I carry a Luger P08 and have a .455 Webley MkIV as my nightstand guns. Why? The Luger was the first centerfire pistol I owned and shoot it very well. Very reliable too.The fact that they are very sexy, stylish guns are just an added bonus. The Webley, very accurate and it punches a big hole. Since .455 is a heavy, slow low pressure cartridge, very little powder is used. This results in no muzzle flash. An important consideration when you wake up from a deep sleep. Besides, It's really only there to get me to my shotgun.
The Fab Defense grip and holster make the Makarov way more practical. Mags drop free and gives you a much better grip. Hoping to eventually get a few +2 mag extensions one day. Love the Makarov and 9x18 cartridge. I've started reloading 9x18 recently.
Id love to get myself a russian dozor grip with the legal arsenal +2 base plates, but I’d probably build out another makarov and keep this one traditional😎
@@blackdragonvarietyshow3739I'm definitely looking out for the Legal Arsenal extensions. I think they can be shipped to the US now. But they're still out of stock
@@Аня-ь6п4йPMMs are far less common and easy to get ahold of when compared to PMs, and are also much chunkier which removes some of the benefit of the slim grip.
@@blackdragonvarietyshow3739 one thing i found with the dozor grips is sometimes i'll mistake it for the slide release or while shooting, I pressed down on the mag release. Both problems have only happened to me once and the slide release mixup happened while dry firing.
There’s a reason why for years the Makarov (well not the original but a converted blank firing variant) was the weapon of choice in the UK underworld for years. These guns have been seized in the hundreds if not thousands. They still pop up every now and then. Used in countless murders and shootings over the last 2 decades.
Isn’t that just availability though due to the surplus emerging from the Soviet collapse? Not saying it’s bad but the UK gangs aren’t exactly spoiled for choice for what they get to use.
@@SonnyDavies-ip5veas a dude, who's worked for official dealer and repair shop for KK(concern that owns Baikal brand), I can say, that blank PMs are easily convertible for 9x17 and 9x18. You just need to swap a barrel. Same with "less lethal" guns used here, in Russia. And, when I'm saying it is easy, I really mean it is possible to do as we say in Russia "on the knee", if you have replacement barrel and pin.
I am from Russia, have been to several places. This is the iconic russian cop gun. You see those everywhere here: with tired, beerbelly but usually straight and often simple minded policemen doing traffic stops, guarding public places etc. Another iconic russian cop gun is AKS74U. Those two have a place deep in the soul of every russian gun fan because of that, I think. With comparatively low level of armed violence in Russia those are rarely used, but nevertheless always present. In an Ironic way, I think those two guns are associated with everyday peaceful life in minds of russian people, because the people carrying them use them to guard it. Though last 5 years policemen in Russia became much better armed and in Moscow I've mostly seen Yarygins and Lebedevs now, Makarov is still the prevalent cop gun in the majority of the country.
@@snuffying it is difficult to own them, but possible. As of now, first you have to own a double barrel smoothbore for 2 years, then any smoothbore for 5 years and only then you can own a rifle. It should be no shorter than a carbine length, unsupressed and without ability to fire with stock folded. It should be stored at a safe and shot only in hunting areas or at the ranges. Owner should pass checks every half a year about his state and state of the weapon. One can not own handguns unless he is an operative or he stores it only at shooting ranges. We don’t have a gun culture as developed as in US, based on right to defend your civil rights, because US is young and was founded with those rights in mind whereas Russian culture is much older, generally much more collectivist and therefore pro state like. People here will suffer great amount of discomfort before they turn on the state if they believe in some greater cause, and knowing our history people usually believe in Russia and the need to defend it from all enemies external and internal *very much* , as the country was attacked severely every century for the last 700 years. We have a hunter culture in more forestry remote areas though. Self defence in Russia is also nowadays more dangerous legally for the victim than for the attacker because of convoluted weird laws nobody in the state thought about changing. Though the amount of violent crimes here generally seems to be much less that In US so armed self defence is not as needed. Even policemen rarely actually use their guns.
@@Paul_Sergeyev kinda similar in finland. if you want to get gun lisence you need to join shooting or hunting club and attend regularly for a while. if you want pistol you need to have 2 years of regular range sessions. also self defense is not valid reason for gun here, propably because its so safe here. no resctrictions on gun though as long as it fits intended use.
@@Paul_Sergeyev there are some ranges all over finland but not enough, there used to be more i think. also active shooting sports are popular with reservists and the MPK holds all kinds of classes which have actually been over booked after war in ukraine which is also why tehre is need for more ranges too. automatic weapons you can own with collectors lisensce which are kinda rare and hard to get since there isnt any sensible reason for someone to need automatic weapon but there is no restriction on barrel length etc like US has afaik.
I mean people knock it but Brandon Herrera carried his Makarov for the longest time, I can’t own pistols just yet but I’d like to own one myself as well as a few other Soviet handguns. (Of course while owning more modern stuff too) I think they’re cool. They have a certain Soviet gruff sexiness to them like the TT and Nagant. Great content as per usual. 🔥🔥
Hate to be that guy but... Erm, the Mosin Nagant was actually invented and started military service under the Russian Empire, so this so called "Soviet Sexiness" shouldn't be present 🤓
@@engineer0323 lmao, but yeah, though the most common mosin you'd probably see are WWII produced, so they would be Soviet, they redesigned the rifle during that time.
Good taste. I carried the Mak as my off-duty/back up weapon as a police officer, I had to pass the off-duty course in order to carry it. Still carry it now. Very nice, stable, reliable weapon.
@tamiraaa8916 unfortunately no, off-duty = while not working, concealed in civilian clothes; and back-up = concealed in ankle holster. All we were allowed to carry openly in uniform was the issued Glock. I'm a small guy so there was no way I could conceal a Glock 17 while in shorts at the beach! The Mak fit the bill.
I think PM is the concept of a sidearm perfected It's not meant for much of anything other than being a sidearm, and personally I believe handguns are not that good for fighting, they should primarily be emergency weapons when your rifle is empty or stuck
one question. do you always have a rifle with you in puplic ? when you go shopping ? yes ??? no you dont. and even a 25acp from 1m distance in the face or heart/lungs is enough. in germany the only thing we can carry that really is deadly is a knife and thats enough here most people dont have weapons with them handguns are very very rare here
@@M357. I mean, obviously you’re not fighting that often in a society worth living in, also, isn’t self-defence kind of strict in Germany? To expound on what I was saying is that handguns are unwieldy and bad at fighting comparatively to rifles and that’s why pistol conversion kits, stock adapters, and extended magazines have a broad market, to make up for handguns’ deficiencies If someone had a sword, you wouldn’t be doing so good with a knife, the same way if all you had was a handgun, and they had rifles, there’s a very good chance you will be having an eternal nap
@@Lksupasteien Your point still stands and it obviously comes from a stance of experience. However, in a fight between knife and sword: knife is much more practical. That was the sidearm back in the day. It was also the executioner, the finishing blow.
