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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
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| Nov 16 2011, 11:33 AM EST (current) | LJ126 | 21 words added, 197 words deleted |
| Nov 16 2011, 11:28 AM EST | LJ126 | 2 photos added, 2 photos deleted |
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The PM Makarov (correctly pronounced "Muh-Kar-Uhv") was invented in the late 1940's by Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov and formally adopted as the primary sidearm of the Soviet Union in 1951. It served in the role from 1951 to 1991, replacing the aging and increasingly obsolete TT-33 handgun. The handgun was formally replaced in 2003, though many Russian soldiers still carry this incredibly popular and well made handgun.Caliber: 9x18mm Makarov
Capacity: 8+1 box magazine
OAL Length: 6.3 inches
Weight (unloaded): 26 oz (~1.5 lbs)
Features: European style magazine release. Blow-back operated semi-automatic. Safety with firing pin block and decocker. Basic iron sights. Bakelite grips.
Accuracy: Excellent when compared to similar handguns
Ease of Concealment: Above average
Value: Excellent - can be purchased for between $150-300 USD.
Ammo Availability: Limited - stockpile before it happens! It is inexpensive though.
I purchased my Bulgarian Makarov PM on my 21st birthday. It was the first handgun that I had ever owned and the first firearm that I ever purchased for myself. I paid $180 even for it, and as a "Happy Birthday" courtesy, the gun shop that I purchased it from gave me a slightnice discount ofdiscount. 10%. At the time, in Missouri you had to fill out a form at a local police station to apply for a 5-day waiting period before purchase, so immediately after paying for the handgun and putting it on layaway until I had my letter from the CLEO of St. Louis County Police. (This law has been repealed and is no longer in effect - buying handguns in STL is a single stop affair now.) In the 4 years that I have owned this handgun, it has had well over 10,000 rounds fired through it at various fire rates, there has only been one jam - which was in the first 200 rounds! I cannot give you a better representation than this - it is undoubtedly one of the most reliable handguns I have ever dealt with.
In stock configuration, the PM Makarov is a fine choice for concealed carry. There are some upgrades that should be considered to further enhance the handgun's capability. I have not performed these upgrades yet but intend to do so in the future.
WHY MODIFY??
You might be thinking - this Little Jon character has some sick fascination with modifying these Soviet guns. Well, let me share a little something with you all. I was the little kid who was obsessed with squeezing every possibly horsepower out of their Schwinn bike using gear oil, grease and stripping off unnecessary weight (like decals, reflectors, etc) to make my bike "faster". When I bought my first car (1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP) I still had this same mentality. I removed the spare tire and jack, purchased a new cold air intake, replaced the exhaust with a mandrel bent 3 inch cat-back exhaust system, put a new supercharger pulley on, better spark plugs and fuel injectors, put really nice 16 inch lightweight rims and a set of Yokohama performance tires and had the computer dyno-tuned. The car ran 14.5 in the quarter mile with minimal modification. For me, modifying is a way of life - I try to increase measurable performance at every turn using a minimalist approach.By addressing the inadequacies present in the handgun, you can make it a more well-rounded carry option. Unfortunately, there's not a fix for the magazine release other than practice to increase your speed. Fortunately, there are many ways to upgrade. Many people look down on those of us who modify our weapons. I don't feel bad about modifying thesea becausefirearm obviouslybecause I'mif notafterward, the onlyfirearm personbetter who's consideredsuits itmy ifpurposes, there'sI've aincreased its marketvalue forto parts!me.
PART ONE: FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENTS
GRIPS
If you've ever held or fired the Makarov, you will notice that the Soviet Union apparently does not love its soldiers' hands. This handgun (in milsurp form) is about as ergonomic as a wet fish!! The grips are functional; they keep you from burning or cutting your hands from the action and recoil of the pistol but they do not do anything to make holding the handgun more pleasant. The Soviets were considerate enough to provide checkering on the Bakelite (a reddish-brown hard plastic) so that it doesn't slip in your hands when shooting in the rain, however they did not do anything else. The factory grips do not absorb any recoil; rather transmits it directly to the shooter who is firing the weapon. It can hurt your hand if held low on the grip. Fortunately, there are several options available to you (and me!).available.Pearce Grip offers a replacement grip made of soft, molded rubber grip that is identical in shape to the factory grip - minus lanyard loop - but these absorb considerably more recoil than the military surplus factory grips do. Since it is rubber, it is a bit more adhesive than the Bakelite grips as well. It appears to be identical in size and shape as the factory grips, which is certainly a plus as well. This grip is available for approximately $16 at MidwayUSA.com and would make a fine addition to the Makarov setup.
