CZ 52 A good truck gun?

[Cpt. America]

I have shot several different pistols chambered in the 7.62x25. But overall I have fallen in love with the CZ 52. I would like to have something more powerful than my 9mm but a little smaller than my .357 mag for a sidearm for hunting and anything else I find use for it. Would this be a wise purchuse or should I say who cares and buy it for $Hits and Gigles?

 

[woad_yurt]

It's a great truck gun, one of the reasons being that it'll shoot through the cab of a truck. Just replace the brittle cast firing pin with a machined steel one or a Harrington kit. I love mine.

For pure SD, there are the Wolf hollowpoints.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Plus it's the most beautiful autoloader in existance.

Or at least I think so.

 

[Texastbird]

Also, you can still get surplus ammo pretty cheap.

 

[Funderb]

don't even need to replace the firing pin. (unless you dryfire a lot.) (or at all)
I use it as a car gun, its great. wolf hollow points work well.
at 180 bucks...
Why the heck not?

 

[woad_yurt]

FunderB:
I have 2 CZ 52s and both of the firing pins broke at the range while I was shooting them. I was religious about not dry firing them beforhand. One of the pins broke in front and the other's back end separated from the remaining front 2/3 of it. A truck gun may have to be used for a serious purpose someday and machined pin cost less than $20. Skimping on that $20 is definitely pound foolish when talking about a "work" gun.

 

[Funderb]

really? man, don't make any bets any time soon!
Having a spare is a must that i just haven't yet, but I understand. I'd like a machined firing pin, but haven't gotten around to it.

I suppose its good that in the last 3 months i have traveled about 350 miles, and 270 of them were on a bicycle. If someone tries to rob me I won't have to worry about my CZ, I'll just hit them with the bike. (har har)

Oh by the way, what's the quality of the CZ 82 firing pin? are they machined, or crappy too?

 

[LoneCoon]

I'd say go for it, as the gun will happily shoot through your cab. Definitely replace the firing pin though, it'll make you much happier. You can also replace the hold open latch with an actual slide release, if you want

 

[grimjaw]

I think they're useful as truck guns. But only when I've got a stuck nut around some bolt, and I need to hammer the wrench to get it started.

But a real hammer is better for that, even.

Honestly, I had no use for the things when they were about $100, and even less use for them at they $200+ you see them going for nowadays.

jm

 

[d2wing]

I traded mine because I didn't want to put more money into it. It was cheaper to trade it than to fix everything. Even with a new hammer spring it did not want to fire surplus ammo. Like many older guns it's pot luck. You might get a great shooter that you like. I wasn't crazy about the looks or the grips. It wasn't comfortable to shoot either. The barrel was pitted from the corrosive ammo too. If you are lucky you may get one that shoots great and cheap ammo that works in it. It is a great round for penetration. If you don't mind having to replace parts ( firing pin, springs and maybe barrel) to get it too shoot reliably, don't mind the noise, recoil and have long fingers, and can find ammo, go for it. Since I have a nice .357 I decided a troublesome weapon can go. Luckily the seller gave me my money back toward a new S&W Sigma. That suites me better. Much more comfortable, lifetime warranty, always goes bang, no issues and only $130 more. Oh and it's stainless and plastic. No rust or corrosion problems.
But it's your money and I had to buy one at least once myself.

 

[woad_yurt]

High tech hammer mods....

The new hammer spring won't help with surplus primers. But, a tiny 5 cent washer used as a spacer under the hammer spring will.

The gun below cost about $280 total, shipping and background check included. That's with a new recoil spring and a harrington trigger & hammer kit. The heavier recoil spring made it very pleasant for the hand. I have a parkerized one with the same mods and that one cost $80 less. They both scream. And yeah, it is my money and I think I did good.

 

[d2wing]

As a combat vet, I really, really hate it when you pull the trigger and there's no bang. I'm not big on second chances with guns.
If you can't count on it, it doesn't count.

 

[Funderb]

Well, good thing mine has gone bang every time i pulled the trigger on a loaded chamber.
you two should meet, you'd like eachother.

 

[Cpt. America]

Well ya'll talked me into it (not that I needed to much prodding). I think I'll buy one next chance I get.

 

[Snowdog]

I think the CZ-52 would make a swell tackle box or trail pistol, but I prefer the 9x18 for the car. Nothing against the 7.62x25, but I dread the idea of having to fire that from inside the car at a carjacker or whatnot being a loud and high-pressure cartridge.
Not saying the 9x18 won't damage one's hearing, but I'm nearly confident it's easier on the ears. For me, I'll choose my CZ-82 for that role over my CZ-52 anytime.

 

[speedsix]

I am a big fan of the CZ-52. It will penetrat like a house on fire. Would I carry one for serious use? NO WAY.

They are simply not reliable enough. I have had three and all had problems. Some had mag problems, some had slide stop issues that made it a single shot, some had decocker issues, etc.

These guns are great to own and fun as hell but not as self defense guns. If you want a cheap truck gun, go get a cheap 9mm and use FMJs.

You could find a used Ruger P-series for less than $300 and it will be as reliable as a rock. I suggest the P-95 DC with SS slide but they are all solid. I had a P-89 that was a sweet shooter.

 

[woad_yurt]

speedsix:
They had 50+ years of who-knows-what kind of care. Also, some of the "re-arsenel" jobs were crap. Something was wrong with the ones you had. The pins have to be right, the mags lips have to be bent correctly, etc. When they're up to spec, they work very well. Once everything is right, they scream. Really wild guns.

It's hard to hide from a CZ 52.

Note: The Wolf hollowpoints make brutal holes.

 

[searcher451]

One thing you could say that it has going for it: If the truck it was carried in ever was in a serious crash and parts and pieces were scattered hither and yon across the roadway, you can just about bet that not much damage would be inflicted on the CZ ... if any.

 

[rick2497]

I've carried a 44mag, a 357 mag, a 9mm, a .40 and a cz52 in 7.62x25. My favorite? The cz. I like the looks, albeit a bit odd, the grip fits my hand well as my hand is quite large, the round screams, it is an accurate pistol, more so then my Glock or M&P 9mm, it has never failed to feed or fire. My son has one also and it is his favorite for all the above reasons. After thousands of rounds through them, they still fire without a problem. I carry with one in the chamber with safety off and hammer down. The only recomendation I have is to replace the original firing pin. Mine never broke but it does happen.

 

[Poor East Texan]

I carry a 1911 cocked and locked in my truck.

I have a Makarov too, and with a Makawrap grip it's a sweet shooter.

My only CZ is a 452 Bolt .22 and it is SWEET!!!

 

[Fat Boy]

I think the CZ52 gets a lot of bad press- I would recommend it with the caveat that you replace the firing pin. The Harrington kits are great in my opinion for preventing what might go wrong with that gun. YMMV

 

[crzbiker]

When I first purchased the gun (from SOG) I bought a spare firing pin since everyone told me..."it will break". So far, +/- 2000 rounds, it still has the original pin. My 52 fires everything but Romanian surplus which hopelessly jams it every time. With other old commie ammo(Czech on clips, Polish, Bulgarian and Yugo) I have had no problems. New ammo is readily available if you don't trust the old stuff. At the range your gun will have the loudest bang, the most smoke and brightest flash (particularly at dusk). You should see the range guys duck when it goes off.