cz52 pistol

[badgerben]

Do any of you guys shoot the cz52 amd if so what are your thoughts.

[John Traveler]

Yeah,

I've shot the CZ52 extensively so here goes:

Good:
1.  Good, cheap, available, reliable military surplus pistol.
2.  cheap surplus ammunition and accessories.
3.  Excellent construction quality with interesting mechanism.  
4.  very strong.  tool-free dissaembly/reassembly
5.  Very good accuracy.
6.  little or no collector interest has kept prices modest.  most specimens made in early-mid 1950's and arsenal-refurbished.

Bad:
1.  poor grip angle and instinctive shooting.
2.  former service pistol, but poor stopping power.  Bad combination for a handgun your life might depend on.
3.  conversion to 9mm Luger not known for reliability.
4.  surplus ammo likely corrosive.  same-day cleaning mandatory.

[Robert]

Very well made pistol for the price. 90 gr. XTP's loaded to 1600 fps have all the stopping power I will ever need.  Yes..it isn't a 1911 Colt, but for the price of a 1911, you can have two CZ-52's, one for each hand, and still have enough $$$ left over for about a years supply of ammo.  I have never, ever had mine jamb, or fail, it is an incredible little machine.  I also did some experimenting with .223 Sabots, got them dialed so they would work the action semi-auto and feed properly, but I did some ballistic testing with them and decided the XTP's have almost the same penetration, but more shock, but it was a fun experiment since I already had the sabots.   The Sellier&Bellot factory ammo also really, really rocks.  GET the CZ-52!  You Will Not Regret it.

[Oldtimer]

I have had one since you had to make ammo out  of 9mm Magnum cases.  I enjoy shooting it, but mine has a really hard trigger.  A friend of mine, who used to shoot on the Air Force team, is in love with it.  I have seen some ads recently offering as a C&R gun.  I have to agree with having to clean it the same day, especially with Chinese ammo.

[S.S.]

The CZ52 is an interesting pistol, interesting enough to have one
based on price alone!
It was actually created around the Czech m48 cartridge which was
essentially a 7.63 Mauser loaded to 1600 fps. it was not based
from the Soviet type "P" (7.62x25 Tok) although physical measurements
are almost the same and either will fire in it.
   The sights are terrible, as is the trigger.
Mine jammed at least once per Magazine with every Mag I tried!
I polished the feed ramp and the chamber throat and that problem was solved.  Proper lubrication is vital in the function of this weapon, it is
not your normal drop in mud pick up and shake before firing
communist block weapon. Accuracy is "Acceptable" for a military
handgun.

[Doctor Sam]

Makarov.com has firing pin replacement sets that removes the force on the trigger and lightens the pull.  Try your trigger with the slide removed and that is what you get after you install the set.  These pistols are famous for breaking the firing pin in dry firing them.  Don't do it.  They are cast and will fail.  The replacement is milled steel and solves this problem.  Anyone handy with small tools can install the set.
I enjoyed my first one so much that I ordered another.  Can't beat it for what they are selling for.

Doctor Sam