I carry two guns. USP Compact (primary) and Makarov (comfort carry / when I need a smaller package) The Makarov is a true test of time. It’s still a great defense weapon, incredibly accurate, reliable and it just looks so good. Cant beat that. I also laughed at your Bulgarian new magazine demo - I made a demo on Reddit 2 or so years ago where the rounds just ejected out of the mag into the gun and spilled out. Those magazines are absolute garbage.
@@pipebombpete.6861 makarovs are extremely accurate due to the fixed barrel. Most people just don’t know how to shoot them and the sights are a bit crude. I can get a tighter group with a Makarov than almost any other handgun… and where there is bullet job at 100 yards which is way past just about any handguns effective range,I can still hit a man sized steel target relatively consistently. I’ve never found any Makarov to be inconsistent or inaccurate
@@pipebombpete.6861 regular old Bulgarian Makarov. Like I said there is massive bullet drop at a distance like that. But that’s just to prove a point. The Makarov is very accurate between self defense distances - 25 yards or even a bit more. It’s a fixed barrel system, it’s accurate.
The main quality of Soviet weapons is reliability. During development, the greatest importance was attached not to power, not to ergonomics, but to reliability and simplicity of design. The PM is one of the simplest and most reliable pistols in the world.
I usually carry an S&W Shield Plus, but every once and a while I'll carry my Mak for the same reason as you, I just like it. It's my favorite pistol, but given how hard it is to get my hands on ammo (at least for what I'm willing to pay), I tend not to be able to shoot it as much. When I get the room, I plan on reloading since I have a ton of brass in 9x18 and can always cut down 9x19 if I get desperate. There's also always the option to rechamber to 380.
How much would that cost to rechamber? Always been a comblock gun fan but never got any of the pistols because of the ammo situation. I heard they had tokarevs already chambered in 9 but havent come across one
Mak was my original carry gun. Bought one when I turned 21 because it was cheap, and I was obsessed with MGS3. Carry a P365 these days but I still love my makarovs
the makarov is basically the perfect handgun for a country with restrictive gun laws: -low mag capacity (8 rounds) -reliable -relatively safe -relatively cheap for a handgun -easy to use, disassemble and perform maintenance -smaller caliber than 9.19 mm
But not perfect as a handgun Better get one of the foreign copies, as some of them have mag release button, better sights and even .380 which is easier to find
Dude that video is amazing. In Poland we don’t have the same problems with makarovs you do, i might actually buy it. Dirt cheap gun, dirt cheap ammo and i really like the way it disassembles. Thanks a lot man!
I'm in the Swiss Infantry at the moment and we use the SIG 220 as a sidearm. It has the same Mag-Release, Slide-Release and a similar half-cock/Double-action system. I have no clue if the SIG designers took inspiration from the Makarov but would make sense since it is such a widespread weapon. Anyway, great gun-review 🙌
No they did not. This is quite universal European concept. Makarov took it from German pistols (PPK, P38). Magazine release was designed for military use. It is much more difficult to lose your mag during combat by accidentally pressing a side release button. When carried in military holster it 100% certainty that mg button would not be pressed inside while crawling and speed dodging to ground when you come under fire. Quick change of pistol mag was regarded unnecessary under real combat conditions of XX century.
Nice too see people are still carrying Masks, I carry mine often. A new you tok was my first carry gun but when I got a mask it mostly replaced it. Most of the time I carry a CZP07 but when it comes to lightweight compact 9mms you don't have many options of you want DA or SA. I feel lucky I managed to get into AK building as a kid with my uncle, totally not worth it now I less it's a special build. It's sad to see 7.62x39 become so expensive and same with all the other comblock calibers. I love 74s but I rarely shoot mine as I have a finite amount of 7N6
Another nice thing about this over the Walther PPK is the safety orientation, where on safe is up, off is down. Similar to the 1911, and in my opinion the most intuitive and easy to disengage if you chose to carry with the safety on. The PPK is opposite, with on safe being down, and off safe being up.
I'm sure this has already been said, but there ARE magazine extensions available for this to get you to 10+1, FAB Defense makes a grip with a leaf spring that transfers the heel mag release to your more modern thumb release, and multiple places sell 10+1 mag extensions and spring refresh kits (if you can catch them in stock). I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet, there is also an STL for a mag extension if you want to print one. There absolutely are options for adding some modern amenities to a mak
the only drawback to a small russian makarov is that its chambered in 9x18 instead of the more popular 9x19 and its mag latch being on the bottom so you cant access it with your main hand in a reasonable manner. its also cute :>
Yeah but the mag release is accessible with your offhand regardless if your left or right handed, its weird but not weirder than trying to reload a Beretta 92fs while shooting it left handed.
I don't get why anyone would be anything but utilitarian for their carry piece. This isn't a game. Hobby guns are fun to take to the range, but carrying a gun daily isn't about LARPing or fun.
My friend owns a makarov! Honestly an incredible pistol, super ergonomic imo, pretty accurate for what it is, and u can handle it rough no problem. Seems to work better when u put mags in and rack the slide like it owes you money. I'm a big fan of vintages, my old pistol of choice is my Colt 1903 that i dated to 1907. Handles incredible fora 100 year old pistol and even compared to new pistols its a joy to shoot
I've been carrying a Russian Makarov for about 20 years. It is not my primary carry gun but I carry it a lot. It is accurate rugged and extremely reliable.
I respect it,the Makarov is a fine classic pistol.the chances of running into another person EDCing a Makarov are slim..with that being said,I’ve owned and carried a lot of guns but after getting my Sig P365XL Spector Comp and I will be carrying it for years to come.it is easily my favorite CCW I have ever owned.it’s not too small,not too big and it holds 17+1.I put the Wilson Combat grip module on it and it feels like it was designed specifically for my hand.it is CCW perfection(at least it is to me anyway)
The Makarov is a great choice for personal carry. It's not heavy, and it's pretty short and handy. Reliable is a great word to describe these pistols. And you can hide it in a hoodie.😊 No light and/or laser choices that I know of, but I could be wrong.
this was one of the first pistols I ever bought when I turned 21! I remember walking into a gun store (sells relics and surplus ammo) and seeing this beautiful piece with a brown handle 🖤 In my head, I was like “I’ve seen this in Black Ops” and it was in good shape and fairly priced for $500! So I bought it with a box of 9x18 ammo to try it out the next day. Fell in love with it when I pulled the trigger at the gun range nearby 🖤🖤 4 years later with paid training from the CCW license to advanced training and maybe about $400+ of ammo shot, I can easily say this is my #1 to go EDC
I switch between carrying this or a ruger lcr in 327fed. For carry the heel release has advantage you wont accidentally drop a mag if you mishandle the gun in an emergency.