If you're like me and are a fan of wooden grips, you are also in luck. Marschal Grips (pictured above and right) offers a few different variations of wooden grips for the PM Makarov - though they appear to be considerably more expensive than the Pearce Grip model. They are available for either $45 or $55, depending upon the type of wood that you would like to use.
There are other options out there, and should you decide to retrofit your Makarov handgun, the sky is the limit. There are many other companies and individuals producing quality grip options, and I guarantee you that Google will list most of the options available to you.
SIGHTS
The sights leave something to be desired from this shooter. Unless you've replaced sights on a handgun in the past, it may be worthwhile to send the gun off to have a gunsmith perform the job. The factory sights are small and insignificant, and they don't really allow for accuracy in low-light shooting situations. Like the grips listed above, necessity is the mother of invention and someone decided to address the inadequacies of the Makarov by installing Novak high visibility sights on their handgun.
There are many different options of sights and there's no way I could possibly go into all of the options here. You'll have to do some research and find out what you like! Trijicon, Inc right now is the brand enjoying popular success as their night site line is hard to beat. They are expensive and you'd likely pay more for sights than the handgun itself!!
- Trijicon website
- XS Sight Systems - available for Makarov (scroll down)
- Makarov.com - no longer does custom work, but still a good reference for sights
RECOIL SPRING
The factory recoil spring that comes with the Makarov is designed with Soviet surplus and military ammunition in mind - never did they consider that someone in the United States would be shooting ramped-up jacketed hollow points though it for use as a concealed carry weapon! The recoil spring is the big spring that wraps around the barrel of your Makarov. Fortunately, there are enough of us doing this to address the need for better recoil springs! There are a few companies that make replacement springs for the Makarov but the one that sticks out most in my mind is Wolff Springs.
Wolff Springs offers a variety of different springs for different loads. If you shoot lots of light weight target hand loads, it might be beneficial to drop from the factory 17 lbs spring to a Wolff 15 lbs spring. If you're shooting most commercial JHP loads, upgrading to the 19 lbs would be appropriate and certainly helps cut down on the felt recoil as the spring will absorb much more of the recoil. If you're a mad scientist and make your own 9x18 Mak +P ammunition, you should certainly consider the extremely heavy 21 lbs springs! The most popular choice is the 19 lb. springs, and you should probably go with these springs as well. The 19 lbs spring is approximately $8.00 at MidwayUSA.com.
COSMETICS
The Makarov tends to come with a blued finish, which (while attractive) isn't the most durable finish for a CCW weapon. It does offer minimal rust prevention but pressed up against a warm, sweaty (and don't forget oily) human torso it is going to wear extremely quickly. This is certainly a concern that should be addressed - sure, you might say that the finish doesn't bother you, but tell me this - do you prefer driving around in a sparkling, well waxed and trim car, or one that's covered in dirt and beat to tar? Remember, a handgun is an expression and extension of its owner, much like a car is, and you can tell a lot about a person based on the shape of their weapon.
Fortunately, there are lots of options in this department. In days past, there was an obsession with adding more metal to the firearm by having it chromed or nickel plated. These days are over (thankfully) and though they are attractive finishes, one should consider something a bit more modern. Lauer Custom Weaponry's "Duracoat" has been around for some time and received good reviews because of its ease of application and durability. It will resist abrasion, dents/dings, all but the strongest bore cleaners, and will even resist a hot salt water bath after its fully cured. Being an epoxy based system, it does require time to harden up to maximum durability but once it's fully cured it is certainly going to protect the firearm much better than the factory blue.For an expense of $50 (without shipping) you can purchase the LCW "Easy Finishing Kit" which contains all of the items required to Duracoat one or two firearms. It includes an airbrush with air hose and couplings, 9 oz. airbrush propellant with valve, color bottle with adapter, color bottle with cap, 4 oz DuraCoat stock color of your choice, 1 oz DuraCoat Hardener, 2 oz DuraCoat Reducer, 6 oz Aerosol TruStrip, and the DuraCoat Instructional DVD - which shows you how to properly and correctly apply duracoat to a multitude of different weapons.
