Polish P-64 range report - An undiscovered gem!

[WardenWolf]

Finally got my P-64 to the range. I paid $160 for this little pistol from J&G Sales after reading reviews, and also purchased a Wolff 22 pound recoil spring and a trigger spring kit at the same time. I bought it with the intention of it being my concealed carry piece, and, carried in a Don Hume Makarov holster, it's very comfortable and extremely easy to conceal. My father bought an identical gun, and tested his out at the same time.

The P-64 is similar to a PPK or a Makarov, but is a bit thinner, lighter, and has a shorter grip than the full-size Makarov. However, it is still very comfortable in the hand. It field strips identically to a Makarov. The double action trigger pull is very hard, even with the spring kit, but is acceptable. The pistol shoots well, is accurate, and is very comfortable to shoot with the improved recoil spring installed. I have no issues making rapid followup shots. Both our guns proved completely reliable in tests. Honestly, I doubt I could have gotten a better gun for twice as much. This pistol is definitely a gem at the price I paid for it.

In an unexpected, and somewhat funny twist, this pistol smokes. A few seconds after the slide closes, you see smoke billowing out the sides of the pistol, under the slide. I have never seen a pistol do that before, but it's pretty humorous to see.

 

[gearhead]

I never noticed mine doing that, but I've only fired mine indoors at the range. The lighting isn't the greatest there.

 

[PTK]

Oddly, they are listed at some sites as being C&R, some as being non-C&R.

 

[Handgunner]

Are the P-64's DAO?

 

[MCgunner]

It's a DA with decock/safety,,,hammer fired. I picked mine up several weeks ago and gave $199 for it and thought it was a bargain and after shooting it, still do. 160 is a killer deal IMHO, but I know they can be found for that. I just ran into mine at Gander Mountain (high bucks pricing) when they were having a big gun sale. It was originally marked at $259 and i'd been a fool if I hadn't bought it at THAT price. The little fart is a tack driver as pocket guns go, 3" 25 yard groups from the bench and spot on POI/POA. Ammo is cheap, brass can be made from 9x19 trimmed, got a mold for it as well as dies. What's not to like? I'm carrying Silver Bear hollow point in mine.

Mine's a little rough on the web of my hand on recoil, pretty snappy, but the 22 lb recoil spring helps a lot. I was able to put 100 rounds though it yesterday without wearing a shooting glove.

 

[MCgunner]

Hmm, just noticed the pix, your's is a 1971. Mine's a 75. Mine has the triangular hammer and your's is rounded. I've read that they changed the hammer. I'm still learning about these little devils. I kinda like your hammer profile better, less likely to snag a pocket.

 

[M2 Carbine]

I liked my first P-64 so well I bought two more.

The spring change is a must, especially the main (hammer) spring. I found the 18 lb hammer spring is just right. The 16 lb spring gives a SA "hair trigger". OK for target shooting but way too sensitive for a defense gun.

The gun is very reliable. I don't recall any of mine ever malfunctioning, even with crappy ammo like Wolf and Brown Bear.


The P64 is amazingly accurate for a little military gun.

52 yards. Standing, two hands.


I don't recall a miss of the 2x2 foot target, but maybe there was one or two.

 

[wally]

Oddly, they are listed at some sites as being C&R, some as being non-C&R.

Never seen them listed as C&R. If you know where, please tell and I'll order one!

--wally.

 

[m.p.driver]

Love these little pistols,have three of them.Spring swap is a must,double action stock spring must be 100 or 200 lbs,its like squeezing a brick.And the sights are minuscule,I'd like to dovetail the front and back to take more substantial sights.

 

[M2 Carbine]

And, as far as I know the magazines are impossible to find. The gun comes with two magazines. In the past some of the unethical distributors were pulling the second magazine and selling them extra.

 

[MCgunner]

Sights, while skinny, are precise, and the gun does point shoot very well. I'll keep sights as they are, perfectly regulated. I'd prefer normal, wider, more visible sights, but it's not a killer in the deal for me. I don't even need 'em at 21 feet. The gun is a natural pointer.

The 19 lb hammer spring significantly improves DA. I was able to place shots well at even 25 yards in DA with it, yesterday, while before I couldn't hit the paper from 15 yards in DA due to the trigger. Remarkable improvement and I think the slightly heavyish (in the spring kit) 19 lbs makes the transition to SA a little better. It's light enough as it is in SA. I'd prefer it had maybe 7 lb SA trigger, seems to be closer to 2 or 3 lbs. To do that, one would have to change the trigger return spring if you could find a heavier one.

 

[MCgunner]

Hey, 200 bucks wasn't bad for a P64. Check this one out. Better holster, the one I got was a funky shoulder holster and big enough for a 1911. But, I got a Mak holster for 9 bucks sometime back, looks something like this. Don't think that's the difference in price. No wonder they still have 'em in stock.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/896187002452.html

I would like to have another mag or two. Guess that won't happen.