While I don't typically carry my Makarov, I do think it serves quite well for that specific role, and it's simplicity and reliability certainly instill confidence in me when carrying it. The lack of a magazine release is the main feature I actually really like about it, as it ensures that the magazine release will never be pressed by the holster and accidentally dropped (a problem which I've run into with softer-material holsters on different handguns in the past). Also, the double-action trigger is something that I've grown used to and really like, and I mainly use that feature on my Sig P220 as well. The only real reasons why I don't regularly carry it is because of its lower stopping power (I usually carry the aforementioned P220 because 10mm is great for black bears and I have a lot of those in my area) and also the very annoying location of the safety which requires that I hold the gun in a less comfortable way as to not have my thumbs beaten to shit.
I've got multiple modern setups with optics and lights and yadda yadda and I carry a plain jane iron sight EDC X9 in a Tenicor Certurm3 Holster. It gets the job done, its easy to carry, and it's hella stylish.😎 Carry what makes you happy my guy!
Well presented general review; thank you. I thought about getting one of these years ago. With cheap Russian ammo no longer available I am glad I didn't, but ammo costs aside the Makarov will always be a respectable carry choice.
I respect it, what works for one won’t work for all. I appendix carry a Glock 19 with an Acro P2 and TLR7 but sometimes particularly in the summer I’m too lazy so I carry a 9mm Ruger LCR in a pocket holster. I wanted one gun I could use for both concealed carry and to shoot matches and the 19 fits that role. The LCR is actually very similar to the Makarov with both having a heavy double action trigger, smaller overall size, and limited 9mm capacity so I can completely understand why someone would chose a Makarov.
Honestly anything proven to be reliable that you are comfortable carrying and using is a good carry gun. The only 2 times I'd start to argue whether this gun or that gun is better would be hunting (mainly a long caliber selection) and Eotwawki (where the ability to source compatible parts becomes an issue)
I have an east German Makarov made in 1960. It still looks new. I paid $175 for it in 1995. Its the only semi auto ive ever owned thats never jammed, not once. Ball and Hornady HPs, no problems. When ammo was hard to find I could still find 9×18 mak ammo. I've been offered $800 for mine but I'll never sell it.
I feel you on the cool factor of surplus carry. My first carry was a Polish P64. Followed by more surplus such as Makarov, Tokarev, M70, M88A, BM, 83 and 85F. I hate to admit it but once I got a Glock 43 I never looked back.
When I was a new gun owner my regret was not picking up one of these maks. Bulgarian surplus 99 dollars! It came with a leather holster that was around 2004. The Russian spetznaz auto load holster looks real cool.
I shot most of the local guns available in Russia. Makarov takes time to get used. Train with it, it makes sense! As soon as you get comfortable with it, it will become your best friend!
I want to carry a berretta 92fs because Paul Harrel likes it, and it's featured in some of my favorite games like payday 2, killing floor 2, etc. A really sexy firearm as well ofc
There's nothing wrong with a Makarov for CC, besides being slightly bulkier than some other equivalent options and the safety being too far back and difficult to reach with the thumb. Depending on your needs, you can just leave it off and rely on DA. Is it really an odd choice? I was under the impression it was, or at least used to be, a relatively common choice, at least common considering the availability of everything else.
I miss $10/box silver bear. I've got a few left but these days Mesko is my goto in my Polish P-64. Polish ammo built for my Polish pistol. I carry with the safety on because it is not drop safe otherwise. I like that the slide is not locked on safe so I can chamber a round and have the hammer drop all in one movement. The P-64 is smaller and more comfortable to carry for me than the PM.
Makarov spends his regards -lol I use a Vedder light tuck holster which is awesome and has an actual metal clip instead of plastic junque. With a foam wedge and a wing there is no printing and I like to carry at 11:30 just slightly crossdraw for a right-hander with a bot of a cant that keeps the muzzle centered and not pressing into either of my thighs when I sit or bend way over.
It's not a bad choice for carry. It's small and concealable, not that expensive... looks like they currently go for around $550... Is it reliable? Those are my 3 main criteria: Small obviously for comfort, inexpensive because it's risky to carry a gun around. Besides the fact that they (the police) will take it from you if you end up having to use it, even if its a good shoot, but it will also get beat up and you risk losing it. I carry a Bersa thunder in 380 from time to time, not too far off from the makarov and even cheaper.
A "Baikal" civilian variant of the Makarov has been my concealed carry gun for 20 years. The size counts when carrying concealed, and the 9 mm Makarov round is pretty capable. The mag release is the only annoying thing on it, but manageable.
That was an amusing and interesting video; got you a sub. I’m interested in Combloc stuff too, being a Cold War veteran (US Army 1984-88), and a Russian & East European Studies major in college. In my own firearms purchases this has only manifested itself in an AK and a Tokarev pistol; the former has been great for me but the latter has had some issues. No PSL for me; now THAT’S dedication! I’ve never handled or fired a Makarov, and this is the first video in which I’ve seen one field stripped. Very impressive! The simplicity tempts me to get one, in addition to the history. Still, I am not likely to get one because of the limited ammo availability and choices. Ideas for new videos? You could weigh in on the interminable AK vs AR debate, though that has been kinda beaten to death. You could do one on recommendations for new AK buyers, or perhaps even options and opinions on PSL-type firearms. Another idea might be a range session with the PSL to show us what it is capable of in terms of long range accuracy if you’ve got access to an appropriate range. Anyway, looking forward to seeing what you’ve got going forward.
PM made by Haehnl Suhl was my favorite (well, it was the service pistol) side arm, though the East German ammo had one added advantage, and that why it is outlawed in Germany today; it was considered armor breaking. Aside from PMs made by Baikal the Suhl ones were the best., though the Bulgarian one was fine as well.
Everyone wanted a Makarov in the 70s and 80s . Small quality gun and easy to conceal. I was taught your hammer is your safety. Use it and wipe it down regularly and a little oil in the right places and it will last several lifetimes
Do you find it the ammo cost a disincentive to practice? Maybe finding it is part of the fun, but as someone interested in the hobby I’m hard pressed to not buy a 9mm because the round has the stopping power I want and is cheap. That way I can shoot more. Just a thought. Interesting pistol for sure.
