P64 issue
- Thread starter Ellsnjel
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BSA1
member
I have good luck with Barnaul Silver Bear FMJ. The P-64 is a bit of beast to shoot because of it's recoil.
MedWheeler
Member
Hard to say for sure with limited information. Two malfunctions in only 50 rounds could mean either the gun or the shooter was not yet "broken in." Since the gun is used, it likely has been shot, but it's hard to say how much, or how long since it had been last shot. I also don't know if it was cleaned or lubricated (or how) before your range session.
The P64, as noted, is a handful, and would certainly be an easy pistol to "limp-wrist" in firing, and that can certainly cause malfunctions.
That being said, I have had more malfunctions in my Kel-Tec P32 with S&B ammo than with either Fiocchi or even Remington-UMC. I only mention the .32 since it's the only gun/caliber in which I've fired S&B ammo (I do own a P64, but have not yet fired it.)
The P64, as noted, is a handful, and would certainly be an easy pistol to "limp-wrist" in firing, and that can certainly cause malfunctions.
That being said, I have had more malfunctions in my Kel-Tec P32 with S&B ammo than with either Fiocchi or even Remington-UMC. I only mention the .32 since it's the only gun/caliber in which I've fired S&B ammo (I do own a P64, but have not yet fired it.)
Sebastian the Ibis
Member
A heavy recoil spring, and lighter trigger spring make a p64 much more pleasant. Check out Wolf springs.
Ibmikey
Member
I have a couple of P 64's and honestly say they are the my least favorite of over a hundred pistols. Look at the positive side-- if the pistol malfuñctions you have a temporary reprieve from the next bout with extensive pain in the shooting hand 
.
.lincen
Member
I must agree with Ibmikey about the P64. It is the one handgun that I've really wanted to like. In it's stock configuration it is brutal on my hand. BUT with new springs and the latest "Polish Iron" rubber one piece grip it has become a lot easier to shoot. Two mags was my limit before and none of my shooting friends wanted to shoot it after their first time. Now they will shoot a mag or two.
Sistema1927
Member
I went the spring replacement route with my P64, and it is still brutal. Not quite as bad as it was before the spring swap, but still worse than anything I have ever owned. This particular pistol has now been relegated to "emergency" duty, and resides with a couple of extra mags and an extra box of ammo in my "grab and go" fire proof box containing all my important papers. As such, it would only ever be used if nothing else was available, and as a last ditch defensive gun.
A Bulgarian Makarov used to play this role, but it is now back in the gun safe and into my normal rotation of trips to the range.
A Bulgarian Makarov used to play this role, but it is now back in the gun safe and into my normal rotation of trips to the range.
Ignition Override
Member
Elsnjel:
This happened just once to a friend's P-64. It's been a few years ago, and I'll ask him whether he remembers why.
He just suggested that it could have been a Reversed recoil spring (same spring issue in my Russ./B/EG Makarovs). That 'rings a bell'.
Have you reversed the recoil spring?
lincen/Systema1927: it was hard to like the P-64. Wish it were easy.
Actual Makarovs are more much more pleasant to shoot, and easy to conceal.
This happened just once to a friend's P-64. It's been a few years ago, and I'll ask him whether he remembers why.
He just suggested that it could have been a Reversed recoil spring (same spring issue in my Russ./B/EG Makarovs). That 'rings a bell'.
Have you reversed the recoil spring?
lincen/Systema1927: it was hard to like the P-64. Wish it were easy.
Actual Makarovs are more much more pleasant to shoot, and easy to conceal.
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Ibmikey
Member
Ignition override, I must agree, if a Combloc pistol is your desired carry piece a Makarov can easily be concealed ( a little heavy) and carries a sufficient supply of a round effective enough to upset any attacker. My favorite Mak is an EG with the unissued Bulgarian pistols second as these have the nicest craftsmanship and are darned accurate. Leave the P 64 in the safe and wrap your paw around a Mak.
amd6547
Member
The anti P64 sentiment is strange.
I bought mine not long after the imports began.
Made in 1974, it looked brand new, and cost $139.
It has never jammed, and is unusually accurate.
Frankly, the P64 has a reputation for both those things.
I did change the hammer and recoil springs. My DA trigger was unusable before I changed springs.
While the P64 is not the most fun range gun, it makes a fantastic ccw pistol. It is very thin and compact.
I've carried a Makarov, as well as larger pistols, but there isn't much out there that can compare in size and chambering to the P64.
I encourage the OP to check out P64forum, where might get more than recommendations for different pistols.
I bought mine not long after the imports began.
Made in 1974, it looked brand new, and cost $139.
It has never jammed, and is unusually accurate.
Frankly, the P64 has a reputation for both those things.
I did change the hammer and recoil springs. My DA trigger was unusable before I changed springs.
While the P64 is not the most fun range gun, it makes a fantastic ccw pistol. It is very thin and compact.
I've carried a Makarov, as well as larger pistols, but there isn't much out there that can compare in size and chambering to the P64.
I encourage the OP to check out P64forum, where might get more than recommendations for different pistols.
Well the last time I took it to the range I applied some 3in1 oil to the slide and rails and only had one malf with 50 rounds of S&B and zero in 50 rounds of monarch.
While it's less pleasant to shoot than my other pistols it's not unbearable or anything. I some times feel that if a gun is chambered in anything other than .22 LR there will be someone who complains about its recoil or handling.
While it's less pleasant to shoot than my other pistols it's not unbearable or anything. I some times feel that if a gun is chambered in anything other than .22 LR there will be someone who complains about its recoil or handling.
Panzerschwein
member
I can only recommend that you get a true Makarov PM.
Several months back I fired my friend's P64 at his house. The DA trigger pull was terribly heavy, and recoil unpleasant. Still I found the little combloc gun endearing so went home and did some research. Late that night I passed on buying a P64 and instead bought the Bulgarian Makarov you see to your left in my avatar.
I was expecting a somewhat similar experience with the Makarov, but to my surprise it was a night and day difference. The gun was so much softer shooting and had a much better trigger in DA. I fired nearly 200 rounds and my hand didn't sting at all.
I now have about 3,000 rounds through this Bulgy Mak with absolutely 0 failures of any kind, with every ammo I've tried. It's my primary CCW and home defense pistol. I trust it with my life.
Several months back I fired my friend's P64 at his house. The DA trigger pull was terribly heavy, and recoil unpleasant. Still I found the little combloc gun endearing so went home and did some research. Late that night I passed on buying a P64 and instead bought the Bulgarian Makarov you see to your left in my avatar.
I was expecting a somewhat similar experience with the Makarov, but to my surprise it was a night and day difference. The gun was so much softer shooting and had a much better trigger in DA. I fired nearly 200 rounds and my hand didn't sting at all.
I now have about 3,000 rounds through this Bulgy Mak with absolutely 0 failures of any kind, with every ammo I've tried. It's my primary CCW and home defense pistol. I trust it with my life.
Ignition Override
Member
Just to add that commercial Russian Maks come in both 9x18 Mak. and .380 Auto.
At least with the .380 Makarov you can share ammo with so many other .380 owners. Some commercial Bulgarians are also in .380.
Cooldill: all four of my Maks (Russ./Bulgy/EG) have been a perfect operation, plus the .380 and 9x18 magazines--all single-stack--are very interchangeable.
But if the P-64 is acceptable, they are very cool handguns with strong appeal. My larger P-83 is just as superb/reliable, but the 83s usually do Not have the better metal bluing. Slightly heavy DA but smooth/pretty steady pressure! Lots of fun.
At least with the .380 Makarov you can share ammo with so many other .380 owners. Some commercial Bulgarians are also in .380.
Cooldill: all four of my Maks (Russ./Bulgy/EG) have been a perfect operation, plus the .380 and 9x18 magazines--all single-stack--are very interchangeable.
But if the P-64 is acceptable, they are very cool handguns with strong appeal. My larger P-83 is just as superb/reliable, but the 83s usually do Not have the better metal bluing. Slightly heavy DA but smooth/pretty steady pressure! Lots of fun.
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MedWheeler
Member
I haven't shot mine yet. I will make sure that, when I do, I shoot my Kel-Tec PF9 alongside it. That's a very similarly-sized gun that is also known for being unpleasant to shoot. Though I agree that's it's pretty rude in the hand, it's certainly manageable. I'm just curious which will be rougher, the KT, which is lighter and shoots a more-powerful round, but is recoil-operated, or the Radom, which is blowback-operated, but heavier and shoots a less-powerful round..
lincen
Member
One of my many undone projects is to put a recently purchased 380 barrel in one of my P64's. Before I put the "Polish Iron" grip on the P64, I think it was at least equal to the Kel-Tec in discomfort. I've always said that they both remind me of an old baseball from my childhood. It was all we had but it was split a little. You could whack the ball but the harder you hit the more it stung your hand.
Change the springs regardless it makes the P64 tolerable. If you continue to get ftf try a different magazine and then different type of ammo. I changed the springs out on a buddies of mine for him and managed to put two magazines through the piece. Brutal, just brutal and I like pistols with recoil.
Panzerschwein
member
OP I had an experience yesterday with Sellier & Bellot 9x18mm FMJ, new production, in my Bulgarian Makarov.
If was firing and noticed some inconsistency in the recoil of the gun. Then, I fired one round and it was very quiet and had little recoil. I thought for sure something was wrong so looked up and the slide was forward. I pulled the slide back and saw that my Makarov successfully fed the next cartridge, despite an obviously severely under loaded round. I was expecting a double feed or stove pipe. I checked the bore with a cleaning rod before shooting again and it was clear, so it wasn't a squib load but it was close.
I finished the rest of the 50 rounds without issue, but I don't think I'll be buying that brand for this caliber again. Perhaps you too experienced an underloaded round (or rounds) and these caused the problems you were experiencing? I would switch to a different brand of ammo for sure to see if the problem continues. It may very well be just a bad batch of ammo S&B has out on the market. Did your box have fancy gold and black imagery on it?
I should note that I've fired thousands of Tulammo and Brown Bear ammo in this gun and never experienced any problems like this. Those two steel cased rounds have always proved consistent and reliable in my Makarov. Not only that but I swear that the S&B stuff was quite a bit dirtier as well! It was very sooty inside the gun just from one box of ammo.
So yeah... try other ammo first.
If was firing and noticed some inconsistency in the recoil of the gun. Then, I fired one round and it was very quiet and had little recoil. I thought for sure something was wrong so looked up and the slide was forward. I pulled the slide back and saw that my Makarov successfully fed the next cartridge, despite an obviously severely under loaded round. I was expecting a double feed or stove pipe. I checked the bore with a cleaning rod before shooting again and it was clear, so it wasn't a squib load but it was close.
I finished the rest of the 50 rounds without issue, but I don't think I'll be buying that brand for this caliber again. Perhaps you too experienced an underloaded round (or rounds) and these caused the problems you were experiencing? I would switch to a different brand of ammo for sure to see if the problem continues. It may very well be just a bad batch of ammo S&B has out on the market. Did your box have fancy gold and black imagery on it?
I should note that I've fired thousands of Tulammo and Brown Bear ammo in this gun and never experienced any problems like this. Those two steel cased rounds have always proved consistent and reliable in my Makarov. Not only that but I swear that the S&B stuff was quite a bit dirtier as well! It was very sooty inside the gun just from one box of ammo.
So yeah... try other ammo first.
JohnMc
Member
Same here. The DA trigger is stout, to say the least, but I gather that was by design. I got an amost unfired one in a recent Cabelas sale and think it's a cool little piece of Polish craftsmanship.
Having fired all the Combloc blowback 9x18 sidearms except the P83, the FEG PA-63 has the most snappy recoil of the lot to me. That's probably due to the aluminum alloy frame's reduced weight. The CZ-82/83 is the best, IMHO, probably because the double stack-sized grip distributes the recoil over a wider area. Now to find a P83...
just got back from the range this morning, tried some Russian Barnaul ammo. Zero issues so I'm leaning towards the sellier and bellot stuff being under loaded.
Also my coworker who went with me fired one shot out of the P-64 before deciding he didn't like it, so perhaps I'm unusual in not finding it unpleasant to shoot
Also my coworker who went with me fired one shot out of the P-64 before deciding he didn't like it, so perhaps I'm unusual in not finding it unpleasant to shoot
Not all have bad triggers. LGS has used one for sale the DA is about 14lb while SA about 4 which is usable. Since p-64 is too heavy for pocket carry anyway you should have bought Bulgarian Makarov instead. Better trigger, spare parts readily available and easier to shoot well.
When did I say I bought it to carry? Or that I wouldn't also buy a makarov?
Yes, when choosing between P-64, P-83, Makarov always buy the Makarov.
JohnMc
Member
I don't find it unpleasant either, at least no more so than other blowback 9x18mms. Some folks I know find a .32 ACP Walther PP unpleasant, so different strokes, etc.
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