New Toy: CZ83

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MachIVshooter

MachIVshooter

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Ever since I sold off my Inox 84FS, I've been wanting to pick up another large-ish .380 for range use and playing with heavy loads. I didn't want another alloy frame, though, so as nice as the Beretta was, it was not in the running this time. The Sig 232 is a good gun, but spendy, and low capacity. Can't stand the Walther PPK, and haven't been terribly impressed with the Bersas I've handled. The options are pretty slim by now, but luckily, CZ was up to the challenge with the model 83. All steel, SA/DA, 12+1 capacity. It pretty much fit the bill perfectly. But then I had to locate one........they've been somewhat scarce. Well, I finally did get it, and I'm not at all disappointed!

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Haven't got to the range with it yet, but my initial impressions are almost all positive. Good weight, excellent ergos, decent trigger, overall good looking gun, simple to break down. Sights are simple but usable, safety is stiff but easy to manipulate. My only gripe is the mag release; It's difficult to access without turning the gun quite a bit in your hand, and is very stiff/gritty. I may take it apart and polish the surfaces, and I'll also be looking to see if there are any aftermarket options to make it more user friendly.

Overall I'm quite happy, and if mine shoots anything like pretty much every CZ83 I've ever read a review on, I doubt my opinion will change. $400 well spent, IMO :)
 
Seems most have the same problem with the mag release. I have to shift my grip or use my trigger finger on the right side. Nice pickup.
 
Congrats. I love shooting mine, as do my 3 kids and wife....I'll have to accumulate more of them :)
 
A double stack 380 for range fun is next on my list to buy. Right now I think I have it narrowed down to a CZ83 and a Sig P250.

Keep us posted
 
Love my 83. One caution: the grips are rather thin plastic and the grip screws tend to loosen up. Don't overtighten the screws or the grips will crack! :banghead: Anyway I now have two sets, a camo set I had made on the gun and a new spare factory black set. :eek:
 
Also the ejection on mine will defend your right flank :) only my 10mm pistols are worse for finding the empties to reload.

The grips are also a plastic that won't stand up to brake parts cleaner.
 
CZ-USA should still have round trigger guards in stock, if you want one. My CZ83 is 32acp. A 15+1 high cap in 32 is just silly fun.
 
Nice gun. The 82 and 83 are top-notch. It's hard to beat a gun that was originally designed for the military in terms of quality. I prefer 9x18 as it's a slightly more effective round, but it doesn't really matter.

If you want some nice wood grips, check out http://www.marschalgrips.com. He's not fast (around 6 weeks), but his work is beautiful.
 
The grips are also a plastic that won't stand up to brake parts cleaner.
Click to expand...

Yeah, learned that one some time ago. lol

The polymer in my Beretta Cx4 Storm did not get along with powder blast, either. It had some permanent finger prints after that first cleaning...........
 
playing with heavy loads.
Click to expand...

If by "heavy loads" you mean more powerful loads, keep in mind the CZ 83 is a blow back design. I learned from experience that this gun doesn't take hot loads well.

Another potential problem with the CZ83 is the trigger gaurd pivot pin falling out with the grips off and the trigger gaurd pulled down. If that pin falls out it lets a spring fall out of place and it is very hard to get the spring back in place. The pin isn't a problem if you put the trigger gaurd back up after removing the slide or keep the grips on.
 
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I had a CZ 83 that was a blast to shoot. Sold it to finance another purchase after I got my CCW and needed something a little lighter for carry. I actually tried to carry the CZ for a couple of weeks but the darn thing was just too heavy. Plus I wasn't too excited about the .380 as a defensive round. But for the range it was an absolute tack-driver and one of the guns I have most enjoyed shooting.
 
candr44 said:
If by "heavy loads" you mean more powerful loads, keep in mind the CZ 83 is a blow back design. I learned from experience that this gun doesn't take hot loads well.

Another potential problem with the CZ83 is the trigger gaurd pivot pin falling out with the grips off and the trigger gaurd pulled down. If that pin falls out it lets a spring fall out of place and it is very hard to get the spring back in place. The pin isn't a problem if you put the trigger gaurd back up after removing the slide or keep the grips on.
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Huh? The cz-82 was originally designed to take a much hotter round than the typical 9x18 round. Just look at how the darn thing is built compared to the other 9x18 pistols. I'd suspect the '83 can take any 380 load you can throw at it.
 
Huh? The cz-82 was originally designed to take a much hotter round than the typical 9x18 round. Just look at how the darn thing is built compared to the other 9x18 pistols. I'd suspect the '83 can take any 380 load you can throw at it.
Click to expand...

A blow back design can not take as powerful loads as a locked breach. I use to use Spanish surplus .380 which was loaded hot and intended for a locked breach Star model S.

I could see a big difference in the recoil between it and commercial ammo even with a new recoil spring and its the only ammo that would cause trigger reset failures in my 83. I won't use hot loads in my 83 any more and restrict the Spanish .380 to my locked breach pistols.

As for your gun you can use what ever you like. Why don't you try several magazines of Spanish Santa Barbara surplus in your CZ83 and let us know if it works for you.
 
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