I shoot it like once a month or so but the ammo definitely is a pain to find but I got a bulk buy for .30$ a round a while back but don’t wanna whittle that down just yet😅
Pretty cool, but how's the stopping power via expansion for 9x18? Doesnt look you're carrying JHP... Do they even make commercial 9x18 JHP?? - edit, they do! You should switch from FMJ to JHP
Back 15 years ago when i first started carrying this was actually a popular carry gun because you could get one for $200. Now it makes no sense at all unless you inherited one or just want to be different. That 1st double action pull is so bad on all of them i have seen and its important to be able to hit with your actual carry gun. For the price it makes no sense at all... I just picked up a brand new glock 26 gen 3 for $379. I just got an email yesterday from atlantic firearms where they are asking $450 for these. Thats absolutely insane. They are in an odd ball round, they dont shoot that great and theres so many better options avalible today. But if you just find it cool and want to carry it because it makes you happy, thats fine. Just dont fool yourself. it is what it is.
I seem to be blessed with luck when it comes to makarovs. I was able to get a mid 70’s izhevsk military “sneak” makarov for 500 something dollars like 8 years ago, and I somehow managed to buy nearly 3000 rounds of nice brass cased 9mm mak for 23 cpr in June 2020 before ammo prices exploded thanks to Rona and the saint floyd riots. Makarov sends his regards.
I plan to use a Makarov to carry, but I worry that if they stop producing or selling 9x18 Makarov ammo I'm gonna have to move over to a Glock and just store my Mak baby like a treasure... :c
S&B still makes makarov ammo and I think they’re the most available right now. You can find PPU, Critical defense and some of the russian surplus still left if you’re lucky. I managed to snag like 400 rounds of the Russian Bear ammo for like .30$ a round a couple months back so its still possible to find it.
make the right choice and defend yourself properly, the makarov is cool but if you are serious about self defense, use the better tool, dont get yourself killed for style points.
@@driftcat7076 I guess it does look good... I only want it because how I wanna use that small round, how good the gun is in terms of safety, simplicity, and I've played the STALKER franchise and the starting weapon in all games has always been the Makarov, so I fell in love with it since.
Not that odd a choice. Pack about as much punch as a 9mm compact, is reliable and easy enough to shoot. I knew a semi retired LEO, Korean War vet who carried one. May have been on the wrong end.. He considered his to be one of the best guns he's owned . Now this one in the early CCW days but still,a fine weapon
In some situations if you dropped it chambered (with round in the pipe) on the hammer without safety, makarov can fire. Same as Stechkin pistol. Take care.
Makarov is a very fine pistol, I called one for a long time, but the main problem is lack of defensive ammo in 9x18. Despite the fact the gun is 100% fine and unironically one of top options for a carry gun, it's just not worth it because of that ammo problem. You're better off carrying a .380 with some strong +P XTP ammo because that will give you better expansion than 9x18 FMJ or one of cheap JHPs available. Shame, because if good 9x18 ammo was available it would be my regular carry gun
Big respect for unorthodox carry choices. I carry a charter arms bulldog in .44 special.
I carry a Luger P08 and have a .455 Webley MkIV as my nightstand guns.
Why? The Luger was the first centerfire pistol I owned and shoot it very well. Very reliable too.The fact that they are very sexy, stylish guns are just an added bonus.
The Webley, very accurate and it punches a big hole. Since .455 is a heavy, slow low pressure cartridge, very little powder is used. This results in no muzzle flash. An important consideration when you wake up from a deep sleep. Besides, It's really only there to get me to my shotgun.
who the heck are you?
mr.shorty from the marty robbins song?
Man I carry the exact same revolver. That and my S&W Model 19
Same here!! People my age just carry a Glock typically, but I like a little class
@@sharonrigs7999 perfect nightstand gun if you live in Rourke's Drift
The Fab Defense grip and holster make the Makarov way more practical. Mags drop free and gives you a much better grip. Hoping to eventually get a few +2 mag extensions one day. Love the Makarov and 9x18 cartridge. I've started reloading 9x18 recently.
Id love to get myself a russian dozor grip with the legal arsenal +2 base plates, but I’d probably build out another makarov and keep this one traditional😎
@@blackdragonvarietyshow3739I'm definitely looking out for the Legal Arsenal extensions. I think they can be shipped to the US now. But they're still out of stock
@@blackdragonvarietyshow3739 why not then try to find an pmm
@@Аня-ь6п4йPMMs are far less common and easy to get ahold of when compared to PMs, and are also much chunkier which removes some of the benefit of the slim grip.
@@blackdragonvarietyshow3739 one thing i found with the dozor grips is sometimes i'll mistake it for the slide release or while shooting, I pressed down on the mag release. Both problems have only happened to me once and the slide release mixup happened while dry firing.
There’s a reason why for years the Makarov (well not the original but a converted blank firing variant) was the weapon of choice in the UK underworld for years. These guns have been seized in the hundreds if not thousands. They still pop up every now and then. Used in countless murders and shootings over the last 2 decades.
Isn’t that just availability though due to the surplus emerging from the Soviet collapse? Not saying it’s bad but the UK gangs aren’t exactly spoiled for choice for what they get to use.
i wonder if there are tokarevs being used
Saw a few deactivated in market recently, feels bad.
@@SonnyDavies-ip5veas a dude, who's worked for official dealer and repair shop for KK(concern that owns Baikal brand), I can say, that blank PMs are easily convertible for 9x17 and 9x18. You just need to swap a barrel. Same with "less lethal" guns used here, in Russia.
And, when I'm saying it is easy, I really mean it is possible to do as we say in Russia "on the knee", if you have replacement barrel and pin.
@@justsomeplantcells-tokarevs use steel core .30 cal ammo that goes right through most body armor
@@MikeDerucki0 not all of its steel core
I am from Russia, have been to several places. This is the iconic russian cop gun. You see those everywhere here: with tired, beerbelly but usually straight and often simple minded policemen doing traffic stops, guarding public places etc. Another iconic russian cop gun is AKS74U. Those two have a place deep in the soul of every russian gun fan because of that, I think. With comparatively low level of armed violence in Russia those are rarely used, but nevertheless always present.
In an Ironic way, I think those two guns are associated with everyday peaceful life in minds of russian people, because the people carrying them use them to guard it. Though last 5 years policemen in Russia became much better armed and in Moscow I've mostly seen Yarygins and Lebedevs now, Makarov is still the prevalent cop gun in the majority of the country.
i heard that its legal to own AKs or weapons in general in Russia without too much hassle, similar to the US. is it like that?
