PA-63 a pain to shoot

mikeh1 · Post by **mikeh1** » June 29th, 2007, 2:49 pm

Yowch! If it didn't have that horn on the back of the handle, it wouldn't be bad at all. Doesn't seem to kick much more than my .38 Spl wheel gun, but it gives a nice welt between the thumb and forefinger. Are there any gloves that have padding to cure this problem?

Also, a bit tough to load the last 2 rounds into the mag, must not have been used much.

Post by **normsutton** » June 29th, 2007, 3:16 pm

mikeh1

you might want to try a pair of DENNIS PA-63 grips they are a little bigger and make the recoil not so bad
and a recoil spring from WOLFF

http://dnmars.43i.net/?content=FEG

http://www.gunsprings.com/SemiAuto/FegNF.html

NORM

mikeh1 · Post by **mikeh1** » June 29th, 2007, 3:20 pm

Thanx, should I get the 15lb recoil spring or is 13lb enough?

Post by **normsutton** » June 29th, 2007, 3:24 pm

mikeh1
Don't know I have the 15 # recoil spring in mine and the 9# hammer spring
and these are DENNIS grips

NORM

mikeh1 · Post by **mikeh1** » June 29th, 2007, 3:39 pm

slightly off topic,

can you dry fire a PA-63? Just out of curiousity.

Post by **normsutton** » June 29th, 2007, 3:42 pm

mikeh1

yes you can but don't do it a lot without snap caps

NORM

donnerwetter58 · Post by **donnerwetter58** » June 29th, 2007, 4:32 pm

mikeh1,
I've had a PA-63 for a while and didn't experience the "bite " everyone talks of. But a lot of people are offended by the recoil of this gun.
I did notice a heavy DA trigger pull.
After a bit of research I settled on the 13 lb recoil spring and the 11 lb hammer spring. There were many reports of FTF due to light primer strikes with the 9 lb hammer spring.
My girlfriend noticed a difference after the spring change but she still ended up with a blister in the web of her thumb. Bicycling gloves made it all better for her.
A friend who complained of the "bite" sprung his the same and he's very happy with the results.
I do hand load Meistercast lead bullets for the 9x18. You can tone them down nicely and make any of these small, light guns enjoyable.
My PA-63 functions well with all ammo types in the 95 gr. range.
It is capable of better than I ever expected accuracy in spite of the small, almost invisible sights.

I noticed you're from Van Nuys. I spent 15 years in the Valley and had a blast before leaving in '94. So what is still there? B&B Sales in North Hollywood? Pony Express in VN? How about Angeles Shooting Range or the range that used to be in the national forest at the top of Little Tujunga Canyon? It was fun to be young in Southern California. But my guns are a little farther away from Diane Feinstein...for now anyway.

Dave

mikeh1 · Post by **mikeh1** » June 29th, 2007, 5:59 pm

B&B Guns, the shop that saved LAPD's butt at the North Hollywood shootings, closed shortly thereafter. Don't remember Pony Express. There is Turners in Reseda. The Angeles Shooting Range is still there, but no more open ranges in the NF as the bozos abused them, leaving shot-up appliances and cars. I left So Cal for Sacramento in 1997 and returned here in 2002. As the song goes, "What the he!! have they done to my town?!!" Looks more like Tijuana than Los Angeles! Smells the same too!

bzinggg · Post by **bzinggg** » June 30th, 2007, 3:03 pm

The upper is so much denser than the lower part of that ill-conceived pistol that it's a wonder it doesn't jump more. If you're just collecting a variety of 9x18 surplus pistols, then own one.
A heavier spring is just going to make it recoil more sharply. If you're not a collector, sell the damn thing and get another P-64. (IMHO)

b.

blinddog · Post by **blinddog** » June 30th, 2007, 9:16 pm

I have a PA-63 and it has the factory springs still in it. No complaint about the way it shoots or about the recoil. I guess its all in the shooter and what he/she finds uncomfortable. It ain't no one handed shooter thats for sure. All in all IMO its a fair gun.

Post by **normsutton** » July 1st, 2007, 5:00 am

mikeh1

the PA-63 is a good gun in its own right
as of all 9 x 18 pistols,they all have a sharp recoil ,
some not as bad as others. a year an a half ago the
members of this forum were defending the rights of the
P-64 to be a quality hand gun in its own right

NORM

mikeh1 · Post by **mikeh1** » July 1st, 2007, 10:34 am

I like the gun, it's just needs a little "taming". We'll see how the spring and the new grips tone it down a bit.

gunneyrabbit · Post by **gunneyrabbit** » July 2nd, 2007, 6:55 pm

Mikeh1,
NORM turned me onto the 9lb. hammer spring and the 15lb. recoil spring, the two are an unbeatable combo. NORM is very knowledge fellow about these fine little pistole's, you will be pleased with the result.
G.R.

mikeh1 · Post by **mikeh1** » July 2nd, 2007, 7:31 pm

Thanx again everyone, especially Norm.

I have ordered a 15# recoil spring, and I e-mailed Dennis M. asking if his grips are any thicker than factory, the gun seems a bit small grip-wise for my hands. I'm also thinking the way the left grip pushes the left thumb up may be one reason for the bite. So maybe since his are flat on both sides, it might help.

Would a different hammer spring also help with the kick, or is that just for the D/A trigger pull? And if so, is changing it a do-it-yourself job?

Post by **normsutton** » July 2nd, 2007, 7:50 pm

mikeh1
DENNIS grips are larger and fit the hand a lot better
just for the D/A trigger pull

NORM

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