On a philosophical note - I don't believe that CCW weapons should be painted in camouflage patterns. When you are arrested for manslaughter (which happens every time you defend yourself lawfully) this handgun is going to be the primary piece of evidence against you. Military style camouflage could be considered glorifying the military and killing - and is likely not going to help your case at all. Frankly, I would want to make the weapon more visible to the "bad guy" to increase its intimidation factor. Camouflage will make it less visible by breaking up its outline against its background.**
PART TWO: CCW HOLSTER CARRY OPTIONS
Because this article addresses CCW use, I am not going into detail about hip, cross draw or shoulder holsters because they can really only be worn in milder climates or during winter in warm areas. These holsters are not necessarily meant for concealment but they can be covered by jackets or long shirts. There are many different resources for these holsters - a simple Google search can yield you a plethora of information regarding the more common holster styles.
IWB (Inside-The-Waistband) HOLSTER
At the time of this article's writing it is well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in greater St. Louis county, the hometown of LJ126. Carrying in the open is still not legal in all 50 states and certainly is not legal here in St. Louis. Given that people will not be wearing jackets (much less coats) and may possibly be wearing shorts, the only concealment option right now is the IWB holster.
An IWB holster is exactly as its name describes. It's a sleeve-like holster that is worn on the inside of your pants and is clipped to the belt for security. Most of the handgun is stuck muzzle-down into the holster, exposing just enough of the grip of the handgun for the weapon to be withdrawn. The shirt is worn untucked and covering the handgun completely to conceal it further.
- Wearing a dark colored loose shirt and light colored baggy trousers will help keep the handgun from "printing" its silhouette through your clothes!!
- Make sure to wear a quality leather belt to help keep the holster secure, and wear it tight!
They are much less expensive but not nearly as dressy as a quality leather holster.ANKLE HOLSTERS
The ankle holster is another good way to conceal a firearm, but some people are not fans of this system of carry. It offers excellent concealment but speed of deployment and comfort are seriously diminished. That being said, its still a viable and popular method of carry for those who are wearing loose pants.
The best ankle holster for the Makarov I have found on the net is made by Fobus, which is one of my favorite holster companies. There have been reports that Fobus holsters damage the finish of a firearm but so does carrying! Using an ankle holster would be another reason to invest in a Duracoat finish (listed above). This holster is listed for approximately $40 and can be found all over the internet.
There are a great variety of ankle holsters available for the Makarov PM and you're certainly not limited in any way by choice. Make sure to shop around and get opinions from reputable sources before spending your hard-earned cash.
PART THREE: AMMUNITION CHOICES
Choosing ammunition for CCW is different from choosing plinking or range ammo - you should carry the
highest quality ammunition that will function reliably in your firearm. When you're bouncing a tin can around, it doesn't matter whether the bullet is going to mushroom properly so that it deploys as much kinetic energy into its target and create a large wound channel - but for CCW, it could mean the difference between protecting yourself and others from death. When choosing a load, make sure to purchase at least 50 rounds for testing purposes - just to make sure that it cycles reliably!
SILVER BEAR 94GRN JHP AMMO
I've used Silver Bear almost exclusively in my Makarov, and honestly it is my favorite ammo for it. It is extremely reliable, accurate, relatively mild recoil and easy to shoot quickly. It is also relatively clean burning ammo, though sometimes the lacquer from the steel casing burns into the chamber - this is easily removed with a bore brush and solvent. Available for as little as $10 per box of 50, it is also one of the most inexpensive options available.
HORNADY CUSTOM 95 GRN XTP AMMO
Truth be told, I've never tried this ammunition - and I've received mixed results from opinions of others. Some say it functions flawlessly and others say it jams reliably... However, I can say that Hornady is a quality ammunition manufacturer and that this ammo is likely of high quality. It is extremely expensive - nearly $1.00 per shot, but if it functions reliably - it is well worth it. There is no doubt in my mind that it is higher quality than Silver Bear ammunition. Hopefully your Makarov likes it!!
I have purchased a box of this ammunition and am going to test it for reliable the next time I go to the range. The article will be updated then.
UPDATE: I have tried this ammunition out but because each box only holds 25 rounds of ammunition I only tested 16 rounds, or two magazines. Each round functioned flawlessly but they are loaded quite hot and recoil is impressive. However, current reliability tests have shown good results - when I've got the money to throw at ammo I will test this more thoroughly. I would like to get 100 problem-free rounds through to determine reliability.
 LJ26's Weapons and Practical Skills Corner by (LJ126) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License. Based on a work at www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com. |
