I mentioned in a post last week (http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=21533) that I was signed up for a Tactical Pistol course in Atlanta this weekend for which I would be using my trusty Makarov. I had several requests to post details of the course and how the Makarov performed.
THE GEAR
My gear:
Makarov IJ70-17A with over 5,000 rounds fired through it in its lifetime
Pearce grips
2 extra magazines
Fobus Tactical paddle holster (for Makarov)
Fobus Tactical paddle double magazine carrier (for .380)
My friend's gear (flew in from out of state and borrowed my father's Makarov for the course):
Makarov IJ70-17A with fewer than 500 rounds fired through it in its lifetime
Factory grips
Fobus Tactical roto-paddle holster (for Makarov)
Generic magazine carrier
We both were shooting .380ACP 95gr hardball reloards from Atlanta Arms & Ammo, a local supplier of match-grade ammunition.
THE COURSE
The course was taught by a local police officer and certified law enforcement pistol instructor, supported by five other instructors including a local SWAT team member and a retired Army Ranger. Of the 20 participants, about half were local law enforcement and the remainder were (like us) intermediate-level civillian shooters. Most of the participants were shooting service or competition automatic pistols from major manufacturers like Glock, Beretta and Smith & Wesson in 9mm, .40 or .45. One participant was shooting a Sig Sauer automatic pistol in .380. Of the civillian shooters, about half were kitted for concealed carry.
The course consisted of seven modules:
- Fundamentals refresher (safety, stance, presentation and aiming)
- Accuracy drills and action shooting (turn and fire)
- Combat shooting I (combat and tactical reloading, combat jam clearing, use of movement while reloading)
- Combat shooting II (sustained movement while engaging single and multiple targets)
- 180-degree qualification drills (firing on multiple targets in a 180-degree arc)
- Combat shooting III (alternate firing positions, firing from cover, LAPD car-cover technique)
- Speed drills (draw-to-fire, firing rhythm, reloading)
The course lasted nearly ten hours without scheduled breaks and each participant firing about 350 rounds throughout the day.
MAKAROV PERFORMANCE
Overall, the Makarov's perfomance at the course was very favorable, with its strengths being (as compared to the other pistols used by participants in the course):
- Reliability. My Makarov pistol had two misfeeds (likely caused by an aging mainspring) and neither of us had any misfires the entire day. Many of the other participants experienced multiple jams and misfires throughout the day.
- Recovery. It took less than five seconds to clear the Makarov misfeeds using combat jam-clearing techniques (even while bobbing-and-weaving to avoid return fire) whereas other pistols frequently took several times as long or had to be removed from the exercise for clearing.
- Accuracy. This is a little tough to judge as it depends as much on the shooter as on the weapon, however, comparing our (Makarov-wielding) performance to others with a similar level of experience and training we noted that our shot groupings generally were tighter and we had fewer "fliers" than others wielding other pistols.
My friend and I agree that our hands likely also were less tired than they would have been completing the course with other pistols we personally have fired, though there is no quantitative basis for this statement. This also was offset by the typical cuts and pinches all Makarov owners know and may not love (the tally was three blood blisters and two sets of cuts).
However, there were a few downsides to the Makarovs which were evident by the end of the day:
- Capacity. Large magazine capacities are of value in combat shooting. The need to reload (much) more frequently during combat shooting drills highlighted that a Makarov shooter would be at higher risk in an actual combat situation.
- Reload time. In both cases, the Makarov significantly underperformed (an average of 4 seconds to combat reload a Makarov as compared to 2 seconds or less for most of the pistols used in the course). This also highlighted that a Makarov shooter would be at higher risk in an actual combat situation. In fairness, this is due to the Makarov having a European-style magazine base release instead of a push-button release more common to American pistols. The Sig Sauer experienced similar reload times. However, unlike the Sig Sauer, the Makarov's slide release had to be used (instead of racking the slide) to chamber the first round from a fresh magazine. This added some time to the Makarov reloads.
- Cycle time. In sustained fire, the Makarov's maximum rate of fire was slower overall than many of the other pistols used at the course. This seemed to result from the Makarov's trigger pull and the length the trigger had to be let out after a shot to reset the sear spring. However, this is something that can be adjusted with the proper tools and skills.
While not a performance matter per se, it is interesting to note that the Makarovs were treated initially with friendly derision by other participants and even some instructors at the beginning of the course -- being called a "secret agent gun" or a "ladies' gun." By the end of the course, the same individuals had generally positive things to say after seeing the Makarov perform. However, many did retain an opinion that a more contemporary pistol with a larger magazine capacity and faster reloading would better serve a shooter in a combat situation.
SUMMARY
While not likely to supplant the ubiquitous Glocks and Berrettas as duty pistols or replace large-capacity 9mm and .45s (of whatever make) used in competitions and as personal weapons, the Makarov fared fairly well in an intensive, combat shooting-oriented experience. The Makarov's smaller size makes it better suited for concealed carry than most of the other pistols used by participants in the course and its simplicity and reliability might reduce the need to carry a backup pistol into potential combat situations.