@@snuffying it is difficult to own them, but possible. As of now, first you have to own a double barrel smoothbore for 2 years, then any smoothbore for 5 years and only then you can own a rifle. It should be no shorter than a carbine length, unsupressed and without ability to fire with stock folded. It should be stored at a safe and shot only in hunting areas or at the ranges. Owner should pass checks every half a year about his state and state of the weapon. One can not own handguns unless he is an operative or he stores it only at shooting ranges. We don’t have a gun culture as developed as in US, based on right to defend your civil rights, because US is young and was founded with those rights in mind whereas Russian culture is much older, generally much more collectivist and therefore pro state like. People here will suffer great amount of discomfort before they turn on the state if they believe in some greater cause, and knowing our history people usually believe in Russia and the need to defend it from all enemies external and internal *very much* , as the country was attacked severely every century for the last 700 years. We have a hunter culture in more forestry remote areas though. Self defence in Russia is also nowadays more dangerous legally for the victim than for the attacker because of convoluted weird laws nobody in the state thought about changing. Though the amount of violent crimes here generally seems to be much less that In US so armed self defence is not as needed. Even policemen rarely actually use their guns.
@@Paul_Sergeyev kinda similar in finland. if you want to get gun lisence you need to join shooting or hunting club and attend regularly for a while. if you want pistol you need to have 2 years of regular range sessions. also self defense is not valid reason for gun here, propably because its so safe here. no resctrictions on gun though as long as it fits intended use.
@@Matias-dr3ys makes sense I guess. What about automatic weapons and where can you shoot?
@@Paul_Sergeyev there are some ranges all over finland but not enough, there used to be more i think. also active shooting sports are popular with reservists and the MPK holds all kinds of classes which have actually been over booked after war in ukraine which is also why tehre is need for more ranges too.
automatic weapons you can own with collectors lisensce which are kinda rare and hard to get since there isnt any sensible reason for someone to need automatic weapon but there is no restriction on barrel length etc like US has afaik.
I mean people knock it but Brandon Herrera carried his Makarov for the longest time, I can’t own pistols just yet but I’d like to own one myself as well as a few other Soviet handguns. (Of course while owning more modern stuff too) I think they’re cool. They have a certain Soviet gruff sexiness to them like the TT and Nagant. Great content as per usual. 🔥🔥
Hate to be that guy but...
Erm, the Mosin Nagant was actually invented and started military service under the Russian Empire, so this so called "Soviet Sexiness" shouldn't be present 🤓
I carry a Makarov lol
@@engineer0323 lmao, but yeah, though the most common mosin you'd probably see are WWII produced, so they would be Soviet, they redesigned the rifle during that time.
“you carry that?”
-guy seeing the coolest fking carry in the world
Good taste. I carried the Mak as my off-duty/back up weapon as a police officer, I had to pass the off-duty course in order to carry it. Still carry it now. Very nice, stable, reliable weapon.
do you have photos of you in uniform with Makarov? i think it would be an iconic picture in the gun community
@tamiraaa8916 unfortunately no, off-duty = while not working, concealed in civilian clothes; and back-up = concealed in ankle holster. All we were allowed to carry openly in uniform was the issued Glock. I'm a small guy so there was no way I could conceal a Glock 17 while in shorts at the beach! The Mak fit the bill.
My father also used to carry one but as the main weapon back when he was a police officer too in Cuba. Later on they changed them for CZs though.
@@Relseg Cool. When was he an officer in Cuba? Did he leave?
@@Relseg😂😂😂😂 yes and the cz was the security of the state officials
I think PM is the concept of a sidearm perfected
It's not meant for much of anything other than being a sidearm, and personally I believe handguns are not that good for fighting, they should primarily be emergency weapons when your rifle is empty or stuck
Exactly my thoughts as well.
one question. do you always have a rifle with you in puplic ? when you go shopping ? yes ??? no you dont. and even a 25acp from 1m distance in the face or heart/lungs is enough. in germany the only thing we can carry that really is deadly is a knife and thats enough here most people dont have weapons with them handguns are very very rare here
@@M357.
I mean, obviously you’re not fighting that often in a society worth living in, also, isn’t self-defence kind of strict in Germany?
To expound on what I was saying is that handguns are unwieldy and bad at fighting comparatively to rifles and that’s why pistol conversion kits, stock adapters, and extended magazines have a broad market, to make up for handguns’ deficiencies
If someone had a sword, you wouldn’t be doing so good with a knife, the same way if all you had was a handgun, and they had rifles, there’s a very good chance you will be having an eternal nap
@@Lksupasteien Your point still stands and it obviously comes from a stance of experience. However, in a fight between knife and sword: knife is much more practical. That was the sidearm back in the day. It was also the executioner, the finishing blow.
i thought it was made just for police and similar institutes
I carry two guns. USP Compact (primary) and Makarov (comfort carry / when I need a smaller package)
The Makarov is a true test of time. It’s still a great defense weapon, incredibly accurate, reliable and it just looks so good. Cant beat that.
I also laughed at your Bulgarian new magazine demo - I made a demo on Reddit 2 or so years ago where the rounds just ejected out of the mag into the gun and spilled out. Those magazines are absolute garbage.
"accurate"
@@pipebombpete.6861 makarovs are extremely accurate due to the fixed barrel.
Most people just don’t know how to shoot them and the sights are a bit crude. I can get a tighter group with a Makarov than almost any other handgun… and where there is bullet job at 100 yards which is way past just about any handguns effective range,I can still hit a man sized steel target relatively consistently. I’ve never found any Makarov to be inconsistent or inaccurate
@@coltbtd what makarove are You shooting?
@@pipebombpete.6861 regular old Bulgarian Makarov. Like I said there is massive bullet drop at a distance like that. But that’s just to prove a point. The Makarov is very accurate between self defense distances - 25 yards or even a bit more. It’s a fixed barrel system, it’s accurate.
@@coltbtd in internet you will find people who have hard opinions on things they know shit about so try to not waste a lot of your time with them
The main quality of Soviet weapons is reliability. During development, the greatest importance was attached not to power, not to ergonomics, but to reliability and simplicity of design. The PM is one of the simplest and most reliable pistols in the world.
I think it is actually the simplest automatic pistol. It has like 30 parts
@@Paul_Sergeyev now its probably Glock, but since 1950th until 1980th definatelly it was.
I usually carry an S&W Shield Plus, but every once and a while I'll carry my Mak for the same reason as you, I just like it. It's my favorite pistol, but given how hard it is to get my hands on ammo (at least for what I'm willing to pay), I tend not to be able to shoot it as much. When I get the room, I plan on reloading since I have a ton of brass in 9x18 and can always cut down 9x19 if I get desperate. There's also always the option to rechamber to 380.
