18x9 owners, opinions needed, PLEASE!

Which Mak???

  • Polish P64 (1 6rd mag, $149.99)

    Votes: 11 27.5%

  • Hungarian PA-63 (2 7rd mags, $159.99)

    Votes: 4 10.0%

  • Other (please post about it)

    Votes: 25 62.5%
  • Total voters
    40
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skeptiq

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9x18 owners, opinions needed, PLEASE!

Hey guys (and gals), I have been tinkering around with the idea of a 9x18 ... I have found two that are very reasonable so I'd like any and all experiences with either.

Thanks,
Ben

PS: I AM NOT SURE IF THE PA-63 HAS 6 OR 7 RND MAGS... WHATEVER STOCK IS FOR THOSE, THERE ARE TWO MAGS WITH THAT GUN... OOPS!

PSS: I guess I got the terminology wrong, so it's been updated to be specific...
 
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Neither is a Makarov. Both fire the 9mm Mak round though.
Click to expand...

Exactly!

I think you should spring for an East German Makarov or a Russian or Bulgarian. If you do a little looking, you can find them for close to 300$
 
As a follow up... what do you 18x9 shooters think about brown bear ammo??? have you used it, would you recommend it?

Thanks!
 
The p64 is a fine weapon for the price... just might want to get new recoil and trigger springs with all the money you save!
 
I have a P64, and a Russian Makarov. The LIttle Pole is pretty hard to hold onto without a little practice, but I do have pretty big hands. Its not the kind of gun to take to the range and put a zillion rounds through it at a time. The Russian Makarov is a little larger and much easier and fun to shoot. I qualified for my CHL with it and carry it with me. I also have a CZ82 which to me is the top of the line for the 9X18 cartridge. It has a double stack mag and is very accurate. My wife can group with it as well as any of her other pistols at about 10 yards. You can still find some around for less than a couple of hundred.
 
I picked other for the Czech CZ-82, you can pick one up for about $200 and you get a great reliable pistol. It has 12 round magazines +1 in the pipe. I've fired 100s of rounds through it including: Wolf, Sellier Belot, Hornandy and reloads. I currently carry as my CCW with Hornady XTP rounds.
 
I have an EG and a Bulgarian Mak, both fine guns, but I cast my vote for the CZ-82.
 
18x9 hmm I would love to see what that round looks like.

On the other hand I do have 9x18 CZ-82 that is simply fantastic. Decent DA trigger, recoil is not bad, and accuracy through that polygonal rifling is excellent, much better then you would expect. The grips fit all hand pretty well, the safety is in a good position and front end is nice and compact, making it by far my favorite concealed carry piece. It far outshined my PPK/s as well as all of my other compacts. For the price you can currently get them for, I think its the best buy on the market.

The only flaw I can think of is the mag release which requires me to change my grip to engage it, and even then its a bit sticky, but this is a relatively minor issue. At least people with big hands won't have to worry about accidentally dropping a mag.
 
I have owned a Makarov, and currently own a P64 and a CZ82. There is no doubt that the CZ is the best platform for the cartridge, and a bargain.
The P64 is an outstanding buy in a CCW pistol. Small, thin and easy to carry. Recoil is stout, but it is utterly reliable, and very accurate.
 
East German Military Makarov #1
Russian Military Makarov #2

Bulgarian Military or Commercial #3
Russian Commercial #4
Norinco Chinese Makarov #5

CZ 82 or 83 #6

FEG SMC 918 #7

The other 9x18 flip a coin what is the best cost.

By a real Makarov first.
 
I own a P64 (no experience with other 9x18 pistols). Like others have posted, I've found it to be an excellent CCW. Mine has been 100% reliable and amazingly accurate. On the downside, it's recoil is rather stout and it's DA trigger is very heavy. I haven't changed the springs on mine to lighten the DA trigger as I use that heavy trigger as a safety rather than utilizing it's manual one. It's a great CCW, but not a "fun" range gun.


nero
 
I own a Bulgarian Makarov, a Radom P-64 and an FEG PA-63 ....which is better depends upon the usage.
For CCW, the P-64 is PPK/s size and easiest to conceal and carry. Of the three, my Makarov is easiest on the hand to shoot a lot, but the P-64 seems to be most accurate out to 50 feet. I'm actually quite amazed at the P-64's accuracy. I had not expected that. However, it isn't a "spend the day shooting" gun.

Oh yeah, I shoot a whole heck of a lot of Brown Bear in 9x18 and 7.62x39.....works great for me! :)
 
Try and find a makarov

Makarovs have become scarce but if you try, one can be had for around 300+ I wouldn't pay over $400 Though. If you want one, a guy is listing his on AR-15 forum and also on the forum listed below (slim tims makarov trader). The other two pistols you mentioned are fine, however, rest assured the makarov will out preform them in all departments.

http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=47

100_0537.jpg
 
I own the P64 as well and like others have said, it is an excellent CCW! It has great pointability and is freakishly accurate. That being said, because of the pistol design and small size, it is a KILLER to shoot. 50 rounds at once is about all you want with the little gun. It will give you a throbbing palm and hand web very easily. If you're looking for a gun to use for plinking and taking for range trips, I would go with the actual Makarov, East German for quality or Bulgarian for the best bang for the buck.

You can still order the P64 and get one that has likely never been used or even fired. The one I received I'm fairly certain had never been been shot. No rub marks on the fram from the slide, no marks on the ramps, no worn spots on the mag, etc. The bluing is excellent as well! For CCW use, the P64 would be my vote hands down.

With a custom set of grips and Don Hume IWB holster...
P1011008.jpg

Original condition...
P1010932.jpg
 
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