The Case for the Makarov PM

The Civilian-Warfighter Every Day Carry (EDC) dichotomy:

Sometimes, one is forced to rethink what is espoused as concealed carry gospel by Tier One firearm instructors. The full-size/compact double stack striker-fired semi-automatic in 9mm, with at least one reload, fancy folding knife, tactical high-lumen output flashlight, and a plethora of other can’t-do-without gear works great if your daily attire consists of tactical cargo pants or shorts. If you don’t mind firepower overcoming discretion, that is.

To be tacticool without being a tacticlown, you need to take a strong, hard look at your Mission, Environment, and Context (MEC). Don’t dress up like an operator then try to apply their Techniques, Tactics, and Procedures (TTPs) unless you are one.

Those of us visiting, working, or living in interesting, Third World, less permissive countries where concealed carry isn’t a right, the price of many firearms is quite unforgiving, and detection means prison or worse.

Therefore, an emotionless and realistic reevaluation of alternatives should be undertaken, keeping your MEC in mind.

Would you believe that, in Lebanon, all of this can be had for the price of a Glock Generation 5? Keep your New In Box polymer wonder gun, I'd rather pay those 4,000USD and get the above platforms...

So, a Glock 17 or 19, because of its grip length and thickness, while giving its carrier more ammo and enhanced shootability, is as discreet as a pink dressed LGBT activist in a Hell’s Angels bar. (It isn’t, even in appendix carry. The Glock, not the activist). While many can disguise its profile, being conspicuous as well as adequately armed overwhelms common sheepdog fantasies and the “dress around the gun” BS. Not convinced? Try concealing a G19 when dressed conservatively in formal settings before repeating the “G19 is the best overall gun for any occasion” mantra.

Concealability is why small handguns (Easier to carry, sometimes harder to shoot) such as Jframes, subcompacts like the G26, and mouse-guns, remain popular.

In this article, we will outline below why we believe that the Makarov should be considered as a well-rounded compact EDC carry gun for use outside of the United States.

In business-casual dress, the Makarov disappears completely, especially when using a proper concealment holster from our good friends at Core Tactical.

Enter the Makarov:

The availability of Soviet and Russian military surplus Makarov 9×18 ammo and handguns in the Greater Middle East, Africa, Central, and Eastern Europe make the PM very attractive for concealed carry.

A simple platform where each part does more than one thing. Simplicity = Reliability = Peace of Mind.

Let us reexamine the Makarov’s pros and cons in a new light. You will soon discover that the PM, despite minor shortcomings, easily fits the role of a primary handgun for concealed carry.

A Cold War Relic in the 21st Century:

The major issue people have with comrade Makarov’s masterpiece is that some of its intended advantages are often touted as weaknesses. Let us examine them point by point:

DA/SA mechanism:

Most people growing up around striker or single action handguns are not fans of the double/single action design, stating the need for more training to become proficient with them. Contextually, the DA/SA for the PM was made as a drop safe replacement for the SA-only Tokarev TT30/33, allowing it to be carried locked and loaded safely while still permitting fast first shot on human-sized targets. Moreover, DA/SAs because of their design, are well-suited for Non Permissive Environments (NPE) appendix holsterless carry, making them quite useful for certain situations when dump-now-retrieve-later is important. While a tad heavy and gritty (depending on the country of origin of the Mak), the DA can be quickly and (Relatively) inexpensively improved into a very smooth one almost rivaling that of fancy well-established brands. Lastly, because the Mak is almost nuke-proof, you can be sure that it will still work reliably despite a rough dismissal.

Once stripped of its grip, the double action / single action mechanism is laid bare.

The decocker / safety:

A directly-linked gripe is its safety decocker combo, as it is the mirror opposite of the Beretta and Walther PP family of guns. However, like the Mossberg safety, it is very intuitive, with the thumb pressing the lever down while getting the proper grip. There is no possibility of accidentally or negligently discharging a shot with it or disabling the gun doing reloads. Since it also locks the slide and hammer, it is quite a useful thing to have in case you need to drop the gun when agents of the State show up and start screaming at you in tongues.

Ammo availability:

Depending on the region you’re visiting, Makarov ammunition might be more common as 9mm. In most Middle Eastern countries (other than Lebanon and Israel) 9×18 is indigenous. It is also popular with certain organizations and terrorist groups, especially those formerly aligned with the Soviet Union and their cronies. It’s usually best to store at least 5 magazines and 5 reloads for all magazines owned as backup, and for practice ammo.

Good old Cold War vibes of getting a box of of 9x18 chocolates :D

Round count:

To be honest, its lower capacity (8+1) isn’t such a major issue if compared to slim line handguns (S&W Shield, Glock 43) or subcompacts (G26, Walther PPK, etc. ) as its often only 1 or 2 rounds less in capacity. This also make the Mak’ single stack magazine ultra concealable. Why carry one reload when you can carry two?

Heel release:

A much maligned feature brought forth by the so-called issue of Tokarevs dumping mags in the dirt whenever someone looked at the magazine release. In truth, commissars were unhappy that soldiers speedreloaded, leaving that empty mag in the dirt. Off to Gulag tovaritch! To avoid overcrowding Siberia, it was decided to use a heel-release, effectively forcing users to retain empty mags. While this method might take some time getting used to it, it remains relatively functional, even without using the poor man’s quick release mechanism or the excellent Fab Defense PMG.

Size and Concealment:

Regarding concealment, the red Bakelite or black plastic grip are quite functional and keep the profile of the gun discreet. Despite allowing you lighting fast mag changes, the Fab PMG’s extended beaver tail makes it a bit less conspicuous than the factory grip. It might be a small price to pay for some though...

Looking for a more modern look? Check out the PMG.

Ballistics and lethality:

The Makarov was extensively used during all conflicts where the Soviet Union was involved. It convinced advocates of “DA MIGHTY FORTY FIVE™” that being shot with soviet steel core surplus ammo quickly teleports unbelievers to their Creator, where they vehemently and vociferously explained that such a subpar caliber shouldn’t hurt more than a flea bite and is perfectly survivable, no wait…

That little mushroom is mild steel core and gently convinces even the most recalcitrant opponent to leave you alone.

Hitting the broad side of a barn:

Being a blowback pistol with a fixed barrel makes the PM very accurate, offering center mass hits on targets at distances exceeding 50 meters. The author was able to repeatedly get DA as well as SA hits at 70 meters at a human sized rock. Can't see that small front sight? just dab a drop of paint on it et voila!

Snubby revolver? Never heard of her:

An often forgotten lore about the PM is that, because of a heavy slide and beefy barrel spring, it is able to shoot multiple rounds from inside pockets without any issues, originally a small revolver selling point.

One is a relic from another age, the other is our good friend from the USSR.

In conclusion, the Makarov PM is, in our humble opinion, no pushover even when compared to more modern pistols. Its inexpensive price, availability in most continents, utter reliability in any condition, ease of concealment, and shootability make it an excellent primary carry for those wandering in less fortunate settings.

For those interested, we offer Makarov specific courses, such as the Combat Shooting with the Makarov seminar (A Handgun Fundamentals course crafted exclusively for the Makarov platform) and the Makarov Guerilla Armorer course. We can also do a complete custom trigger job for a smoother DA press for anyone interested and living in Lebanon. Contact us NOW for more details!