How much would that cost to rechamber? Always been a comblock gun fan but never got any of the pistols because of the ammo situation. I heard they had tokarevs already chambered in 9 but havent come across one
Mak was my original carry gun. Bought one when I turned 21 because it was cheap, and I was obsessed with MGS3. Carry a P365 these days but I still love my makarovs
As a fellow makarov owner and enjoyer my fav CCW
the makarov is basically the perfect handgun for a country with restrictive gun laws:
-low mag capacity (8 rounds)
-reliable
-relatively safe
-relatively cheap for a handgun
-easy to use, disassemble and perform maintenance
-smaller caliber than 9.19 mm
But not perfect as a handgun
Better get one of the foreign copies, as some of them have mag release button, better sights and even .380 which is easier to find
I got a Makarov yesterday that has a side mag release thanks to a PMG grip, can't wait to go to the range with it soon.
Dude that video is amazing. In Poland we don’t have the same problems with makarovs you do, i might actually buy it. Dirt cheap gun, dirt cheap ammo and i really like the way it disassembles. Thanks a lot man!
I'm in the Swiss Infantry at the moment and we use the SIG 220 as a sidearm. It has the same Mag-Release, Slide-Release and a similar half-cock/Double-action system. I have no clue if the SIG designers took inspiration from the Makarov but would make sense since it is such a widespread weapon.
Anyway, great gun-review 🙌
No they did not. This is quite universal European concept. Makarov took it from German pistols (PPK, P38). Magazine release was designed for military use. It is much more difficult to lose your mag during combat by accidentally pressing a side release button. When carried in military holster it 100% certainty that mg button would not be pressed inside while crawling and speed dodging to ground when you come under fire. Quick change of pistol mag was regarded unnecessary under real combat conditions of XX century.
…… every SiG engineer is crying because of this comment
@@nikitaananjevas1614 Thx for the clarification, that makes a lot more sense 👍
Nice too see people are still carrying Masks, I carry mine often. A new you tok was my first carry gun but when I got a mask it mostly replaced it.
Most of the time I carry a CZP07 but when it comes to lightweight compact 9mms you don't have many options of you want DA or SA.
I feel lucky I managed to get into AK building as a kid with my uncle, totally not worth it now I less it's a special build.
It's sad to see 7.62x39 become so expensive and same with all the other comblock calibers. I love 74s but I rarely shoot mine as I have a finite amount of 7N6
Based P07 user
This is probably in my top three favourite handguns of all time.
Another nice thing about this over the Walther PPK is the safety orientation, where on safe is up, off is down. Similar to the 1911, and in my opinion the most intuitive and easy to disengage if you chose to carry with the safety on. The PPK is opposite, with on safe being down, and off safe being up.
Love my PPK, carry it often, but the safety is annoying
Bro is just Lore accurate
I miss my Mak! Great looking pistol!
Yep it's cool, looks in great shape. Cheers
I'm sure this has already been said, but there ARE magazine extensions available for this to get you to 10+1, FAB Defense makes a grip with a leaf spring that transfers the heel mag release to your more modern thumb release, and multiple places sell 10+1 mag extensions and spring refresh kits (if you can catch them in stock). I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet, there is also an STL for a mag extension if you want to print one.
There absolutely are options for adding some modern amenities to a mak
the only drawback to a small russian makarov is that its chambered in 9x18 instead of the more popular 9x19 and its mag latch being on the bottom so you cant access it with your main hand in a reasonable manner. its also cute :>
Yeah but the mag release is accessible with your offhand regardless if your left or right handed, its weird but not weirder than trying to reload a Beretta 92fs while shooting it left handed.
Dude. I don’t care what anyone says that’s a sick handgun. Nice hard plastic holster too. Classy
I’m glad you like it. I’m gonna stick with my Glock cuz I’m practical and utilitarian. Brandon Herrera carries a makarov too.
Glocks 19 is the toyota camry of guns.
I don't get why anyone would be anything but utilitarian for their carry piece. This isn't a game. Hobby guns are fun to take to the range, but carrying a gun daily isn't about LARPing or fun.
@@CrizzyEyes it can be about protection and fun especially if you’re a sicario
we're glad you like glock. thanks for sharing that information. couldn't imagine how my life could have been without it.
@@antwerp-six you chose to respond
My friend owns a makarov! Honestly an incredible pistol, super ergonomic imo, pretty accurate for what it is, and u can handle it rough no problem. Seems to work better when u put mags in and rack the slide like it owes you money. I'm a big fan of vintages, my old pistol of choice is my Colt 1903 that i dated to 1907. Handles incredible fora 100 year old pistol and even compared to new pistols its a joy to shoot
I've been carrying a Russian Makarov for about 20 years. It is not my primary carry gun but I carry it a lot. It is accurate rugged and extremely reliable.
I love my little Arsenal Makarov. Never thought I'd actually find one but the pawn shop always manages to impress me.
I respect it,the Makarov is a fine classic pistol.the chances of running into another person EDCing a Makarov are slim..with that being said,I’ve owned and carried a lot of guns but after getting my Sig P365XL Spector Comp and I will be carrying it for years to come.it is easily my favorite CCW I have ever owned.it’s not too small,not too big and it holds 17+1.I put the Wilson Combat grip module on it and it feels like it was designed specifically for my hand.it is CCW perfection(at least it is to me anyway)
The Makarov is a great choice for personal carry. It's not heavy, and it's pretty short and handy. Reliable is a great word to describe these pistols. And you can hide it in a hoodie.😊
No light and/or laser choices that I know of, but I could be wrong.
this was one of the first pistols I ever bought when I turned 21! I remember walking into a gun store (sells relics and surplus ammo) and seeing this beautiful piece with a brown handle 🖤 In my head, I was like “I’ve seen this in Black Ops” and it was in good shape and fairly priced for $500! So I bought it with a box of 9x18 ammo to try it out the next day. Fell in love with it when I pulled the trigger at the gun range nearby 🖤🖤
4 years later with paid training from the CCW license to advanced training and maybe about $400+ of ammo shot, I can easily say this is my #1 to go EDC
Good opening monologue. Yes, Mak has a punch. If you get a chance try out the CZ 83 in 380 with 12 rounds. Just like Mak, all metal.
I switch between carrying this or a ruger lcr in 327fed. For carry the heel release has advantage you wont accidentally drop a mag if you mishandle the gun in an emergency.
