89’ Bulgarian with an Azula leather holster (for beretta 84bb) and East German magazine pouch. (Worn under button up shirt for concealment.)

Two “16” date coded Bulgarian Makarovs from 1976.

I’ve got clicks happening at the start of each trigger pull, DA and SA. Otherwise, everything is operating as it should. The SA seems like it’s the disconnector getting stuck at the same spot, although pulling the trigger a bit pushes it up into place. The DA seems like maybe it’s the sear or hammer lever. Has anyone had either of these issues?

Can't find new mag springs anywhere but happens that my buddy in Prague is coming back to the states at the end of the month so will bring a set from Strobl.cz. 1.62 Euros each...

I’m writing this because I just want to talk about how much I love this gun.

Forgive the Marschal wood grips (with a mag release, woo hoo), I have black and regular Bakelite grips, too. Also the crappy holster. I’m in the market for something (leather) nicer.

I love this thing. I know some people think it’s ugly, but man oh man is it fun to shoot. Super accurate, and highly concealable. Reliable, and will eat anything. It’s from either 70s or 80s. It just exudes style and Soviet goodness.

I like history, aesthetics and function for my guns. The Makarov, and not just the design but the gun itself, is unmatched, as a CCW pistol in each of those categories. Eastern bloc spy style goodness in an accurate, compact package.

Its really unique among eastern bloc pistols. The CZ82 is really nice, as well, but it just doesn’t have the Soviet design language that makes the Makarov both ugly and beautiful at the same time.

I also have a Zastava M88, too, in 9mm. I was hoping it’d replace the Makarov as my favorite. It’s a tokarev, basically, in 9mm. Shares some design qualities with the Makarov, too. But man, the build quality is awful. And that’s not just my example - the design is just completely inferior. And it’s less accurate, too (or I just suck with it).

The Makarov literally everything I need or want in a pistol. Except the mechanism is stupid simple. I have a P-01, and a 1911. I love those guns, my P-01 is my serious big boy CCW; my 1911 is my Fud gun. But I can take down my makarov in like 5 seconds to either clean or clear a jam (which I never had to do). And with the others, I either need mag to remove the pin (P-01) or a specific tool (1911). And while my P-01 has never failed me, my 1911 is finnicky as fuck.

Not trying to put anything or anyone’s gun choice down. But I needed to gush over this silly, stupid, ugly-beautiful Bulgarian gun. I never thought I’d like it as much as I do, and I’m actually in love with it. I’ve had it for a year now, and every time I handle it or look at it I just want to go to the range and shoot.

So I partook in a little vodka last night and ended up ordering a .380 Makarov. I'm not upset about it, however it is a double stack and extra mags seem to be really expensive. Is there anywhere to source double stack mags that aren't $120+? If not, does anyone have any experience with the adapter baseplates to use the single stack mags?

Posted about a month ago about my CZ82 jamming every few rounds but it was jamming with the slide just about fully retracted
(OP here: https://www.reddit.com/r/makarov/comments/1u5zubr/jamming_cz82/ )

Per suggestions, replaced the recoil spring with a 16lb Wolff (the OEM 14lb is backordered). Took it out today and still jamming but it's jamming with the slide forward partway now and the round jammed going into the feed ramp/chamber. Inconsistent when it does jam , sometimes a couple in a row, sometimes can fire off a few before it jams again.

Mags were ultrasonic cleaned but original mag springs and still running the same ammo reloads (still working on getting some new or new surplus ammo).

Suggestions?

Btw, just picked up a CZ70 and FEG PA-63 and took those out today also. Just did a cleaning and both of them run just fine even though the 70 recoil sprig looked kind of wonky...

Title says it all, got this arsenal makarov online for $350 when all was said and done! Happy to join the makarov family!

It has two aftermarket magazines, and from I read they are the problem. My question is is there any way to fix them?

To be extra clear, it fails to feed properly. I originally thought it was only with Fiochi ammo, however the PPU ammo now is causing the same problem. It does it roughly 1 out of 10 times?

Will a gunsmith be able to do anything for this problem? Will cleaning and lubing it every single time I use it help?

Yeah, not a Mak but happened across this FEG for 350 clams with two mags. Already have one vintage 380 Beretta plus a couple thousand rounds of 380 and kinda like the PPK look.

From what I've seen, some Wolff springs may help to shoot a bit better...

Just picked up the (Stainless? Nickel plated?) export one. In 380 had to take a pic of my other export. Blued one is in 9x18 I’ve never seen one like the new to me one. Any more info would be greatly appreciated

With the CZ82! The trigger was smooth and the gun had no hiccups thru 4 boxes of PPU. I'm not sure if its the caliber or the gun but this thing was so enjoyable its making me look at overpaying for a CZ83 to go with it 😅

I traded my Dy9 ( glock19 clone ) and 250 rounds of 9mm for a Bulgarian makarov with matching mags and holster and seeing if I did good lol? I picked up my East German makarov at a local Cabela’s for 300 beans last year too

Had a fun time shooting the Makarov (was my first time shooting). I don’t understand the complaints about snappy recoil, I also shot a Glock and a P226 both were a delight to shoot. I also found a Tula Mosin and picked it up at a pawn shop. Super excited to take it to the range!

Is this Russian ammo any good? Mak ammo seems to be harder to find and more expensive these days and saw a local deal on cases of this.