Hello, New member here...

[bumjim]

My name is Jim and I'm from Ohio. I just sent in my application for a FFL C&R 03, and hope to place my first order for a P64 in the next 4-6 weeks. I was a US Army soldier in Germany in the early 1980's and would love to own a couple of pieces of cold war memorabilia. The P64 is my first choice. I can just see a KGB agent tucking one of theses in his waist band. Need advise on a good web site or two that have good specimens in stock now (Feb 2013) Be safe and happy shooting.
v/r
jim

[Curly1]

Welcome to the forum Jim.

Classic Arms has them, they are good peeps to deal with.

http://www.classicfirearms.com/c-r-eligible

[pol313]

Good Luck ordering from Classic Firearms. Their website shows they have shut their phones down and are only taking online orders. The problem is you have to submit your license to them and be added to the list so that you can select your license as the FFL to deliver to during the ordering process. I sent mine in about Jan 12th. I still don't show on the list. I moved on to other options. Robertson Trading Post has a bunch listed on Gunsamerica but their listings all say that the P-64 is not C&R eligible. I sent them an email on Jan 16th inquiring why they have them listed that way. I have still not received a reply from them. I ended up buying one from Lev's Pawn in Columbus on Gunbroker.com. I sent them my C&R with the payment and they balked at it. I had to email them the ATF webpage with the update when the P-64 was added to the list to get them to transfer it to me. Apparently some people aren't aware and aren't checking to verify that the P-64 is C&R.

[wpoulton]

Hi I am Will from Virginia and I am also new here. I just ordered my first P64 from Century International Arms and I am waiting for it to come. Century is out of the complete guns but they do have some parts guns some cutaway and training guns. I am getting a parts gun and a training gun for my collection. I am going to see if I can repair the parts gun back to shooting condition. Will post pics once they come in the mail.

~Will

[MakAttack]

As a Cold Warrior, you'll want to keep an eye out for an East German PM as well. Beautiful pistol.

[Vunder]

I'm also new here and just picked up my 1975 P-64 today. I've browsed this forum for a few weeks and I'm really impressed with this site. I got mine from Classic Firearms and had it delivered to a local dealer. If I'd known this was gonna be my second C & R purchase (I got a CZ-82 a couple of months ago), I would've applied for my C & R / FFL but I didn't think these would be around long enough for the 6 to 8 weeks it would take. I love the CZ-82 BTW but realized right away that there would be days when it would just be too big for ccw, that's why I ordered the P-64. I've ordered a spring kit from Wolff and even some extra parts from lukeart. I got the safety detent spring (but not the detent), although that may be next). I also got a trigger guard, firing pin & hammer strut but I could probably find a few more parts to go along with the detent order that I'm already thinking about, lol. It's either that or get a parts gun I figure.
The safety is tight and a bit crunchy while engaging but just a little tight flipping to the off position (not that I want it loose). I still have to clean it but I've seen several helpful post's here for the safety already, thanks.

I've seen post's about not using +P ammo with these (I got some PowRBall rounds for my CZ), but I'll look into this more before loading them into the 64.

Anyway, great forum, I've already learned a ton.

[Curly1]

Welcome to the forum Vunder.

[lklawson]

I've seen post's about not using +P ammo with these (I got some PowRBall rounds for my CZ), but I'll look into this more before loading them into the 64.

There is no official "+P" specification for 9x18 Makarov.

Some manufacturers, notably Buffalo Bore, will label their offerings "+P" even if there is no SAAMI spec for it. .380ACP is a commonly noted Buffalo Bore caliber with a "+P" label. In reality what is happening is that Buffalo Bore and others are loading the ammunition to the top end of the SAAMI pressure specification. They say that they are doing this because most ammunition lacking a true SAAMI +P spec is actually loaded to mid-range pressure spec (to protect old guns which may not be able to handle top end pressures) and, further, that they use specially blended powders which produce higher Muzzle Velocity (MV) than "generic" powders which, when combined, produce better than standard, "+P like" performance.

While Buffalo Bore and the others have a point about mid-range pressures from the big manufacturers, there is little doubt that it is also a powerful marketing technique. Some observers believe that the using the +P label for ammunition which has no SAAMI spec for +P is false and misleading, and therefore unethical.

Others note that the MV and ME performance of ammunition made by Buffalo Bore is often matched by European import ammunition (particularly in the .32ACP ammunition) which is loaded to CIP specifications, not SAAMI.

I don't think there is even an actual SAAMI spec for 9x18 Makarov, though my reloading friends tell me that there's plenty of load specifications from the various authoritative loading books. 9x18 Makarov is a CIP spec cartridge.

All that aside, assuming that the ammunition is actually loaded to either SAAMI or CIP specifications then it should be safe to shoot regardless of what's printed on the label.

What you may have seen warnings against is certain unusual ammunition which is now out of production and fairly difficult to come by these days. When 9x18 Makarov caliber handguns first started becoming popular here in the U.S., some manufacturers loaded ammunition specifically for the U.S. market which had bullet weights heavier than the standard 95gr. Wolf, notably, loaded some which were 109gr. and I've seen reports (but never shot any) of some loaded with 110gr. and 115gr. These are notably heavier and could cause pressure issues. The Wolf 109gr. has a notably heavier recoil in my P64 (which already recoils heavily enough thankyouverymuch!) and won't feed at all in my CZ82 because of its odd truncated-cone bullet shape.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

[Vunder]

Thanks guys. Kirk, thanks for the in-depth info on +P ammo. The main reason I got PowRBall was because I'd heard about some CZ's having feeding problems with other HP's. I still need to clean my P-64 and the Wolff springs should be here any day. I believe Buffalo Bore is hotter than PowRBall so I'll try those with more confidence now. I think the post I read was from a Youtube video and the poster said PowRBall rounds blew out his firing pin but it could have just been a dirty FP channel or bad spring.

Now I'm reading about some 64's having the limp trigger issue when disengaging the safety. I'll have to wait til I get to the range to see about mine. I don't plan on carrying this pistol with the safety off.

Jon