Your thoughts on the CZ-82

Get one... there is not a better sub $200 gun on the market. The DA trigger is better than most $500+ guns. The polygon rifling in the fixed barrel makes it very accurate for its size.

The only down side is the poor finish and that it is heavy due to its all steel construction. Ammo is cheap will feed and loves the steel cased cheap stuff.

What is not to love about the CZ82?

First off, a cz-82 is not a makarov. A makarov is a makarov There is confusion I guess because the cz-82 is chambered in 9x18, which is sometimes referred to as 9mm makarov.

Anyway, thoughts on the cz-82: best gun deal currently available, bar none. reliable, ergonomic, awesome trigger (better than the trigger on a lot of $1,000+ guns), decent sights, small enough to carry (with a proper gun belt and holster, mind you, because it IS heavy), relatively high cap, ambidextrous controls if you're a lefty, safe to carry hammer down in DA or cocked and locked.

The ONLY down side is that the enamel finish is crap and flakes off. Even if you happen to get a cz-82 with a perfect finish, it will not stay that way for long if you carry it. You can either re-finish it so this doesn't continue to happen, or decide you don't give a crap if the finish isn't perfect.

Btw, CDNN's cz-82's aren't as good of a deal as they may seem. Same with JG. They only sell them with one magazine, and then they want to charge you an extra $30+ for a second magazine. Order from Southern Ohio Gun. They are currently charging $190, but they come with two mags.

CZ-82's as imported come with a leather duty holster and mag carrier, but some importers may be stripping those away and selling them separately. They're kind of neat to have, if you find one with it. The leather holster seems so tough it will probably outlast the gun, and it has a simple and effective retention system. Some guys actually use the mag holder for concealed carry, as it's pretty small.

Get one while the getting is good. Someday the supply of these things will run out.

A true Makarov is a much better pistol for all intent and purposes. Less parts and far easier to maintain and they have better finish quality. Holster availability alone sets it apart. Even Fobus make a belt paddle for it. I mean what's not to like!

The only other, somewhat negative, besides the finish that Scout & Harmon already mentioned is the mag release. It's a superb design in theory, just not always in its functionality. It's a good thing it's ambidextrous because sometimes they are finicky and will only release the mag from one side or the other. New parts are available though from CZ. I just filed and polished my old (somewhat worn) parts and got it working much better now.....Below is a past writeup I did on the 82

Only two bad things can be said about the CZ82....Crappy painted finish and mag release parts could need some polishing & tweaking. By today's polymer standards it's heavy for its size. I personally don't care it's all steel after all.

Otherwise, I can't think of a more formidable weapon for the price. Reliable as they come. Accuracy and speed of follow up shots is just phenomenal for a compact. Ambidextrous controls (safety & mag release), DA/SA with cocked & locked capabilities if you choose or hammer down first shot. 3 dot sights sight that are the same as CZ75 so nights sights are available, if you're interested. Superb trigger for DA/SA.

This is mine from SOG (Southern Ohio Gun) $225 out the door w/dealer fees and $10 hand pick.....Go get one, you won't regret it!

The pictured leather is what Harmon is talking about and I have used the mag holster for CC but obviously the main holster would be for open carry.

areagan said:

A true Makarov is a much better pistol for all intent and purposes. Less parts and far easier to maintain and they have better finish quality. Holster availability alone sets it apart. Even Fobus make a belt paddle for it. I mean what's not to like!

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The Mak is "better" for the reasons you stated.

The CZ is "better" in its own right.

Better trigger....better sights....better ergos....better controls....better capacity....better, better, better.

They're both excellent, compact pistols and have their own merits and faults. I prefer the more complicated CZ for all its modern features and capacity, which is what makes it more complicated, not unreliable......I have over a 1000 rounds now through my 82 and 50 more this past Saturday, with zero malfunctions of any kind.....with FMJ & HP ammo.

I recommend getting several.

FWIW, my CZ 82 is my carry gun, and I couldn't be happier with it.

harmon rabb said:

Get one while the getting is good. Someday the supply of these things will run out.

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walksbyhimself said:

I recommend getting several.

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I keep considering doing just that. Every surplus firearm I've bought, I regret not buying a second, seeing as they've all went up in price.

Biggest mistake I made was not buying two M1 Garands when I was at the CMP store, several years ago.....I've got a correct grade, by today's standards, for $425 and there was another one there just like it, at that time. :banghead:

I picked one up this weekend. Finish was decent. $209.00 with 2 mags. They have another one with a much worse finish but the tag says "2 mags + extras" I might pick that one up too. Put 100 rounds of S&B 9x18 through it without any issues. Only recovered 50 spent cases...it does seem to throw the brass into another dimension.

hAkron said:

Only recovered 50 spent cases...it does seem to throw the brass into another dimension.

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Replace your recoil spring!

http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto Pistols/CZ/82 & 83/cID1/mID16/dID92

I've owned several of the guns, both CZ82 and CZ83. I can't say they aren't worth owning, but I sold off all three because, over time, I grew "out of love" with them.

