Makarov pistol (PM): the most “controversial” pistol of the Soviet Union and modern Russia

History of creation

The creation of a new version of the weapon began shortly after the end of the Great Patriotic War, which showed the shortcomings of the TT pistol and Nagan revolver, which were in service with the Red Army. The condition of the competition, held in 1947-48, was the creation of a pistol with a design similar to the German Walter PP of the 1929 model.

Initially, two calibers were provided for the weapon - 7.65 and 9 mm, but the first was quickly abandoned. For the 9 mm caliber, a domestic PM cartridge with a size of 9*18 was developed, which was slightly larger and more powerful than the “Walter” original.

The main advantages of such a cartridge were a greater stopping effect (compared to 7.62*25 from the TT) and the possibility of using a simplified automatic circuit with a fixed barrel and a freely moving bolt in the Makarov pistol.

The designs of many gunsmith designers were entered into the competition, among whom were the famous names F.V. Tokareva, S.A. Korovina, S.G. Simonov and many others. N.F. also presented his project. Fedorov.

Pistols, Mauser, Beretta and a number of others acted as opponents to these designs.

According to all test results, the best performance was found in the design of the Makarov pistol of 9 mm caliber, which was recommended for mass production, as well as for adoption under the designation PM. The designer managed to perfectly calculate the relative position of the cartridge relative to the chamber and the optimal geometry of the mating parts.

Thanks to this, it was possible to completely avoid the problem of jamming in the inclined part of the chamber. Since 1951, supplies of 9 mm PM began for the needs of the army and police. Thus began the gradual displacement of TT pistols.

Makarov pistol (PM): the most “controversial” pistol of the Soviet Union and modern Russia

Makarov pistol of 9 mm caliber chambered for 9x18 mm PM or PPO cartridge. He's just a PM. On the Internet - the most “controversial” pistol of the Soviet Union and modern Russia. “Controversial” in the sense that those who have never held it in their hands love to argue about it, or those who have held it, but never bothered to learn how to shoot... Those who know how to shoot and have personal experience in dealing with PM don't argue. They already know everything about him, just as they know that there’s really nothing to argue about.

Makarov pistol: the most “controversial” pistol of the Soviet Union and modern Russia

So, the first, “raw” and not yet fully developed version of the Makarov pistol went “for testing” in the Soviet Army and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in 1949. Until about the mid-50s, the pistol was very tightly “processed with a file”, curing “childhood diseases”, making it lighter and cheaper. Don’t forget, the USSR had just finished the Great Patriotic War, there was no extra money in the treasury. Later, by the way, they still didn’t calm down, and they changed some little things right up to the beginning of the 2000s. Under the USSR, these later changes were extremely insignificant and were more “cosmetic” in nature, and after its collapse they became downright harmful, seriously deteriorating the quality of weapons. If anyone is interested, you can look here - forum.travmatik.com. Honestly, I really admire this work. I knew much of what was given there, but I didn’t know much and didn’t even guess. The author conducted a very serious study, and also collected illustrative material - my respects. Therefore, I simply have nothing to add to what was said in the link.

Now a little history.

The USSR started thinking about the need for a new pistol immediately after the end of the Great Patriotic War. The requirements for the new peacetime weapon were simple: lighter and safer than the TT.

Actually, in short, that’s all. What are the real disadvantages of the “self-loading pistol mod. 1933" did I mention this pistol in the post? The lack of a safety lock, an inconvenient handle, frequent cases of magazine loss due to reset using a button, and an overly powerful cartridge, which made shooting very uncomfortable for an insufficiently trained person.

What do we see in the case of PM. With a pistol, I repeat, in peacetime.

The fuse appeared on the PM

Quite comfortable and reliable, flag type, suitable for the thumb of the right hand. When raised, the trigger is removed from the cocking position without firing a shot. And the trigger is blocked quite reliably. Personally, I have never heard of a fired PM with a working fuse on. Even if a pistol with a cartridge in the chamber falls on the floor. What happened to the old TT guys. And even a modern SigSauer 320 happens. Moreover, Zig has a real problem. It exists and cannot be treated... And in about 80% of cases with PMs with some kind of misunderstanding, the employee just needs to put the weapon on safety and start loudly calling the instructor or someone more knowledgeable. A Makarov pistol with the safety on is safe.

2. Handle

Yes, the handle is still far from the ideal ergonomic shape, but still much better than that of the TT. And right now he’s making handles on the PM with a “beak” almost like the Colt M1911. It actually feels more comfortable in the hand! What prevented me from doing this earlier for TT, and then for PM, I don’t understand. In a word, the handle of the PM is far from perfect, but still better than that of the TT - a fact. Flaw? Well, to be honest, yes. Even if not very serious.

The magazine and how to reset it

Many people consider the PM magazine latch to be a disadvantage. Like, the button is faster. I will say this: the PM is a peacetime pistol, designed for daily wear, but not for frequent use. There were a lot of people who loved TT stores during the Second World War; I already referred to Ulanov in the text about TT. But there was a war, there were cruisers sinking and hundreds of tanks burning near Prokhorovka... And then there was some kind of magazine and 8 rounds of ammunition... But the war was over. And the loss of 8 rounds of ammunition turned from a minor misunderstanding into an emergency. That is why, in order to initially prevent frequent losses of magazines and cartridges in them, the terms of reference for the new pistol immediately included a Walther-type latch. And even improved, we combined it with a mainspring. There are fewer parts to disassemble, and weapons have become cheaper to produce. And here it’s better to remember: it was 1949, the country had not yet recovered from the Second World War, from the Bug to Moscow hundreds of cities were in ruins. There is no extra money, every penny counts.

Let's move on. What is actually good about a button? Yes, the store is falling faster. And what? The problem is not so much that the old magazine is dropped. It’s more about getting a new one into the gun quickly. And here is my personal experience: those who quickly send a full magazine have no problems at all with dumping an empty one. And the reset button for them is just a small pleasant bonus, nothing more. They do just fine without it. And most of all, the Makarov pistol is criticized for the lack of a button, and in general for its “moral obsolescence” by those who can only shoot themselves in the ass with it without any problems. But we will return to them later.

Cartridge - 9x18 instead of 7.62x25

Less powerful, giving much more comfortable recoil for the shooter, having a serious stopping effect, but at the same time much less penetrating effect than that of the TT. That is, this cartridge is more comfortable to shoot, but a little more difficult to kill. Which was also a plus, oddly enough. Because following the results of the Second World War, the military understood that an officer should fight with a machine gun, and not with a pistol. And in the army, a pistol is now more of a status weapon. He hung the holster on his belt - that means he’s the boss. And you can command those who do not have a holster. It is clear that I am slightly simplifying and exaggerating, but in general, everything is exactly like that. In a modern army, an officer on his belt can wear even a muzzle-loading Lepage from the mid-19th century... And for those who really want to go to war, simultaneously with the PM, the APS was developed and adopted for service. But about him next time. For the needs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the 9x18 cartridge was also much more suitable. Still, the main task of a policeman then and a policeman now is not to kill a criminal, but to detain him. Kill only if absolutely necessary.

What's the result?

As a result, the Soviet Army, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the KGB of the USSR received exactly what they asked for - a peacetime pistol. Lightweight, compact, with reliable foolproof protection and a high level of security, easy to disassemble and maintain.

