Polish and Hungarian Mak's

pecka · 04-23-2007, 07:44 PM

OK guys, how bad are the Polish and Hungarian "Maks"? I know they aren't true Maks.

I am asking because they are all over the market. I want a Mak for a CCW. Are they realiable enough to trust my life with?

MosinDave · 04-25-2007, 05:01 PM

I haven't had the pleasure of shooting the polish P64, but I do personally own a Hungarian Pa63 and it is a rock solid handgun. It is more accurate than my Bulgarian Makarov ( could just be me as the shooter, but I shoot better with the PA63 ), but I might have ended up with a needle in the haystack because I have heard of others complaining about their's not being too accurate.
I would trust my life to my Pa-63, but only because it hasn't jammed or FTF since I replaced the recoil spring in 500+ rounds ( the old recoil spring was so weak it could barely pull fresh rounds from the magazine ). The 7 round magazine capacity isn't a plus, but other than that it isn't a bad little gun at all.
It's very light weight, so it can work well as a CCW. But it's light weight also doesn't do much for it's snappy recoil characteristics. It also has a VERY heavy double action pull, but it's single action is smooth and crisp. ( mine is. )
I trained my mother how to shoot handguns with it, and she liked it better than my Makarov and my CZ75B.
I hope this helps.

billy · 04-25-2007, 09:58 PM

hey dave! long time eh?

K75RT · 04-26-2007, 06:16 PM

I collect the 9X18 pistols and the Polish make a fine arm known as the P-83 Vanad, it replaced the P-64. In my opinion the P-64 is a great concealed carry personal weapon. Mine functions perfectly with new springs and it is very accurate. The P-83 is an outstanding arm in that it is lighter than the P-64 and it is made from steel stampings and weldments, very nicely finished and the zenith of Cold War Polish pistol developement...Here is a picture of mine.....

And concerning the Hungarian PA-63 I completely agree with MosinDave, in my opinion it will eventually gain respect...

Dennis · 04-26-2007, 11:59 PM

Where did you get the Vanad

Zen900 · 04-27-2007, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

Where did you get the Vanad

LOL! Gotta have it don't ya?

Teakwood · 04-27-2007, 05:36 AM

I found the PA-63 to be less than useful. The alloy frame may be nice when it comes to weight, but the penalty is that it is painful to shoot.
The other problem with both the PA-63 and the P64 is tht parts are very hard to come by.
By the way, they are not Makarovs.

K75RT · 04-29-2007, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

Where did you get the Vanad

Dennis, I got mine several years ago from DalvarUSA. Mine is the P-83 Vanad
Limited "Special Eagle Edition" of 200. There is still a link and email, here it is.Dalvar of USA - Guns and more

MosinDave · 04-30-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billy

hey dave! long time eh?

Hehe yep! I am back! I finally got internet in my lil shack.

knightRider · 04-30-2007, 09:59 AM

hey dave you live 30 min from me .

Dennis · 04-30-2007, 10:42 PM

pant, pant....

BFRANKlin · 06-08-2007, 12:48 AM

Had a beautiful Russian Mak (stolen) that was top of the line perfect, a Polish P-64 that I loved (stolen) reliable and very small, and a Bulgarian Mak (confiscated by cops 'cause of a conspiracy, long explanation) that was junk compared to the others although the safety was multi-duty (blocked or locked trigger, hammer, firing pin and slide). My next will be a CZ-82 in (12+1 rd.) 9X18. The CZ-83 is .380

45 Fanatic · 01-26-2008, 04:26 PM

I purchased a Polish P-64 from Gunbroker for $150 w/2 mags, after changing trigger spring it's a pleasure to shoot, a bit more recoil than my PPKS (380) but every bit as reliable. Great truck gun for the price!

04-23-2007, 07:44 PM	#1
pecka Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: LaPlace, La (New Orleans) Posts: 104	Polish and Hungarian Mak's OK guys, how bad are the Polish and Hungarian "Maks"? I know they aren't true Maks. I am asking because they are all over the market. I want a Mak for a CCW. Are they realiable enough to trust my life with?

04-25-2007, 05:01 PM	#2
MosinDave Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 571	Well... I haven't had the pleasure of shooting the polish P64, but I do personally own a Hungarian Pa63 and it is a rock solid handgun. It is more accurate than my Bulgarian Makarov ( could just be me as the shooter, but I shoot better with the PA63 ), but I might have ended up with a needle in the haystack because I have heard of others complaining about their's not being too accurate. I would trust my life to my Pa-63, but only because it hasn't jammed or FTF since I replaced the recoil spring in 500+ rounds ( the old recoil spring was so weak it could barely pull fresh rounds from the magazine ). The 7 round magazine capacity isn't a plus, but other than that it isn't a bad little gun at all. It's very light weight, so it can work well as a CCW. But it's light weight also doesn't do much for it's snappy recoil characteristics. It also has a VERY heavy double action pull, but it's single action is smooth and crisp. ( mine is. ) I trained my mother how to shoot handguns with it, and she liked it better than my Makarov and my CZ75B. I hope this helps.

04-26-2007, 06:16 PM	#4
K75RT Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 328	I collect the 9X18 pistols and the Polish make a fine arm known as the P-83 Vanad, it replaced the P-64. In my opinion the P-64 is a great concealed carry personal weapon. Mine functions perfectly with new springs and it is very accurate. The P-83 is an outstanding arm in that it is lighter than the P-64 and it is made from steel stampings and weldments, very nicely finished and the zenith of Cold War Polish pistol developement...Here is a picture of mine..... And concerning the Hungarian PA-63 I completely agree with MosinDave, in my opinion it will eventually gain respect... Last edited by K75RT; 04-26-2007 at 06:20 PM.

04-26-2007, 11:59 PM	#5
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,877	Where did you get the Vanad __________________ Submitted with respect to all

04-30-2007, 09:59 AM	#10
knightRider Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: you know where Posts: 2,683 Images: 19 Blog Entries: 11	hey dave you live 30 min from me . __________________ I'm part kalishnakov, part heckler and Koch.

04-25-2007, 09:58 PM	#3
billy spiritual counselor Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: a secret lab on the shores of lake titicaca Posts: 12,149 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 146	hey dave! long time eh?

04-27-2007, 05:36 AM	#7
Teakwood Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New Mexico Posts: 46	I found the PA-63 to be less than useful. The alloy frame may be nice when it comes to weight, but the penalty is that it is painful to shoot. The other problem with both the PA-63 and the P64 is tht parts are very hard to come by. By the way, they are not Makarovs.

04-30-2007, 10:42 PM	#11
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 1,877	pant, pant.... __________________ Submitted with respect to all

06-08-2007, 12:48 AM	#12
BFRANKlin Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 258	Had a beautiful Russian Mak (stolen) that was top of the line perfect, a Polish P-64 that I loved (stolen) reliable and very small, and a Bulgarian Mak (confiscated by cops 'cause of a conspiracy, long explanation) that was junk compared to the others although the safety was multi-duty (blocked or locked trigger, hammer, firing pin and slide). My next will be a CZ-82 in (12+1 rd.) 9X18. The CZ-83 is .380 Last edited by BFRANKlin; 06-08-2007 at 12:50 AM.

01-26-2008, 04:26 PM	#13
45 Fanatic Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4	I purchased a Polish P-64 from Gunbroker for $150 w/2 mags, after changing trigger spring it's a pleasure to shoot, a bit more recoil than my PPKS (380) but every bit as reliable. Great truck gun for the price!