>>570722
Mak owner here, also with anti-fun parents (although not as bad as yours, dad is just a fudd). Moved to Texas for freedom and work, just did an LTC class with my Makarov last weekend.
Do not buy a "Polish Makarov". That refers to the P64, which is not a Makarov, will be harder to find mags for, and has the most incredibly awful trigger you'll find. You want a genuine Makarov, ideally East German (best quality), Russian (good midpoint), or Bulgarian (most available). If you go Russian and end up with a new-ish manufacture made-for-export IJ-70, expect the adjustable sights to be fucking awful and take lots of fiddling with. Once you have it sighted in, you might want to just loctite them into place. Have a professional do this. You can also get rear sight replacements but depending on the gun, you might need a gunsmith to drill out the retaining pin on the rear sight - some people have knocked theirs out with a punch, I bought a punch and bent it after an hour of trying to get the pin out. The aftermarket sights also look kinda awful, they ruin the aesthetic of the gun.
Now, you'll need to work out priorities here. Firstly, are you mostly worried about grabbers and an AWB? Are you going to get a concealed carry permit at some point? Or are you what I used to be, a slavaboo that wants in on some comblock guns before it all dries up?
If the first, prioritize getting an AR and stockpiling a decent number of mags. The AR platform is cheap, incredibly versatile, uses one of the most common cartridges in the US, and has shitloads of aftermarket support. I know, I know. It's not rad like an AK or sexy like a SIG SG5XX. It's cliche and boring. It shits where it eats, like some filthy currynigger. I'm looking at buying one, even though I don't even really want one. But at the end of the day, it's still a good gun, and I don't see anyone making fucking desktop milling machines so people can pump out AK lowers. And if you want an AK, drop those dreams until you're out of college because shit's fucking expensive until you're
If the second, look into getting a modern 9mm. I don't know much about the pistol world, honestly. I heard good things about the Ruger Security 9, and the price point is excellent. Other /k/ommandos can offer better commentary there than I can.
If you're an irredeemable slavaboo, well, just get the Makarov. It's not a great concealed carry gun, it's heavy as fuck and only holds 8+1. The ammo is sorta rare but you can order it online. It's kind of anemic. Mags are expensive and hard to find. Recoil is surprisingly sharp, since it's a simple, direct blowback. The heel mag release is absolute trash, although you can get some Israeli aftermarket grip that hooks it to a button on the side.
But I fell in love with mine. You can field strip it in seconds, it's simple to clean, it's got a wonderful heft to it, it looks good, the fixed barrel makes it quite accurate once you're good with it. Parts are cheaper than you'd think and you can do most replacements yourself with a few minutes on youtube or makarov.com. Mine was was my second non-fudd gun after my SKS and my first ever handgun, and I just sort of fell in love. It is the definitive slav pistol, and despite its drawbacks in the face of modern handgun technology, there's a reason that it's been in use for 60+ years and is still used today.
There's another alternative that, while not as iconic, could satisfy your inner slavaboo. The Tokarev. 7.62x25 is even harder to find than 9x18, but Zavasta has you covered - they make Tok clones in 9mm. You've got a standardized cartridge in a time-tested, rugged, easy-to-strip design, and although mags will be even harder to find, the gun itself is a flat $200. I've heard good things about them, but do your research first.
As for finances, does your college's IT department hire student workers? If so, apply immediately. Mine gave me solid professional experience that resulted in later helpdesk jobs, which led to my current junior sysadmin job, and I'm being eyed for an infosec team. If not, look for odd jobs and side work. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty with some good old-fashioned manual labor. The money will add up, as long as you have the self-control to not spend it. If you have a car and do buy a gun, leave it in the car, well-hidden. The spare tire compartment is a good place. Keep it in a locked box, you can snag a cheap Plano pistol case for like $10 from walmart and a lock for $5. Or move off-campus and learn to live lean when it comes to food, you'll save a shitload down the road because colleges jew you hard in the dorms and on meal plans.
Also, what state? If you're near me, I'd be more than willing to help a fellow /k/ommando.