The Unofficial P64 Resource Forum

Hello everyone,

I bought a P64 just yesterday. Let me start by saying "Wow". This pistol is incredible! I can't believe how just dang cool this firearm is! It's a gun you just love to fondle. Great design also!

Anyways, I stopped by the range real quick to test fire it, and it hurt. I'm not going to lie, the web of my hand was red. I know it's not uncommon, and I've seen tons of threads on fixing the problem, but I'm lost. With all the different types of grips, recoil springs, etc. to choose from, and all made for different firearms, I don't know what to buy.

I don't care about the long DA trigger, I shoot mine in SA only. So, what am I going to want to buy and install to reduce recoil?
Thanks for the help guys.

thunder,

Welcome aboard! There are a lot of us who are real fond of the P-64, more every day.

Your question about felt recoil is often discussed. The Makarov 9x18 is a more powerful round than most persons without experience with it realize. Some loads are right up there with the .38 Sp+p. Of course, the pistol is small and light; hence recoil is readily perceived.

The absolute best thing you can do is leave the pistol as it is and strengthen your hands. Those old fashioned spring squeezers are the best thing to increase grip strength and toughen the hide of your hands. I have been a craftsman all my life and have fairly tough hands and the pistols (I have four P-64s and many others) never phase me, even though I am now retired and only work a couuple or three days a week, on average. Just a couple of weeks with regular sessions on the squeezer, and the P-64 won't bother you at all.

One of the other benefits of increasing hand toughness and strength is that the gun operates better and is even more accurate because the blowback action needs a firm back-up to keep the frame from moving as the slide moves backwards to extract and eject the spent casing, cock the hammer, compress the recoil spring and return to battery stripping off and chambering the next round. On heavier autos the weight of the pistol provides most of this backup resistance, but with light pistols, a stiff, immoveable wrist, forearm and grip is required for maximum performance and comfort.

Read and search and post a lot. You've found one of the most helpful and friendly forums on the web!

thunder, the first thing you can do is to NOT shoot anything heavier than 95 grain ammo. Most recoil problems are caused by shooting loads that are OK in the larger, heavier Mak, but too much mass to push lightly for the P-64, unless you can handle the heavier recoil.

The second easy thing to do is buy flat Zee grips, if you were unlucky enough to get the Put-On- For- Import- Points, thumbrest left grip. You'll find them on the Buy, Sell, Trade section of this board. Zee will custom mold the color you want VERY reasonably.

Third thing is the cut down 25# recoil spring, which most of us mechanically impaired guys haven't done. It's a trial and error deal which isn't necessary, IMO. The DA trigger pull has also been remedied by most here, and is an easy fix if so inclined.

Lastly, review all of the appropriate threads on this board. It's all there.
You'll get more replys if you give the ammo type, grip type, and even year it was made.
Hope this helps,
Stan

I'm really excited about diving into the world of p64's! I've only had mine a matter of days and I already want another!

So, about my pistol, it's a 1971 model with the rounded trigger guard/hammer. I grip it with a "Fist Grip" (as described in FM 3-23-35). What kind of grips should I be experimenting with?

I'll probably order a 21# spring and see if that helps any. BTW- I broke down my gun yesterday and couldn't quite get it back together. I can't fit the slide back onto the receiver. The trigger guard is pulled down and pushed to the slide. I keep playing with it and can't get anywhere with it. Gave up yesterday and hoped it'd go today, but it didn't. Any tricks? Thanks guys.

Gave up yesterday and hoped it'd go today, but it didn't. Any tricks? Thanks guys.

My 1975 can do this as well, it's annoying. Check the slide stop, sometimes mine is in the "engaged" position - I believe this will prevent the slide from being attached again.

stib

thunder

If you took off the recoil spring you might have it in wrong the small end goes on the barrel first

and i think STAN is talking about the hand grips on the gun




NORM

Finally gave up and handed it to my father, who started tinkering with it. He went out to the garage and messed around with it for quite awhile, but shes working again. Albeit I feel she's kinda awkward now though, something seems off. I dunno, anyhow I think I'll probably start with a Hogue grip and a heavier spring.