P-64s At AIM

[Maj Dad]

Just got one of the latest batch of grade 1 P-64s from AIM, and it is very nice - probably +/> 95% blue, mechanically perfect, and surprise, a very nice holster (Radom 11 marked and 1973 date). Pistol is Radom 11 marked, 1975 dated, import mark ("IO, Inc, Palm Bay, FL") on right side of slide under the ejection port. Cleaned it up with some leather wipes and it now passes inspection. Two mags (non-matching) in excellent condition, and it joins its brother from a few years ago (and about half the newbie's $250 price). I think it's a good deal if you're looking to pick one up - doubt they will go down in price if more show up...

 

[Tallball]

I have bought four firearms from AIM and have been very pleased with all of them.

Congratulations on your new pistol!

 

[Olympus]

Those P64s are good, rugged guns. I had one for a vehicle gun for a long time. Trigger pulls are horrendous without the Wolff spring kit and they have a pretty good kick to them.

 

[BSA1]

I just got a grade one yesterday from AIM Surplus. 99% blue. 1969 date. Very slight wear on front tip of slide and a couple of little spots of light rust which are soaking in G96. Thumb safety is stiff along with the trigger pull so everything also is getting a soaking with G96. I think it spent it's career sitting in a box.

I'm going to order Wolff Spring Kit this weekend to get the double action to something manageable. I am thinking about ordering a set of Maschal grips with a beavertail to see if that lessens the sting from the recoil.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Very neat guns. 9x18mm has come down in price it seems. Very interesting, might have to get one soon. Are these accurate and reliable guns?

 

[BSA1]

This is my second one. The first one isn't 100% reliable. The magazine spring in one of them is on the weak side and causes feeding problems. The magazine springs in the mags that came with gun yesterday are stiffer.

All is not lost. There is a dealer in Poland that has new springs for $7.00 ea. or new ones with surface rust for $3.50 ea. listed on Gunbroker. I am going to order half a dozen and replace the springs in all of mags.

p.s. New magazine springs can also be made by cutting some coils off of Maravok magazine springs. Mak springs are too long but will fit when shortened. Ordering new ones from Poland is easier.

 

[Olympus]

Mine was laser accurate. But it had to be with a front sight post that small.

 

[rtz]

New mags can be had if desired: http://www.keepshooting.com/polish-p64-magazine.html

 

[W.E.G.]

Federal now make 9X18 "performance ammo."

 

[Maj Dad]

Cooldill, I have never had failure of any sort in my older one - I also replaced all the springs with the Wolff set. Very well made, machining is excellent, and accuracy is as good as you can get from a small pocket pistol. Shot it at 7 & 15 yds using Russian white box 107 gr ammo, keeping rounds in center mass - didn't measure, but off the bench at 7yds, 2-3" groups, 4-5" at 15. Recoil was sharp, to say the least so I added a Handall Junior rubber slip-on grip (trimmed a little), and it helped a lot, but switching to Brown Bear 94 gr ammo was the answer. Much more manageable, and shooting a box at the range is fun again. I shoot the 107 gr in the CZ-82 & Bulgie Mak. Wish I had bought 2 or 3 when they were $140...

 

[Antihero]

I wanted one til I handled one....absolutely horrendous da trigger

 

[BSA1]

Wolff Main Spring goes a long way towards improving the double action trigger pull.

 

[Dain Bramage]

Trigger pulls are horrendous without the Wolff spring kit

Agreed. First time I shot my P64, I actually broke up laughing at how ridiculous the DA trigger was. SA, on the other hand was quite good.

After the Wolff kit, DA is merely bad, and SA is very good; crisp, light, and creepless.

 

[HisSoldier]

Old forum complaint, photos please.

I own one. When considering for self defense; It shoots some weird 9MM cartridge, Makarov. Strike 1. Mine isn't a bad gun, it's just that it has that abominable slide safety like a PPK. Strike 2. It also has that abominable heel mag release. There is no excuse for a heel mag release after JMB showed the world where a mag release should be to make sense, no offense meant to the 15% who think a heel release is a good idea. "Strike 3, your out" as a carry gun!

As a well made example of a historical handgun carried by minions of the evil empire it has historical interest, plus 1. And the Makarov cartridges are cheap though in a collapse will soon become unobtainable Plus .5. And for a historical shooter one doesn't defend his life with or carry it might be fun, though recoil can be abusive. plus another .5.

I have a safe full of interesting all steel guns that will still be equal to their ammunition for hundreds of years. I like them all. Any one of them could save my life in a pinch, that makes them dear to me, heh heh.

For self defense? JMB showed the world the way. For collecting? The P-64 is a fine piece. Really well made and well designed given the wrong framework of the PPK as a model.

The above is simply my personal opinion, and, like all opinions, should be taken for what it's worth. I'm not a gunfighter nor a gunsmith.

 

[Antihero]

Heel magazine releases aren't fantastic but they work ok.....but dear god is that DA trigger bad

 

[rcmodel]

Heel mag releases on pocket and small holster combat guns are fine with me.

At least you know the mag won't fall out and get lost if you set or fall on it wrong!

We didn't know we needed push-button drop-free mags until the gun gamers told us we did beginning in the 1970's.

Some other country's in the world didn't get the memo.

rc

 

[Ignition Override]

Three friends 'carry' the P-64, all of which have the original very stiff (DA) springs.

These three very seasoned middle-aged shooters chose the gun because of reliability, ruggedness, and the price.

My only Polish guns are a pair of P-83 Wanads, the P-64's younger, larger brother. Very close to the same size as my three Makarovs.
The 83 is reported to be as reliable as the 64.

 

[Ignition Override]

Pardon the clone.

 

[kozak6]

They're neat guns. I meant to get one a few years back but it never happened. The P83 is also a cool gun.

I've seen a lot of Makarov PM's turning up in my area in the past few years, so I've been keeping an eye on 9x18 ammo. Availability has been spotty enough to make me nervous. It's better now, so you should stockpile it while it's available.

 

[Ignition Override]

kozak6: Lots of reading has persuaded me to maybe buy a CZ-83 FTF, to complement the CZ-82, P-83s, Maks and Russian commercial Mak (.380 Auto).

Tough choice between such a cool CZ in .380 Auto or simply extra 9x18 ammo to help counteract a possible future high tariff or ban on imported 9x18 ammo.
Very unlikely it would happen, but US-made 9x18 ammo would then skyrocket.

 

[Lj1941]

Prices

These C&R pistols are nice but their prices are going out of sight.I love my CZ82 and it is the most accurate semi that I own. That being said Bud's deals on police trades have convinced me that from a practical standpoint I am much better off going that route. I like to shoot my guns and surplus commie block ammo is not cheap like it was a few years ago. I do hand load 9x18 but not the other commie block calibers. I got rid of several C&R pistols by trading them in at Bud's on nice pristine M&Ps.It surprised me that I was able to do that. I am not a serious collector and I am slimming down my collection for economic reasons.

 

[BSA1]

I love my CZ82 and it is the most accurate semi that I own.

The CZ-82 for American shooters is neither fish or fowl. It is a bit on the large size for conceal carry and a bit underpowered as a duty / field gun.

With that said I also love my CZ-82. I ran into some feeding problems with it a while back but after replacing the recoil spring with Wolff's it is running fine. Mine is typical import quality with some of the paint type finish missing from the slide. I keep intending to get the gun Ceracoated but I can't make up my mind on what colors.

My only regret is I don't own two of them. I fear seeing them at affordable prices may be gone forever.