Cz-52

makarov.com (sp?)

Makarov.com for parts
and a quick search will turn up all kinds of disassembly instructions and so forth.

I always give the same advice to anyone who has a "new" CZ-52

1) AIM Surplus Romanian ammo seems good
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/1980_s_Brass_Case_Romanian_762x25_Surplus.html

2) Buy the Wolff 16.5 lb springs from Makarov.com
http://www.makarov.com/cart/52springs.htm

3) Buy the (far more durable) machined firing pin from Makarov.com
http://www.makarov.com/cart/52parts.htm

here's the CZ 52 manual, hope it will be useful.

Anyone cares for a bit of the historical background on this pistol?

Try shooting it at night, it spits out a huge fireball.

Max,
Have I mentioned before how much I LOVE your site?

Shoot some of the Wolf JHP 7.62X25 ammo out of it at night. You will register on some IR sensor somewhere.
TJ

I intend to buy a machined firing pin for my cz52 just
in case (the firing pin, the grip panels and the spring clip
that holds the grip panels are about all that break on
these things). I really don't intended to swap out the
firing pin unless it becomes necessary. (Now, if my
cz52 was not merely a range gun, but a primary
defense gun, I would see a point in swapping pins
immediately.)

The only gun with more positive ejection is the Mini14.
Mine throws empties 30 feet at 4:00 and the recoil
spring is not weak.

The rollers go too. It is a good idea to get spare rollers for when they start to deform, or to get the hardened rollers so you woun't have to worry about it.
I have read that once the rollers are deformed, that is all she wrote for the slide because it will no longer have tight tracks for the new rollers since the deformed ones will have ruined them. I have no experience with this, this is just what i have read.

Oh, yes. Another addict...

That's a fine finish on your new hand cannon! It's always fun taking a CZ-52 to the local range and have folks wander over to your stall wondering what is belching fire.

I'm always glad to see folks discover the CZ-52. It's one strange pistol - more like a handheld rifle due to the roller type lockup and screaming bullet velocities. To keep your beauty in tip top shape I'd highly recommend replacing the firing pin and rollers with versions made of hardened steel. The stock parts will deform with use and cause excessive wear. If you head to Makarov.com you'll find everything you're looking for. There is an online fluff/buff article somewhere that VASTLY improves the feel of the SA trigger. It feels like the proverbial glass rod breaking.

Another note - NEVER trust the decocker. Period. Point it downrange or at a mound of dirt should you choose to use it. You can test to see if yours works by unloading the pistol (check it twice!) and putting a pencil through the barrel eraser end first until it reaches the back of the chamber. (ONLY if you have a hardened firing pin!) Pull the hammer back, then watch the pencil as you push the decocker in. If that pencil twitches your decocker WILL fire off a round. This can be fixed if you don't mind taking your pistol apart.

Now for some eyecandy. This is my CZ-52 almost as blinged out as you can get. She's completely hard chromed and sporting a threaded barrel, hardened rollers, improved trigger, hardened firing pin, shaved mag lock, polished internals, external slide stop controls, and form fitted ghostwood grips by Sam Barbakov. The last item on my list will be ghost ring sights to replace the crappy stock ones.

Novus Collectus said:

The rollers go too. It is a good idea to get spare rollers for when they start to deform, or to get the hardened rollers so you woun't have to worry about it.
I have read that once the rollers are deformed, that is all she wrote for the slide because it will no longer have tight tracks for the new rollers since the deformed ones will have ruined them. I have no experience with this, this is just what i have read.

Click to expand...

If you go this route, just make sure you DON'T get the korean made rollers. they are soft steel and will wreck your barrel.

I've got a CZ52 on the way and from what I've read over and over again the best thing to do is to just go ahead and install the Harrington firing pin along with the trigger smoothing parts. It sounds like a broken pin is a near certainty especially with dry firing. The only snap-caps that I could find are four to six weeks out. Makarov.com says the Harrington pins are currently unavailable and they hope for an update by the end of the month.

I'm going to try and make some snap caps by pulling a spent primer and fitting in some rubber or pencil eraser if it's firm enough. Anyone ever try this?

Of course you can just pull the firing pin for dry firing. Luckily I'll have a spare until I get my Harrington pin.

BTW, do not depend on the de-cocker as it may well cause an AD.

I've wanted a CZ52 for years, and when the wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday....

Storm, search this board and TheFiringLine board for details on the eraser in the primer pocket for a substitute snap cap. It has been a number of years, but IIRC the consensus was that it is a good idea, but my memory may be wrong.

Thanks Novus, I found this article that offers several good ideas on the homemade snap caps: https://www.thefiringline.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-97273.html
The seller is throwing in some spent brass so that I have something to work with right away.

Arctic, you may find that in switching to the Harrington fring pins the de-cocker will be rendered inoperable. Either way, the de-cocker seems to be enough of an issue that I wouldn't depend upon it.

Arctic Assault, a bit of serious warning, never use your mags as a tool for anything on the gun. Sure it will work and I think they were designed as such, but it bends the floorplate making for a suprising and crappy result. The floorplates have a reputation of falling out while shooting spilling the contents of the mag because they are bent from using to dissasemble.
I was told this once by some posters and even a moderator here or at TFL and I did not believe it because I never had that problem with any of my four mags.....but then again the reason I never had that problem is because I never used the mag to dissasemble the gun and apparently neither did the previous Czech owners.

As far as the decocker, I have two CZs and one decocks safely while the other dimples the primer but without setting it off (it was just the empty brass case with a live primer I tested). It is enough to make me not trust the decocker because if it does that much now, then someday it will get bad enough for a discharge.

Snap caps: I use a .17 HMR casing (they are free at my local firing range)
to punch a plastic plug from a shotgun wad; that fills the primer pocket,
and can be trimmed even with the base of the casing.

Personally, if the manufacturer does not OK dry fire with a model
of gun, I simply do not dry fire.

-----------------------------------------------
ADDED:
When I use the decocker, I catch the hammer with my thumb and lower
it. With the trigger not prssed, the internal safety will lessen the chance
of an accidental discharge.

I acquired a CZ52 last year just and it has been one of the most surprising guns I've owned. I've shot two 2.25" three shot groups at 50 yards with it. Its so accurate and fun to shoot. The round it fires impresses me also. It is a unique and wonderful gun.

I have one of those.....



Here it is with a Hogue Handall on it......made ALOT of difference.

Here's a takedown guide http://theboxotruth.com/docs/edu25_2.htm
While i've never so much as handled one myself, even i know that you gotta watch out for that spring!

Congratulations on your purchase. You're going to love your 52 more as you continue to use it.

I can't wait to find one around here to buy. Make that two...