cz 52 modernized

[jacUSMC]

I use modernized loosely, as what I have done is replaced old parts with new and upgraded designs. With these additions I feel as confident with the cz 52 as a carry option as I would with say..a 1911. how is this you might ask? well let me tell you what i have done.
First thing was to replace the infamous firing pin, a company called Harrington Products makes new firing pins with return springs so no more break potential. They also make hardened rollers, so I bought both, basically drop in. then I found new factory barrels on sportsmans guide, moved my new rollers over, and dropped in. Got my hands on some cheap replacement grips, not so good, they broke. went back to the originals ( some day I'll put out the cash for the nice wood grips with checkering). Then I went grip tape mad on this baby, 3M tread tape to be exact.
Now mine has no issues with the decocker safety and was referbed in '76(VOZ76).
So it took about 200 rounds to be able to hit where I was aiming with the new barrel, adjusted grip and trigger placement just to make sure it was not me, with the old pitted barrel I could hold seriously could groups a 15yrds, but any farther was lacking reliable hits.
so far I only had one malfunction and that was in the first 3 or so rounds of the new barrel, nothing since.

 

[jacUSMC]

http://harringtonproducts.com/
this is where to get rollers and new firing pins, these people are awesome, very helpful and fast on the delivery.
http://www.czgrips.us/index.htm
This looks good too, grips for cz's in general.

 

[woad_yurt]

Watch out. Someone will soon be along to say something negative about CZ 52s; trust me.

I have a 2 tweaked ones, too, one hard-chromed (!) and they are serious pistols. If you make sure the pins are tight to spec, and get a real firing pin and some decent springs in there, you have a monster of a gun.

I think a lot of folks dump on them because most of 'em out there are loose and sloppy after 50 years of questionable care and so don't function reliably. Once you get 'em up to spec, though, they are great pistols. A CZ 52 is like a Chevy 350; add a few parts and you have a very affordable screamer.

Wolf hollowpoints feed like charm, too.

A tip:
If the grips aren't tight and completely immobile, this gun'll tend to wear out one's hand a bit. I took a tiny, little bit of silicone and let it set up in the groove inside the grip that's opposite the clip. When it was flully cured, I installed the grips. Now the things are tight, tight, tight, making for much more comfortable range blow-outs.

The pretty one:

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The only negative thing I'd say about the CZ-52 is that the round might be a bit TOO powerful for a self-defense weapon, as it could go places you really don't want it to go.

Great shot of the hard-chromed CZ-52, above. That is a handsome gun.


.

 

[Snowdog]

I'm glad you like it.

I gave mine up after I finally admitted that I'd never warm up to the funky grip. I found the front to rear grip length excessive and the angle odd. I even placed on a Hogue Hand-all that made very little difference. Other than that, I thought it was a swell pistol and loved the cartridge it fired.

When I decided to let it go, I found I needed something chambered in 7.62x25 for the ammunition I had on hand at the time (a little over 1k rounds). I bought a Yugo 57 and then a second (along with a few thousand rounds of Yugo and Polish surplus ammunition) when I found it had comparatively decent ergonomics for me.

The CZ-52 is a fine pistol and if it fits you, that's great.

A few good pistols:


BTW, I actually like the looks of chromed pistols and feel military surplus offers some good candidates, unless they're rare and hold collector's value... which none of my milsurp pistols do.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Ah, she's purty for a brick

 

[jacUSMC]

I've been wanting to try out the yugo 57, or one of the "browning" looking variants, I have not seen many around where I am, and the one I found was stolen right out of the display case at the pawn shop it was in.
I like that chrome, looks nice, I've been considering a coating of some kind on mine but not this month.
on the over-penetration worry, the round, as all, have that potential, especially if you miss. I for one believe in analyzing your regular haunts to establish fields of fire based on surroundings and typical movements of the populace around you. Life is unpredictable, so whether your out for breakfast or at home watching late night tv you should be prepared to utilize your defenses.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Maybe the stories I've read about that round are over-blown, but I got the impression that over-penetration would be a problem even if you HIT your target. In the home, I got the impression it would likely go through the miscreant, the wall, and into a nearby framed home pretty readily.

That said, I've not really seen any penetration studies for the round -- so it may be more HYPE than fact. Having shot one at an indoor range, I understand that the noise (and flame) alone may be a deterrent. <grin>

Your comments about being prepared are correct, but as one old poet said, "The best laid schemes of mice and men Go oft awry."

 

[woad_yurt]

While the 7.62 FMJ goes through just about anything, Wolf hollowpoints seem to do just fine. I shot some FMJ into wet newspapers and they flew through but the hollowpoints didn't. They just made a big, pulpy, messy cavity. They aren't in stock all the time but when they are I order up a couple of boxes.

I don't understand why many people say that 7.62X25 is too crazy for self-defense while .357 is often considered OK or even preferred for the same purpose. The Wolf hollowpoints are loaded to a bit less velocity than are the surplus FMJ and seem to be a viable defense choice.

 

[Snowdog]

Just a suggestion, the 7.62x25 really shines with JSP. Jacketed soft point projectiles aren't often considered with typical handgun ammunition due to velocities needed for JSPs to expand. However, if there's one thing the 7.62x25 had an abundance of, it's velocity. Sierra JSPs expand readily from my M57.

Below is an 86gr Sierra Sports Master JSP that exhibited picture-perfect expansion:

 

[vellocet]

I have two cz-52,s and they are fun to shoot, loud and strange. For a carry gun they are too big, too LOUD and the round, despite Snowdog's imput, poorly suited for most self-defence. Try putting a band of english racer inner tude around the grips: it improves them alot, especially with sweaty hands. Conversation between police and ccw who just used his cz-52 for self-defence: Police; Why did you have to shoot him? Ccw; Huh? Police; Uh, whats your name? Ccw; Eh?

 

[psyshack]

My 52 is setting here with me right now.

 

[Oldnoob]

Not so much of modernizing, but here is mine.

 

[jacUSMC]

those are some nice wood grips..as for carry, mine is on my side now, a little lighter than a 1911, IWB carry.
I like that expansion of JSP, because I am gathering info on reloading this round also.
and since I commented on the penetration topic, I keep coming on information on these steel jacketed surplus and wolf ammo that even in 9mm will penetrate level 3 body armor. not to mention bodies and walls.
and finally, "no well laid plan survives initial contact" murphy's laws of combat.

 

[Nushif]

I kinda like the way the tape looks on the first one. Very sci-fi sleek.
As for people dumping on them ... Fugedaboudit. For a little bit I carried a Norinco 213 in its proper way (hammer at half cock) and even the local gunsmith didn't think at all that I was underarmed or unsafe.
Surplus pistols are great guns, no doubt about it.

 

[GBExpat]

Just a suggestion, the 7.62x25 really shines with JSP. Jacketed soft point projectiles aren't often considered with typical handgun ammunition due to velocities needed for JSPs to expand. However, if there's one thing the 7.62x25 had an abundance of, it's velocity. Sierra JSPs expand readily from my M57.

Below is an 86gr Sierra Sports Master JSP that exhibited picture-perfect expansion: ...

For awhile I have been replacing the bullets on commercial S&B rounds (N/C primers) with the Sierras for use in SD applications, but I have never retrieved/saved/photo-documented any of the expended/expanded bullets.

Very nice pic, Thanks!