[brazzaville]

Good afternoon.

Maks are sweet shooting guns. They are accurate and reliable, going bang every time they are supposed to. The only part of a Makarov that is garbage is the front sight blade which is tiny. A little fluorescent orange paint on the front sight and two white dots on the rear fixes the sight problem even for tired old eyes like mine.

The other weakness Makarovs have is the caliber which is probably the minimum you would want for a self defense pistol. Since I practice regularly and am a quick shot I don't worry too much about the small caliber.

I have a Bulgarian Mak on my hip or next to me at all times and often carry the Mak as a backup in an ankle holster when I carry my Series 70 Colt 1911.

9x18 ammo is inexpensive and common, magazines are reliable and inexpensive and you learn to overlook the rough finish.

Let's see I have one, I'm buying another one for my dear sweet pistolera wife and one for my grandson next year when he's ten. At $200.00 or less per piece, owning more than is a given.

The communists may have been evil but they did make good guns in their day.

Michael Frazier

[brazzaville]

I just re-read my last post and I would like to reassure one and all that I won't allow my grandson to actually own the Makarov but I will teach him to be competent, safe and responsible with it. When we are not at the range it will live in my safe. There, now I feel better.

Michael Frazier