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Work order — Makarov PM

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: medium.

Shop difficulty: Tier 2 of 3

Only 27 parts with no special tools, but the trigger guard spring and plunger have to be compressed while the dumbbell pin is driven (a vise or helper), the disconnector has to be coaxed onto the sear by gravity after the hammer and sear are in, and the slide safety detent takes considerable force and marks the slide. 27 parts (Pistol without magazine. The site's labelled exploded view (makarov_exploded.jpg) has keys 1-30 with key 3 used twice; keys 27-30 are the magazine, which gives the same 27.). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~20 min, rebuild ~35 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• padded vise or a helper — Compressing the trigger guard spring while the pin is driven
• Makarov cleaning rod (claw end) or needle-nose pliers — Unhooking and re-hooking the sear spring over the slide release
• non-marring punch — Dovetail rear sight

Watch for:

• Refitting the trigger guard means holding its strong spring and plunger compressed with the guard while a dumbbell pin is driven in. (reassembly; Makarov.com)
• The site calls the trigger-guard refit one of the trickiest steps of the rebuild. (reassembly; Makarov.com)
• The disconnector end of the trigger bar dangles and cannot be held up while hammer and sear go in; it has to be worked into place afterwards with the pistol inverted. (reassembly; Makarov.com)
• The slide-mounted safety rides a strong detent; getting it back to 'safe' takes force and usually marks the slide. (both; Makarov.com)

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Press the heel magazine release at the bottom rear of the grip and remove the magazine.
   Tip: This is a heel release, not a button behind the trigger guard. It takes a deliberate press.
3. Retract the slide fully to eject any chambered round and lock it open on the slide stop.
4. Inspect the chamber with a light and physically confirm it is empty.
5. Remove all live ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Field Strip

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure and let the slide return forward.
2. Pull the front of the trigger guard straight down and offset it to one side so it rests against the frame.
3. Pull the slide fully to the rear, past its normal travel.
4. Lift the rear of the slide up to clear the frame rails, then ease it forward off the barrel.
   Warning: Control the slide — the recoil spring around the barrel is compressed.
5. Slide the recoil spring off the barrel.
   Tip: Note which end goes where — the spring has a tapered end that seats against the frame.
6. Return the trigger guard to its normal position.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

No manufacturer statement of materials or finish is recorded. Identify each part's material before choosing prep and cure.

4. Reassemble

Reassembly

1. Pull the trigger guard down and offset it against the frame.
2. Slide the recoil spring onto the barrel with the correct end forward.
3. Set the slide over the barrel and push it rearward, compressing the recoil spring.
4. With the slide fully rearward, press its rear down onto the frame rails until it seats.
   Tip: The hammer must be down. If the slide will not seat, check the hammer.
5. Ease the slide forward and snap the trigger guard back up into position.
   Warning: Confirm the trigger guard is fully seated before the pistol goes back into service.
6. Rack the slide several times and perform the function check.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Notes: The official military manuals give no torque value. They say: "6) Довернут ли винт рукоятки." [translation by this project: "6) Is the grip screw screwed fully home?"] (Наставления по стрелковому делу: Основы стрельбы из стрелкового оружия; 7,62-мм модернизированный автомат Калашникова (АКМ и АКМС); 7,62-мм ручной пулемет Калашникова (РПК и РПКС); 7,62-мм пулемет Калашникова (ПК, ПКС, ПКБ и ПКТ); 9-мм пистолет Макарова (ПМ), PDF p. 587 (inspection of the pistol))

Fit or check on rebuild

• Disconnector engaged on the sear — If the disconnector is left hanging the pistol will not fire or reset
• Function check: trigger reset, sear/striker engagement, safeties — Standard post-reassembly check on any pistol whose fire-control parts were removed; a mis-seated spring shows up here, not on the bench

6. Function check

• Verify the pistol is unloaded with no magazine inserted before each check.
• Shake the slide and confirm the firing pin moves freely before reassembly.
• Rack the slide and confirm it returns fully into battery.
• Cock the hammer, rotate the safety up, and confirm the hammer drops safely and the trigger is disconnected.
• With the safety on, press the trigger. Nothing should happen.
• Return the safety to fire and press the trigger for a double-action hammer fall.
• Rack the slide and press the trigger for a single-action break.
• Confirm the slide locks open on an empty magazine and the heel release works.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Sources

1. 9mm Makarov Pistol (PM) Operator's Manual — USSR Ministry of Defence primary
2. Small Arms Identification and Operation Guide — Eurasian Communist Countries — U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency secondary
3. Наставления по стрелковому делу: Основы стрельбы из стрелкового оружия; 7,62-мм модернизированный автомат Калашникова (АКМ и АКМС); 7,62-мм ручной пулемет Калашникова (РПК и РПКС); 7,62-мм пулемет Калашникова (ПК, ПКС, ПКБ и ПКТ); 9-мм пистолет Макарова (ПМ) — Министерство обороны СССР (Воениздат), 1987 — scan hosted on archive.org primary
   https://archive.org/details/1987_20220823
4. Detailed Disassembly and Reassembly of the Makarov Pistol — Makarov.com secondary
   https://www.makarov.com/tech/assembly.html

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.