What they asked for is what they got. A weapon for a guard or patrol policeman (policeman) with a not very high level of training, and sometimes not a very high level of intelligence, what else. The Soviet Union is a big country. And the police and army there recruited people not only from Moscow and Leningrad, but also from remote villages and villages. And for combat operations in the army there was an entire arsenal of automatic weapons, but if you just need a pistol, please give you an APS. For all other tasks, the Makarov pistol is more than sufficient. Here is a scan from the PM manual again. These are all the goals and objectives of this pistol... As for me, it copes with them quite confidently.

Now about the shortcomings of PM, both imaginary and real

Small magazine capacity

On the one hand, yes, only 8 rounds. On the other hand, I repeat, the PM is a peacetime pistol. “To war”, at the same time, a twenty-round APS was developed and put into service. Production of which, by the way, officially ceased in 1958. Precisely because they were finally convinced: a pistol is NOT needed in war. In war, everyone fights with machine guns. And as a status symbol and PM - for the eyes.

Now about the PM as a weapon for the police. It is extremely rare for a policeman (formerly) and a policeman (now) to engage in a lengthy shootout. I have personally kept official statistics for the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Moscow region since 2013: in 95% of cases when an officer uses a weapon, less than 8 shots are fired. Once again: only in 5% of shooting cases does it come to changing the first magazine... And the employee has two of them. This means that the police officer’s BC is sufficient for his tasks. Yes, there are exceptions, such as the CTO in the North Caucasus. But there the policeman has a Kalashnikov assault rifle and at least a double ammunition cartridge for it - 8 magazines...

Low firing range...

Well, I have nothing to say here... You might think that everyone shoots at 100 meters from a Glock, yeah. I will say this, this is not a drawback, it’s just the whining of those who don’t know how to shoot. Grandfather Hickok from the PM hits bottles at 70 meters and praises the pistol. If you don’t believe it, google “American about the Makarov pistol” on YouTube and see for yourself.

I, an old, blind and sick monkey, confidently and without misses worked on a 6v target at 50 meters. My partner, who is young and, unlike me, has no history of concussion or vision problems after it, at the same 50, calmly works on glasses on a standard chest with circles, which is No. 4. Rarely appears as a seven. At the same time, I have one question: why even use a pistol at a distance of more than 25 meters? For such distances there are PP and automatic rifles.

PM is supposedly heavy

Come on! The weight of the PM is 810 grams with a full magazine. Glock - 900 gr., TT - 950 gr., Beretta-92 - 960 gr., CheZet-75 - 1 kilo 100 gr., Colt M1911 - 1 kilo 100 gr., APS - 1 kilo 200 gr.... Unless SigSauer 226 -th is 8 grams lighter than the Makarov pistol. And Walter PPK. Only Walter is much worse in terms of reliability and even older in age. So “You better check your information” (c) film “Aladdin”.

PM is supposedly unreliable

Well, yes, Glock has shot up to 30 thousand or more, and the PM has only 4-5 under the factory warranty... It’s obvious that it’s junk. But Glock has those 30 thousand, usually this is the result at the shooting range. At always the same temperature, not in the rain or snow, not in the cold, not in the heat. Always with good quality ammunition...

The Makarov pistol, firstly, is used in much more severe conditions. Secondly, in reality, and not according to papers, it quite calmly “holds” about 20 thousand rounds until serious damage makes further shooting impossible (usually a crack in the bolt). And this is my personal experience, I have been working with PM at the shooting range for the eleventh year. I know the shot on each of my barrels when I send it for destruction. Thirdly, I will return to the phrase that I have written here more than once. PM is a peacetime pistol. It is not designed for continuous firing. Initially, during its development, such a huge resource was not required, which means it was not included in the strength of the structure. If there had been a different technical specification initially, I believe there would have been different results.

Inconvenient magazine removal

I wrote about this above. The speed of changing a magazine does not depend on how quickly an empty one falls to the floor. And it depends on how much the full one is sent into the handle. So, those who deliver the goods to the store quickly have no problems with extraction. And for those who whine about “inconvenience,” everything sucks in everything, including shooting accuracy. Among such complainants, I personally observed citizens who missed the target at 10 meters. Nowhere at all. They can’t hit a sheet of paper 75x75 centimeters at 10 meters! And what use is that button to them?

High probability of misfire when firing by self-cocking

This is, perhaps, a real drawback. And actually existing. I even described it in one of my books. So, the essence of the problem: if you put a cartridge into the chamber, and then put the PM on the safety, and then remove it from the safety and try to fire a self-cocking shot, there is a very high probability of a misfire. Therefore, if there is a cartridge in the chamber, after removing the pistol from the safety, it is recommended to cock the hammer into the firing position with your thumb.

Reason: when firing with the hammer cocked and when firing self-cocking, the PM's stroke length differs by some fractions of a millimeter. There really are almost microns. BUT! Due to the not very high quality of the PPO cartridges currently in service, sometimes these fractions of a millimeter are not enough to apply the required depth to the puncture on the primer and ignite it. There will be a puncture on the surface of the primer, but there will be no shot.

I talked with employees who worked closely with old, “red” bimetallic PM cartridges of the old model. They say that “under Stalin there was no such crap.” That is, the lack here is primarily of ammunition, and not of a pistol, but still...

In general, I noticed that the Makarov pistol is only criticized by those who don’t know how to shoot. They have read and heard plenty of fairy tales about Glock, and are firmly convinced that that Glock itself hits the target.

Those who can do it, and do it well, are much more reserved in their assessments. As the deputy commander of our SOBR near Moscow told me in a personal conversation: “This pistol is not sufficient for our tasks.” That’s right, SOBR soldiers need a pistol that has a cartridge with increased armor penetration (you never know, maybe the enemy is wearing body armor) and a larger magazine capacity. And so they buy Glocks, targeted, individually. Because the gross PYa turned out to be junk, and the SPS, aka SR-1, aka “Gyurza”, remained a rare curiosity. But that's a completely different story...

(c) Boris Gromov

Composite parts

The pistol was supplied with a set of accessories, consisting of a spare clip, a kit for cleaning and wiping parts, as well as a holster with a safety strap. The design of the pistol is quite simple, thanks to which it consists of only fourteen main parts.

Complete disassembly will divide the weapon into a larger number of parts - 32.

The PM pistol includes the following key components:

• One-piece frame including barrel and trigger guard. The barrel is installed with tension using a press into the body part of the frame and is additionally secured with a pin. This unit is non-separable. Some pistols were equipped with frames of a special lightweight design - with several drilled holes.
• The bolt part, which includes a firing pin, a safety element and an ejector. The last part is used to remove empty, spent cartridges.
• A spring that carries out the return stroke of the shutter.
• The mechanism that is responsible for the functionality of the striker.
• A facing handle that is attached to the frame with a screw.
• Shutter delay.
• Replaceable magazine located inside the handle.

Many parts used in the PM design have a dual purpose. For example, bolt stop parts are used as a device for deflecting cartridges. Due to its special shape, the mainspring is used to support the cocking lever, as a sear drive spring, and to retract the hammer when the weapon is put on safety. The lower part of this spring is used for the magazine latch mechanism.

