The Polish P-83: reliability and DA trigger?

[Ignition Override]

Several are available in a town not too far from here. Can their durability easily be compared with the Makarov?
Is the DA trigger considered to be somewhat "gritty", or fairly smooth?

Three middle-aged friends carry the smaller P-64, and the 83 is known to be a much lighter pull.

 

[SC Shooter]

I have a couple of Makarovs ( 1Bulgarian, 1 Russian ) which I love, and so I bought a P-64. The e pull some. terrible, and the recoil was really sharp. Because the p-83 is larger, it handles the recoil better, but the DA trigger pull was not much better. Changing out the springs did h

 

[Ignition Override]

How about DA trigger smoothness with the original springs?

Overall, does the P-83 seem about as reliable, and create an impression that it seems about as solid/"rugged" as a Russian etc Makarov? I have an IZH. Mak in .380, Bulgy, EG plus the CZ-82.

A shop in a town not too far away has a few 83s, but ammo instead would be nice for Nov '16 "etc".

 

[Monac]

Like most pocket automatics, the P-83 DA trigger pull is nowhere near as good as a GOOD double action revolver, like a Colt Detective Special. But one of the objectives in designing the P-83 was apparently to achieve a better DA pull than the P-64 it would be replacing, so the DA pull is not bad either, IMO.

Note: I have a "commercial" P-83 in 9mm Mak rather than a standard military version. The commercial version looks like this:

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthr...t-Commercial-style-quot-Reproduction-Interest

 

[Ignition Override]

Thanks.

How would you compare their reliability and ruggedness with the actual Russian, Bulgy etc Makarov?

 

[wojownik]

There was another thread on P83s just a few days ago. IMHO, the P83 compares favorably with the Makarov - the grips are a bit more ergonomic, the trigger pull is not much heavier than the DA pull on a Mak PM (at least for the ones I have). "Grittiness" smoothed out after a bit of use. So, all good on these counts.

The p83 is a bit more "industrial" in appearance, compared to the relatively more "refined" (if that's the appropriate word) lines of the MAK. Both are built like tanks. Reliability is high for both.

I might give a bit of an edge to the p83 in sight picture, over the Mak.

I did note that the finish on the p83 may show wear faster than the finish on a Mak (German, Russian or Bulgy). Also, some parts on the p83 seem more suceptible to rust (I have some surface rust on the hammers of both of mine, and I'm pretty fastidious about cleaning my guns).

Keep the pistol clean and oiled, it will probably outlast you.

 

[Monac]

I agree with wojownik. Also, I only have a Chinese Makarov, and so cannot compare to a Russian, Bulgarian, German, etc. My Chinese Mak broke it's mainspring (hammer spring) a few years after I got it, but an East German replacement fit fine. I have not fired the P-83 enough for anything to break.

BTW, the reason that I have a commercial P-83 and a Chinese Makarov is that I used to be an "early adopter". The Chinese Maks and the commercial P-83s were the first ones in the USA.

 

[Pilot]

I have two military surplus P-83's I bought from Wideners. As others have said they are built like tanks. The triggers are pretty nice, especially compared to the P-64. They are very accurate and reliable. I carry one of mine. I also have four Makarovs from different countries, and I prefer the P-83 in some ways.