While I don't typically carry my Makarov, I do think it serves quite well for that specific role, and it's simplicity and reliability certainly instill confidence in me when carrying it. The lack of a magazine release is the main feature I actually really like about it, as it ensures that the magazine release will never be pressed by the holster and accidentally dropped (a problem which I've run into with softer-material holsters on different handguns in the past). Also, the double-action trigger is something that I've grown used to and really like, and I mainly use that feature on my Sig P220 as well. The only real reasons why I don't regularly carry it is because of its lower stopping power (I usually carry the aforementioned P220 because 10mm is great for black bears and I have a lot of those in my area) and also the very annoying location of the safety which requires that I hold the gun in a less comfortable way as to not have my thumbs beaten to shit.
I've got multiple modern setups with optics and lights and yadda yadda and I carry a plain jane iron sight EDC X9 in a Tenicor Certurm3 Holster. It gets the job done, its easy to carry, and it's hella stylish.😎 Carry what makes you happy my guy!
Man, take a shot of Jack Daniel's every time this fellow says BUT ! You'll be hammered by the end of this video. 😂😂😂😂😂
@@ralphreinhardt6020 bottoms up
BUT!
@@tylerwill5250 I like big butts and I cannot lie !! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
This was an AMAZING ad for makarov.
Well presented general review; thank you.
I thought about getting one of these years ago. With cheap Russian ammo no longer available I am glad I didn't, but ammo costs aside the Makarov will always be a respectable carry choice.
I respect it, what works for one won’t work for all. I appendix carry a Glock 19 with an Acro P2 and TLR7 but sometimes particularly in the summer I’m too lazy so I carry a 9mm Ruger LCR in a pocket holster.
I wanted one gun I could use for both concealed carry and to shoot matches and the 19 fits that role. The LCR is actually very similar to the Makarov with both having a heavy double action trigger, smaller overall size, and limited 9mm capacity so I can completely understand why someone would chose a Makarov.
Honestly anything proven to be reliable that you are comfortable carrying and using is a good carry gun.
The only 2 times I'd start to argue whether this gun or that gun is better would be hunting (mainly a long caliber selection) and Eotwawki (where the ability to source compatible parts becomes an issue)
I am a big M1911/2011 Fan, my two favorites would have to be the Staccato 2011 C2 9mm and the Kimber Eclipse custom ii.
YES YES YES YES YES YESVYESVYES! Makarov gang. My absolute favorite handgun and the one I trust my life too.
I have an east German Makarov made in 1960. It still looks new. I paid $175 for it in 1995. Its the only semi auto ive ever owned thats never jammed, not once. Ball and Hornady HPs, no problems. When ammo was hard to find I could still find 9×18 mak ammo. I've been offered $800 for mine but I'll never sell it.
Love my PA-63 and P-64.
9×18mm is serious.
All the pistols chambered for it are neat.
What do ,I, know? I carry a Tokarev.
I feel you on the cool factor of surplus carry. My first carry was a Polish P64. Followed by more surplus such as Makarov, Tokarev, M70, M88A, BM, 83 and 85F. I hate to admit it but once I got a Glock 43 I never looked back.
When I was a new gun owner my regret was not picking up one of these maks. Bulgarian surplus 99 dollars! It came with a leather holster that was around 2004. The Russian spetznaz auto load holster looks real cool.
I'm a MAK guy myself. CZ82, PA63, SMC9X18, and the Bulgarian MAK too.
I shot most of the local guns available in Russia. Makarov takes time to get used. Train with it, it makes sense! As soon as you get comfortable with it, it will become your best friend!
I want to carry a berretta 92fs because Paul Harrel likes it, and it's featured in some of my favorite games like payday 2, killing floor 2, etc. A really sexy firearm as well ofc
There's nothing wrong with a Makarov for CC, besides being slightly bulkier than some other equivalent options and the safety being too far back and difficult to reach with the thumb. Depending on your needs, you can just leave it off and rely on DA.
Is it really an odd choice? I was under the impression it was, or at least used to be, a relatively common choice, at least common considering the availability of everything else.
I think the CZ-82 or 83 are underrated choices as well.
Have you eve considered to try out a PMM? Basically same PM but with 12-round double stack magazine.
A beautiful gun she is! Absolutely solid.
The only thing I don’t like is the wimpy
8 round mag.
Definitely a unique carry option, but cool nonetheless the less. Also your particular makarov has a particularly beautiful finish.
I used to carry a Makarov. When I did, I bought a different grip that moved the mag release to the thumb area. Made a big difference.
Do you know who made that part?
@@humansvd3269 Yep, I believe it came from FAB defense. The installation was a little bit fiddly, but once I got it installed it’s been great
Makarov sends his regards.
STEP 1: SECURE THE KEYS!!!
STEP 2: ASCEND FROM THE DARKNESS!!!
STEP 3: REIGN FIRE!!!
STEP 4: UNLEASH THE HORDE!!!
STEP 5: SKEWER THE WINGED BEAST!!!
STEP 6: WIELD A FIST OF IRON!!!
STEP 7: RAISE HELL!!!
STEP 8: FREEDOM!!!
My favourite gun of all time
All the combloc weapons are so darn cool.
The Makorve is a very viable carry gun. It's no joke. Good choice.
I miss $10/box silver bear. I've got a few left but these days Mesko is my goto in my Polish P-64. Polish ammo built for my Polish pistol.
I carry with the safety on because it is not drop safe otherwise. I like that the slide is not locked on safe so I can chamber a round and have the hammer drop all in one movement. The P-64 is smaller and more comfortable to carry for me than the PM.
Makarov spends his regards -lol
I use a Vedder light tuck holster which is awesome and has an actual metal clip instead of plastic junque. With a foam wedge and a wing there is no printing and I like to carry at 11:30 just slightly crossdraw for a right-hander with a bot of a cant that keeps the muzzle centered and not pressing into either of my thighs when I sit or bend way over.
It's not a bad choice for carry. It's small and concealable, not that expensive... looks like they currently go for around $550... Is it reliable? Those are my 3 main criteria: Small obviously for comfort, inexpensive because it's risky to carry a gun around. Besides the fact that they (the police) will take it from you if you end up having to use it, even if its a good shoot, but it will also get beat up and you risk losing it. I carry a Bersa thunder in 380 from time to time, not too far off from the makarov and even cheaper.
@@ChadBoss-qr4hl never had a single malfunction from modern brass case ammo to cheap steel from russia
Same here always a fan of the Makarov and I love mine
A "Baikal" civilian variant of the Makarov has been my concealed carry gun for 20 years. The size counts when carrying concealed, and the 9 mm Makarov round is pretty capable. The mag release is the only annoying thing on it, but manageable.
Tbh it’s not a bad option and adds a level of class that most modern pistols don’t really have
With the slide locked back you can use the barrel and front of the frame as a bottle opener.
Based. Love my East German Suhl Makarov, very accurate gun
That was an amusing and interesting video; got you a sub.
