Polish P-64 and Silverbear JHPs (do they jive)

[Snowdog]

I had been sitting on the fence when it came to the P64 for a while. It looked to be priced right and well made, but I just couldn't commit... until it became C&R eligible.

I ordered online from SOG and paid the $10 handpick (asking for one made in 1976 if possible, we'll see what happens there). I also placed an order elsewhere for ammunition as I only have perhaps 3 boxes of Barnaul FMJ remaining of the 20 I seemed to have just a few months ago for the CZ-82. Curious to see what it might like best, I purchased different flavors, 3 boxes each of Brown Bear FMJ, Silver Bear FMJ and Silver Bear JHP (94gr).

I understand the latest incarnation of Silver Bear (94gr) doesn't expand as well as the previous 120gr and 115gr versions (which I have a few rounds left of each for posterity). That's not entirely bad since since I'll just think of it as a flat-nose FMJ.

However, for those who have used this combination, does the P-64 have any issues feeding the Silver Bear JHP?
I think I'd rather stock up on JHP than FMJ as it hardly costs much more and would cut a cleaner hole in paper, which is all I'd likely use it for anyway. I'm not worried about the CZ-82 as it will feed just about anything. Of course I'll soon find out for myself, but I'm curious what the trend is with Silver Bear JHPs and P-64s.

Thanks in advance!

 

[GLOOB]

I've probably shot only between 80-120 rounds, about half the shots being of the ammo in question. But for what that's worth, I had no feeding or ejection malfunctions with either of the Silver or Brown Bear.

 

[Dentite]

I've only put about 20 rounds of Silver Bear JHP through my P64 (in addition to maybe 150 rounds of Brown Bear FMJ) and haven't had one problem.

Good luck on the '76...hope you get it. I really should have tried to get my birth year but I didn't think about it until I got home with it haha.

 

[WardenWolf]

I haven't fired any of my JHP's through my P-64, but most people report they work up to 200 rounds or so. After 200 rounds they start getting some feeding issues unless the gun has had its feed ramp polished. Most P-64's shouldn't have a problem.

I had some issues with Silver Bear FMJ ammo in my P-64 until the gun broke in. The extractor wasn't going over the rim. I got an unfired 1971 model, and while it was flawless with S&B, it had occasional problems with Silver Bear. After 150 rounds or so had gone through it, it hasn't had any more problems with Silver Bear. I'm chalking it up to the extractor and extractor spring needing to break in and loosen up.

 

[LynnKCircle]

This is a bit off-topic, but so far all of the 9x18 handguns I have owned (Russian hi-cap commercial, EG Makarov, PA-63, and CZ-82 all feed Hornady HPs fine.)

 

[Tenmmauto]

No problems with P-64 and Silver Bear 94 gr HP

Snowdog,

I have a P-64 that I got about eight months ago.

It has been outstanding with Silver Bear 94 gr HP...I haven't had any issues in the three hundred rounds or so of the SB that I have put through it.

I really wanted to carry it with the Hornady 9mm Mak load, but I had too many FTF/FTE issues with it.


Best,

T

 

[LynnKCircle]

Hornady in P64

Thank you. I haven't yet tried them in the P64. I should get my Wolff springs in this week and figured I would try it out next weekend.

 

[Jbabbler]

I put 200 rounds of Silver Bear JHP and FMJ through my P64 this past week. My 14yr old son and his friend were responsible for shooting 100 or so of them. Feeding, ejecting and firing were all perfect but none of the recovered JHPs had expanded. We shot in to phone books, oil jugs (full of used oil) and water jugs. I shot one mag of Hornady and one mag of PowRball in to the phone books and recovered several rounds. All had expanded at least 50%.

 

[LeonCarr]

Hopefully you fixed the 20 pound double action pull that the typical P-64 usually has.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Jbabbler]

I have two P64's and both have the Wolf 18# main spring installed. The factory spring was a 24# and was quite stout. The 18# feels like my 642 DA.

 

[Vimes74]

They jibe just fine in my experience. Probably about 100 rounds through mine with zero problems. I would second (third?) the recommendation for doing the hammer spring replacement to soften up the double action (18lb in mine). I also replaced the recoil spring with a stouter one which required some griding to fit. In retrospect I don't think that was worth the effort.

This is a great site for all things p-64 related.

http://p64resource.com/

 

[MCgunner]

Mine's gone through about 140 arounds of Silver Bear 94 grain JHP just fine.

