Ammo suggestions for CZ 52

I have used S&B in both my CZ52 and my Zastava M57 with great success. S&B has proven to be accurate, dependable and clean. Happy to hear you don't reload, either...look for you spent brass 10-15 yards over you right shoulder!
Enjoy the CZ52 and consider upgrading the rollers and firing pin with parts from Harringtons.

Classic has surplus, J&G Sales still might as well.

You might also want to start a search for a 9mm barrel. I did, took a little while but found one. Then your ammo situation will open up. That being said, we shoot ours with surplus Tok ammo with no issues a lot more than we do with 9mm due to us having so much surplus stashed.

I'm not trying to "redirect" this conversation, but here's a LOT of good information on another site:
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?769874-Any-CZ52-pistol-experts-here
A plethora of tid-bits!

Jim NE said:

The berdan primers are corrosive, but I presume if I clean the gun good after shooting it's not an issue?

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Not all berdan primers are "corrosive" ... just wanted to make sure that you knew that.

The "corrosive" part of the primer residue is potassium chloride (KCl) which is hygroscopic, so pre-cleaning and/or cleaning with something water-based makes the KCl removal quicker & easier.

I have fired quite a bit of the S&B ammo in my CZ-52s & TT-33s.

I'd stick with the original mag floor plates, but get an extra magazine or two. By the way, we are not technically correct labeling this fine pistol as a "CZ52"...it's also referred to as a "vz. 52" (Ceskoslovenska Zborjovka Vzor 52). To complicate matters, there is also a CZ-52 and/or VZ-52 Czech semi automatic rifle and I'm not so sure that this Ebay auction is the floor plate for the pistol. The picture and description aren't much help. Someone smarter than I can chime in!

The CZ vz 52 rifle (CZ factory vz model 52 year) was imported before the pistol and like the older vz 24 rifle sold as "vz 24" the vz 52 rifle was sold as "vz 52".
When the pistols were cleared for import, the importers advertised them as CZ52 or CZ-52 to avoid confusion with the rifle.


I have found the commercial 7.62x25mm S&B and PPU to be excellent ammunition in my CZ-52. The military surplus has dried up and cheap participation in modern military matches was one attraction so I am a little disappointed. Since a lot of military ammo was inconsistent or had zombie primers (2nd strike would wake'em) I am not sure I miss the surplus 7.62x25. One batch of 1986 ammo I had left chalky red primer sealant on the breech face and I was glad to fire the last of that cleanup chore.
7.62x25mm Winchester Metric appears to be S&B rebranded. 7.62x25mm Wolf Gold is headstamped PPU. They are good ammo in the CZ52 but I don't see paying more than I would for the S&B and PPU. On the other hand when I carried the Cz-52 on an ATV on the mountain,I loaded the Winchester metric.
I had seen the CZ vz 52 pistol in WHB Smith, "Small Arms of the World" (Stackpole, 1966) and thought it was very sci-fi looking. I got my CZ52 at Appalachian Fair Gun Show in 2004, $129.95 w. holster, lanyard, cleaning rod, 2 magazines (+ 8% sales tax and $10 BG check).
I did buy two original firing pins just in case but I am still running on the original firing pin. DO NOT dry fire the CZ-52 without a snap-cap. Otherwise there is a possibility the firing pin may break. It was not designed to be dry-fired empty.
The original Czech 7.62mm M1948 loading is replicated by S&B with an advertised 1600 fps velocity. It is slightly higher velocity than the 7.62mm Russian Tokarev and 7,63 German Mauser which may be due to slower buring powder and not necessarily higher chamber pressure. The Cz-52 is tough and will handle military spec ammo but careless hot rod handloads can damage the CZ-52.

Berdan-primed brass can be reloaded, but it's labor-intensive and most folks figure it's not worth the hassle.

Jim NE said:

... Berdan casings can't be reloaded, right? ...

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Sergei Mosin is absolutely right.

Unless you are lucky enough to have found a hydraulic decapper (I have looked, periodically, for years ... no joy), it is a real PITA to decap berdans.

Had one years ago and you'd be wise to look into a spare firing pin and Wolff makes a heavier recoil spring that will keep your brass from entering the next county.

highlander 5 said:

Had one years ago and you'd be wise to look into a spare firing pin and Wolff makes a heavier recoil spring that will keep your brass from entering the next county.

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Harrington Products makes the good firing pins. Wolff Gunsprings for the recoil springs.

I know the OP was asking about ammo...but when CZ-52's are being talked about it's always prudent to mention to NEVER TRUST THE DECOCKER!!! Many guns will fire when you decock on a live round...so be aware and careful. Some info: http://www.harringtonproducts.com/cz-52-safety/

My '54 vintage CZ52 is one of my favorite milsurp pistols. Had it DuraCoated awhile back, now it looks so nice I don't want to shoot it.

