I've been wanting to try one for a long time and the bug is getting worse. I cant seem to stop thinking about this gun. Who has one and what are your thoughts about it? I also heard that the firing pins don last long. CZ 52 owners chime in please.
CZ 52 Who has one?
- Thread starter throw1out
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MikeJackmin
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- Joined
- Feb 24, 2005
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- 1,604
I have one (original grey finish) that works fine, no complaints at all about function. If you want one, get one, they are not going to be any cheaper later.
So long as you don't dry-fire it I think the firing pin will hold up just fine.
My only complaint is that it does not fit my hands well. I've learned that flat guns are hard for me to grip, which is a shame, because skinny guns are so much easier to carry. I tried a slip-on sleeve but it just never felt right.
So long as you don't dry-fire it I think the firing pin will hold up just fine.
My only complaint is that it does not fit my hands well. I've learned that flat guns are hard for me to grip, which is a shame, because skinny guns are so much easier to carry. I tried a slip-on sleeve but it just never felt right.
wally
Member
I've got one, it shoots well and is reliable, but I prefer shooting my Tokarov TTC as its 1911-style take down is much easer to do after shooting the (what used to be) cheap corrosive ammo. The TTC grip also fits me better (especially after adding an Hogue sleeve I cut to length), as was said above, the CZ-52 grip is long and thin, quite hard to hang on to for some hands.
Beware of the CZ52 decocker, there are lots of reports of being broken and firing when decocked with a round in the chamber.
Beware of the CZ52 decocker, there are lots of reports of being broken and firing when decocked with a round in the chamber.
Geneseo1911
Member
I have one. I'll admit, I bought it as much to look at as to shoot. What a cool gun. Unique inside & out: styling and function. Snappy little sucker with that 7.62 round. I don't shoot it much due to the corrosive ammo and the fact that I just don't shoot it that well, but it is so pretty I'll probably always keep it around.
Somebody had a quote in another thread the other day that I thought was pretty good:"If the TT-30 came in art-deco, I"d have one"
Somebody had a quote in another thread the other day that I thought was pretty good:"If the TT-30 came in art-deco, I"d have one"
M2 Carbine
member
I have two and 9mm barrel extra.
Decent guns for the price.
Be sure to give them a bath in soapy water after shooting corrosive ammo. I have one badly rusted barrel.
Also do not trust the hammer drop safety. Last year the gun blew a hole in my shop wall when I moved the thumb safety to safe and the gun fire.
Since then I've found this is a common problem with the CZ52.
Decent guns for the price.
Be sure to give them a bath in soapy water after shooting corrosive ammo. I have one badly rusted barrel.
Also do not trust the hammer drop safety. Last year the gun blew a hole in my shop wall when I moved the thumb safety to safe and the gun fire.
Since then I've found this is a common problem with the CZ52.
I've got one of the grey ones, had a blued one but sold it.
Decent guns but not real great ergos as mentioned.
I've had trouble with the slide stop pin and trigger pin walking out on them. They used to make a bolt and nut upgrade for the sdlide-stop pin but I don't know if this is still available. Had this on the blued one and also installed a slide-stop lever with a release button. Stock there is no way to release the slide without pulling it back.
The firing-pins are also notorious for being brittle and breaking, so definitely don't try dry-firing one without a snap-cap. Personally I've never had a problem with mine but if you plan on doing a lot of shooting you may want to invest in a spare or upgrade to one of the aftermarket pins.
As mentioned don't trust the decocker. You can try the pencil trick to check them but I still don't trust it.
They're a really cool and unique looking pistol that's quite collectable but if you're looking for a shooter I wouldn't recommend them.
Decent guns but not real great ergos as mentioned.
I've had trouble with the slide stop pin and trigger pin walking out on them. They used to make a bolt and nut upgrade for the sdlide-stop pin but I don't know if this is still available. Had this on the blued one and also installed a slide-stop lever with a release button. Stock there is no way to release the slide without pulling it back.