 

[searcher451]

That's a nice range set-up, M2Carbine. Thanks for sharing it. Now I'll have to start thinking about a larger piece of property -- thanks a lot.

 

[Lakeshore]

P-64s are nice, rugged little pistols for the money. Just be aware that replacement parts are practically non-existent. Some guys buy a spare one to use as a parts gun.

A good/inexpensive nylon holster that fits the P-64 perfectly is the GunMate size 6.

 

[M2 Carbine]

That's a nice range set-up, M2Carbine. Thanks for sharing it. Now I'll have to start thinking about a larger piece of property -- thanks a lot.

Thanks. I've had it since the early 70's. My friends and I really enjoy it. (too bad because of our sue crazy society I can't let more people shoot here)
If I had a wish for every shooter it's that they had a range on their place. (and a bunch of ammo )

Sights, while skinny, are precise, and the gun does point shoot very well. I'll keep sights as they are, perfectly regulated. I'd prefer normal, wider, more visible sights, but it's not a killer in the deal for me. I don't even need 'em at 21 feet. The gun is a natural pointer.

Of my three P64's, one shoots a little left, one right and the other dead center.

Not long after I got them I tried one at 50 yards (standing). The accuracy of the little gun surprised me.
I agree the sights are a little small for a "defense gun", but they are good for plinking.

 

[Fiv3r]

When I can't conceal my G36, the P-64 gets the nod. I made a very deep carry IWB holster that makes it tough to see the pistol even if my shirt is tucked in

Other times, I carry it in a back pocket holster that I made to print like a wallet.

the only problem, mine doesn't shoot DA I have no idea why. I have replaced the main spring, modded an original spring, and the stock spring never worked DA either. Any ideas? The trigger just goes dead after I decock with the lever or carefully thumb the hammer down.

Hammer snaps just fine DA if round isn't loaded

 

[WardenWolf]

My father and I both carry our P-64's in the Makarov version of this holster:

http://www.donhume.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_5&products_id=35

I wear the holster crossdraw on my left hip, which lets me avoid any discomfort from the handle when sitting and also keeps it very concealed. At worst, a person will think it's a cellphone. I also have a full-size Makarov that fits in that holster, but it's a bit harder to conceal comfortably.

My father's pistol had a bit of a gritty feeling trigger when we got it, but after stripping it down I found the problem part and liberally applied Breakfree. That fixed it up. I suspect, as time goes on, more companies will produce parts for these pistols as they did the Makarov and Tokarev.

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I had my p64 out yesterday at a pistol class and had good fun with it. It is much more accurate, in SA, than my g19. Mine was smoking too, I thought it was because there was too much CLP in it, but I have not cleaned it in weeks. Silver bear ammo perhapse?

 

[WardenWolf]

I was shooting S&B and it was still smoking, and S&B is some of the cleanest ammo out there. I was shooting at an indoor range that disallowed bimetal jackets (they said it messes up their cleaning auger; nothing to do with penetration as this range is rated for .50 BMG) so I couldn't shoot my Silver Bear.

 

[MCgunner]

P-64s are nice, rugged little pistols for the money. Just be aware that replacement parts are practically non-existent. Some guys buy a spare one to use as a parts gun.

Well, if mine fails in the first year, Gander Mountain will replace or refund it. I guess that was part of the extra cost of shopping there. After that, maybe I can find another for a parts gun and to have two more magazines.

the only problem, mine doesn't shoot DA I have no idea why. I have replaced the main spring, modded an original spring, and the stock spring never worked DA either. Any ideas? The trigger just goes dead after I decock with the lever or carefully thumb the hammer down.

Hammer snaps just fine DA if round isn't loaded

That don't sound like anything to do with springs. Sounds like a problem with the trigger mechanism somehow, maybe the safety/decocker. Sounds like it might be causing a problem with the disconnector somehow, but it working without a round chambers is a bit strange.

 

[WardenWolf]

Truth be told, I shoot much better with my Romanian Tokarev than the P-64 or my Bulgarian Makarov, but the P-64 is good for what I got it for. Interestingly enough, I found I shot the Makarov better 1-handed than 2-handed, and I'm not sure why. I probably just need more range time with my 9x18 pistols. They use a completely different recoil system than any other pistol I've ever shot, and it's bound to cause it to handle a bit differently.

 

[MCgunner]

My SIL's Russian Mak shoots 4" with ball at 25 off a rest. My P64 is slightly more accurate. The Mak, however, allows for a better grip on the gun and it's less painful when it fires. That little P64 has some recoil that defies physics. My 14 ounce Kel Tec with 115 grain +P 9x19 don't seem to kick as hard. Weird. The 22 lb recoil spring helps a lot, though. But, still, after 100 rounds my hand is a bit sore the day after.

 

[kragluver]

Love my P64. Great carry gun and best milsurp value out there. See p64resource.com if you haven't already - best info on the web about the P64. You'll find that any holster designed for the Walther PPK will fit like a glove for the P64. The only thing I wish were there were more self defense ammo options out there. I keep watching for the Hornady XTP round, but its been out of stock for some time.