Talk:FEG PA-63

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[edit] Rear notch sight adjustment

While I do own a PA-63 I'm unsure if the rear sight is indeed adjustable. It does appear as though one could slide it back and forth by tapping with a small hammer or such there are no discernable screws or such that would make such an adjustment permenant nor allow it to be delicate enough to be useful. I'm fairly certain there's nothing of this nature on the underside of the slide as well, simply the firing-pin mechanism.

Can someone with either a PA-63 manual or simply more firearms expertise verify the adjustment capabilities? For the time being I've removed the note from the info-box though I'll put it back once more info is obtained. Shan 01:47, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

It sounds like the rear sight is drift adjustable. You can take a mallet and drift left or right as required to properly center the group. The sight will be held in that position by the interference fit of the sight itself in the slide. But in most cases I wouldn't refer to this as an "adjustable" sight.

[edit] Unattributed copyrighted material

This article uses direct quotations from Gene Gagnarosas "Complete Book of Compact Handguns" without attribution.

The section of the book from which the quotations are taken is as follows:

PA-63

FEG began making close copies of the Walther PP and PPK in the late 1940s. The first of these -the Model 48- was nearly identical to the PP, differing only in the location of its loaded chamber indicator pin, the shape of its manual safety lever, and the configuration of its magazine floorplate and grips. Chambered in .32 or .380 caliber, the Model 48 served Hungary's military and police forces, along with several foreign nations (notably Egypt), and sold well commercially throughout Western Europe as the "Attila."

In the late 1950s, FEG grew adventurous and departed more boldly from the original Walther design. Its much modified PA-63 in 9mm Makarov caliber became a standard Hungarian military and police sidearm. The PA-63 had a larger frame with more curved backstrap for a better hold. It also dispensed with a loaded chamber signal pin altogether and replace the steel frame with one made of lightweight aluminum alloy, reducing overall weight by several ounces.

Reducing weight to the absolute minimum made sense in a pistol meant to be concealed in one's pocket. Moreover, the reduced strength of the light alloy frame was not considered a problem in low-powered calibers, as it can be in pistols chambered for 9mm Parabellum and other larger, high-pressure rounds. FEG later made the PA-63 in a .32 ACP version for commercial sale and police use, and as .380 ACP versions: the Models AP9 and PMK-380.

In its 9mm Makarov military version, the PA-63 sports a brightly polished aluminum frame. Although the military does not ordinarily care for guns with such conspicuous finishes, having the two-tone finish saved the time and expense of an extra process for these cost-conscious buyers.

Whereas the AP9 and PMK-380 are more reminiscent of the Walther PP, the PA-63 is more competitive with the Soviet-designed Makarov. With its more powerful cartridge, the PA-63 has more felt recoil than either of its .380-caliber variants. This, combined with its small sights and heavy trigger, hurts the gun's accuracy. A five shot, 25-foot offhand group, using Norinco 94-grain FMJ, measured exactly 2 inches. And from a distance of 50 feet, it was very difficult to fire an acceptable group, the best try measuring 5.6 inches across. There were, however, no failures in feeding, firing or ejecting three different brands of 9mm Makarov ammunition. The PA-63 was imported in large numbers by K.B.I., Inc., of Harrisburg, PA.

Cbyrneiv 05:32, 8 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Needs an overhaul

The whole article is needing an overhaul; especially given that what I added originally meant to be placeholder text (that Cbyrniev is referencing - though I found it on Makarov.com, which I linked at the end of the article); I never got a chance to fix. And while I agree with most of the "Problems" section (I own one, I see the problems every time I shoot it) it is largely original thought. Atleast until some references are put in.

As evidenced by my complete lack of fixing my above mistakes, I don't have time to sit and fix this.....

Shan 17:24, 27 May 2007 (UTC)