Polish P-83 Wanad

[Black Blade]

I got out to the gun club this afternoon to test out the P-83 that I just picked up from J&G Sales.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-83Wanad7a.jpg

It was about 40F, a little overcast and windy.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/BH1a.jpg

I took a few examples of my 9x18 (Makarov) guns for a comparison:

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/Guns9x18a.jpg

(Left to Right: Polish P-83, Polish P-64, Hungarian RK-59, CZ-82 and E. German Makarov)

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/Guns9x182a.jpg

Front view

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/PistolRange2a.jpg

I came in close (15 yards) for the head shots and further back for the torso shots (two mags each):

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-83Targeta.jpg

The P-83 15 yards:

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-83Target1a.jpg

The P-83 at 25 yards:

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-832a-1.jpg

The gun fired and functioned flawlessly. It was much better than I had hoped or expected with relatively little noticeable recoil. The mag release on the heel of the grip was a pleasant surprise as it popped the magazines out effortlessly unlike the clumsy spring pressure release on the Polish P-64 guns making for a quick swap out between magazines.

If all the Polish P-83 are as nice as this one then I would wholeheartedly recommend these guns to everyone. In fact I have ordered another one ("one is none and two is one"). I guess I would rank these right along with the East German Makarovs for quality and function and may even give the slight edge to the P-83 for quality, function and accuracy. The only thing I may do is perhaps paint the front sight for easier and quicker target acquisition but otherwise it is a nearly perfect sidearm imo.


Update:

Another trip to the gun clube with more P-83 Wanad handguns.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-83Wanad6a.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-83Wanad1a.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-83Wanad2a.jpg

I acquired a couple more Polish P-83 Wanad pistols. I did another round of testing at the gun club. It was about 55F, overcast, and calm.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/BH4a-1.jpg

I test fired at about 15 yards more for function than accuracy.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-83WanadTarget1a.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-83WanadTarget2a.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll287/jhwarner1/SheridanGuns/P-83WanadTarget3a.jpg

As expected the P-83 pistols are consistent. They are definitely very decent handguns and quite acceptable as defense firearms. Two thumbs up!

- Black Blade

[willie pete]

Good shooting, nice looking collection of Makarovs, 9mm? great mountain views too, CO?

[Black Blade]

Good shooting, nice looking collection of Makarovs, 9mm? great mountain views too, CO?


Thanks. All guns seen are 9x18mm (Makarov calibre). The setting is north-central/north-west Wyoming.

BTW, J&G Sales has the P-83 Wanad for $230 plus shipping/transfer and ammo running a little more than $200 for 1,000 rounds (Brown Bear).

[AOW]

I'm not a jealous person, but your multiple posts with the multitude of firearms blows my "collection" away and does indeed make me jealous in the extreme!

[Liquid]

What a great thread, thanks for taking the time to share.

I admire your collection, and your shooting skills are impressive. Nice groupings at those distances, you are very consistent and accurate.

[Black Blade]

Just a heads up - AIM Surplus is now selling these for $200 free shipping:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?groupid=102

I would but already have several. Must have been a nice sized shipment come in.