In response to a Polish government request in the late 1950s for a light, hand-held defensive weapon for use by rear echelon/support troops, design of the Wz 63 was initiated by Piotr Wilniewczyc. Upon Wilniewczyc’s death in 1960, the design in 9x18mm Makarov caliber was finished by a team at the Lucznik Arms Factory located in Radom, Poland, in 1963. Production began in 1964, with the Polish Armed Forces and police adopting it for service in 1965. Also known as the PM-63 (pistolet maszynowy wz. 1963 or submachine gun model 1963) and the RAK (Reczny Automat Komandosa or hand-held automatic commando firearm), approximately 70,000 weapons were manufactured before production ceased in 1974.

Easily distinguished by its shovel shaped muzzle compensator, the Wz 63 is blowback operated and fires from an open bolt that is incorporated inside its slide. Capable of semi or fully automatic fire, the rate of fire is determined by the operator’s trigger manipulation. Rearward movement of the trigger to the first position results in semiautomatic fire; continued rearward movement results in fully automatic fire. In order to keep the fully automatic rate of fire to approximately 600-650 rounds per minute, the slide incorporates an inertia firing rate reducer that causes the slide to remain open for a fraction of a second during recoil when the slide is at its most rearward position.

The complete method of operation for fully automatic fire begins with the insertion of either a 15 or 25-round magazine into the magazine well located in the pistol grip. The operator then retracts the slide by either grasping the slide via the serrations on the rear of the slide and pulling the slide to the rear or by placing the end of the compensator against a hard surface and pushing the weapon forward. When the trigger is pulled fully to the rear, the slide moves forward and strips a cartridge from the magazine. When the cartridge becomes fully seated in the chamber, the extractor snaps over the cartridge rim and the slide’s fixed firing pin strikes the primer while the slide is still moving forward. Cartridge initiation causes the slide to stop forward movement and begin rearward movement against the recoil spring that is located under the stationary barrel. The empty casing is extracted from the chamber and travels with the slide until it reaches the ejector (which is a raised side of the magazine), where it is ejected through the ejection port located on the right side of the slide. The slide continues its rearward movement until the recoil spring is fully compressed and passes over a retarder lever, which snaps up to hold the slide to the rear. An inertia buffer in the rear of the slide continues rearward movement and compresses a buffer spring. When the buffer spring becomes fully compressed, it propels the buffer forward. The forward movement of the buffer pushes the retarder lever down, which allows the slide to move forward if the trigger is still fully depressed and cartridges remain in the magazine in order to repeat the firing cycle. Upon firing the last round in the magazine, the slide catch locks the slide open. To assist with accuracy when firing with both hands, the Wz 63 has a folding vertical grip made of plastic for the support hand and a retractable metal stock with a pivoting butt plate.

In the early 1970s, versions were made at the Radom factory in 9x19mm (designated the PM-70) and .380 ACP (designated the PM-73) calibers, but production soon stopped due to lack of demand. An unlicensed version, designated the Type 82, was produced by the People’s Republic of China in 9x18mm Makarov caliber.

While the author was examining the Wz 63, the curator related an amusing tale. A Polish visitor became very animated when shown the Wz 63 that included a lot of hand waving and loud speaking. It seems the visitor, a veteran of the Polish Armed Forces, did not heed Lt. Colonel Jeff Cooper’s firearms safety rule number two, “Don’t point the muzzle at anything you are not willing to destroy.” While operating the Wz 63, the Polish veteran used the forefinger of his support hand to push back on the muzzle compensator to cock the weapon. For whatever reason, he failed to remove his forefinger from in front of the muzzle before pulling the trigger. The animated hand gestures of the visitor were an attempt to bring attention to his missing finger tip!

Wz 63 Specifications

Caliber: 9x 18mm Makarov
9x 19 Parabellum (PM-70)
.380 ACP (PM-73)

Operation: Straight blowback, slide with integral breech bolt firing
from open bolt, automatic, selective fire trigger system
with slide-mounted thumb safety. Short pulls of the
trigger result in semiautomatic fire; full pulls result in
automatic fire.

Weight, empty: Approximately 56 ounces (1.6 kg).

Length, overall,
stock stored: 13.1 inches (333 mm).

Length, overall,
stock extended: 23 inches (583 mm).

Height (15-round magazine inserted): 5.7 inches (145 mm).

Height (25-round magazine inserted): 8.4 inches (213 mm).