The device of the Makarov system pistol

The automatic action of the PM is based on a free shutter. The barrel is locked due to the inert mass of the bolt. The elasticity of the return spring, placed on the barrel, is not involved in the locking itself; it only returns the bolt to the forward position. Double action trigger with open hammer. The PM uses a free striker that does not have a spring holding it in the rear position. Theoretically, this could lead to a spontaneous shot when the pistol falls from a great height, but N. F. Makarov believed that the firing pin did not have sufficient mass to seriously take this possibility into account.

The pistol consists of 32 parts and the following main parts:

• frame with barrel and trigger guard;
• bolt with firing pin, ejector and safety;
• return spring;
• trigger mechanism;
• handle with screw;
• shutter stop;
• shop.

After the magazine is inserted and the cartridge is chambered, the PM can be put on safety. In this case, the hammer is safely released from cocking, the hammer moves away from the firing pin and is blocked, the trigger moves forward and is also blocked. The bolt is also locked (in the Walter PP the bolt is not blocked and the weapon can be reloaded with the safety on). When the safety is on, the PM is ready to wear.

PM device

Before firing, the safety lever located on the left side of the rear of the bolt must be moved to the lower position, to the “fire” position (more convenient than in the Walter PP, where the lever must be moved to the upper position). The trigger will be on the safety cock and the PM will be ready to fire by self-cocking. When you first pull the trigger, the hammer is cocked at the same time, so the release requires more force than with the hammer cocked - about 3.5 kg. After the first shot, the trigger will be cocked (set to combat cocking) and a short light press with a force of about 1.5 kg is enough to fire.

Partial disassembly of the PM pistol

After removing the safety, the hammer can be cocked manually, as in pistols with a single-action trigger, for a more accurate first shot. When cocking the hammer, the trigger moves back. Now the first shot can be fired with a short press. The hammer can be decocked by holding it with your thumb and pressing the trigger. After the trigger is released and goes forward, the hammer will be engaged in a safety cocking position, which prevents the hammer from contacting the firing pin when the hammer is not fully cocked.

The cartridge case is ejected to the right after the shot.

A standard PM magazine contains 8 rounds. Once all the cartridges have been used up, the bolt locks into the slide stop. You can release the shutter from the delay using the lever on the left of the frame. If an empty magazine is not inserted, then you can remove the bolt from the delay in another way, by pulling it back a little and releasing it. If a loaded magazine is inserted into the pistol, then, after removing the bolt from the delay, the cartridge is sent into the chamber, and the pistol is again ready to fire.

The magazine release, like most European pistols of that time, is located at the base of the handle. This arrangement of the latch prevents accidental removal of the magazine, which is typical for the TT pistol, but is less convenient for quickly changing the magazine.

Complete disassembly of the PM

The distinctive features of the Makarov pistol are its simplicity of design and versatility of parts. Thus, the bolt stop also serves as a reflector for cartridges. The double-leaf mainspring serves simultaneously as a cocking lever spring and a sear spring, as well as a trigger release spring (the bend of its wide feather) when the safety cock is set. The lower end of the spring is the magazine release spring.

N. F. Makarov created a pistol, the design of which contains a number of original solutions. The pistol is easy to use, has a longer service life and is more reliable than the Walther PP used as a basis.

Makarov pistol - video

Some parts, for example, the mainspring and, in particular, the fuse, have a rather complex shape. But, later, changes in technology made it possible to simplify and reduce the cost of production.

Scheme of work

After installing the magazine, the bolt pushes the cartridge into the chamber cavity. The cartridge is loaded from the tapering upper part of the clip. Then the PM is put on safety.

To carry out this operation, a flag switch is installed on the left side of the shutter. This device removes the trigger from the cocked position and completely blocks its movement. At the same time, the trigger element of the pistol is also fixed. An additional lock on the safety mechanism completely blocks the bolt. When carried in a holster, the PM must always be with the safety on.

Before firing, the PM must be removed from the safety lock. The pistol is taken in the right hand, and the flag moves down, where it enters the “fire” mode. In this case, the pistol trigger is automatically set to a special safety cock.

Pulling the front of the trigger for the first time requires a lot of force - about 3.5 kg. This is due to the fact that when pressed, the hammer is cocked.

The following shots require less effort (no more than 1.5 kg), since the hammer will be cocked by the force of the powder gases. For more accurate aiming during the first shot, the trigger has a manual cocking function. At the same time, it is moved downwards with your finger, and the trigger goes a little deeper, towards the handle.

If necessary, the trigger is removed from combat mode manually. To do this, the shooter recesses the trigger, while at the same time restraining the movement of the trigger with his thumb. After releasing the hook, it will take the safety position. Due to the rod system, it will put the trigger in the same position.

The mechanics of the Makarov pistol work as follows:

• When you press the trigger with your finger, it will move back and move the trigger, which will sharply set the firing pin in motion.
• The firing pin destroys the primer located at the bottom of the cartridge case and ignites it.
• The flash from the primer is transmitted to the main charge of gunpowder, which burns and produces a large volume of gases.
• The gases force the bullet through the barrel and exert opposing pressure on the bottom of the cartridge case.
• The sleeve carries the bolt with it, which begins to move backward. This causes the return spring to be compressed.
• The cartridge remains in the ejector until it comes into contact with the reflector. After this, it is thrown out to the right side.
• The shutter continues to move until it reaches the rearmost point, at which it turns the trigger on the axis and sets it to cocking mode.
• Then, under the force of a compressed spring, the shutter begins to move back.
• During movement, the bolt, using the rammer on it, captures the cartridge from the clip and sends it into the chamber of the barrel.
• At the end of the stroke, the bolt locks the barrel. Since the bolt and barrel do not have any connection, the barrel bore is locked solely by the mass of the bolt itself and the force of the return spring.
• The shooter presses the trigger again and the next shot is fired.

After firing the last cartridge from the clip, the shutter enters the delay mode. After installing a new clip, the delay is removed using the lever on the left side of the pistol frame. In this case, the first cartridge from the clip is fed into the chamber. The magazine installed in the handle is secured with a latch located at the bottom of the handle.

This design completely eliminates the possibility of spontaneous removal of the clip when carrying or when removing the pistol from the holster cavity.

Legendary Soviet pistol

The purpose of the Makarov pistol is to defeat the enemy in close combat. The effective radius is 50 meters. The destructive power of the bullet is maintained at a distance of 350 meters. The weapon is 161 mm long and 126 mm high and weighs 730 g.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the Makarov pistol:

• caliber - 9.27 mm;
• weight in running order - 810 g;
• sighting range - 50 m;
• rate of fire - 30 rounds per minute;
• initial bullet speed - 315 meters per second;
• Magazine capacity - 8 rounds.

Material part of PM

The Makarov pistol consists of 32 parts. The accessory kit includes a spare clip, a holster and a strap for attaching the weapon to your trouser belt. Disassembly, cleaning and lubrication are carried out by wiping. The small number of parts allows you to clean the product efficiently and quickly even in the field.

Main parts of PM:

• a frame on which the barrel and trigger guard are attached;
• bolt with ejector, firing pin and safety;
• bolt return spring;
• firing mechanism PM;
• shutter lag;
• lever;
• ammunition clip.