Overall, a good experience!
THE GEAR
My gear:
Makarov IJ70-17A with over 5,000 rounds fired through it in its lifetime
Pearce grips
2 extra magazines
Fobus Tactical paddle holster (for Makarov)
Fobus Tactical paddle double magazine carrier (for .380)
My friend's gear (flew in from out of state and borrowed my father's Makarov for the course):
Makarov IJ70-17A with fewer than 500 rounds fired through it in its lifetime
Factory grips
Fobus Tactical roto-paddle holster (for Makarov)
Generic magazine carrier
We both were shooting .380ACP 95gr hardball reloards from Atlanta Arms & Ammo, a local supplier of match-grade ammunition.
THE COURSE
The course was taught by a local police officer and certified law enforcement pistol instructor, supported by five other instructors including a local SWAT team member and a retired Army Ranger. Of the 20 participants, about half were local law enforcement and the remainder were (like us) intermediate-level civillian shooters. Most of the participants were shooting service or competition automatic pistols from major manufacturers like Glock, Beretta and Smith & Wesson in 9mm, .40 or .45. One participant was shooting a Sig Sauer automatic pistol in .380. Of the civillian shooters, about half were kitted for concealed carry.
The course consisted of seven modules:
- Fundamentals refresher (safety, stance, presentation and aiming)
- Accuracy drills and action shooting (turn and fire)
- Combat shooting I (combat and tactical reloading, combat jam clearing, use of movement while reloading)
- Combat shooting II (sustained movement while engaging single and multiple targets)
- 180-degree qualification drills (firing on multiple targets in a 180-degree arc)
- Combat shooting III (alternate firing positions, firing from cover, LAPD car-cover technique)
- Speed drills (draw-to-fire, firing rhythm, reloading)
The course lasted nearly ten hours without scheduled breaks and each participant firing about 350 rounds throughout the day.
MAKAROV PERFORMANCE
Overall, the Makarov's perfomance at the course was very favorable, with its strengths being (as compared to the other pistols used by participants in the course):
- Reliability. My Makarov pistol had two misfeeds (likely caused by an aging mainspring) and neither of us had any misfires the entire day. Many of the other participants experienced multiple jams and misfires throughout the day.
- Recovery. It took less than five seconds to clear the Makarov misfeeds using combat jam-clearing techniques (even while bobbing-and-weaving to avoid return fire) whereas other pistols frequently took several times as long or had to be removed from the exercise for clearing.
- Accuracy. This is a little tough to judge as it depends as much on the shooter as on the weapon, however, comparing our (Makarov-wielding) performance to others with a similar level of experience and training we noted that our shot groupings generally were tighter and we had fewer "fliers" than others wielding other pistols.
My friend and I agree that our hands likely also were less tired than they would have been completing the course with other pistols we personally have fired, though there is no quantitative basis for this statement. This also was offset by the typical cuts and pinches all Makarov owners know and may not love (the tally was three blood blisters and two sets of cuts).
However, there were a few downsides to the Makarovs which were evident by the end of the day:
- Capacity. Large magazine capacities are of value in combat shooting. The need to reload (much) more frequently during combat shooting drills highlighted that a Makarov shooter would be at higher risk in an actual combat situation.
- Reload time. In both cases, the Makarov significantly underperformed (an average of 4 seconds to combat reload a Makarov as compared to 2 seconds or less for most of the pistols used in the course). This also highlighted that a Makarov shooter would be at higher risk in an actual combat situation. In fairness, this is due to the Makarov having a European-style magazine base release instead of a push-button release more common to American pistols. The Sig Sauer experienced similar reload times. However, unlike the Sig Sauer, the Makarov's slide release had to be used (instead of racking the slide) to chamber the first round from a fresh magazine. This added some time to the Makarov reloads.
- Cycle time. In sustained fire, the Makarov's maximum rate of fire was slower overall than many of the other pistols used at the course. This seemed to result from the Makarov's trigger pull and the length the trigger had to be let out after a shot to reset the sear spring. However, this is something that can be adjusted with the proper tools and skills.
While not a performance matter per se, it is interesting to note that the Makarovs were treated initially with friendly derision by other participants and even some instructors at the beginning of the course -- being called a "secret agent gun" or a "ladies' gun." By the end of the course, the same individuals had generally positive things to say after seeing the Makarov perform. However, many did retain an opinion that a more contemporary pistol with a larger magazine capacity and faster reloading would better serve a shooter in a combat situation.
SUMMARY
While not likely to supplant the ubiquitous Glocks and Berrettas as duty pistols or replace large-capacity 9mm and .45s (of whatever make) used in competitions and as personal weapons, the Makarov fared fairly well in an intensive, combat shooting-oriented experience. The Makarov's smaller size makes it better suited for concealed carry than most of the other pistols used by participants in the course and its simplicity and reliability might reduce the need to carry a backup pistol into potential combat situations.
Overall, a good experience!