Barrel: Chrome lined with either four or six grooves with a
right-hand twist of one turn in 10 inches.
Barrel length: 6.0 inches (152 mm).

Magazine: 15 or 25-round, double column, detachable box-type.

Sights: Flip, fixed rear (settings for 492 feet (150 meters)
and 246 feet (75 meters) and front blade.

Sight radius: 6.0 inches (152 mm).

Grip panels: Black plastic.

Status: No longer in production, but still in service with
Poland. An unlicensed copy known as the Type 82 is
still in service with the People’s Republic of China,
Cuba and Vietnam.
Manufacturer: Lucznik Arms Factory, Radom, Poland; Type 82,
Norinco, China.

In a recent USMC Iraq incident after action report, there was a table listing all of the Class V (ordnance) items carried on the Cougar vehicle used during the incident. The one unfamiliar item was a listing for an M72A5.

First fired in October 1959, the Lightweight Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW) was a U.S. Army project based on a design by the Hesse-Eastern Division of Flightex Fabrics, Inc. Type classified in March 1961 as the M72 High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) rocket, the original LAW had a 2.6 inch (66 mm) diameter shaped charge warhead that was designed to penetrate 11.8 inches (300 mm) of mild steel and light field fortifications at ranges from 11-219 yards (10-200 meters). Propelled by a solid fuel propellant, the rocket utilized six folding fins for stabilization and reached a velocity of 500 feet (152 meters) per second. The disposable launcher was comprised of two interconnected tubes, with the forward (outer) tube being constructed of a fiber glass composite and the rear (inner) tube being constructed of aluminum. Immediately prior to firing, the operator was required to remove the covers from the forward end of the front (outer) tube and the rear of the rear (inner) tube and pull the rear (inner) tube to the rear, fully extending the launcher to approximately 35 inches (900 mm). Extending the rear (inner) tube simultaneously cocked the launcher’s firing pin, released the safety interlocks, and caused the integral sights to move via springs into firing position. Due to the open tube design, recoil was minimal to non-existent; however, back blast from the rocket firing could damage equipment or personnel up to 39 yards (36 meters) away from the launcher’s rear tube. Weight of the launcher with the rocket was 5.1 pounds (2.3 kg).

The M72A1 and M72A2 LAWs offered improved sights and a more powerful rocket motor over the M72, while the M72A3 provided safety upgrades to the rocket’s fuzing system. The more powerful rocket motor increased the effective and operational ranges to approximately 186 yards (170 meters) and 273 yards (250 meters), respectively, and increased the back blast danger area to 43.7 yards (40 meters). Weight of the system (rocket and launcher) increased to 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg).

In the mid 1980s, Talley Defense Systems began work on the improved LAW system, specifically the M72A4, M72A5, and M72A6 models. All share an improved rocket motor that increases rocket velocity to 650 feet (198 meters) per second and increases the effective and operational ranges to 241 yards (220 meters) and 383 yards (350 meters), respectively. However, back blast danger area increased to 76.5 yards (70 meters). Weight of the new systems is 7.9 pounds (3.6 kg), and the extended launcher length is 38.6 inches (980 mm). The primary difference in the newer models is the type of warhead utilized.

The M72A4 incorporates an improved shaped charge warhead explosively-filled with Octol that when coupled with the improved rocket motor, increases penetration capability against rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) to 14 inches (355 mm).

The M72A5 is the same shaped charge warhead utilized in the M72A3 model (differing only by utilizing Octol as the explosive fill) coupled to the new rocket motor. While the RHA penetration is the same as that achieved with the M72A3, the newer rocket motor increases the effective and operational range of the weapon.

A copper shaped charge warhead works well against solid steel targets. Against layered steel targets with air gaps or against masonry, it is far less efficient. For these types of targets, the M72A6 was developed. Utilizing an explosively formed penetrator (EFP) warhead that is explosively-filled with Octol, the M72A6 can penetrate 5.9 inches (150 mm) of RHA or can blast a man-sized hole in bricks, concrete, and masonry in urban environments when expedient breeching is required. The M72A7 contains the same EFP warhead, only the insensitive high explosive PBXN-9 is utilized as the explosive filler.

Models currently under development include a model that will allow firing from an enclosure (no damage to operator from back blast), an increased (to 17.7 inches or 450 mm) RHA penetration capability, and an anti-personnel model.