The reasons I soured was because;
* I got hammer bite.
* I never really liked the slippery plactic grip panels and the wood grips I tried cracked.
* Parts fall off when you remove the grips.
* A spring fell out of a CZ82 while at the range.
* Mag release mechanism wears.
* No decoker... some people relly like that feature though.

The reasons they are fun and a good buy are;
* Low price
* A reliable gun
* pretty accurate with good sights.

I think it's safe to say that most people like the CZs, I'm just not that much of a big fan. Not all CZ82 are equal. All are used, some are in good condition, but some are very worn and all but shot out. IMHO, there are better police/miltary trade-ins available for about the same money.

All are used, some are in good condition, but some are very worn and all but shot out. IMHO, there are better police/miltary trade-ins available for about the same money.

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Not to hijack the thread but what better police/miltary trade-ins are available for about the same money?

I have one and think very highly of it. One thing that surprised me, though, is that the single-action trigger, while very smooth, has a long first stage with no discernible transition to second stage. In other words, it's like a very smooth, light, short, double-action pull.

It's fine, just different.

I like the gun because it fits my hand well (flater pistols, like the Mak, do not). Ambi safety, high capacity, good sights, smooth trigger, perfect reliabilty... very hard to beat for the price.

I have one and think very highly of it. One thing that surprised me, though, is that the single-action trigger, while very smooth, has a long first stage with no discernible transition to second stage. In other words, it's like a very smooth, light, short, double-action pull.

It's fine, just different.

I like the gun because it fits my hand well (flater pistols, like the Mak, do not). Ambi safety, high capacity, good sights, smooth trigger, perfect reliabilty... very hard to beat for the price.

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I'd describe the SA trigger as having some creep. It's far, far shorter than a DA trigger. Are you comparing it to a 1911? Very different feel, in that 1911's have slack but no creep, and the cz-82 in SA has no slack but some creep.

I'm defining "slack" as a first stage with very low resistance, and "creep" as how much the trigger physically moves after all the slack is taken up and before it breaks.

Of the guns I own, the trigger on my cz-82 is most similar to that of my Sig 226. Both have creep but no slack in SA, although the cz is smoother and lighter.

Between the Mak and the CZ82 the main difference is width/weight.
Both are absolutely reliable, the Mak is thinner and weighs less, so for CC it's my choice. But the CZ has higher mag cap, better trigger and generally a better shooter. Thefinish is poor on the CZ, but aesthetics aside, it works great. Accuracy for both is very good to great, so that's a wash. Both will eat any 9x18 you feed them.
For the price, the CZ is a steal and like others have said, it warrants buying several as your relatives will want one. Both my wife and eldest daughter have one now and love them.

okay, i'm new to the hobby, but dumb question. will 9mm ammo fit this mag since it shows it as 9x18mm?

or better yet, in any gun, are 9mm and 9x18mm interchangeable?

also,

i couldn't find the gun on southerngunohio , looks like it's only mags and accessories? Gun broker has a few for similar price. i was just concerned about the ammo situation.

No.... What you are calling a 9mm is actually 9X19 parabellum. Dont put it into a 9X18 chamber.

okay, i'm new to the hobby, but dumb question. will 9mm ammo fit this mag since it shows it as 9x18mm?

or better yet, in any gun, are 9mm and 9x18mm interchangeable?

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Absolutely not. 9mm is 9x19, 9mm makarov is 9x18. The bullet from a 9mm mak round has a larger diameter than a 9x19 bullet, and a 9x19 round has a much higher pressure than a 9mm mak round. If you could somehow chamber a 9x19 in a 9x18 gun, you'd probably blow your hand off when you pulled the trigger. 9x18 won't chamber in a 9x19 gun due to the increased bullet diameter.

Southern Ohio Gun won't show you their guns until you send in your C&R license or have your FFL send in his license. But if you want to order, you can just call them up.

I ordered the "CZ vz82, 83 RECOIL CALIBRATION PAK" per your recommendation. Thanks for the tip!

towboat and harmon.

thanks for the info!

Good guns for the money. Great ergonomics, VERY accurate, excellent trigger, good capacity, reasonable caliber with HP's.

Excellent "truck gun".

Just this morning I sold my CZ82 along with ammo for $300:


Only sold it because I went with a Tok Yugo M57 and needed to keep something with a little more whoomp in my car.

The Makarov PM is a far better pistol. Only 37 parts and built like a tank! I don't think that there has ever been a pistol more battle tested than the Mak. It has taken more of a beating than the Glock even and just refuses to give up

areagan said:

The Makarov PM is a far better pistol. Only 37 parts and built like a tank!

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Correction: 27 parts

The CZ is just about the 'most gun for your money' gun you can buy right now (I'd put sub $100 SKS in the used to be category)

The down side is they are complicated little beasties

UP side, they are much more accurate than they have a right to be, and are a pleasure to shoot.

Thank you for the correction. I hit the wrong key. 27 parts is correct.