Information & Specifications
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Price & Availability
| Price: | € 799.00 |
| Availability: | In Stock |
| Ships: | 14 business days |
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Detailed Description
The Makarov pistol resulted from a design competition for replacing the Tokarev TT-33 semi-automatic pistol. The TT was derived from the FN Model 1903 automatic pistol and was, by 1945, too large, weak, and unsafe as a military pistol. Rather than building a pistol to an existing cartridge, Nikolai Makarov designed a new cartridge, the 9x18mm Makarov, based on the Browning 9x17mm Browning Short (.380 ACP) cartridge. For simplicity and economy, the Makarov pistol was of straight blowback operation, with the 9x18mm cartridge the most powerful that could be safely fired by the design; though the given dimension was 9.0 mm, the actual bullet was 9.3 mm in diameter — shorter and wider and incompatible with pistols chambered for 9x19mm Parabellum cartridges. Soviet ammunition was unusable in NATO firearms, hence, in war, NATO would not be able to use ammunition from killed or captured Soviet soldiers or from Soviet ammo dumps.
In 1951, the Pistolet Makarova (PM) was selected because of its simplicity (few moving parts), economy, easy manufacturing, accuracy, and reasonable killing power. It remained in service with Soviet military and police until the end of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. Today, the Makarov is a popular handgun for concealed carry in the United States; variants remain in production in Russia and Bulgaria. Soviet and East German Makarovs are considered Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Curio & Relic eligible in the United States, as the countries that made them no longer exist.
Since 2003, the Makarov PM was replaced by the Yarygin PYa pistol in Russian service.
The Pistolet Makarova (PM) is a medium-size, straight blowback action, frame-fixed barrel handgun. In blowback design, the only force holding the slide closed is that of the recoil spring; upon firing, the barrel and slide do not unlock, as do locked-breech design pistols. Blowback designs are simple and more accurate than designs using a recoiling, tilting, or articulated barrel. Blowback-operated pistols are also limited practically by the weight of the slide. The 9x18mm cartridge is the largest, useful cartridge in blowback-operated pistols. The PM is heavy for its size, a desirable attribute in a blowback pistol; the heavy slide provides greater inertia against recoil.
The PM has a free-floating firing pin, no firing pin spring or firing pin block. This allows for the possibility of accidentally firing if the pistol is dropped on its muzzle. Designer Makarov thought the firing pin of insufficient mass to constitute a major danger. The Bulgarian-model Makarov is government-approved for sale in the U.S. state of California, having passed a state DOJ-mandated drop-safety test (its entry is due for expiration on Dec 6, 2008 unless renewed).
The PM`s notable features are its simplicity and economy of parts; many do more than one task, e.g. the slide stop is the ejector. Similarly, the mainspring powers the hammer and the trigger, while its lower end is the magazine catch. Makarov pistol parts seldom break with normal usage, and are easily replaced using few tools.
The Makarov has a DA/SA (double-action, single-action) operating system. After loading and charging the pistol by pulling back the slide, it can be carried with the hammer down and the safety engaged. To fire, the slide-mounted safety lever is pushed down to the "fire" position, after which the shooter squeezes the trigger to fire the gun. The action of squeezing the trigger for the first shot also cocks the hammer, an action requiring a long, strong squeeze of the trigger. The firing and cycling of the action re-cocks the hammer for subsequent shooting; fired single action with a short, light trigger squeeze. The PM`s operation is semi-automatic, firing as quickly as the shooter can squeeze the trigger. Spent cartridges are ejected to the shooter`s right and rear, some 5-7 feet away. When the safety is engaged,the hammer drops from the cocked position. The safety lever has a notch that blocks the hammer from striking the firing pin. This is the only safe way to lower the hammer.
The PM`s standard magazine holds 8 rounds. After firing the last round, the slide locks open. After inserting a loaded magazine, the slide is closed by activating a lever on the left side of the frame or by withdrawing it to release the slide catch; either action loads a cartridge to the chamber. The pistol is ready to shoot.
When engaged, the PM`s safety lever switch blocks the hammer from striking the rear end of the firing pin. The magazine release is on the heel of the handgrip. This design to avoid its snagging in clothes, and the accidental, premature release of the magazine.
From the mid-1980s until the early 1990s 9 mm Makarov ammunition was difficult to obtain in the U.S. In that time, one gunship writer suggested and tested the substitution of .380 ACP/9 mm Short ammunition in PM`s. The weapons fired, but were inaccurate beyond short-range, demonstrating keyholing at medium ranges.
Russian and ex-Eastern Bloc 9x18mm Makarov ammunition is inexpensive and widely available. However, much of this is Berdan primed and corrosive. Ammunition claiming to be non-corrosive should be treated as corrosive if manufactured in eastern Europe (due to concerns over quality control).
Explicit care must be taken to use the correct ammunition as there are several similar cartridges of 9 mm caliber which can not be fired safely or, most likely, at all in a Makarov. Similar cartridges often confused with the 9x18mm Makarov are .380 ACP (also known as 9x17mm Browning Short, 9 mm Short or 9 mm Kurz) and 9x19mm Parabellum. At one time it was difficult to procure the proper ammunition for this weapon, but this is no longer the case in 2007, since Russian-made ammo is inexpensive and widely available.
9x18mm Ultra or 9x18mm Police ammunition is not compatible with the Makarov, although they have the same 9x18mm designation. The 9 mm Makarov round is 9.25 mm as compared with the 9 mm Ultra`s 9 mm and the 9mm Police`s 9.02 mm. (see 9mm).
The correct ammunition is 9x18mm Makarov for most unmodified factory pistols, although replacement barrels and civilian models chambered in .380 ACP are also available, and will require .380 ACP ammunition for safe firing.