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Thanks for the report. To borrow a phrase, if only accurate guns are interesting, the Makarovs are downright fascinating.

Pet peeve: The pistols you tested are Makarovs. Other pistols chambered in 9x18 ("9mm Makarov") are not Makarovs, any more than my .45 ACP Ruger is a Colt.

I have a beautiful 1963 East German Mak, fitted with Pearce grips, but I also have the original black bakelite-esque grips, plus red thumbrest grips. The Pearce are thicker, and sticky, both of which contributed to concealment difficulties over the slick plastic grips. They're much better for shooting, though.

I'd like to find a Bulgarian to customize with good sights. Stock sights are fine on the range, even for rapid fire, but that narrow blade and tiny notch disappear quickly when the light fades.

Random thoughts:

Maks are heavy for their size. You have no doubt that you're carrying a solid steel pistol, no matter how handy the size.

For anyone who considers .380 (9x17) an acceptable caliber, the 9x18 offers an additional margin of comfort. Ammo choices are more limited, and none of them approach the effectiveness of mainstream 9x19 self defense rounds.

The heel catch magazine release severely limits reload speeds. It doesn't stop me from carrying a spare magazine when I carry the Mak, though.

Maks "point" very readily, with a good grip angle and ergonomics. At self defense ranges, this makes the stock sights less important.

I learned that I can't use my standard "high thumbs" grip, because my thumb will brush the safety, nudging it juuuussst enough to engage the hammer block, but not enough to drop the hammer. In other words, it will still be hammer back, and pulling the trigger will drop the hammer, but the firing pin will be block. This results in a click that should have been a bang, something you wouldn't want in an emergency. Solution: tuck the thumbs.

Thanks for the review. I have a case of the same Barnaul ammo. It shoots fine, but I carry loaded with Hornady XTP.