Have a PA-63, Hungarian made. Aluminum frame. It was Leroy Thompson's ( gunwriter and bodyguard ) favorite of the bunch from the then eastern bloc, due to it's light weight and easy carry.
Last Shotgun News I read ( 10/13/03 ) had them for a nickel under a hundred bucks. Mak's go more like $150-200.
It's like comparing the original Commander ( aluminum frame ) to the 1911 ( Steel frame ). The steel framed Makarov will hold up longer. Five to six hundred will get you 3 or 4 Maks or 6 PA-63's. Strictly speaking, the PA-63 is not a Mak clone. However, they both look and operate somewhat like the Walther PP.
Have the 12/1/03 Shotgun News but haven't had time to go through it.
I'd take as many of either as I could get from in-state legal private party sales that aren't on the record. Just my preference.
Although they are most likely to come in the 9x18 Makarov ( .363 IIRC ) you may see them chambered in 380 or 9x17 Browning short ( .356 ). Six of one, half-a-dozen of the other. Get whatever is available. Energy probably varies more by label ( Remington/Winchester/Federal ) than by caliber. Figure 190 to 200 ft. lbs. for either. Plain 38 special out of a 2" barrel is about the same.
You can probably get 380 a little more easily in Controlled Expanding Rounds ( politically correct term for soft or hollow points ) but can probably buy ball 9mm Mak in quantity cheaper.
