot gun that is still just as safe and reliable. Floating firing pin, blowback action and heel mounted mag release were other minor drawbacks for me. You need a mag loading tool if you are going to go through more than a few mags as the side mounted mag loading button working against the stiff mag spring will blister/cut you pretty quickly. Some of the ammo is corrosive.
These guns are relatively large and heavy for concealed carry compared to the power of the cartridge and ammo capacity (single stack). Ammo choices and availability are also relatively slim. Mine have been relegated to "pass along" guns if the situation ever arises.
I prefer DAO over DA/SA for my personal defense, and .40 S&W. One trigger pull, all the time. Less to think about, deal with and adjust to, and therefore more accurate, for me. I also don't like safeties and extra levers that require thinking and manipulation for SD. KISS. My Kahr P40 has about the same size, weight, and ammo capacity as the Makarov, but a whole lot more put down power.
CB3
I've got my eye out for a Polish Mak... to match my Polish Mosin and Polish AK-74.
I want a Polish T-33 Tokarev, too.
Bring on the polok jokes... I dare you.
I have never handled one, but I hear nothing but good about them. I do have a cz82 that shoots the 9mm Makarov round. I am very found of it. It came from Aim surplus. I have a C&R license and it was sent right to my door.
You're going to be disappointed, because the Polish never made a makarov. You probably mean the Radom P-64, which also uses the 9x18 round, and is closer related to the Walther PP. Small gun, big recoil, heavy and gritty trigger. Many swear by it though, and I myself have been known to slip one in the pocket when it's hot outside.
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