Makarov

The PM is a medium-size, straight-blowback-action, frame-fixed-barrel handgun. In blowback designs, the only force holding the slide closed is that of the recoil spring; upon firing, the barrel and slide do not have to unlock, as do locked-breech-design pistols. Blowback designs are simple and more accurate than designs using a recoiling, tilting, or articulated barrel, but they are limited practically by the weight of the slide. The 9x18mm cartridge is a practical cartridge in blowback-operated pistols; producing a respectable level of energy from a gun of moderate weight and size. The PM is heavy for its size by modern US commercial handgun standards, largely because in a blowback pistol the heavy slide provides greater inertia to delay opening of the breech until internal pressures have fallen to a safe level. Other, more powerful cartridges have been used in blowback pistol designs, but the Makarov is widely regarded as particularly well balanced in its design elements.

In Project Reality, the Makarov is the main sidearm of the Russian Armed Forces. It is chambered in the 9x18mm round. It effectively replaced the MP-444 from the game.

Variants

 * Makarov
 * 9x18mm
 * Used by Russia

Trivia

 * The MP-444 was a placeholder for the Makarov.