[.45Ruger]

A gunshop in AZ has these listed at $99.95 each. They are advertised as Walther style. They are 9x18 which I believe is Makarov. Coes with two 8 round mags and a holster. I thought I would ask here to see what everyoine thought of these guns, Is this a good value and are these guns reliable. I am thinking of picking up a couple for CCW but would like your opinions first. Thanks for your help.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello, sir. Yes, it's the 9x18 Makarov caliber. The link below is to a report I did on a similar FEG "Walther type" pistol, but it won't exactly answer your questions as it's in .380 ACP, but it might be of some assistance.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7398&highlight=range+report

You can also find quite a bit of information from PA63 users at the site below if interested.

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Headlines&BID=42

Best.

[agony]

The PA63 is a fine little pistol. Would make a decent CCW, but I can't do it as I'm a lefty, and the pistol's safety is righty-only.

Pros: Cheap, reliable, boatloads of surplus cheap 9x18 ammo, lightweight, good-lookin.

Cons: Crappy grips due to the thumb-shelf. THe DA trigger pull as factory is super-heavy. The 63 has a few more parts to lose when stripped compared to a Makarov, the PA63 hurts some people's hands due to the light weight and horrid grip backstrap.

The trigger pull and recoil can be fixed with the makarov.com spring kits. Still trying to find better grips.

[PCRCCW]

FEG guns are very very reliable...first and foremost. The triggers are their weak link.....the d/a pull on a well shot surplus PA can be described (as I think Tamara once wrote) as "dragging a grand piano, a mile down a gravel road with you trigger finger"
Some guns Ive felt lately are actually worse than this!

Id say get one...clean up the trigger...check out Makarov.com and get some real sights for it....youll have a great gun.

Just a note and cant explain why this is...the PA series seems to have ALOT more recoil than similar size/weight/caliber guns.
The SMC which is the smallest FEG in Mak...kicks less.

Shoot well

[bama6]

I have 2 makarovs and love both of them. The price they are chargeing you for them is a real value jump on it. Both of my makarovs cost about $180 a peice without a holster. They are a cheap relieable handgun. I have had zero problems with them. The p64 or the pa63 are great for ccw.

[makarovnik]

I had a pa63 and paid about the same price three years ago. It was a decent pistol but jammed with anything other than FMJ. The recoil was harsher than any pistol I've ever shot including a .44 magnum. I ended up trading it in for a brand new hi-point 9mm compact. The hi-point cost about $20 more but I like it much better. I also have a russian makarov that cost about $170 and it is excellent. There aren't many decent pistols in that price range so I say go for it. The feed ramp is aluminum (part of the frame) so that's another reason I would recommend FMJ. Anything else might jam or tear up the feed ramp.