I've put about 500 rounds through my P64 since I got it several months back. It had one Monarch FMJ stove pipe on me, think I might have limp wristed it. That's its only failure so far.

The JHP shoots about an inch higher off the bench at 25 yards than the ball, of NO concern for self defense, and it's just as accurate, about 3" groups benched at 25 yards. For ME, and this varies, the gun points very well and is great at 7 and yards instinctive point shooting. I have a lot of confidence in this little gun.

The Wolff 19 lbs hammer spring/22 lb recoil spring really helped. The lighter hammer spring made the DA quite managable. It was terribly heavy with the stock spring in it. It is a quality pistol, nicely sized for a pocket gun, very accurate and reliable. It is, at this moment in time, the best deal in a carry and in a 9x18 pistol IMHO. I like the little CZ82s, but they have polygonal rifling and as I cast my own for reloads, I don't like that. I have a couple of boxes loaded up in trimmed 9x19 brass and they shoot quite well, too. Bullet weighs 105 grains from a "95" grain Lee mold. Also, the CZ I've seen came with a 9 round mag for California and that turned me off. Extra mags held the full payload, but were 25 bucks a pop or something like that. This is from J&G. I am thinking they're making more money on the mags than the guns. I shoot mostly ball ammo, but still, I don't like polygonal rifling. If I get another 9x18, it'll probably be one of those Bulgarian Maks. I just sort of stumbled into this P64 at Gander Mountain and had to have it. I made the right decision.

One other mod I made was I got some Marschal grips for it, walnut. They're nice and the shape puts more of the recoil into the palm of the hand. The stock plastic grips are a little rough on the web of the shooting hand. The gun has a little muzzle climb to it when fired.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Read up of the CZ, lots of people report that they do fine with lubed hard cast, just watch to make sure your not leading up the barrel.

 

[Jbabbler]

Read up of the CZ, lots of people report that they do fine with lubed hard cast, just watch to make sure your not leading up the barrel.

CZ has Poloygonal rifling similar to a Glock. The P64 does not. Leading should not be a problem with the P64.

 

[kragluver]

I began shooting cast handloads in my P64 recently (Meister cast, 93 gr) with no leading problems (accurate too). The bullets measured right at bore diameter for my pistol which is where you want them (0.000 to +0.001 over). Leading typically occurs with under-sized bullets. It can also occur when driving too soft a bullet too fast (not likely to happen in a pistol) or with too hard a bullet (more likely a problem in pistols). My P64 seemed to like the Meister cast bullets.

Back to the original topic of the thread - my P64 has had zero feeding issues with ball or JHP (Silver Bear). I probably only have 100 rds of JHP through it and close to 500 rds of ball ammo.

 

[Snowdog]

UPDATE:


The P64 came in and just about in unissued condition. Surprisingly, SOG actually made good on the 1976 model I specifically asked for! I'm pleased!

The DA trigger is actually worse that I was expecting (easily worse than my 1895 Nagant) but the single action is amazingly light. I'll just treat it as a SA and enjoy the light trigger.

Overall, I'm happy!

 

[Jbabbler]

Nice looking gun. Drop it in some mineral spirits for about 24hrs and then lube it properly and you should be good to go. Don't exercise the decocker too mush unless you lower it with your thumb or you could end up with a paper weight. That seems to be the only weak part on the gun. It wouldn't be a big issue if there were parts available but that aint the case.

P.S. I'm telling you, swap that main spring for an 18# one. You'll thanks me later.

 

[andre73]

Silver Bear Ammo Test

We tested some silver bear this past weekend....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEcsdZBIXN4




Decent practice ammo but that is about it.

Andre'

 

[kragluver]

First - Clean it thoroughly. Detail strip and clean.

Second - At least change the hammer spring to the 18-19#. I also have a 22# recoil spring in mine.

Third - using white hobby paint, paint the aft facing side of the front sight. (I also widened my rear sight notch.)

 

[Snowdog]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
BTW, I didn't have the slightest inclination not to use the decocker... good to know!

Andre73, I enjoy your video JHP tests. Fortunately I was already under the impression that 94gr Silver Bear JHPs didn't expand well or at all when I made the purchase. I just wanted something that would cut a cleaner hole in paper.

Have you tested the 9x18 Silver Bear JHP in your water expansion tests?
If you haven't yet, I am willing to send you a few 94gr, 115gr and 120gr 9x18 Silver Bear JHPs if you agree to test them and post the results here. I don't have many, but I can send you about 5 each or so if you're up to it.
Again, good stuff.