I’m interested in Combloc stuff too, being a Cold War veteran (US Army 1984-88), and a Russian & East European Studies major in college. In my own firearms purchases this has only manifested itself in an AK and a Tokarev pistol; the former has been great for me but the latter has had some issues. No PSL for me; now THAT’S dedication!
I’ve never handled or fired a Makarov, and this is the first video in which I’ve seen one field stripped. Very impressive! The simplicity tempts me to get one, in addition to the history.
Still, I am not likely to get one because of the limited ammo availability and choices.
Ideas for new videos? You could weigh in on the interminable AK vs AR debate, though that has been kinda beaten to death. You could do one on recommendations for new AK buyers, or perhaps even options and opinions on PSL-type firearms. Another idea might be a range session with the PSL to show us what it is capable of in terms of long range accuracy if you’ve got access to an appropriate range.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing what you’ve got going forward.
PM made by Haehnl Suhl was my favorite (well, it was the service pistol) side arm, though the East German ammo had one added advantage, and that why it is outlawed in Germany today; it was considered armor breaking. Aside from PMs made by Baikal the Suhl ones were the best., though the Bulgarian one was fine as well.
Went to Tbilisi a couple years back for a training exercise. Georgian security guards everywhere are still packing Makarovs
Great vid ! I hope you’ll get more views in the future, you deserve it !
(Oh and I’m probably your first French subscriber lmao)
I am with you regarding collecting guns you like or find interesting, however for EDC I choose modern and more reliable weapons.
@@True_BabaYaga never jammed on me since the day I bought it
Respect. I carry a baby rock 380 1911 that I made faux ivory grips and brass grip screws for.
I got a baikal branded one and i love it. works great. it has adjustable sights on the back that make zero difference lol.
Do you carry an ai-2 aswell? Do you perhaps refer to those edc items as mac & cheese?
Everyone wanted a Makarov in the 70s and 80s . Small quality gun and easy to conceal. I was taught your hammer is your safety. Use it and wipe it down regularly and a little oil in the right places and it will last several lifetimes
Do you find it the ammo cost a disincentive to practice? Maybe finding it is part of the fun, but as someone interested in the hobby I’m hard pressed to not buy a 9mm because the round has the stopping power I want and is cheap. That way I can shoot more. Just a thought. Interesting pistol for sure.
I shoot it like once a month or so but the ammo definitely is a pain to find but I got a bulk buy for .30$ a round a while back but don’t wanna whittle that down just yet😅
you tend to twist your elbow to absorb the recoil, thats more of a revolver technique..
still, that was some fancy shooting.
you're pretty good
Makarov sends his regards!
Pretty cool, but how's the stopping power via expansion for 9x18? Doesnt look you're carrying JHP... Do they even make commercial 9x18 JHP?? - edit, they do! You should switch from FMJ to JHP
Would think conversion kit for 9x19 would be available for it
Awesome pistol 😮
"PM Makarov" is like saying chai tea
Love it! I also carry a bulgarian one. Fab defense made a neat grip with a mag release on the side, though i can't find it on their website anymore.
@@hotrodguy90 I want to find a dozor grip and a chafur customs threaded barrel for that “zenitco” makarov😎
Great video as usual black dragon
Back 15 years ago when i first started carrying this was actually a popular carry gun because you could get one for $200. Now it makes no sense at all unless you inherited one or just want to be different. That 1st double action pull is so bad on all of them i have seen and its important to be able to hit with your actual carry gun. For the price it makes no sense at all... I just picked up a brand new glock 26 gen 3 for $379. I just got an email yesterday from atlantic firearms where they are asking $450 for these. Thats absolutely insane. They are in an odd ball round, they dont shoot that great and theres so many better options avalible today. But if you just find it cool and want to carry it because it makes you happy, thats fine. Just dont fool yourself. it is what it is.
I carried a Mak for years, and could accurately hit a target faster by cocking the pistol and firing, as compared to that DA trigger pull.
Imagine trying to mug some guy and he drops you with a piece of Soviet history Tarkov style
I seem to be blessed with luck when it comes to makarovs. I was able to get a mid 70’s izhevsk military “sneak” makarov for 500 something dollars like 8 years ago, and I somehow managed to buy nearly 3000 rounds of nice brass cased 9mm mak for 23 cpr in June 2020 before ammo prices exploded thanks to Rona and the saint floyd riots.
Makarov sends his regards.
Hornady makes a Critical Defense load in this caliber as well😎
Lee also makes a lead mould to make bullets.
I plan to use a Makarov to carry, but I worry that if they stop producing or selling 9x18 Makarov ammo I'm gonna have to move over to a Glock and just store my Mak baby like a treasure... :c
S&B still makes makarov ammo and I think they’re the most available right now. You can find PPU, Critical defense and some of the russian surplus still left if you’re lucky. I managed to snag like 400 rounds of the Russian Bear ammo for like .30$ a round a couple months back so its still possible to find it.
make the right choice and defend yourself properly, the makarov is cool but if you are serious about self defense, use the better tool, dont get yourself killed for style points.
@@henryfisher9948that's what damn near everyone on this videos comments are doing, treating self defense tools like they are a fashion accessory.
there is a civilian version chambered in 9x17 aka .380acp
@@driftcat7076 I guess it does look good... I only want it because how I wanna use that small round, how good the gun is in terms of safety, simplicity, and I've played the STALKER franchise and the starting weapon in all games has always been the Makarov, so I fell in love with it since.
i carry a cz 82 or my serb tokarev in 9x19 but i wanted a makarov for ages !
Not that odd a choice. Pack about as much punch as a 9mm compact, is reliable and easy enough to shoot. I knew a semi retired LEO, Korean War vet who carried one. May have been on the wrong end.. He considered his to be one of the best guns he's owned . Now this one in the early CCW days but still,a fine weapon
I have a gunsmith friend who LOVES Makarov's.
Worth noting you literally can get a light rail and two different choices in grips that allow for a more modern mag release
The AK Guy @BrandonHerrera will be proud
The makarov follows one of the most important mechanical rules - simple is better. It demonstrates quite well too.
In some situations if you dropped it chambered (with round in the pipe) on the hammer without safety, makarov can fire. Same as Stechkin pistol. Take care.
Makarov is a very fine pistol, I called one for a long time, but the main problem is lack of defensive ammo in 9x18. Despite the fact the gun is 100% fine and unironically one of top options for a carry gun, it's just not worth it because of that ammo problem. You're better off carrying a .380 with some strong +P XTP ammo because that will give you better expansion than 9x18 FMJ or one of cheap JHPs available.
Shame, because if good 9x18 ammo was available it would be my regular carry gun