The Unofficial P64 Resource Forum

where do you find out info on the p64 that is a 380

what makes you so sure it's a .380.

Welcome to the forum.

I hope you haven't been loading 380 in a P64.

IF yours is a .380 it has been converted to such as ALL Polish P-64's coming off the regular production line were chambered in 9x18 Makarov only.

Mine only says 9mm on the barrel not 9X18 .I was told buy the gunshop that 9mm in Europe is a 380 over here . mine is a Lucznik Poland P64 made in Poland 1976 !

No. The .380 in Europe is known as the 9x17 or the 9mm corto or 9mm Kurz or some other designations as well as .380 but all of them mean the 9mm "Short". Comm Bloc weapons did not ever use the 9x19 Luger until the late 80's so to them "9mm" meant the only 9mm they ever had which is the 9x18 Makarov. The 9x18 WILL CHAMBER the 9x17 (.380) and most of the time WILL FIRE the round, depending on the extractor design, however this is dangerous as the casing will NOT properly seal the chamber and escaping gases could cause you much damage.
This is why one should research a new weapon from reputable sources as to operating procedures and proper ammunition and not take the word of someone you do not know to be fully knowledgable. The .380 has a casing 17mm long, the 9x18 has a casing 18mm long and the Luger has a casing 19mm long but the Luger works at much higher pressures. Also the .380 and 9mm Luger use a .355 diameter bullet while the 9x18 uses a .364 diameter bullet so the .380 will not properly engage the rifling in the P-64's barrel.
Please do not fire .380 rounds from your P-64 as it could damage your weapon and injure you.
There is plenty of correct information on this site about your P-64 which was a good purchase even though you thought it was something else. And the people here are the best and happy to help.
And Welcome to the Brotherhood. We are happy your here and thank you for asking for info.

bigdaddy69 wrote:Mine only says 9mm on the barrel not 9X18 .I was told buy the gunshop that 9mm in Europe is a 380 over here . mine is a Lucznik Poland P64 made in Poland 1976 !

What Ketchman said is correct. Your P-64 is NOT a .380! You probably should NOT take advice from that 'gunshop' anymore.

I want to thank you for the information . It saddens me that they would have told me that it was a 380- 9mm short ! So what ammo should I use ? Thanks again !!

Use 9x18, aka 9mm Makarov.

Happy to help Big Daddy. And as snailman said, use 9x18 makarov ammo.

+1 not 380 and I would let the gun shop peeps know they are wrong and look elsewhere for gun services.

If you followed there advice you may not have had a "happy ending".

bigdaddy69 wrote:I want to thank you for the information . It saddens me that they would have told me that it was a 380- 9mm short ! So what ammo should I use ? Thanks again !!

As others have said 9x18 Makarov, or simply Makarov.

There are other 9x18 ammo out there but if it is not "Makarov" ammo, do not use it.

Weasel640 wrote:

bigdaddy69 wrote:I want to thank you for the information . It saddens me that they would have told me that it was a 380- 9mm short ! So what ammo should I use ? Thanks again !!

As others have said 9x18 Makarov, or simply Makarov.

There are other 9x18 ammo out there but if it is not "Makarov" ammo, do not use it.

Weasel what other 9x18 is not Makarov?

There is the German 9x18 Ultra. The casing is the same.length but it uses .355 diameter bullets, if I am correct, and I believe will chamber in the 9x18 Makarov but should NOT be fired in a 9x18 Makarov chambered firearm. The good thing Poppy42 is the 9x18 Ultra ammo is not easy to find so if you find 9x18 ammo for sale in the states it should be 9x18 Makarov. But you still need to make sure. Hope your not mad at me Weasel for answering this and if there is another 9x18 please enlighten me.

Ok thanks I was not aware of that haven't seen any