CZ-82 hotter ammo?

[Guy de Loimbard]

I have read in the past that when the Czechs designed the CZ-82 pistol they also pumped up the 9x18 to be about 20% hotter than the standard load. Has this ammo been imported to the US before? If so where could one get some? Although it wouldn't nearly close the performance gap between 9x18 and 9x19, it would set itself apart more from the .380.

 

[rcmodel]

No, I don't think so.

The hottest .380 surplus ammo I have heard of was Spanish Santa Barbara.

And it was really crappy ammo, although it was loaded hot!

It is mostly all gone now.

As for 20% overload Czech ammo?
If there was any, and someone imported it, they would be blowing up lesser guns right & left.

vZ-82's were also commonly chambered in 9 x 18mm MAK.
Maybe thats what you are thinking about that had more power then the .380 ACP (9 x 17mm).


rcmodel

 

[M2 Carbine]

I've seen that rumor from time to time but I doubt there's any truth in it.
I think it's like rcmodel said, the CZ82 .380 was issued for the 9x18.

A 20% increase of the 9x18 would be a 95 grain bullet doing 1,200+ fps.

I've loaded 95 gr JHP bullets to 1,150+ fps for use in Makarovs with 21 pound recoil springs. I wouldn't think of giving my CZ83 a steady diet of that load.

 

[finnerandr]

I believe SOG has some 9x18 +p ammo available. $8.95 a box or something. A buddy of mine runs it through his CZ82 with no probs so far. I have yet to try it as I am perfectly happy with the standard loads.

 

[Ed Ames]

The 82 is a straight blowback action. Doesn't that usually mean a fairly narrow range of acceptable loads? Too light a load and the action won't cycle completely. Too heavy and the cases will end up too far back while still under pressure and will start bulging or splitting out the side with potentially negative effects. If the spring and/or slide are made heavier it won't cycle as reliably with standard loads. At least that's my understanding. I suspect a 20% difference would show in the design? CZ seems pretty savvy about action design... if they wanted a heavier load I suspect there would be a locking breach (e.g. cz-52) or a heavier slide/spring combo.

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

I remember where I read it, but can't seem to pull up the site now. It's the CZ-82/83 page on world.guns.ru. It states that "They also produced their own 9x18 ammunition as "pistolovy naboj Vz.82", which they claimed to be 20% more powerful than standard Soviet 9x18 PM ammunition." I think that if they hotloaded the the ammo they probably would also have designed the CZ-82 to be a bit more robust than the Mak so that it wouldn't fly apart on firing.

I guess that it's safe to say that none of that ammo has made it over here though.

 

[dogtown tom]

rcmodel: ...The hottest .380 surplus ammo I have heard of was Spanish Santa Barbara.

And it was really crappy ammo, although it was loaded hot!...

Just curious...what makes Santa Barbara "crappy"?

I've fired SB (1983 vintage) in a Star Super SM, a Remington 51, Browning BDA, Browning 1955, and a NAA Guardian- the Santa Barbara went bang every time- no failures to fire, extract or eject and with the BDA I could get 3" groups at 25'.

Was yours a different year? I'm going to buy another case and want it as reliable as the last.