P-64 question

[Texas Hillbilly]

One of the local gun dealers has a number of Polish P-64s in stock. I am thinking about getting one....How "bad" are they compared to a Makarov?

Thank you for your time...

[M2 Carbine]

I've got three of them and I like them.

They aren't bad but they aren't as good an all round pistol as the Makarov.

They are just a different pistol and smaller.
Judging by mine they are reliable, accurate and fun to shoot but do kick pretty good.

If it's a choice between a Mak and a P-64, get the Mak.
If you want to get another 9X18, try the P-64.

[Libertas]

Originally posted by M2 Carbine
I've got three of them and I like them.

They aren't bad but they aren't as good an all round pistol as the Makarov.

They are just a different pistol and smaller.
Judging by mine they are reliable, accurate and fun to shoot but do kick pretty good.

If it's a choice between a Mak and a P-64, get the Mak.
If you want to get another 9X18, try the P-64.

Would you consider the P-64, for its size alone (notwithstanding the caliber), a decent concealed carry choice?

Regards

[Texas Hillbilly]

Is the "kick" much like a 1911 .45 or even more?

[Guy Powell]

local gun dealers has a number of Polish P-64s in stock


WHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHERE!!!! Did I say WHERE!!!!
I've been looking for one, but around Longview/East Texas??? Also, have you any idea of the pricing and condition? Thanks man.

[M2 Carbine]

Originally posted by Libertas
Would you consider the P-64, for its size alone (notwithstanding the caliber), a decent concealed carry choice?

Regards

Yes, but not the best.
I haven't carried a P-64 but I thought about it several times.
I wouldn't feel undergunned if I did.

It's all steel, so it's a little on the heavy side.
The double action trigger pull is beyond terrible, which many people consider unacceptable in a carry gun. Personally I almost never shoot double action but when shooting the P-64 last week I tried DA again, bad trigger. For me it's a lot easier to just cock the hammer.

If buying one, check the operation of the thumb safety, that it isn't very hard to move or too free. The safety spring and plunger has been known to be hung up on a few new guns.

[M2 Carbine]

Originally posted by Texas Hillbilly
Is the "kick" much like a 1911 .45 or even more?

The kick is sharper than a 45 but not as hard. It's just that the grip and shape is smaller.

Some people shoot my P-64 and think nothing of it and some think it is uncomfortable.

Just like some people think a Makarov kicks and some don't.

A friend's brother had some hand problems. One day we shot the P-64 a lot and he liked it, didn't bother him at all.

[Banker Billy]

Here's my 2 cents . . .

For "overall shooting fun" get the Mak. I've now got five and want one more -- need "even" numbers, don't ya know ! !

Also have a Polish P-64. Dated "1975". Double action pull is the pits, so most often I fire single action. It's all steel and I think that helps with the recoil. My 14 year old son shoots the P-64 quite well -- he says it's "cool ! "

The P-64 is a little smaller than the Mak, so if that is really import get the P-64.

And I've have fired several hundred rounds -- mostly steel case ammo - thru the Mak's and the P-64 and have had ZERO problems.

But . . like I said . . .for overall shooting fun it's pretty hard to beat the Mak . . .

[PaleGreenHorse]

My P-64 can go toe to toe with my Bulgy Mak all day in accuracy and reliability. It has a bonus that it is slightly smaller, but the felt recoil is slightly sharper. The DA pull is ridiculous at 25lbs, but the SA is decent for Mil-surp. Its a great shooter, but mine did need a polish on the feed ramp to cycle JHP's with a 100% reliability. It would FTB maybe 1 out of 50 rounds fired before I polished it.

[jack19512]

I was at my local gunshop yesterday and noticed a P-64 in their counter. I looked at it and I liked it. Best I remember they wanted $185.00 for it. I didn't know the going price for one so I passed.

They were advertising it as a Makarov. From what I have read on Glocktalk the P-64 is not a Makarov. I informed them of this but I don't think they believed me.

Anyone know what a reasonable price would be for a P-64 that appears to be in good shape would be?

[PaleGreenHorse]

$120-$140 In great shape.

[M2 Carbine]

In the DFW area the retail is about the same as a Makarov, about $169.

I think what confuses people that don't know Makarovs is the P-64 has exactly this on the slide,
Cal. MAKAROV 9mmx18,,P-64"

Then to, the distributors try and cash in on the Makarov reputation.

The Hungarian PA-63 is often advertised as the Hungarian PA-63 Makarov.

When you call them down about it they just say, "Oh we just mean it shoots the 9x18", but they know exactly what they are doing.

[uhlawpup]

Funny I should run across this thread today... I decided to carry one of my P64s today for the first time in awhile.

I love mine. It's a beast to shoot, but it's a perfect carry gun, both IWB and front pocket (with a pocket holster, of course).

It has a lot of bang for the buck, and the fixed barrel makes it deadly accurate.

I carry it with Barnaul FMJ... If I miss the guy, the stink will floor him.

[RENEA]

Originally posted by Texas Hillbilly
One of the local gun dealers has a number of Polish P-64s in stock. I am thinking about getting one....How "bad" are they compared to a Makarov?

Thank you for your time...

They are small and have very heavy DA triggers. Users with large hands (such as myself) experience hammerbite. Nothing "wrong" with them functionally.

[uhlawpup]

I took mine to the range yesterday, as I had the day off. I was going to run a hundred through it, but could only stand 50. It is a little painful to shoot, but it sure makes a wonderful pocket gun, and it is very accurate.

I was thinking of selling one of my two, but I think I'll keep them now...

[M2 Carbine]

Originally posted by uhlawpup
I took mine to the range yesterday, as I had the day off. I was going to run a hundred through it, but could only stand 50. It is a little painful to shoot, but it sure makes a wonderful pocket gun, and it is very accurate.

I was thinking of selling one of my two, but I think I'll keep them now...

You can take a little kick out of the P-64, not much but a little.
The 21 pound Makarov spring will fit the P-64 but it's too long.
If you use a Dramel tool and initially cut the 21 to the length of your P-64 spring, it will won't allow the P-64 slide to recoil all the way back, because the 21 spring is a larger diameter wire and fully compressed it is longer than the original compressed P-64 spring.
So now you cut off a small piece at a time from the 21 pound spring and check it in the gun until it allows the slide to come all the way back.

You end up with a shorter but stouter spring than the original.

It's not nearly the same effect as installing a 21 pound spring in a Makarov but I guess it's worth a $10 spring.

To test if I had just wasted my time and a new spring, I had a friend randomly pull the slides on my 3 P-64's to see if he could tell the difference.
He picked out the modified P-64 every time but in fact the heavier spring still doesn't make the P-64 a kittycat.

Light handloads do wonders.:)

[uhlawpup]

I'm sure handloading to comfort level would be a good solution, but I don't reload, as I live in a townhouse and wouldn't want a barrel of smokeless powder helping out any fire that might start.

The P64 will probably stay my carry-a-lot-shoot-a-little option. Since the gym thing is working out for me, the more weight I lose, the bigger and heavier gun I can comfortably carry, and the P64 is going out with me more and more now... It seems to fit in the pocket better than before, but I'm sure it's just because my pants are all stretching...