Will the CZ 52 handle heavier bullets?

[bigoledude]

I am gonna start reloading again after many years.  The velocity of the CZ 52 just seems to be perfect for the penetration needed on smallish hogs.  The store-bought ammo is not what I was looking for.  I notice on the few web sites that discuss reloading for the CZ52 they never use anything heavier than 110 grain. 

Is this a length-limit for the pistol?  Does it cycle the 110 well?  Has anyone used a particular bullet with success on game?  I remember reading something negative about using cast lead bullets in a CZ 52.  Is this so?

[Mikey]

bigoledude:  first, get yourself on over to Ron Reed's site - Ron is one of our Site Sponsors and is in the business of making pistol ammunition, especially ammo for the 7.62x25mm caliber pistols.  He makes the best 7.62x25mm pistol ammo this side of the big pond.  He has loads specific to the C96 Mauser pistols (30 Mauser), the Tokarev pistols and the CZ52 pistols (both 7.62x25mm);  he spcifies which loading is proper and best for which type of pistol. 

Most reloaders who load the 7.62x25mm cartridge do not go beyond a 110 gn (30 caliber Carbine) slug because bullets for the 7.62x25mm are few and far between and they haven't found anything else out there round nosed like that that they think might work in that cartridge but, both Hornady and Sierra make .308 85 gn round nose soft pointed bullets specifically for the 7.62x25mm or 30 Mauser and these should currently be available from either Natchez, Cheaper'n Dirt, Sportsmen's Guide or MidSouth. 

I don't think it is so much a issue of 'length limit' for the pistol as it is for the magazine.  Also, there is no great variety of cast bullets for this cartridge - just some older round nose Lyman offerings and one of the only other cast slugs I have ever seen was a Hornady swaged and roll lubed (looks like knurling) slug that looked like a truncated nose design.  I would love to see someone develop two Keith style semi-wadcutters in 85 gn and 115 gn weight, with the lighter weight slug used for the 30 Mauser/7.62x25mm and the 7.65 Luger, and the heavier for the 327 Chevy.  I could easily favor a hardcast Keith style slug in the Tokarev or CZ  - I think they would operate jam-free from that bottle necked cartridge..... jmtcw.

[Reed1911]

I'll address both topics.

The 110g is about the heaviest bullet you can find that has a RN profile and will feed and eject properly. I've used 125g spire point bullets before, but it is a single loading proposition since they are too long to run in the mag and too long to properly eject if ejected the loaded round.

On the subject of the cast bullets, I have cast 90g SWC, 100g RNFP, 115g RNFP all for the .30 cal. They do fine in the CZ-52 and the TT-33. Nothing special to them, no real market for loaded ammo since the cost is about the same for us to make them and sell them. Now for the re-loader it obviously will cut down on the cost. I have not made up a Keith style heavy nose cast for it, never really considered it to be honest. I'll look into it for you Mikey.

[dpe.ahoy]

My CZ 52 shoots very high at 25 yd, would a heavier bullet help bring down POI?  So far all I have shot is lots of MilSurp and some S&B 85 gr FMJ.  Like the gun and the cartridge, but can't hit anything with it shooting so High.  Have considered having sights put on it that would lower POI, (taller front) and something adjustable on back.  DP

[R.W.Dale]

In my experiance heavier/slower loads print higher with fixed sight handguns than faster lighter loads