I bought 7.62X25 by the spam can a few years back when it was inexpensive, mostly use it to feed my Toks of various nationalities. Cleaning after each range visit is a bit of a pain but absolutely necessary with the corrosive ammo. I use warm water and Windex, ymmv.

Definitely heed the prior advice regarding dry firing and (non)reliance on the decocker.

ive had good luck on s&b and ppu and various other widely available ammo. hot enough to cycle reliabily and not all that dirty...all things relative.

i highly dislike the surplus. some very hot most not so hot and cheap disappeared long ago.

I use PPU in mine and it has been perfectly reliable and accurate. The brass is nice and its boxer primed which is a plus for reloaders.

Personally, I would keep it in 7.62x25 and not get a 9mm barrel. I like to keep and shoot my historic firearms in their original calibers.

CZ52 decocker note: if you routinely use the decocker to drop the hammer on the firing pin, the plunger (that stops the firing pin when the hammer is dropped without the trigger held back) will eventually be battered til it won't work. I use the decocker to lower the hammer under off-hand thumb control without pulling the trigger, keeping the plunger as pristine as possible in case I do slip. (Muzzle in safe direction in any of these operations.) Does anyone have the actual Czech Army manual on this gun?

I bought a CZ 52 years ago. It is original not an arsenal rebuild. I like the 7.63X25 cartridge. I own a number of C 96 Mausers in that caliber. I bought several thousand rounds of Swedish MG rounds. These are the 7.62X25 I pull and reduce them to fire in the Broom Handles.
"My personal experience", has been the CZ 52 H&K Roller block actions handle the full throttle MG loads with no problem. The CZ 52 is accurate and reliable. They sold for $99 dollars in new condition years ago.

I don't recommend using MG ammo in the CZ 52. The CZ 52 pic is owned by me. Not a link.

Carl N. Brown said:

DO NOT dry fire the CZ-52 without a snap-cap.

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Amen X 2 You will break the firing pin.

Jim NE said:

Thanks guys for the decocker warning. I heard this also on IraqVeteran8888's very informative video, so I'll just consider the gun to have a safety only.

Questions: I noticed from pics that the Harrington firing pin has a noticeably different shape to it than the original. According to one of the more informative youtube videos on the CZ 52, this is because it is designed to take a firing pin return spring, which the original apparently doesn't have (mine doesn't.) So...

-Why doesn't the original have a firing pin return spring?
-How does the original set up pull the pin out of the way for the next chambered unfired round?
-Is having the return spring more desirable than not? Does the Harrington NEED one?
-Where do you get one?
-Why does Harrington have different lengths of CZ 52 firing pins?

Also- just got my second mag yesterday. Doesn't look like an original...hope it works.

Thanks

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Harrington offers a few different CZ-52 pins...one stock design of better material which will allow the decocker to function and the other two 'competition' pins eliminate the decocker functionality but offer a much superior trigger pull. I have one of the 'comp' pins in mine and it works well. The short pin shown is for the CZ-50/70 which is a similar but different gun and I think they put it on the 52 page just to save making a separate one for it.
Stock pin is supposed to be retracted by the firing pin stop (I think), but this allows for battering during dry-firing and the return spring of the Harrington pin is far superior way to go. If you use the Harrington 'comp' pin absolutely you want to use the return spring.

Oh...and there is a bit of confusion about the roller locked design with comparison to H&K's. Yes...both use rollers, but the CZ is actually locked while the H&K is roller delayed blowback. http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2010/08/actions-blowback-action-roller-delayed.html The CZ locks fully when the locking piece flats are in contact with the rollers holding them out into their cutouts while the H&K rollers are always on an angled surface and free to move...with resistance. Hence their need for the fluted chamber to let the case begin to slide out of the chamber which is what powers the action. The CZ slide moves back a ways locked to the barrel, then the locking piece stops which allows the slide and barrel to move back and free up the rollers down the angled surfaces.

If you shoot a lot, watch the rollers carefully and change them out at the first sign of wear or battering. Once they get worn they will not roll anymore but slide and this wears the mating surfaces. The H&R rollers are a good investment if you plan on shooting a lot or your rollers are worn.

Dog Soldier said:

I bought several thousand rounds of Swedish MG rounds. These are the 7.62X25

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Darn, Dog Soldier, you could have sold some of them to Johnny C. He has been looking for 7.62X25 subgun ammo for years. He says it doesn't exist and never has. Considering his creds, I have to believe he knows what he is talking about. BUT, if you have some in boxes or packets, clearly marked as such, I'm sure he would really like to talk with you!