The Makarov pistol (PM) is a Soviet semi-automatic (self-loading) pistol, developed by the arms designer Nikolai Makarov in 1948. It served in the armed forces and internal affairs bodies of the USSR, later Russia, the entire socialist bloc (including Bulgaria).
The PM was created as a result of a competition for the development of a personal weapon intended for the officers of the Red Army. The Defense Committee specified in the competition conditions that a new cartridge should be used, namely the 9×18 mm cartridge created by Boris Semin (in Russian: B. V. Semin) (which was to replace the 7.62 mm used until then) and a free-bolt scheme. Although the cartridge is designated as 9 mm, it is 9.25 mm. The conditions set were met by Nikolai Fyodorovich Makarov, who won the competition in 1948. PM stands out from its competitors with its simplicity of design (it consists of a small number of moving parts), economy, ease of manufacture and effectiveness in combat. It was initially produced by the Izhevsk Machine-Building Plant. It remains in service with the police and the army of the USSR and Russia.
The shortened to 93 mm. barrel and the relatively low-power cartridge determine the low accuracy and grouping of the shooting, even at close distances. The tabulated dispersion radius is 0.16 m. at a distance of 50 m. | 
