Makarov Safety Very Stiff

tr fox

The manual safety on the Bulgerian 9x18 Makarov that I recently traded for is very, very stiff and actually takes me two hands to move it from safe to fire. One hand to firmly hold the gun and the other to move the safety lever. At first I thought it might be rust because when I recently traded for the gun, it came with a lot of rust serious enough to do light pitting. But I got all that rust off and I the internals of the firearm look clean. I oiled the internal parts hoping it would not only protect the gun from rusting further, but might make the safety move more easily. That oil did help somewhat, but the safety is still much more stiff than I would like.

Should I disassemble the gun and make sure it is not rusted where I cannot see it or even get out the Dremel tool and remove some metal to let that safety move more freely or is this standard for a Makarov?

gruntled

Mine's not rusted & it's the same way.

Wolf.

I suggest that since you have the Makarov now and you intend to refinish the gun with the DuraCoat finish that you do one more thing.

Go online or call The American Gunsmithing Institute and purchase their DVD Armorers Cource for the Makarov. The cost is either $30 or $40, plus shipping.

The course offers (in my opinion) the most comprehensive data for the design, function, disassembly, reassembly and troubleshooting available (this statement is true for ANY of their armorers courses). The instructor, Bob Dunlap, is the best and will clarify whatever you need to know. After reviewing the DVD you'll be able to confidently tear down your gun, perform various maintenance and fixes and put the thing back together without guessing.

This way, you can fix or clean up the functioning of the gun so that it operates more smoothly BEFORE you invest time, effort and money in refinishing the gun. You won't be sorry.

Anonymouse

I have several Bulgarian Maks and I can easily sweep the safety off with my shooting hand thumb. I would get yours checked by a gunsmith.

victorj19

I've owned a Bulgarian Mak for years. I never notice who stiff the safety was until I put in the range time for a carry permit and started dry fire practice. Like yours it took two hands. Tried the spare safety I have on hand. Also very stiff. A GB member in this forum suggested working the safety a lot. I put in about 4 ours over a period of a couple weeks while watching TV. Got a nice blister and it loosened the safety just a bit. Finally used a dremel tool with a cut off wheel and clamped the slide in a padded vice. Took my time and very lightly ran the wheel at low speed over the scratch line from the safety on the slide about a couple of dozen times. I took a little more metal off at each end. Not wanting to take too much off, I reassempled the slide and gun and worked the safety. Better, but still too stiff. Repeated the above a cople more times. When still a bit stiff, I stopped and reassembled the pistol and just worked the safety on and off for several more hours over a period of days. Now it's fairly easy to work. As time goes on, it will loosen up some more and be just right.

gruntled

Now that I have figured out how to get the safety out the problem is quite obvious.
There is a spring on the back of the safety that goes into the two slots (safe & fire slots). The only way I can see to make it easier would be to grind down that spring (not a good choice) or to somehow bevel more the bottom of the fire slot & the top of the safe slot.
Nor quite sure how to do that but if you could it should help.
When that spring is in those slots it is very hard to get out.
If it moves very easily that spring may be missing.

I was thinking that if you compressed that spring for a while it might weaken it just enough to make it easier. It now occurs to me that if you moved the lever to the middle between the two stops that the spring would be a bit compressed. Leave it there for a few days & it just might make a difference.

Next problem is to find an easier way to get the pistol out of the holster. I suspect that leather strap you have to pull on will break rather soon.

Emmett Dunham

Here is a site that you may be able to get some imformation on your pistol from. Remember that when you bring the hammer down with the decocker there is a live round in the chamber, I would be careful with the grind polish.

http://makarov.com/tech.html

Emmett

jhimco

Why do you need the safety anyways- are you going to use it as a carry peice or just a plinker? I would not bet my life on these things.

Emmett Dunham

Your right on this weapon you don't need the safety, just hammer down double action then simi until its empty. This decocking feature on this weapon with the safety is one step up I can leave it sit WITH THE SAFETY OFF pick it up and unless I pull the trigger through it is safe. Its funny that most people say you don't need a safety until you hand the weapon to your kid or a new shooter.


Emmett