The frame is designed to connect all the mechanisms of the gun. The barrel directs the flight of the bullet, and the trigger guard prevents an accidental shot. The cartridge is sent into the chamber by a bolt, which locks the bore before firing. The shot is fired by activating the trigger.

After the shot, the device ejects the cartridge case and cocks the hammer. The return spring moves the bolt to the forward position. The outermost coil of reduced diameter ensures fastening of the part to the barrel. The bolt stop locks the bolt in the rear position when the last cartridge in the clip is expended.

For comfortable holding of the weapon in the hand there is a plastic handle. At the bottom left side there is a swivel to which the pistol strap is attached. The magazine is designed to accommodate cartridges and feed them into the chamber using a spring.

Principle of operation

Pistol shooting consists of four stages:

• Equipping with ammunition and transferring the weapon to the “combat” position.
• Shot.
• Ejection of spent cartridges.
• Reloading and preparing for the next shot.

The magazine, loaded with cartridges, is inserted into the pistol grip and held in the weapon by a spring latch. The upper cartridge is pressed against the ridge of the bolt. To bring the PM into combat readiness, it is necessary to move the bolt to the rearmost position and release it. When the bolt moves backwards, the trigger is fixed by the sear in the firing position. The return spring brings the bolt to the forward position, installing the cartridge into the chamber with the rammer.

Pulling the trigger raises the sear. The released trigger, under the influence of the mainspring, hits the firing pin. The cartridge capsule breaks. A shot occurs.

The resulting powder gases push the bullet out of the barrel, while simultaneously retracting the bolt back. The spent cartridge case, encountering the reflector, flies out, and the next cartridge, under the pressure of the magazine spring, rises and is installed in front of the rammer.

After the shooter releases the trigger, the cocking lever lowers and enters the sear protrusion. The trigger is set to the firing position. The pistol is ready to continue firing.

Weapon maintenance

To clean and check the condition of the components, the Makarov pistol is partially or completely disassembled. Such procedures are one of the main conditions for maintaining a weapon in good condition.

In combat or training situations, cleaning must be carried out daily. After firing with blank or live cartridges, the bore and chamber cavity are cleaned immediately. Regular daily cleaning should then be carried out over several days.

When storing a pistol, the owner should carry out preventative weekly cleaning of the weapon.

Before lubricating, the surface of the weapon should be thoroughly wiped to remove any remaining moisture. The main types of lubricant are liquid gun lubricant or a special RFC solution used to clean the bore in barracks conditions.

After washing with the solution, the weapon is wiped with a rag and lubricated. Caring for a holster for a Makarov pistol involves regularly wiping it with a soft cloth on all sides to remove traces of water and dirt.

The sequence of steps for partial disassembly is as follows:

1. Press the latch with your finger, pull the clip by the lower protrusion with another finger and pull the clip out of the handle.
2. Turn off the fuse.
3. To check that there is no cartridge in the inside of the chamber, you must move the bolt all the way back. After locking the bolt for delay, you must visually check the chamber.
4. Release the shutter from delay mode.
5. Move the trigger guard down a little and then move it to the left. The bracket should rest against the frame and remain in this state in the future. Additional retention of the bracket during disassembly is carried out with the finger of the right hand.
6. Then you should remove the bolt from the pistol frame. Initially, it is pulled all the way back, while simultaneously lifting it by the back side. During movement, the bolt will move forward slightly under the influence of the compressed spring and will be removed from the frame.
7. Install the trigger guard in its original place.
8. Remove the return spring installed on the surface of the barrel. The part is removed with rotational movements. When reassembling, be sure to put it back in place correctly. The reference point is the front turn, which has a reduced diameter.
9. Clean and lubricate parts.
10. Assemble the pistol in the reverse order of disassembly.

When installing the valve in its original place, the end of the spring should be inserted into the channel in the valve. Then you should pull the shutter all the way back, keeping the back part raised.

At the rear point, the bolt is lowered by inserting the existing hooks into special grooves on the pistol frame. Then the bolt part is released, and it sharply returns to the location of the extreme forward point under the influence of a spring. When installing the shutter in place, it is not necessary to move the bracket to the side.

For more thorough inspection and cleaning, complete disassembly is used. The instructions do not recommend carrying out such an operation too often, since it leads to wear and tear on the material part of the Makarov pistol.

The main reasons for complete disassembly are the long exposure of the gun to precipitation, in conditions of heavy dust and before using a new type of lubricant.

When performing such work under normal conditions, it is performed on a table or any flat surface. Disassembly of weapons in the field is carried out on a clean substrate.

Complete disassembly is a logical continuation of incomplete disassembly and consists of several stages:

1. Removing the sear and mechanism for delaying the shutter from the frame. To do this, you should gently pull the trigger, braking it with your finger. Remove the tip of the sear spring from the mounting point on the bolt delay. Removal is carried out using a special protrusion located on the wiping rod included in the tool kit. Then you should rotate the sear body until the plane on the right trunnion aligns with the counter slot in the frame body. At the next stage, you will need to lift the parts up and carefully remove them from the frame.
2. Separating the handle and mainspring from the frame. To remove the handle, you need to unscrew the screw. The wiper rod or shutter delay reflector acts as a screwdriver. After unscrewing the screw, the plastic housing of the handle is pulled down. To dismantle the spring, it is pressed against the base of the handle and then moved down along it. At the same time, the spring valve is removed and it itself is separated from the boss made on the lower part of the handle (on early releases of the PM there is no valve).
3. Disconnecting the hammer from the trigger, as well as the trigger rod and the lever used for cocking. Before starting this stage, move the hook to the maximum forward position all the way, while simultaneously turning the trigger forward. When turning, special planes made on the trigger axes must coincide with the mating surfaces on the pistol frame. At this moment, the trigger moves towards the barrel and is then removed from the frame. Then you should lift the end of the rod from the trigger with your fingers, and then remove the pin from the counter hole. Return the trigger guard back down, turn the hook slightly forward and remove it from the guide pins in the frame. After removing the hook, return the bracket back.

1. Removing the safety device, firing pin and cartridge ejector from the bolt body. To do this, set the fuse box in the upper position, move it to the side and remove it from its seat. Tapping the bolt on your palm, remove the pistol's firing pin from its place. Place the bolt on a hard surface, press the wiping rod into the bends (the rod on which the spring fits) of the cartridge ejector. Rotate the partially recessed part around the clamp and remove. Then you should remove the oppression itself with the spring attached to it.
2. Disassembling the clip into its component parts. In this case, a spring and a plate are removed from the magazine, which serve to feed cartridges to the chamber. After completing all the planned work, assembly is carried out in the reverse order. Regardless of the type of disassembly, the gun is checked upon completion. The checks include removing and re-engaging the safety, as well as checking the functionality of the bolt stop.

The procedure for disassembling weapons

After shooting, it is necessary to partially disassemble the pistol for cleaning:

1. The magazine latch is pressed, after which the magazine is removed from the handle.
2. The pistol is removed from the safety
3. The bolt is retracted to the rearmost position to eliminate the presence of ammunition in the chamber.
4. The safety bracket is pulled down and, by slightly tilting, rests against the pistol frame.
5. The bolt is moved to the rearmost position, then its rear part is raised slightly and removed by moving forward along the length of the barrel.
6. The safety bracket is installed in place.
7. The shutter return spring is removed. Assembly is carried out in the reverse order, with a small exception - when installing the bolt, you do not need to pull back and move the trigger guard to the side.

