New Toy

[ChiefThunderstick]

I was at the Salem gun show yesterday and I couldn't resist the price and looks of my newest acquisition. It's a FEB Hungarian PA-63. The gun was labeled as fabricated by FEG, but the slide says FEB. I also notice references to it as FEG on the web. Does anyone here have any experience with this gun? I don't know when I'll have time to go to the range and try her out. It looks like a Walther PP and is probably a good shooter if the design is true to it's original.

The gun was labeled as new but in the box was a large tag that said it was used. Does anyone know why? Is it because it was in service in Hungary but new to this country?

When I got the gun, the magazines would not eject easily. I solved the problem by disassembling the mags and taking some tension off of a curved piece of metal that protruded from the left side of the magazine follower. I pushed on it to straighten it a bit with the supplied steel cleaning rod. Which is all that tool will ever be used for.

Anyhow, please post the good and the bad about my newest toy, I'll be gald to hear either way, It only cost $159.49 OTD. Below are some pix.

 

[ChiefThunderstick]

Must not be very popular

I guess these are not too popular. I like that. Point number two, in favor of it being a keeper. No one here has shot one of these?

 

[the naked prophet]

I know someone who has one, he says the soft aluminum frame wears out pretty quickly, so it's more of a safe queen or wall-hanger than a shooter. Also says the trigger is very heavy and gritty (he actually said something along the lines of using both hands to pull the trigger). No first hand experience. Please post your observations, since you have one.

 

[ChiefThunderstick]

The trigger is heavy. I would say around 12lbs. Easy enough for one hand. I read on the net that the hammer spring can be shortened or replaced to improve the trigger pull. As far as the battering of the frame, I also read that the recoil spring can be replaced with a heavier one from Wolf at Makarov.com. The gun seems fitted well, nice and tight. The barrel is fixed like on Walthers, so I imagine it's accurate. The finish is ok, no burrs inside or out, and polished ok. I believe the barrel and ramp are chrome coated, to ease cleaning. That's about all I know so far. Hope to hear more from some of you on THR.

 

[varoadking]

These are among the worst firearms ever produced, IMHO. I had one and sold it immediately after I shot it for the first time. I still have no idea why I bought it...you will likely wonder the same thing...

I did the mainspring, recoil spring and grip replacement thing. Can't imagine how horrible these things are without doing all that.

Hate to say it, but I'd rather own a Taurus...hanging my head in shame just for thinking that...

PA-63 - Pure crap...

Thanks for asking...

 

[weregunner]

Ok here goes. Go over to www.makarov.com. There is plenty of owners and advice at the Makarov Forum board. Do not under any circumstances shoot high pressure or bullets that weigh more than 95 grains through these small Makarov caliber pistols. Seems there is a safety factor to consider. Makarovs were and can be modified to shoot the heavier bullets or high pressure cartridges. Smaller pistols have and are not designed for this. There have been catastrophic faliures to the tune of 60 plus pistols thus far. The Makarov sight has had info in the recent past on this issue. Just a safety tip.