Does anyone have any thoughts on 9mm Makarov / 9x18 pistols.

[Ziu Echoes]

I've noticed lately at couple used gun shops in my area that there are quite a few old surplus pistols chambered 9mm Makarov. Mainland I'm seeing such things as the feg pa-63 , P-83, P-64 and CZ 82. I was just wondering if anyone had any particular experience with any of these firearms. Or if anyone has any general thoughts about the cartridge It seems to be somewhere between a .380 and 9mm Luger. I figure any of them might be decent backup gun/smaller ccw gun. Most of them being fairly expensive they might be possible an interesting choice for some of the more budget conscious Wogs out there looking for a handgun. 

[Ziu Echoes]

I was thinking primarily of the feg pa-63 and or the CZ 82 mainly because I think they're kind of interesting pieces. I wasn't really thinking of them as a primary carry piece more of a secondary/ occasional carry pice/ GBH gun.  As far as the availability of the availability of the 9mm Makarov I agree it's not exactly the most common thing in the day to day. Personally there is a couple places around me that usually have a box or two.

I kind of have to disagree with the availability during some kind of shtf or crisis. It really depends on what the event is however. If it's something like a EMP or zombie outbreak and you're probably just can have whatever you have. But yeah in an event like that scrounging some 9mm Parabellum or something else that's very "common" is probably a lot more likely than scrounging up some 9mm Makarov. However if you're talking crisis like the great ammo shortage of 2013 things such as 9 mm Makarov or even 30-30 dried up much slower than the more "common" things like 9mm Parabellum or 7.62x39 which were gone weeks and were going for months. After noticing this trend from last yaer  decided to make two changes to my armory one was up on hand  ammo count and pick up some of the more guns an some in the odder but fairly easily available to find online calibers. I guess this is also one I'm look at Makarov pistols.

[avagdu]

I definitely want a few commbloc pistols merely to have a match for my kalashnikov.  If I so happen to find a great reliable sidearm in the process that would just be icing on the cake.  During the ammo shortage the last few years ALL ammo was hard to find, sometimes imported ammo was easier to find than domestic ammo depending on your location and caliber choice.  About the only thing I could consistently find was 12 gauge shells for what that's worth.  Now that Obama has put sanctions on Russia that may put a hamper on those Russian calibers.  I would prepare for both situations as best possible taking advantage of cheap import to stockpile and acquiring more expensive domestically produced ammo as you can to try and cover both situations.

[Ziu Echoes]

You're right 12 gauge was about the only thing available during the height of the ammunition crisis. However not all that helpful in the land of handguns. if there was a big push to ban or restrict shotguns  I  would imagine that you'd see 12 each ammo dry up overnight probably with a lot of other stuff but I'm sure there's just some other category of ammunition that would probably be mostly unaffected.

Would not worry too much about most of the "Russian calibers" drying up right now from the Russian sanctions due to the fact that a fair amount of these things like7.62x39 is actually imported from other countries from the former communist bloc and not Russia and not affected by the sanctions. The one exception or list is the 5.45×39mm which surplus ammo was banned from importation due to the fact that it is "armor piercing pistol ammo"

I view it as it never hurts to have a couple extra firearms lying around. And currently comm bloc pistols  are fairly affordable in the land of handguns.  Not to say that they're the only affordable options floating around right now.

[Alfred Popinjay]

Honestly, with the prices I've been seeing on surplus 9x18 pistols lately, now that they're not being actively imported it seems, I'd rather go with a police surplus 9mm/.40 glock/sw m&p. Sure you'd be paying 3-400 for them, but you'd be getting common magazine and parts availability in exchange. I do still find those old combloc pistols quite neat though. I just don't find them to be truly "serious" pistols, compared to modern duty handguns, even of a surplus variety.

[avagdu]

Speaking from personal experience the Glock 17 or 19 magazines are much easier to find than the Smith & Wesson M&P9 ones and the price is lower.  I own both handguns, I like both but make sure to factor that in to any purchasing decisions.

[Ziu Echoes]

The Glock 22 magazines are not to hard come by. If all your going by is how easy it is to find mags i probably go with the Glock pistols if i was looking for a deal i would definitely look at the police trade in. I was look more for a backup gun that was just a neat surplus gun and the price for feg pa-63 was sub 200 it looks as if it got sold. The cz is still there but it a bit more then i want to shell out before the holiday.

[Tych0]

Can't go wrong with a CZ. I got a new P07 Duty for under $500 a while back. Shoots great, very reliable.