Having completed the assembly, you should make sure that the weapon is working - turn off the safety lock, then try to reload the weapon with the magazine. In this case, the shutter should stop in the rearmost position. After this, you need to press the bolt stop lever, releasing the bolt, which, under the influence of the return spring, should return quite sharply to the forward position, and the hammer should be cocked.

After this, it is necessary to put the weapon on safety, as a result of which the trigger should come off the cocking. Assembly is carried out in the reverse order with a mandatory check of the weapon's functionality.

Specifications

The main purpose of the 9 mm Makarov pistol is to be used as a personal weapon for attack and defense at short distances.

A technically sound 9mm PM in the hands of a good shooter shows excellent fire accuracy. At a distance of 50 meters, all bullets fall into a circle with a diameter of 320 mm, while at a distance of 20 meters this diameter drops to 130 mm.

The standard PM cartridge has a bullet with a steel core encased in a lead jacket.

Because of this design, the bullet is unable to penetrate steel plates and often ricochets when hitting hard surfaces.

They tried to correct this deficiency by creating new types of bullets and cartridges, some of which reached mass production. At the same time, the destructive power of a standard bullet is maintained at a distance of up to 350 meters.

One of these developments was a special armor-piercing cartridge 9*18 PBM (index 7N25). The bullet design uses a carbide core covered with an aluminum aerodynamic shell. Due to this, it was possible to reduce the weight of the bullet to 3.7 grams, which allows a standard powder charge to accelerate it to a speed of 519 m/sec.

The recoil parameters remained virtually unchanged.

Such a bullet penetrates a 5 mm sheet of ordinary carbon steel grade ST3 or a 2.4 mm sheet of armor steel from 10 meters. At distances of up to 30 meters, through penetration of the 6B5-12 body armor is ensured, while the bullet can continue further movement.

The design and principle of operation of the pistol

When creating a pistol, the starting point was the Walther PP, which had an easy-to-manufacture, reliable design and at the same time satisfactory performance characteristics at that time. The concept of the pistols is partially similar, but the PM pistol had a more simplified design.

Automation operating principle

The operation of automation is based on the use of a free shutter. A self-cocking mechanism with an open trigger is used, the design of which is a free firing pin. By pressing the trigger, the cocked hammer is released, hitting the firing pin, which impales the cartridge's igniter primer.

Makarov pistol “PM” (full disassembly and operation)

The powder in the ammunition ignites, the powder gases push the bullet, causing it to move forward along the barrel, while simultaneously pushing the cartridge case back, displacing the bolt held by the return spring. Overcoming the compression of the spring, the bolt moves back. The extractor, located at the ejector window, engages the bottom of the cartridge case with a tooth and, by hitting the reflector, throws the cartridge case out of the pistol, freeing up space in the chamber for a new cartridge.

The bolt, having reached the rearmost point, cocks the hammer, after which, by the force of the return spring, the bolt casing moves forward, simultaneously pushing a new cartridge from the magazine into the chamber and locking it. After this, the pistol is ready for the next shot. In theory, such a design is capable of spontaneously firing a shot when falling, but in practice this happens extremely rarely, due to the too small mass of the striker.

The PM design has 7 main parts:

• frame with a rigidly fixed barrel;
• bolt group, including bolt, extractor and fuse;
• return spring;
• self-cocking trigger;
• handle with fixation screw;
• safety bracket;
• shop

The firing lock is activated by lifting the safety up, provided that the pistol is fully charged. The trigger moves, completely blocking the possibility of a shot, and the trigger is also blocked, moving forward. Next, the bolt is locked, unlike the Walther design, which allows reloading when the safety lock is active.

After all these procedures, safe wearing is allowed. If it is necessary to fire, the safety lever is lowered, after which the pistol is ready to fire. The extractor window is located on the top right, eliminating the possibility of the cartridge case hitting the shooter.

The standard single-stack magazine holds 8 pistol rounds and has a through cutout for counting ammunition when loaded. After the ammunition in the magazine is used up, the bolt remains in the rearmost position to speed up subsequent reloading. After replacing the magazine, the bolt can be returned to its original position by pressing the bolt stop lever, after which you can continue to fire.

Or, after firing, you can pull the bolt back and release it to its original position manually. The magazine latch is made at the bottom of the handle, similar to many foreign models of that time. This does not allow quick replacement of the magazine, but prevents the magazine from inadvertently falling out (this problem is mentioned in the list of inconveniences, in the paragraph on the location of the button that controls the magazine latch).

Recommended reading: delays when firing from PM.

Cartridge for PM

Initially, the pistol was supposed to be produced for the German police cartridge 9x18 Ultra, but this cartridge showed unsatisfactory technical characteristics, which led to a competition to create its own ammunition. The designer of the Central Research Institute TochMash, Boris Vladimirovich Semin, managed to create such ammunition by upgrading the 7.62x25 PS cartridge (this was done to use the production and testing facilities during production).

First of all, the cartridge case was “trimmed” to 18 mm, and then the bullet was developed. The bullet itself turned out to be slightly larger in diameter than the European version, which gave a greater stopping effect.

The design of the cartridge gave a relatively high initial velocity of the bullet of the 9-mm Makarov pistol, which showed a satisfactory stopping effect and sufficient destructive power.

At the moment, the following types of ammunition of this caliber exist:

57-N-181 is the first serial 9x18 cartridge for the Makarov pistol.

57-N-181S is an experimental cartridge with a steel core, a lightweight bullet weighing 5.9 grams, and a bimetallic sleeve. Not mass produced.

7N15 - a special cartridge with a solid steel bullet with increased penetration

7N16 (57-H-181CM) - an updated cartridge with increased power and a conical bullet with a blunt end. Not recommended for use in basic PM models.

57-T-181 (PPT) – cartridge with a tracer bullet.

9PPE gzh is a cartridge with an expansive bullet developed in the early 1990s. The bullet weight is about 8 grams.

7N25 is an armor-piercing cartridge with a semi-jacketed bullet. Capable of penetrating armor plate 5 mm thick at a distance of up to 10 meters.

SP7 - a special cartridge with an expansive bullet with increased stopping power, as well as increased bullet speed (400-420 m/s)

SP8 is a special ammunition with a reduced power of an expansive type bullet. Intended for carrying out special operations during the storming of special purpose premises.

Modernization

At the very beginning of the 90s, a modernized version of the main Makarov pistol was created, designated PMM. The development of this option was carried out within the framework of the “Rook” project, as a result of which the modern Yarygin pistol appeared.

But this will happen later, and in those years the work led to an improvement in the characteristics of the PM.

One of the differences of this pistol was the use of a reinforced cartridge 9*18ПММ (index 7N16), housed in a new double-row clip with a capacity of 12 rounds. To use such cartridges, the frame was strengthened and spiral notches were introduced in the chamber.

Such notches made it possible to hold the cartridge case when fired. The body of the clip began to protrude somewhat from the handle, which improved the grip of the pistol in the hand and allowed for somewhat faster reloading. The modified ergonomics of the plastic handle linings contributed to improved accuracy of offhand shooting.

