I GUESS I'M NOW A MAKAROVITE....

12/15/11

I GUESS I'M NOW A MAKAROVITE....

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Here’re some of the basic specs:
• Weight 21oz (unloaded), 26oz (loaded)
• Length 6.9 in
• Barrel length 3.9 in

What about some subjectivity? Well let’s face it this is no target pistol. It’s old, been used, and not really overly tight. The PA 63 is, of course, a first cousin to the Walther PPK line. Disassembly is about the same for either; i.e., pull down on the trigger guard, move it to the side to hold it down, pull the slide back and lift it off the frame. As with the PPK there is no external slide lock although it does lock back following the final round. Grips are “plastic”. Surprisingly they fit very nicely; however, if I wanted to invest more money in the PA63 (which I don’t) I might consider trying to find some replacements (don’t know if replacement upgrades would be available anyway). Sights are minimal. The rear sight might just be driftable for windage. Trigger pull? In a word, awful - at least in my humble opinion. But I really didn’t expect a super slick trigger. The reach to the trigger in DA mode is a bit too long for my fingers. Have to slide the hand just a tad to get a solid finger pad on the trigger in DA mode.

So, let’s go take it out to the range and see if it can hit anything.

We got out there early - overcast, spring like weather in December. Rain was threatening so I needed to hurry a little. Set up at a measured 50 feet. As I’ve explained many times before, I’m a little lazy and don’t care to walk the extra footage to the 25yd line. I’ll let the math take care of that.

Shot from the bench, resting my forearms on my range bag (don’t have one of those fancy machine rests these gun-gurus’s use).

Here’s the result.



The PA63 really surprised me. If you’ll allow me best 4 out of 5 (don’t know what happened with that flyer at 3 o’clock) that’s a 1.5 inch spread that’d extrapolate (1.5/50 = x/75) out at 25yds to 2.25”. Though I’ll confess up front I think that performance is going to be the exception rather than the rule.

Believe it or not, I’m really pleased (within the context of that with which we are dealing) with the little devil. If nothing else, I think this’ll be a fun gun to shoot.

I guess that as I have now joined the ranks of the Makarovites, I’ll be assuming the patronymic, Makarovich


Ed

That's a nice one. Makarov's are great guns. Mine is an East German model. The trigger pull on it great. The only problem with mine is that you can forget about saving the brass. It throws it into the next county!!!

I've been tempted by a Makarov before, just never pulled the trigger.

I've got an East German as well and love it. Was my second handgun after a single action Colt reproduction so it holds a soft spot - wish I could have bought a few back when they were really cheap!

I got one just like it and it is a nice truck gun. If thieves steal it, they probably won't b able to find ammo after they wasted what was in mag. CDNN was running them for under $200 last I saw.

I have a PA-63 in .380 that I carry on a regular basis. Very accurate little pistol but like you said heavy DA trigger pull. It does carry well inside the waist band too.

Didn't know about the firing pin thing, might have to look into that!

Also Southern Ohio Gun carries spare mags for it cheaper than I've found them anywhere else.

I picked up a Baikal IJ-70 (Russian commercial version with an adjustable rear sight) a couple of weeks ago for$100.00 OTD. The safety detent spring was missing and the safety did not work. I ordered a complete safety for $28.00 plus shipping. It should be here this week. I did test fire it, but it spotty on the ignition (most likely because of the safety) but cycled fine when it did go bang. If the new safety fixes the firing situation, it will be my EDC on most days and back up to my S&W 915 for times when I go to less desirable areas. 9x18 bulk (3 bears, Tulammo) is cheap online, but I plan to use Hornady Critical Defense for carry purposes.

Op, Maks are know to be pretty accurate. It has a fixed barrel because its a blowback design, thus inherently more accurate than a typical JMB type action. Shoot, everybody throws a flyer now and then. That's why you practice. Or that's a good excuse to shoot.

I have seen good deals on surplus ammo from timt to time for the 9x18

i have a russian commercial Makarov in 380acp i got a couple of months ago. It isin very good condition with little to no wear of the blueing. It looks like it has barely been shot. I got it for $200 out the door.

It is accurate and i can’t make it jam even if i try. It is large by today’s single stack 380 comparisions, but for $200 it is one heck of a deal. I have not felt the need to carry 2 guns yet, but if i every do i, a Makarov IWB with a kel tec P3AT in the pocket would be a good option