my first Makarov and I decided to go big (:

My carry ammo is PPU defense line 9x18

Comrades, I am pleased to announce I have ordered my first Makarov. It’s a Bulgarian model.

It’s nothing special, but I am looking forward to adding it to my collection. I was curious where everyone sources this cartridge? Locally to me, all I can find is JHP ammuntion, not very cost effective for range use.

Recommendations? Sources? Does everyone’s Makarov shoot steel case cartridges okay?

Salute, Comrades!

Love me some Cold War era stuff

Love it. Do it. Enjoy it! Hello to all Mac lovers from other continent!

So, longtime owner, new to the sub. Real quick, can someone tell me if my Russian IJ-20 is going to fit in a holster made for a Bulgarian model? Sorry if it's a nube question. I tried to research it, but found nothing. Thanks.

My grandfather recently passed down his 1960's Bulgarian makarov to me not too long ago, and gave me a quick rundown, and I've gone out to the range with it to get comfortable but I still have some lingering questions about some safe handling and carry, and the safety.

Firstly, I know that the makarov has a free floating firing pin, and I wanted to know how safe it is to carry uncocked but chambered? As well as how safe is it to manually drop the hammer into an uncocked position while chambered? I would like to be able to carry practically (though I have always carried unchambered in the past, I'd still would like to make sure for myself the safety of chambered carry)

And likewise, when engaging the safety mechanism on the makarov, it locks the slide and drops the hammer. Would this fire a chambered round? Again back to practical carry, If I were to carry chambered, I'd like to carry uncocked and safety engaged, but should the hammer slip and slam down, could it cause the gun to discharge? Does the safety also engage and prevent the firing pin from contacting the primer?

Got a 1980 Bulgarian makarov and the safety and hammer are both plum but very worn, was wondering if anyone could give me pointers on products or whatnot to maybe refinish them

As the title suggests, any good recommendations for speed loaders for the magazines?

Just want to find what hard to find parts for Makarov I need to bring back? No frames, slides, barrels of course. For sure gonna look for high capacity Makarov grips .

Question, just got a Bulgarian mak and I’ve noticed that sometimes while I’m shooting the firing pin won’t hit the primer. I took the firing pin out and cleaned the channel and the firing pin out thinking it was cosmoline causing it to stick. Took it to the range yesterday and I’m still getting it. This happens on double and single action. I had a click no bang and just pulled the trigger 2 more times in double action and it eventually went off. Not too sure what’s going on anyone have any ideas? And yes when I got these failures I checked the round and the primer wasn’t even struck I confirmed this at least twice.

I’m sure this has been asked tons of times on here, but I’m tossing around the idea of buying a makarov, what are some things I should look out for to make sure I don’t buy a messed up model or dud or something. I appreciate any advice tbh as I’m fairly new to the firearms part of milsurp collection in general.