To increase the penetrating power of bullets, the new cartridge received a powder charge increased by a third. The bullet itself changed its shape. Thanks to such measures, at a distance of 20 meters, a bullet penetrates a 3 mm sheet of ordinary carbon steel grade ST3, and at distances of up to 10 meters, it penetrates the Zh-81 army body armor.

The target firing range of the pistol has not changed and is 50 meters.

Performance characteristics (TTX PM)

The Makarov pistol demonstrates good hit accuracy for a weapon with such a barrel length. When firing standard cartridges, within an aiming range of up to 50 meters, the dispersion radius is 160 mm.

Modifications based on PMM

The modernized Makarov pistol is produced in two main combat versions - PMM 8 and 12, differing in the type and capacity of the magazine. Based on the PMM 12 pistol, a sports version of the IZH-70-100 (or 70-17A) is produced chambered for a regular cartridge, equipped with an adjustable sight and a 12-round magazine.

For export supplies, Baikal 442 is manufactured, equipped with a barrel with 6 rifling and clips for 8, 10 or 12 standard cartridges. Since the fall of 2015, this version of the pistol has received a certificate for sale on the Russian market.

For service purposes, the IZH-71-100 (or MP-71N since the fall of 2008) is supplied, using weakened 9 * 17K cartridges. Such pistols are equipped with only 10-round clips.

Disassembly and assembly of the Makarov PM Pistol

Disassembly of a Makarov pistol can be complete or incomplete. For regular cleaning, lubrication and inspection, the gun must be partially disassembled. To do this, you need to perform the following steps in the order given:

1. Removing the magazine from the base of the handle;

2. Removing the pistol from the safety catch;

3. Lowering the trigger guard down and moving it to the left;

4. Separating the shutter from the frame;

5. Returning the trigger guard to its place;

6. Removing the return spring from the barrel.

To assemble the pistol after partial disassembly, you must perform the above steps in reverse order.

Complete disassembly of the PM should be used in cases where you need to clean the gun from heavy contamination - for example, when it was in the rain or snow, and also when you switch to a new lubricant or make repairs. For complete disassembly you need:

1. Carry out partial disassembly of the pistol;

2. Separate the sear and bolt stop from the frame;

3. Separate the handle from its base and the mainspring from the frame;

4. Separate the trigger from the frame;

5. Separate the trigger rod with the cocking lever from the frame;

6. Separate the trigger from the frame;

7. Separate the safety and firing pin from the bolt;

8. Separate the ejector from the bolt;

9. Disassemble the store.

To reassemble the pistol after complete disassembly, perform all operations in reverse order.

You should not often completely disassemble and reassemble the pistol, as this leads to wear of its elements.

Various variations and modifications

In the USSR, there were no sports or other versions based on the PM. The only attempt to modify the pistol were prototypes of weapons with a frame made of polymer materials. Such work was carried out at the very beginning of the 60s at the Instrument Design Bureau in the city of Tula. The results obtained during the tests did not satisfy the customer, and the experiments were not continued.

The situation changed dramatically at the very beginning of the 90s, when dozens of variants of Makarov sports, gas and air pistols chambered for cartridges of various calibers were produced on the basis of PM and PMM.

The most common was the IZH-70, designed for a standard cartridge and a .380ACP cartridge and equipped with an 8-round magazine.

It exists in several versions:

• IZH-70-17A and 18A, chambered for 380ASR and PM cartridges, respectively, with adjustable sight parts.
• IZH-70-17AS and 18AS, with chrome-plated outer surface.
• IZH-70-17AN and 18AN, commercial version of the pistol.

In addition to these options, multiple variations of the pistol were produced for the use of gas and traumatic cartridges. The most popular were 9 mm 6P42-9 and 7.6 mm 6P42-7.6. These variants are combat versions of weapons with a pin installed in the barrel, which does not allow the use of real cartridges.

Exactly the same design is the 6P42 (or IZH-79-8), developed for the use of 8 mm gas cartridges.

In the early 2000s, the IZH-79-9T (or a similar MP-79-9, which provided the ability to fire a rubber bullet using a special 9-mm RA gas cartridge) became popular. The ZID plant produced a pistol in a limited batch of several thousand pieces PM T.

All of these options were made on the basis of real weapons and were equipped with a partition in the barrel bore.

For official use, the MP-471 is used, developed for the use of a 10*23 mm traumatic cartridge and has been mass-produced since 2004.

A variant version is the MP-80-13T, which uses .45 Rubber cartridges as ammunition. The signal version of the pistol under the symbol MP-371, which is similar in appearance to the Makarych, deserves special mention. The ammunition used for it is “Zhevelo” or KV21 type capsules.

PM

The history of the creation of the PM pistol began long before its official “birth”. It was necessary to find a fundamentally new solution in the development of a new type of pistol that would replace the obsolete TT. Many outstanding designers of automatic weapons of that time took part in the competition for the design of a new weapon: I.I. Rakov, S, A. Korovin, P.V. Voevodin, F.V. Tokarev and others. Makarov was still a student at this time. After lengthy, dramatic tests, the Vojvodina pistol was recognized as the best. However, the war prevented the pistol from being brought to fruition. After the war, Makarov won the newly announced competition. The Makarov pistol, which replaced the Tokarev pistol in the fifties, was designed for a cartridge whose design was inspired by the German 9 mm “ultra” cartridge. Abroad, it has been repeatedly suggested that the Russians “saw” the idea of ​​PM and cartridge in the desks of designers in 1945. The version is controversial, because initially the US Third Army entered the city of Zella-Melis, where the enterprise was located, and part of the weapons collection, which had been collected for decades and included very rare samples, was looted by the Americans. Thuringia, according to the decision of the Potsdam Conference, entered the Soviet zone of occupation only in June 1945, and our troops received only equipment. which was then taken to the USSR, and the empty factory buildings were blown up.

In the West there is a tendency to call the Makarov pistol the “Russian Walter PP”, but this is a misconception, although the PM actually has much in common with the “Walter” in the design of its mechanisms. This is explained by the fact that at the time when the Makarov pistol was being developed, the Walter was the most successful pistol in the world with a self-cocking striker and took part in a competition to design a new cartridge for the Soviet Army. After the war, he went to work at TsKB-14, where he began work on a new self-loading pistol, designed to replace the obsolete TT. Of the many designs that participated in the competition, the Makarov pistol was recognized as the best. The first batch of PMs was produced at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant in 1949, and in 1952 their mass production began. The creation of the pistol was N.F.’s most significant achievement. Makarova.

The designer himself attributed his success to the colossal work that was done during the creation of the pistol. “Suffice it to say,” he wrote, “that at that time I worked every day, practically without days off, from eight o’clock in the morning until two or three o’clock in the morning, as a result of which I finalized and shot samples at two or even three times more than my competitors, which, of course, made it possible to perfect reliability and survivability.” In addition to working on the pistol, Makarov worked on aircraft guns and anti-tank guided missiles. For his contribution to strengthening the defense capability of the Motherland, he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, he was twice a laureate of the USSR State Prize, and was awarded two Orders of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner. Everyone has heard about the Makarov pistol, but not everyone knows that it might not have appeared at all if not for one lucky circumstance.

