Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the pistols category.
01 / Overview
Makarov PM
Category
Country
Production
1951–2027
Quantity
5,000,000
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
PISTOLS · EARLY COLD WAR
18
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
85
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the pistols category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1949
- Service Entry Year1951
- DesignerNikolay Makarov
- Weight (Empty)0.73 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersSoviet Armed Forces, Militsiya, Soviet special forces, tank and aircraft crews, Eastern Bloc states, Second World states
◈Cartridge & Calibre6MOD.6
- Cartridge9×18mm Makarov
- Calibre9 mm
- Case Length18 mm
- Calibre Class9mm
- RimfireNo
- Caseless AmmunitionNo
▣Operation8MOD.8
- Action TypeBlowback
- Fire Modessemi-automatic
- Select FireNo
- Feed SystemDetachable Magazine
- Magazine Capacity8
- Drum / Belt Capacity0
- Trigger Typedouble action
- Safety Typemanual safety lever
◇Ballistics2MOD.2
- Muzzle Velocity315 m/s
- Effective Range (point)50 m
◆Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
- Barrel Length93.5 mm
- Sight TypeBlade front, notch rear (drift adjustable)
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
▤Construction7MOD.7
- Overall Length161.5 mm
- Receiver Materialsteel
- Furniture Materialplastic grips
- Folding / Collapsing StockNo
- Bullpup LayoutNo
- Ambidextrous ControlsNo
- Modularitylimited to variants (e.g., PMM, PB)
⬢Features5MOD.5
▲Production & Cost2MOD.2
- Total Production5,000,000
- Production Start1949
◎Additional Dimensions1MOD.1
- Width29.4 mm
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1951Production started
- 2027Production ended
75
years in service
76
years in production
5,000,000
units produced
39
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 2 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
MAKAROV PM · CONFLICTS SERVED IN12% win·6% ongoing·18% loss
Total Conflicts
17
Victories
2
Ongoing
1
Losses
3
2022–full-scale Russo-Ukrainian warOngoing→2011–2024Syrian Civil WarDecisive victory→2008Russo-Georgian WarDecisive victory→2001–2021War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)—→1993–2005Burundi Civil War—→1990–Tuareg rebellion (1990-1995)—→1979–1989Soviet-Afghan WarDecisive victory→1979–1992Salvadoran Civil War—→1975–2002Angolan Civil War—→1975–1990Lebanese Civil War—→1967–1975Cambodian Civil War—→1965–1983communist insurgency in Thailand—→1961–1990Nicaraguan Revolution—→1959–1975Laotian Civil WarDecisive victory→1956Hungarian Revolution of 1956—→1955–1975Vietnam WarDecisive victory→1946–1954First Indochina War—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
06 / Operators
Operator Countries41country
AlbaniaACTIVE
AlgeriaACTIVE
AngolaACTIVE
ArmeniaACTIVE
AzerbaijanACTIVE
BelarusACTIVE
BulgariaACTIVE
BurundiACTIVE
CubaACTIVE
EritreaACTIVE
EthiopiaACTIVE
GeorgiaACTIVE
GrenadaACTIVE
IndiaACTIVE
IndonesiaACTIVE
IraqACTIVE
KazakhstanACTIVE
KyrgyzstanACTIVE
LaosACTIVE
LibyaACTIVE
MaltaACTIVE
MoldovaACTIVE
MongoliaACTIVE
MozambiqueACTIVE
NicaraguaACTIVE
North KoreaACTIVE
North MacedoniaACTIVE
People's Republic of ChinaACTIVE
RomaniaACTIVE
RussiaACTIVE
Sierra LeoneACTIVE
SomaliaACTIVE
SyriaACTIVE
TajikistanACTIVE
TurkmenistanACTIVE
UkraineACTIVE
UzbekistanACTIVE
VietnamACTIVE
ZimbabweACTIVE
GermanyRETIRED
SerbiaRETIRED 07 / MASS Score
PISTOLS RANKING Pistols · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
ⓘ Rankings are within thePistolscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
A type of firearm action where the breech is not locked and the cartridge case expands to seal the breech, using case expansion and pressure to retain gases.
A firearm feed system where ammunition is stored in a separate container (magazine) that can be removed and replaced, enabling rapid reloading.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources