Poland's P-83 Pistol

[duelist1954]

I recently picked up a surplus Polish P-83 pistol...typical Eastern Bloc 9x18mm chambered DA/SA semi-auto. I never really cozied up to its predecessor, the P-64. But this P-83 is a fantastic shooter. For $200 you can't buy more fun than this.

https://www.youtube.com/upload

 

[duelist1954]

A couple of pictures

 

[Pilot]

I recently picked up a surplus Polish P-83 pistol...typical Eastern Bloc 9x18mm chambered DA/SA semi-auto. I never really cozied up to its predecessor, the P-64. But this P-83 is a fantastic shooter. For $200 you can't buy more fun than this.

https://www.youtube.com/upload

I have always wanted a Vanad. Where are you seeing them for $200?

 

[jhb]

Wideners. Might be other places too....but I have seen them on there for awhile now.

 

[duelist1954]

Yup. I got this one from Widners

 

[Panzerschwein]

Looks good!

Will watch the video, I love all your other one!

 

[Deaf Smith]

I'll wait till I see one at a pawn shop cheap and I'll nab it.

I have a EG Makarov I got way back for $105. And yes it's a good shooter.

Deaf

 

[Pilot]

I just picked up a couple of P-83's, and am very happy with their condition, and how they shoot. Very similar to my Makarovs in reliability, felt recoil, and good accuracy. It seems a bit more engineered than the Makarov, and a bit more complicated, but still a straightforward, stamped steel production gun.

 

[nathan]

Makarov pistol is far better that Vanad. The vanad has very stiff double action trigger. Maybe the hammer spring needs a lighter one.

 

[wojownik]

Nathan - I ghunk you're confusing the p-64 Czak with the p-83 Wanad. The p-64 has a horrendous heavy DA trigger pull. The p-83 has a smooth DA pull, very easy to shoot.

 

[Pilot]

Nathan - I ghunk you're confusing the p-64 Czak with the p-83 Wanad. The p-64 has a horrendous heavy DA trigger pull. The p-83 has a smooth DA pull, very easy to shoot.

This is my experience as well. Both my P-83's have nice double, and single action pulls. The P-83 is a joy to shoot, and is as accurate as any of my Makarovs. I am actually starting to prefer it over my Maks.

 

[Monac]

The P-83's are nice guns. The ironic thing about them, to me, was that the Poles made the most extensive use of folded sheet metal I have ever seen in a centerfire pistol in order to keep costs down...right before the Glock came along and showed that molded plastic was now the leading technology for that purpose in pistols.

To me, the P-83's are not as good looking as a real Makarov, but they were probably quite a bit cheaper to make. It seems a lot easier to get the last round in the magazine of a P-83 too, IIRC.

PS - Your photographs are terrific, duelist1954!

 

[Snowdog]

I've been looking into those too. I'm far more impressed with my P64 than I thought I would be when decided to make the purchase. That little pistol is way more accurate than it has any business being. I'm sure the replacement for the P64 is just as awesome.