The fact is that, despite the adoption of the TT pistol for service, the search for optimal solutions for a self-loading pistol for Red Army commanders did not stop in the pre-war years. The TT pistol was credited with not only really existing, but also invented shortcomings that greatly undermined its position. For example, the pistol was blamed for the fact that its barrel could not be inserted into the viewing slot for firing from inside the tank. By today's standards, this is simply a ridiculous requirement - by the way, none of the best pistols in the world meets it. One way or another, the result of this criticism was the announcement in 1938 of a competition to create a more advanced self-loading pistol of 7.62 mm caliber. mechanism, however, the existing original features of the Makarov pistol certainly allow it to be considered an independent development. For many years, the Makarov pistol could not achieve great success on the international arms market. This is partly due to the fact that the PM was not produced for commercial sale, but exclusively to replenish the arsenals of the army and police. In the eighties, the Makarov pistol was already considered a military rarity. In recent years, hundreds of thousands of Makarov pistols made in China, the former GDR, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Russia have literally “poured” onto the international arms market. For the consumer, PM has ceased to be a curiosity, now it is again next to TT, and the same question arises again: who is better?

The 9mm Makarov pistol is a personal weapon of attack and defense, designed to defeat the enemy at short distances. The gun is simple in design, easy to use and always ready for action. Compared to the TT, it has smaller dimensions and weight; outperforms it in terms of maneuverability and reliability, thanks to the transition to a new, shorter cartridge and the use of the simplest principle of automatic operation - blowback recoil. The power of the cartridge used is inferior to the TT, but its larger caliber (9 mm instead of 7.62) allows you to save stopping effect of a bullet. reliability and survivability." In addition to working on the pistol, Makarov worked on aircraft guns and anti-tank guided missiles.

For his contribution to strengthening the defense capability of the Motherland, he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, he was twice a laureate of the USSR State Prize, and was awarded two Orders of Lenin and the Order of the Red Banner. Everyone has heard about the Makarov pistol, but not everyone knows that it might not have appeared at all if not for one lucky circumstance. The fact is that, despite the adoption of the TT pistol for service, the search for optimal solutions for a self-loading pistol for Red Army commanders did not stop in the pre-war years. The TT pistol was credited with not only really existing, but also invented shortcomings that greatly undermined its position. For example, the pistol was blamed for the fact that its barrel could not be inserted into the viewing slot for firing from inside the tank. By today's standards, this is simply a ridiculous requirement - by the way, none of the best pistols in the world meets it. One way or another, the result of this criticism was the announcement in 1938 of a competition to create a more advanced self-loading pistol of 7.62 mm caliber. The PM pistol was recognized as the best pistol in the world of the twentieth century, along with Browning, Walter, and Beretta. Serial production of PM has been carried out at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant for 50 years. During this time, a whole family of pistols was created on its basis - service pistols, gas pistols, models for export.

Specifications

Ammunition 9x18 mm PM Operating principle: blowback recoil Food: magazine with a capacity of 8 rounds Weight of the unloaded system: 0.73 kg; Weight with loaded magazine 0.81 kg Weapon length 161 mm Barrel length, mm 93.5 Height 127 mm Muzzle velocity 315 m/s Sighting range, m 25 mm

Besides the USSR

..PM was produced in Germany (GDR)

And also in Bulgaria and China.

The best (not only in my opinion) was the German version (differing from the original Soviet only in minor details). As always, German quality turned out to be at its best. “Bulgarin” and “Chinese” are of approximately the same workmanship, comparable to pistols produced in the USSR. What the Russian defense industry produces, a whole galaxy of all kinds of IZHs, can be called Makarov with a very big stretch.

This craft differs, for the worse, both in quality and design. The constant struggle to simplify the technological process has made itself felt. This is understandable. The Izhevsk plant has virtually no competition. What they release is what they take. Due to the current Russian weapons legislation, there is no arms market as such.

Disassembly

As a rule, to service the pistol, partial disassembly is sufficient, which can be done in a matter of seconds.

But complete disassembly, which is recommended in rare cases, is not a problem. The PM can be completely disassembled without special tools, using a standard cleaning rod.

Weight and size models

Based on the external appearance of the PM, there is a whole range of pneumatic and signal pistols, differing in caliber and workmanship. For example, Umarex produces a 6 mm version of the weapon under the designation Legends Makarov with gas supply from a cylinder. The air pistol quite accurately imitates its combat ancestor; it even has a delayed shutter setting mode. Two more pneumatic weapons with the appearance of a PM are widely known - these are the Gletcher PM and the Borner PM49. Both options are designed to use 4.5 mm steel balls as cartridges. The bolt parts of these pistols are fixed.

Simpler options are the 4.5 mm Baikal MP-654K in a standard black case and MP-654KS - with chrome-plated external parts. These variants are produced directly at the arms factory in Izhevsk. The pistols are equipped with clips for 13 steel balls with a diameter of 4.5 mm.

Pneumatic copies implement the principle of starting firing, like the combat version - either by pressing the trigger with great force or by cocking the hammer with your thumb. Early versions of the MP-654 were made on the basis of combat pistols, and differed only in some details.

With the tightening of legislation, the production of such variants was stopped, and all modern pistols are only an imitation of the external appearance of the PM. The shutter stop mode, called blowback in pneumatic weapons, is absent on them.

PM is an indispensable weapon in many computer games. For example, in the STALKER series of games it is the most common and accessible type of weapon.

For those who want to try themselves as a virtual shooter, there is a game that is a simulator of a Makarov pistol.

The history of the appearance of "Makarov"

In battles with the fascist occupiers, it became clear that the pistols with which the Red Army soldiers were armed did not have the required effectiveness. The reason for this was the weak stopping effect of the bullet. The Nagan system revolver and the Tokarev pistol, which were the main products of the Soviet defense industry during the war years, used 7.62 mm cartridges. Pointed bullets of this diameter did not immediately incapacitate the enemy unless vital organs were hit.

The issue of producing modern melee weapons was on the agenda. In 1948, the USSR Ministry of Defense announced a competition to develop a pistol for commanders of the Soviet Army. Designers were asked to submit a sample that had a blowback bolt and a trigger mechanism that was automatically activated. For ammunition it is necessary to use a 9 mm caliber cartridge. The prototype was the German Walther PP pistol, created in 1929. The product designed by N. F. Makarov won the gunsmith competition.

Kolya Makarov was born in the Tambov province in the village of Sasovo. The boy spent his youth in his grandfather's family, because his father, who worked as a train driver, was unable to feed a large family. After school, the teenager studies to become a mechanic and then, having received a profession, works as a repairman at a railway depot. Having prepared at the workers' faculty, the young man goes to Moscow to take the entrance exams to the Bauman Technical School. One point was not enough to pass the competition.

In 1936, Nikolai Fedorovich entered the weapons department of the Mechanical Institute in Tula. The war that began in 1941 interrupted his studies. A student is sent to work at a weapons factory. In 1944, Makarov continued his studies at the institute, which he graduated with honors. Having defended his diploma, the young specialist works at the Research Institute of Aviation Weapons in Kuntsevo. In 1946, the designer was transferred to Tula TsKB-14.

