Problem with P64

[watjr]

I just got one from J&G to continue my growing Makarov caliber collection but I cannot get it to feed ammunition. I am using steel Russian ammo and the slide will not go forward into battery causing a jam for the next round coming up. I tried to put on a heavier spring but I can't get the pistol reassembled with that spring, it just doesn't seem to want to work or I am not strong enough to get the slide back on with the heavier spring. I am going to work on the ramp tonight (polish) and hope that will fix the problem but any suggestions would be appreciated. I really like the pistol and think it would make an excellent carry pistol. Right now I use a PA63 which I have tamed.

[normsutton]

watjr

welcome

the first thing to do is go here
viewtopic.php?t=2593

the second thing I hope it isn't wolf ammo you are using and nothing above a 95 grn bullet

the heaver recoil spring you need to finish the ends of the spring

NORM

[darrell]

My P64 did the same thing but cleaning will definitely help. It was extremely hard for me to get it back together after putting on the heavier recoil spring. Try compressing the spring a few times to loosen it up. My P64 also does not like steel ammo. Yours will probably cycle brass a lot better. They tend to jam with the slide about 1/8" from battery and you have to remove clip and manual cycle out the round. Polishing the feed ramp might help also. Your experience is not unique. You will get the gun working good soon. Cleaning will probably allow you to cycle brass ammo without any problem. You might notice that if you insert a clip with the action open it will jam but if you manually cycle the slide with the action initially closed it won't.

[watjr]

I completely took it apart and cleaned it so that shouldn't be the problem. I will try the brass ammo tonight, just didn't get to it yesterday and I will try those tricks with the spring compressing and finishing. Thanks for the infor and I will give a report when I get it running.

[cichlid]

Here is what I believe is the problem. I had a similar problem to what you are describing and bought my guns from J&G too. I went to the range this weekend and fired my P-64 for the first time. The first mag went perfect! The second mag had feed problems every time. Boy was I disappointed. When I got home, I did some further inspection and found I had two different mags! If you look at my pic, the runners where the bullet sits are different. The shorter one worked with my particular gun, and the longer one did not. Take a look at that and see if that might be your problem.

[watjr]

Longer is on the right and shorter is on the left? If so, that might be the problem. I cleaned and switched to brass and it still does the same.

[watjr]

Oh, I forgot to mention I use 93 grain privi because it works well in the PA 63 as well. So, it is not the bullet.

[cichlid]

Longer is on the right and shorter is on the left? If so, that might be the problem. I cleaned and switched to brass and it still does the same.

Yes, the longer is on the left. How many mags do you have?

[james832]

By 'runner' do you mean the follower? I did notice the lips of magazine on the left were longer.

[cichlid]

By 'runner' do you mean the follower? I did notice the lips of magazine on the left were longer.

what you described as "lips" I described as "Runner".

[kurremkarm]

Great now there are two types of factory mags. LOL

[watjr]

Well, the one that came with the pistol does not work with any of the ammo I have which includes wolf, priv and S&B. I ordered 3 more from J&G and one works fine and one kind of works and the other doesn't as it is like the one with the pistol. The mystery is the one that came with the pistol should work as it has been used. I am taking everything to the range today or tomorrow to see if I can figure the difference in the magazines and get them to work. The follower on one is different and the other three have the same follower so I will measure the runner/lips and see if I can figure it out. It doesn't seem to be the follower. Also, I will tear the pistol down again completely and really clean every part this time after my range trip. This has become a challenge.

[phantomcaptain]

Hey watjr and cichlid,

The problem is definitely the magazines. Just out of curiousity what year are your P-64s? Maybe the newer ones use both mags no problems. Anyway, I had the same problem with 2 of the three mags that came with my just bought, 1967 P-64. After looking at them I noticed the difference in the runners on two of my mags. Simple fix with a dremel tool and some sand paper. I just cut them back to the size of the mag that works. Presto! All feed flawlessly now. Hope that helps.

[boomer]

For what it is worth, 1200 grit sandpaper used in auto body works will go a long way to smoothing the burrs and rough edges on pistols. You will be amazed at how just deburring an auto loader can improve it's operation. If you wrap it around a glue stick from a glue gun it will nicely polish a feed ramp on a barrel also. I have done this countless times with 1911 clones and I did to my P64 as well as my Kel Tec. They run like clocks now.

Just smoothing out the edges of nicks and gouges can really make a performance difference. Another thing I do is to run some over new springs as well. In my world smooth has always been better for me.

[watjr]

Well, I finally fixed the problem and it was simple. I took apart all of the magazines, completely cleaned them with mineral spirits, lightly oiled and reassembled and they all work great. Have to remember that if I ever have another problem like that. I think I might go to a stronger mag spring if they come available but the pistol cycles great and loads great as well.