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Hello, very simple question, I suspect:
My character is using a Makarov pistol, produced
in the late 50's. It turns out this pistol has a
double-action/single-action trigger.
I'm trying to understand, from an "uncocked" position, on the first shot the shooter has to pull the trigger hard so as to
"cock" the pistol, then fire it, yes?
Might a shooter put the pistol into the "cocked" mode first
by half-pulling the trigger so that it is now ready to shoot when he pulls it again? He would have better accuracy once it is in the ready to shoot position, yes?
Sorry I'm not explaining the question well.

Thank you.

The Makarov (at least the one I owned) had a heavy double-action trigger pull - like most single-double action pistols. You cannot 'cock' it by pulling the trigger. As you pull the trigger the hammer moves back and eventually falls - firing the pistol. The hammer never actually goes to the full-cock position. If you want to cock the hammer, you have to do so by directly pulling it back to the cocked position using your thumb or off hand. Hope that helps.

racking the slide by hand, done when loading the the magazine and chambering a round, would cock the gun.

if he had a spetznaz holster for it, the holster would rack and therefore cock it as it was drawn, you just push it down and out the holster (or through if you like) rather than the traditional pull the gun up and out.

bradaz11 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 19, 2021 6:10 am
if he had a spetznaz holster for it, the holster would rack and therefore cock it as it was drawn, you just push it down and out the holster (or through if you like) rather than the traditional pull the gun up and out.

That'll be the EFA-2K self load holster

This is very helpful, thank you. Just to be clear, from what I understand. For subsequent shots, the Makarov cocks the pistol automatically, but would this first "double" pull affect the accuracy ? Or is it something that the shooter would hardly feel?

the trigger has a longer pull or travel for the first uncocked shot. it is also harder to pull. generally it is regarded as a more inaccurate shot.
if someone is coming at you, I doubt you'd notice. but if you were wanting to take your time and get an accurate shot, you'd just cock the hammer

this vid may help - obvs its more instructional, but it may explain the issues a bit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU4v5i5c42k

Another example at 4:40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMNoGDdGAJQ

Got it! Many thanks.