The Makarov pistol, which won the 1948 competition, was in many ways superior to the Walter PP. An original trigger mechanism based on automation was used. Few multifunctional parts simplified the work with the weapon, increasing the reliability of the pistol when used in extreme environmental conditions.

To improve the properties of the firearm, old designs were rejected and new drawings were prepared. Strengthening the components increased the service life of the product. The gunsmith proposed an optimal technological process, which increased the efficiency and rate of production.

Makarov worked with weapons all his life. Under his leadership, aircraft guns and the Fagot and Konkurs missile systems were created. The Soviet state highly noted the labor feat of Nikolai Fedorovich.

Awards received by N. F. Makarov:

• Title of Hero of Socialist Labor.
• Laureate of the Stalin Prize 3rd degree and laureate of the State Prize.
• Order of Lenin (twice).
• Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
• Anniversary medals in honor of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Disadvantages of the model

One of the major disadvantages of the weapon is the high tendency of standard bullets to ricochet off any hard surface. This drawback was partly corrected by the creation of new types of cartridges for the Makarov pistol. Another disadvantage of the design is that the center of gravity of the PM is slightly shifted towards the barrel, which leads to fatigue in the shooter’s hand during prolonged firing.

But after 10-15 shots this drawback is not noticed.

The declared warranty life of the weapon does not exceed 5 thousand shots. However, there are many examples of pistols with rounds much greater than the warranty. At the same time, they remain in completely good condition. On the classic PM, the magazine capacity is insufficient; this flaw was partly eliminated on modernized versions of the pistol, but 12 rounds is not a good indicator for modern weapons.

Characteristics of the combat Makarov

The PM combat pistol has the following tactical and technical characteristics:

• Pistol fire is most effective at distances up to 50 m.
• The destructive power of the bullet is maintained up to 350 m.
• The pistol fires in single shots.
• The pistol's combat rate of fire is 30 rounds per minute.
• The weight of the pistol with a loaded magazine is 810 g.
• For pistol shooting, 9mm /9x18/ pistol cartridges are used.
• The initial speed of the bullet is 315 m/sec.
• When firing, cartridges are fed into the chamber from a magazine with a capacity of 8 rounds.

• Weight of pistol with magazine without cartridges 730 g
• The weight of the pistol with a magazine loaded with eight rounds is 810 g
• Pistol length 161 mm
• Gun height 126.75 mm
• Barrel length 93 mm
• Barrel caliber 9 mm
• Number of grooves 4
• Magazine capacity 8 rounds
• Cartridge weight 10 g
• Bullet weight 6.1 g
• Chuck length 25 mm
• Combat rate of fire 30 rounds per minute
• Initial flight speed zeros 315 m/sec

The combat PM remained in service with security forces even after the collapse of the USSR in 1991; it continues to be used in a number of countries around the world due to its simplicity and reliability.

Combat PM

At least until 2004, the security of the State Unitary Enterprise Instrument Design Bureau included a serviceable PM pistol manufactured in 1949 (serial number 11) with about 50 thousand rounds fired. The plot of the movie “Makarov” also revolves around the PM pistol.

In the army and law enforcement agencies of Russia, the PM is gradually being replaced by the Yarygin pistol, PMM and other new models of pistols, but the PM continues to remain in service.

Licensed versions

In addition to the USSR, the Makarov pistol was produced on the territory of member states of the Warsaw Pact. Such weapons, as a rule, were used to equip the armed forces of the country where they were produced. Since 1957, the Pistole M was officially produced on the territory of the GDR, which was an exact copy of the Soviet model.

There were attempts to create a variant chambered for 380ACP on its basis, but they were unable to move beyond the release of experimental samples. The tactical and technical characteristics of the German version of the Makarov pistol did not differ from the original model. After the reunification of Germany, the pistol remained in production, but only as a commercial version under the designation Pistole Simson-Suhl Makarov.

Bulgaria became the second major producer of licensed PM in Eastern Europe. Such pistols were called Makarov and were manufactured in land and naval versions.

Comparing PM and PMM<—/noindex—>

In 1990, the Arsenal R-M01 version appeared, which was distinguished by the ergonomics of the trigger guard and handle. These pistols were produced in sporting and civilian versions chambered for 380ACP and 9*18 cartridges, and could have chrome-plated external elements.

The B1300 was produced in small series, which had a shortened handle with a modified design of the linings.

The third manufacturer was China, which in 1959 launched mass production of an army pistol under the designation Type 59 and a training and sports version of the Norinco Sporting Pistol.

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine became a major supplier of various variants of Makarov-based pistols. At different periods of time, Ukrainian factories produced traumatic versions of the PMR (aka “Viy”), PM-T, PM-GT, PM-RF and “Berkut”.

All these designs are based on Makarov combat pistols, which, after Ukraine gained independence, remained stored in army warehouses in large quantities. A characteristic feature of all Ukrainian traumatic Makarovs is a safety plate welded into the barrel. Reverse conversion of such weapons into a combat version is impossible. All traumatic pistols are chambered for the 9 mm RA cartridge.

At the beginning of 2013, a small company began producing the PMF-1 pistol, converted to use the 4-mm Flaubert system cartridge. In such cartridges, only the primer is used as a propellant charge, which ensures its low power. The PMF-1 design has a drum magazine for 5 rounds, i.e. in fact, the pistol was turned into a revolver, the drum of which is located inside the body.

Modifications of the Makarov pistol

Modifications and variants of the Makarov pistol include a large number of samples of various directions - combat, service and sporting purposes. In addition, the cooled Makarov pistol SHP is also popular.

USSR

Non-serial copy of TKB-023. Differed from the basic version by a plastic frame. Created to make the weapon lighter, it did not go into production due to non-compliance with customer requirements. Development has been stopped.

Russian Federation

IZH-70 is a commercial version, developed for sports and training purposes for various calibers.

PMM is a deep modernization of the base model, with an increased magazine capacity of 12 rounds.

Baikal-442 is a newer version of the PMM, a barrel with 6 grooves and a push-button magazine latch on the handle.

MP-71 – service pistol chambered for 9x17 Kurtz

OTs-35 is a basic pistol model, equipped with a muzzle brake-compensator, allowing the use of more powerful 9x18 PMM cartridges.

MP-448 “Skif” is an experimental model of the PM, characterized by the use of a frame made of polymer thermoplastic, with a modified bolt stop design.

6P42 - gas versions of the pistol chambered for 9, 8 or 7.6 mm cartridges.

IZH-79-9 – traumatic / gas pistol chambered for 9 mm

MP-471 - service traumatic pistol, uses 10x23 T cartridge

GDR

Pistole M - standard version of the PM, produced under license from 1958 to 1965.

Pistole Mk - non-serial samples chambered for .308 ACP

Germany

Pistole Simson-Suhl Makarov is a commercial model of Pistole M, produced after the unification of the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Bulgaria

A licensed copy of the PM, chambered for 9x18 mm in two versions with conditional changes - naval and military.

Arsenal P-M01 - model from 1990, the shape of the trigger guard and grip lining has been changed.

China

Type 59 - a licensed copy of the PM produced in China

Ukraine

Based on decommissioned Makarov pistols, a number of models for traumatic purposes are produced. As well as many pneumatic models produced in different countries.