North Korea and Vietnam also use PMs as standard-issue pistols, however North Korea has since switched to the CZ-75 made locally as the BaekDuSan pistol. The PM is still the service pistol of many Eastern European and former Soviet republics. In 2003, the Makarov PM was formally replaced by the PYa pistol in Russian service, although as of 2016, large numbers of Makarov pistols are still in Russian military and police service. In the U.S., surplus Soviet and East German military Makarovs are listed as eligible curio and relic items by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, because the countries of manufacture, the USSR and the GDR, no longer exist. Variants of the pistol remain in production in Russia, China, and Bulgaria. It remained in wide front-line service with Soviet military and police until and beyond the end of the USSR in 1991. After many significant design changes and tweaks, the gun was formally adopted as the '9mm Pistolet Makarova', or 'PM' in December 1951.Īs the new standard issue sidearm of the USSR, the PM was issued to Non-commissioned officers, police, special forces, and tank and air crews. Tooling was set up in the Izhevsk plant for production. The pistol was therefore selected in 1949 for further development and optimization for mass production. During April 1948, Makarov's pistol experienced 20 times fewer malfunctions than the competing Baryshev and Sevryugin counterparts, and had fewer parts. After stringent handling, reliability, and other tests, Makarov's design, influenced by the German Walther PP, stood out from the others through its sheer simplicity, excellent reliability, quick disassembly, and robustness. Special emphasis was placed on safety, user-friendliness, accuracy, weight, and dimensions. Several engineers took part in the contest, including Korovin, Baryshev, Voyevodin, Simonov, Rakov, Klimov, Lobanov, Sevryugin, and Makarov. The lower pressures of the cartridge allowed practical straight blowback operation (reducing the cost and complexity of the weapon), while retaining low recoil and good stopping power. Semin, was the best round suited for the intended role. It was later judged that the new 9.2×18mm cartridge, designed by B. As a result, in December 1945, two separate contests for a new service pistol were created, respectively for a 7.62mm and 9mm pistol. Also, the Tokarev pistols omitted a safety and magazines were deemed too easy to lose. The TT was unsuited for such a role, as it was heavy and bulky. The adoption of the future AK assault rifle relegated the pistol to a light, handy self-defense weapon. Shortly after the Second World War, the Soviet Union reactivated its plans to replace the TT pistols and Nagant M1895 revolvers. Under the project leadership of Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov, it became the Soviet Union's standard military and Militsiya side arm in 1951. 'Makarov's Pistol') is a Soviet semi-automatic pistol. Kalashnikov Concern (2013–present) (Russia)Ĩ-round detachable box magazine (10- and 12-round available on the PMM)īlade front, notch rear (drift adjustable) Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (1949–2013) (USSR/Russia)

Stechkin 9mm makarov