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The Makarov is a 9 mm handgun featured in both ArmA: Armed Assault and ArmA 2.
ArmA: Armed Assault[]
« | For nearly forty years, the venerable PM Makarov has served with the Soviet Red Army, and now the Russian Federation Armed Forces. Renowned for its simple and extremely reliable design, the Makarov can be found in abundance across the globe. Although the magazine capacity is low by present-day standards, the small 8-round magazine gives the pistol a narrow profile. Library Description
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The Makarov PM is exclusively used by the SLA in ArmA: Armed Assault.
Overview[]
The Makarov PM is a semi-automatic handgun chambered to fire the 9×18 mm round.
It loads from 8-round box magazines, and can attain a fire rate of up to 400 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 320 m/s. The Makarov lacks the ability to mount accessories but does have a sub-variant that has a muzzle suppressor attached.
Essentially the SLA's counterpart to the RACS/U.S. M9 pistol, the Makarov has the same accuracy and recoil.
Its only real drawback stems from its unergonomic sights, which can be rather difficult to aim with against targets located beyond 35 metres. In all other aspects it isn't too different from the M9.
Variants[]
Makarov Silenced[]
The Makarov Silenced is a suppressed version of the standard Makarov pistol carried by the SLA's elite Especas units.
Its muzzle velocity is slightly lower, clocking in at only 310 m/s but others remain virtually unchanged from the regular Makarov pistol.
Like its parent weapon, it is also chambered to fire the same 9×18 mm round but features an integral suppressor. Handling-wise, its recoil is no different to the base pistol as changes to performance (if any) are solely dependent on the loaded magazine.
Ironsights[]
Both the Makarov and Makarov Silenced share the same ironsights.
Ammunition[]

Round name | Base damage value | Initial velocity (m/s) |
---|---|---|
9×18 mm | 8 | 320 |
9×18 mm SD | 8 | 310 |
Both variants of the Makarov support being loaded with two types of magazines. They each take up one inventory slot:
Makarov Mag.[]
8-round magazine loaded with regular 9 mm ball ammunition. Does not contain any tracers.
MakarovSD Mag.[]
Special ammunition with reduced velocity and sound. Remains otherwise identical to regular 9 mm rounds.
Trivia[]
- Prior to Patch 1.04, the camera offset when aiming in first person was angled differently compared to the post-1.04 Makarov pistol.[1]
Gallery[]
ArmA 2[]
« | In use for nearly forty years the venerable PM Makarov served the Soviet Red Army and now serves the Russian Federation Armed Forces. Renowned for its simple and extremely reliable design, the Makarov can be found in abundance across the globe. Although the small, 8-round capacity is low by present-day standards, it gives the pistol a narrow profile. Equipped with a suppressor the silenced Makarov PM is an ideal weapon for special forces and assassins. Armoury Description
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The Makarov is used by several BLUFOR and REDFOR factions, as well as with Chernarussian law enforcement officers in ArmA 2.
Overview[]
Returning in ArmA 2, the Makarov now serves as the primary sidearm of multiple factions.
It continues to feed from 8-round box magazines but has a lower fire rate only 400 RPM, with its muzzle velocity also being reduced to 320 m/s. The Makarov lacks the ability to mount accessories but does have a sub-variant that has a muzzle suppressor attached.
Light and compact to carry, the Makarov serves as the standard-issue sidearm of the Russian military, ChDKZ insurgents, the CDF, and Chernarussian law enforcement. It has a decent rate of fire and relatively low recoil which makes it easy to wield in most situations.
Its main drawbacks are its difficult-to-use ironsights which makes it hard to aim at targets beyond 25 metres (the Makarov has an actual effective range of 50 metres) as well as the low damage of its 9 mm round.
Variants[]
Makarov SD[]
The Makarov SD also returns in ArmA 2 and remains as a suppressed sub-variant.
It is only carried by Russian Spetsnaz and Takistani elite guards. Its muzzle velocity has also been dropped to 310 m/s, though the ammunition itself has not been changed and can be negated by simply loading regular 8-round magazines.
In all other aspects, it remains completely unchanged to the baseline Makarov pistol.
Ironsights[]
Ammunition[]

Round name | Base damage value | Aerodynamic friction | Initial velocity (m/s) |
---|---|---|---|
9×18 mm | 5 | -0.002751 | 320 |
9×18 mm SD | 5 | -0.001893 | 310 |
Both Makarov pistols are able to load two types of magazines. Each magazine will require at least one free secondary inventory slot:
Makarov Mag.[]
8-round magazine loaded with regular 9 mm ball ammunition. Does not contain any tracers.
Makarov SD Mag.[]
Special ammunition with reduced velocity and sound. Remains otherwise identical to regular 9 mm rounds.
Trivia[]
- Although portrayed as the primary sidearm of the Russian military, in-game Makarov pistols used by Russian units are incorrectly referred to by its manufacturer name instead of being designated with its real GRAU index code (56-A-125 for the baseline pistol[2], 6P9 for SD variant[3]).
- On release, the 9 mm rounds fired by both variants of the Makarov could inflict much higher damage. The Operation Arrowhead expansion pack subsequently lowered the base damage (from 6 down to 4) of both rounds, though it remains unclear as to why it was reduced in the first place.
