FEG PA-63

Opinated · November 16, 2015, 08:13 AM

Bought this with one magazine. Fired only 7 rounds thus far.
The safety/hammer drop lever is quite stiff. Is this problem likely to be in the slide or the frame? Is it OK to operate the safety lever with the slide removed from the frame?

Doyle · November 16, 2015, 08:58 AM

If I recall correctly, the same mainspring that controls the double-action pull. Changing that spring out for a lighter one solves both the stiff DA pull problem and also makes it easier to actuate the release lever.

silverbullet6oh · November 16, 2015, 11:51 AM

What a great find. I miss mine, one of those pistols I wish I had never sold. When I bought mine, it was at a local gun shop, the guy there didn't know much about them, so he sold it to me with two magazines for only $150.00. I really enjoyed using it for open carry. The hard recoil took getting use to, but it was functional, never had any issues with mine, and looked nice too. Also, it ate everything I fed for ammunition, brass and steel.

Opinated · November 16, 2015, 06:55 PM

Agreed about the hard recoil. Very pleased with the accuracy. My first shot hit dead center of my target- and I am old enough to remember when my father was drafted in WWII.
The 9 x 18 has marginally better velocity than does the 380 and perhaps that accounts for some of the recoil-- but it feels much hotter.
I bought Fiocchi ammo.
My second shot resulted in my left thumb sliced by the slide from my two-hand hold. My subsequent grip with the thumb safely out of the way was not as good for accuracy. And I kept expecting a second cut.
Thanks for the comments.

silverbullet6oh · November 16, 2015, 07:07 PM

I believe its the blow back design on the FEG, in regards the hard recoil. I could be mistaken....... Wouldn't be the first time.

Opinated · November 16, 2015, 07:39 PM

One other thing, I found that the safety lever must be in a certain position in order to lift off the slide as part of the disassembly procedure.

sarge83 · November 17, 2015, 08:43 AM

"If I recall correctly, the same mainspring that controls the double-action pull. Changing that spring out for a lighter one solves both the stiff DA pull problem and also makes it easier to actuate the release lever. "

What he said. Makes all the difference in the world in this piece. Get a wolfe kit and change it out, PA-63's are nice little pistols.

Model12Win · November 17, 2015, 10:45 AM

A PA-63 in 9mm Mak is on my gunny radar! Sharp looking little guns. The two-tone finish supposedly was cheaper to produce, and is uncommon on military/police guns.

Ifishsum · November 17, 2015, 11:34 AM

The safety/decocker lever shares a spring with the extractor IIRC, on the right side of the slide. Spring in the middle with a plunger on both ends; if it's really stiff I would check the plunger on the back side for burrs, maybe a dab of grease is all it needs. Removing the extractor will allow access to both plungers and spring IIRC, be careful not to let parts fly into orbit when removing the extractor though.

My son lost his extractor; the pistol still fired and ejected (blowback), we noticed the problem when the safety/decocking lever would fall down into 'safe' after each shot. Found a Walther PP .380 extractor that would fit, but we had to manufacture one of the plungers. Some parts are not easy to find for the pistol.

tallball · November 17, 2015, 01:33 PM

My FiL has the 32acp version. They are often sold with 9mm magazines, IIRC. It's a nice little pistol and balances well in the hand.

November 16, 2015, 08:13 AM	#1
Opinated Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2006 Posts: 354	FEG PA-63 Bought this with one magazine. Fired only 7 rounds thus far. The safety/hammer drop lever is quite stiff. Is this problem likely to be in the slide or the frame? Is it OK to operate the safety lever with the slide removed from the frame?

November 16, 2015, 11:51 AM	#3
silverbullet6oh Registration in progress Join Date: October 2, 2015 Posts: 137	Good Find What a great find. I miss mine, one of those pistols I wish I had never sold. When I bought mine, it was at a local gun shop, the guy there didn't know much about them, so he sold it to me with two magazines for only $150.00. I really enjoyed using it for open carry. The hard recoil took getting use to, but it was functional, never had any issues with mine, and looked nice too. Also, it ate everything I fed for ammunition, brass and steel.

November 16, 2015, 08:58 AM	#2
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	If I recall correctly, the same mainspring that controls the double-action pull. Changing that spring out for a lighter one solves both the stiff DA pull problem and also makes it easier to actuate the release lever.

November 16, 2015, 06:55 PM	#4
Opinated Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2006 Posts: 354	Agreed about the hard recoil. Very pleased with the accuracy. My first shot hit dead center of my target- and I am old enough to remember when my father was drafted in WWII. The 9 x 18 has marginally better velocity than does the 380 and perhaps that accounts for some of the recoil-- but it feels much hotter. I bought Fiocchi ammo. My second shot resulted in my left thumb sliced by the slide from my two-hand hold. My subsequent grip with the thumb safely out of the way was not as good for accuracy. And I kept expecting a second cut. Thanks for the comments.

November 16, 2015, 07:07 PM	#5
silverbullet6oh Registration in progress Join Date: October 2, 2015 Posts: 137	I believe its the blow back design on the FEG, in regards the hard recoil. I could be mistaken....... Wouldn't be the first time.

November 16, 2015, 07:39 PM	#6
Opinated Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2006 Posts: 354	One other thing, I found that the safety lever must be in a certain position in order to lift off the slide as part of the disassembly procedure.

November 17, 2015, 08:43 AM	#7
sarge83 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2000 Posts: 426	"If I recall correctly, the same mainspring that controls the double-action pull. Changing that spring out for a lighter one solves both the stiff DA pull problem and also makes it easier to actuate the release lever. " What he said. Makes all the difference in the world in this piece. Get a wolfe kit and change it out, PA-63's are nice little pistols.

November 17, 2015, 10:45 AM	#8
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	A PA-63 in 9mm Mak is on my gunny radar! Sharp looking little guns. The two-tone finish supposedly was cheaper to produce, and is uncommon on military/police guns.

November 17, 2015, 11:34 AM	#9
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	The safety/decocker lever shares a spring with the extractor IIRC, on the right side of the slide. Spring in the middle with a plunger on both ends; if it's really stiff I would check the plunger on the back side for burrs, maybe a dab of grease is all it needs. Removing the extractor will allow access to both plungers and spring IIRC, be careful not to let parts fly into orbit when removing the extractor though. My son lost his extractor; the pistol still fired and ejected (blowback), we noticed the problem when the safety/decocking lever would fall down into 'safe' after each shot. Found a Walther PP .380 extractor that would fit, but we had to manufacture one of the plungers. Some parts are not easy to find for the pistol.

November 17, 2015, 01:33 PM	#10
tallball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2014 Posts: 2,444	My FiL has the 32acp version. They are often sold with 9mm magazines, IIRC. It's a nice little pistol and balances well in the hand.