Thinking about picking up a PA-63 in 9x18. Anyone have any experience with these guns? How are the grips? They look to be a little small.
I'd rather have the Walther PPK in 9X17 (.380 ACP); The 9X18 cartridge can be a little hard to find in some areas. Not sure how easy it is to reload, though if you can find the proper brass. The 9X18 round is supposedly a little more powerful than the .380 ACP, but I doubt if the difference is really significant, or outweighs the difficulty of finding good 9X18 loads. I have fired a friend's FEG PA-63, and the grips were a bit small for me (and I have rather small hands), but that is something the PPK shares with this clone. My Walther PPK grips are also too small and the slide moving back under recoil, will usually take a slice out of my thumb joint. The only solution I've found was a custom set of rosewood grips which lets me get a lower grip on the PPK. I also prefer the sights on the PPK to the PA-63, and my friend who owns the PA-63 agrees.
I had a Smith and Wesson .40 that cut me really good on the thumb because the grips were too small for my hands. I hated that gun. From experience, selling ammo as I do, the .380 round is the hardest to find right now. Bar none. For a long time I'd sell 9mm, .40, and .45 as soon as it came in...but I went months without seeing a box of .380. Very popular CCW weapon for reasons that I will never understand. Personal preferences vary but I have never cared for a .380. I will stick with my 9mm.
With me being a Police Explorer, I've had my fair share of gun retrievals, and the majority of them were .380. It's also easy to find a PPK on the streets too. But I've only had three or four PA-63's come across my hands.
Thanks for the info guys. Think I will pass on the PA63. Sounds like the grips will be too small. One of my 1860 Colt Army`s has small grips on it and it is one uncomfortable gun to handle...... Don`t need another one. Maybe I will check out some of the Tokarev`s that are on the market.
I don't sell it at all. Very basic ammo selection (it's a WalMart). Aside from the strange offering of .44 Magnum platinum tipped hollow points at almost $2.50 per shell, it's .380 (at least I still have the tag for it...can't order it or get it) 9mm, .40, .45, .357mag, .357 Sig, .44mag. I wouldn't be surprised that after April when the store remodels if we stop carrying ammo. In Northern Michigan in November you get an email saying you can't even order hunting rounds, that doesn't bode well.
Hi 36th, if your looking for a great handgun that "fits" into ones "mitts" perfectly-try getting a Swiss made-Sphinx. These are in .380, and they are fairly priced and simply are-badassp ;-)) I will be buying one sometime during the year. I THINK they go for appx $350-$450.00.