- This was subsequently corrected again in the Steam release of the game, with CorePatch updates increasing the damage of both rounds to 5 instead of 4.[4]
- The CorePatch updates have also buffed the Makarov's accuracy. Prior to the latest patches, both Makarov pistols had significantly greater dispersion values (0.02 radians versus the final 0.004).[4]
- At launch, the Makarov's ironsights were modelled with smaller rear sights (like in Armed Assault). This was adjusted after the release of Patch 1.07 to its current appearance.[5]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Španěl, M et al. 2007, ArmA: Armed Assault: Version History, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 12 July 2023, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/ArmA:_Armed_Assault:_Version_History#Version_1.04>.
- ↑ Royal Armouries Museum 2003, CENTREFIRE SELF-LOADING PISTOL - MAKAROV PM - MADE1976, Royal Armouries, viewed 21 February 2024, <https://royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-278534>.
- ↑ Popenker, M 2003, PB intergrally suppressed (silenced) pistol (USSR/Russia), Modern Firearms, viewed 21 February 2024, <https://modernfirearms.net/en/handguns/handguns-en/russia-semi-automatic-pistols/pb-besshumnyj-eng/>.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mazzon, M et al. 2019, CorePatch, GitHub, viewed 12 July 2023, <https://github.com/Goliath86/CorePatch/blob/master/Changelog.txt>.
- ↑ .kju et al. 2009, Arma 2: Version History, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 27 November 2023, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Arma_2:_Version_History#Version_1.07>.
External links[]
See also[]
Weapons of comparable role and configuration[]
- M9 (USMC/U.S. Army counterpart)
- M1911 (British Army counterpart)
- G17 (KSK counterpart, ArmA 2: OA only)
- CZ 75 (ACR counterpart, ArmA 2: ACR only)
- PM (Syndikat counterpart, ArmA 3: Apex only)
- Tokarev TT-33 (Soviet predecessor, ArmA: CWA only)
Weapons of ArmA: Armed Assault | |
---|---|
Handguns | M9 9 mm • Makarov 9 mm |
Submachine guns | MP5A5 9 mm (SD6) |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm • M4A1 5.56 mm (M4A1 GL, M4, M4 GL) |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 + GP-25, AKS-74 PSO) • G36 series (G36, G36C, G36K) • M16A2 5.56 mm (M203) • M16A4 5.56 mm (GL) |
Designated marksman rifles | Mk12 SPR 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | KSVK 12.7 mm • M107 .50 • M24 7.62 mm • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | M249 SAW 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | M240 7.62 mm • PKM 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | 6G30 |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela • FIM-92F Stinger • Javelin Launcher • M136 • RPG-7V |
Static | AA Pod • AT Tripod • AGS-30 • D-30 • DShKM • M2 • M119A1 • Mk. 19 • Searchlight |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. Queen's Gambit |
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Handguns | Makarov 9 mm |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm* |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 + GP-25, AKS-74 PSO) |
Sniper rifles | KSVK 12.7 mm • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | 6G30 |
Machineguns | PKM 7.62 mm* |
Launchers | RPG-7V* • Strela-2 9K32 |
Static | AA Pod • AT Tripod • AGS-30 • D-30 • DShKM • Searchlight§ |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. * denotes weapons also used by the Resistance sub-faction. § denotes campaign-exclusive weapons. Queen's Gambit |
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Handguns | Makarov 9 mm |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GP-25, AKS-74) • AKS 7.62 mm |
Sniper rifles | SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | RPK-74 5.45 mm |
Machineguns | PKM 7.62 mm |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela-2 • RPG-7V |
Static | AGS-30 • D-30 • DShKM • 2B14 Podnos • Searchlight • SPG-9 • ZU-23 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | Makarov 9 mm |
Submachine guns | PP-19 Bizon 9 mm |
Shotguns | Saiga 12K |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-107 5.45 mm (AK-107 GP-25) |
Designated marksman rifles | VSS Vintorez 9 mm |
Sniper rifles | KSVK 12.7 mm • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | RPK-74 5.45 mm |
Machineguns | PKP 7.62 mm • PKM 7.62 mm |
Launchers | 9K38 Igla • 9K115-2 Metis-M • RPG-7V • RPG-18 |
Static | 2B14 Podnos • AGS-30 • D-30 • Igla AA Pod • KORD • Metis AT-13 • Searchlight |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | Makarov 9 mm |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GP-25, AKS-74) • AKM 7.62 mm • AKS 7.62 mm |
Sniper rifles | CZ 550 9.3 mm • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | RPK-74 5.45 mm |
Machine guns | PKM 7.62 mm |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela-2 • RPG-7V |
Static | AGS-30 • D-30 • DShKM • 2B14 Podnos • Searchlight • SPG-9 • ZU-23 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
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Handguns | Makarov 9 mm • Revolver .45 |
Submachine guns | PDW 9 mm |
Carbines | AKS-74U 5.45 mm • M4A1 5.56 mm |
Assault rifles | AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GP-25, AKS-74) • FN-FAL 7.62 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 M203) |
Sniper rifles | KSVK 12.7 mm • SVD Dragunov 7.62 mm |
Squad automatic weapons | RPK-74 5.45 mm |
Machineguns | M240 7.62 mm • PKM 7.62 mm |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela-2 • Metis-M 9K115-2 • RPG-7V • RPG-18 |
Static | AGS-30 • D-30 • Igla AA Pod • KORD • Metis AT-13 • 2B14 Podnos • Searchlight • SPG-9 • ZU-23 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. | Operation Arrowhead |