Polish P-64 and Bulgarian Makarov vs. Bersa .380 - Review

[MCgunner]

Yeah, I bought mine at a Gander Mountain in Sugar Land, Texas for 199. I kinda got skinned, I guess, but add transfer fees from an FFL and I couldn't have gotten it any cheaper by ordering it. I had been wanting SOMETHING in 9x18 for a while. I shot my SIL's Mak and really liked it. I didn't even know the P64 existed when I laid eyes on it. I just knew that at that price, I wante it because it fired 9x18. I'd passed on a commercial Mak in .380 with adjustable sights. I didn't want one in .380, I wanted the 9x18. Advantages in factory ammo availability and price are obvious, but also, I trim the much more plentiful 9x19 brass down and load my cast 105 grain roundnose in it (Lee advertises the mold as 95 grains, but it casts 105 grains). The ability to handload with readily available free brass is a bonus for me. I have two 9x19s anyway, and pick up a lot of free brass in the caliber at the range. I get .380 now and again, but not in large amounts. I'll go to the range to shoot a 9x19 and come home with more brass than I left with.

But, Monarch ball at Academy is 9.95 a box. I don't really bother much trimming brass and reloading, but it's nice to know that is an option. With the .380 market the way it is, reloading is my main way to shoot that caliber. I don't shoot my .380 very often, though.

 

[Fastcast]

Yeah, I bought mine at a Gander Mountain in Sugar Land, Texas for 199. I kinda got skinned.....

No, you did fine.....By the time you'd have payed shipping and transfer fee, you couldn't have possibly did much better.

 

[gearhead]

I keep my eyes open for something to replace my "obsolete" P64 as my primary pocket carry but everything that's 9mm is as large or larger or within a couple of ounces in weight and just about everything that's .380 and smaller/lighter is DAO and/or poor ergonomics. My little Polish friend is all steel, extremely durable, reliable, easy to conceal, and fits my hand. I continue to be pleased.

 

[harmon rabb]

I'd take a CZ-82 to battle anywhere or anytime, over any stinking Bersa or KelTec, for that matter

I'll agree with you there. My CZ-82 is dead reliable.

 

[mbt2001]

The makarov chambered guns tend to be reliable pieces. The 9x18 packs quite a bit more wallop than a .380. Either of which I would feel comfortable carrying.

MC, have you used the 9x18 in a hunting role? If so, tell us. A lot of people that haven't shot / hunted have some odd opinions and expectations of bullets and rounds.

A white tailed deer, is analogous to a man. The 9mm / 38 family of rounds have been used extensively on white tailed deer with predicable results... Venison. The .38 special is a fine hunting round and it has been used for a long period of time. The .380 and 9x18 fall under the penumbra of .38 special ballistics.

EDIT

Thought I would add this:

http://www.p64resource.com/goods.php

 

[MICHAEL T]

I wonder if I should tell them the .380 round is still a military round used in the Mac 11 machine gun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC-11

No where in that article does it say used by Military American or other wise .

So where your proof

 

[kragluver]

My wife has a Bersa CC in 380 - its a nice gun, but it stays home in the safe. It looks like it would be a nice CC piece, but not as rugged as a P64.

I personally alternate carry between a 1911 (your 1911 comments hurt) and a P64 (summer wear). As others have already stated, IMO, the P64 is the best value out there right now. I'm sure the Makarov is a good pistol too, but I've never handled one.

What I like about the P64 is that its right on that near perfect balance for size/weight and power. If it were chambered in 9mm, it would have to be heavier and would be a real beast to shoot. Frankly however, I find carrying my full size 1911 to be as comfortable or even more-so than carrying the P64 IWB. The P64 IWB holster sort of hits a pressure point on my hip that the 1911 doesn't hit

 

[Fastcast]

The 1911 clunker.

Now that's just outright silly!

 

[kragluver]

The 1911 clunker has so many sharp edges and areas on it that I would never stick in in my pants.

Don't knock it 'till you've tried it It's a thrill a minute.