Makarov PM

Makarov PM. The Makarov PM is a Soviet semi-automatic pistol that became a standard-issue sidearm for military and police forces across the Eastern Bloc. Designed by Nikolay Makarov to replace the Tokarev TT-33, it was officially adopted by the Soviet Army in 1951. Renowned for its simplicity and reliability, the pistol saw extensive service throughout the Cold War and remains in use with various forces worldwide.

History

The development of the Makarov PM was initiated by the Main Artillery Directorate of the Soviet Union in the late 1940s, seeking a modern replacement for the aging Tokarev TT-33 and the Nagant M1895 revolver. Designer Nikolay Makarov drew inspiration from the German Walther PP, particularly its blowback operation and double-action trigger mechanism, but created a distinctly Soviet weapon. After rigorous state trials that outperformed competitors like the designs from Korovina and Barysheva, the pistol was formally accepted into service in 1951. Its production was primarily undertaken at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant in the Russian SFSR, with later manufacturing in other Warsaw Pact nations such as East Germany and Bulgaria. The PM became ubiquitous during the Cold War, seeing action in conflicts like the Vietnam War and the Soviet–Afghan War.

Design

The Makarov PM operates on a simple blowback principle, chambered for the proprietary 9×18mm Makarov cartridge, which was designed concurrently to offer more power than the .380 ACP but with less recoil than the 9×19mm Parabellum. Its double-action/single-action trigger system allows for a hammer-down carry with a long first trigger pull. A key safety feature is the combined safety-decocker lever on the slide, which safely lowers the hammer and blocks the sear. The pistol features a fixed barrel, a spring-clip retained recoil spring, and uses an 8-round single-stack magazine with a heel release. Constructed largely of steel, its design emphasizes durability and ease of maintenance, with few small parts, contributing to its reputation for functioning reliably in harsh conditions from the Siberian cold to the deserts of Afghanistan.

Variants

Several significant variants of the Makarov PM have been produced. The PMM (Makarov Modernized Pistol) was a 1990s upgrade featuring a double-stack magazine holding 12 rounds of a more powerful 9×18mm Makarov load and minor ergonomic improvements. The Baikal-442 is a Russian commercial sport-shooting version, often chambered in .380 ACP. The IJ-70 is another export model, frequently made for the United States market. Licensed copies were produced internationally, including the Pistol M in East Germany at the Ernst Thälmann Works, the P-64 in Poland, and the Makarov in Bulgaria at the Arsenal AD factory. China produced an unlicensed copy known as the Type 59 at the Norinco facilities.

Users

The Makarov PM was widely adopted as a standard sidearm by the armed forces, police, and security services of the Soviet Union and its successor states, including the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Belarus. It was standard issue across the Warsaw Pact, seeing service with the National People's Army of East Germany, the Bulgarian People's Army, and the Polish People's Army. The pistol was exported globally to allied states and movements, including North Vietnam, Afghanistan (under the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan), Cuba, and various African nations like Angola and Mozambique. It remains in limited service or reserve stocks with many countries, including Syria, Laos, and Mongolia, and is a popular collector's item in markets like the United States.

See also

* Tokarev TT-33 * Walther PP * 9×18mm Makarov * Stechkin APS * Yarygin MP-443 Grach

Category:Semi-automatic pistols Category:Cold War weapons of the Soviet Union Category:Firearms of Russia