The firing-pins are also notorious for being brittle and breaking, so definitely don't try dry-firing one without a snap-cap. Personally I've never had a problem with mine but if you plan on doing a lot of shooting you may want to invest in a spare or upgrade to one of the aftermarket pins.
As mentioned don't trust the decocker. You can try the pencil trick to check them but I still don't trust it.
They're a really cool and unique looking pistol that's quite collectable but if you're looking for a shooter I wouldn't recommend them.
hatchetbearer
Member
I've got one, and it has sat in the safe for the last 7 years. It's a well made gun, but I don't really have a use for it. Snappy Recoil, and it sounds like a mountain howitzer going off. now that all of the cheap ammo is gone, It may be time to part with it and the 1200 rounds of polish surplus i have.
RON in PA
Member
For the caliber the Tokarov is far superior, more comfortable to shoot. The CZ-52s in my experience are a pain to take down and tend to have pins work their way out of the gun.
Kinda interesting piece with lockup similar to MG38/42, G3. These were expensive to make so there will be no more other then what is already out there. I turned one down for $120 the going rate now is about $300 if in excellent original condition. Handgun is just tool to me like hammer or pliers so these do nothing for me.
SWAT1911
Member
I was thinking you meant the rifle.
Geneseo1911
Member
About the firing pins- Somebody made (and maybe is still making; I'm not sure) firing pins turned out of bar stock, which my gun happened to have already when I bought it. Included in the sale was the original, broken pin. So yes, they break.
mgmorden
Member
I've got one. My firing pin is original though I bought an aftermarket replacement just in case it ever breaks.
Its a good gun. Never had any trouble out of it and its relatively accurate. A bit quirky though as it lacks a slide stop lever/release and the magazine release is of the heel variety. The safety is also "backwards" compared to the 1911 and the decocker can sometimes set off a round if the parts are worn enough.
I bought mine when they were going for $99 and they were a steal at that price. At the prices they're going for now I honestly wouldn't purchase it again.
Its a good gun. Never had any trouble out of it and its relatively accurate. A bit quirky though as it lacks a slide stop lever/release and the magazine release is of the heel variety. The safety is also "backwards" compared to the 1911 and the decocker can sometimes set off a round if the parts are worn enough.
I bought mine when they were going for $99 and they were a steal at that price. At the prices they're going for now I honestly wouldn't purchase it again.
dogrunner
Member
I bought one from Dealer's Whs back when the things were going for about a hundred bucks. One they sent was an apparently unused mint version with a pristine bore, bearing it's original gray finish.
Grips are a bit awkward if one has smallish hands, one gripe I've had is with the safety/decocker........tends to recoil into my thumb with my normal hold.
Piece is very accurate, easily as reliable as any other service auto I have ever handled. Stay away from certain brands of surplus ammo, if I recall correctly some of the Bulgarian stuff was alleged to be way overpressure...
Far as takedown goes, frankly I think its one of the quickest I've seen once you get the hang of it. Just pull the latch down in front of the trigger guard, use either a screwdriver or a magazine base to retract the bbl back and upward and you have field stripped it.
Ammo, mine eats anything it's fed.........some of the surplus stuff ejects into orbit tho....not that it matters as it's berdan primed anyway. I reload for mine, using both cast 100 gr. wheelweight based bullets or Hornady's XTP's in the 90 gr. version.....as stated, the only problem with reloading is brass recovery.
Haven't seen one on a dealers shelf in several years hereabouts and likely if you can turn one for a decent price it's worth holding onto.
Grips are a bit awkward if one has smallish hands, one gripe I've had is with the safety/decocker........tends to recoil into my thumb with my normal hold.
Piece is very accurate, easily as reliable as any other service auto I have ever handled. Stay away from certain brands of surplus ammo, if I recall correctly some of the Bulgarian stuff was alleged to be way overpressure...
Far as takedown goes, frankly I think its one of the quickest I've seen once you get the hang of it. Just pull the latch down in front of the trigger guard, use either a screwdriver or a magazine base to retract the bbl back and upward and you have field stripped it.
Ammo, mine eats anything it's fed.........some of the surplus stuff ejects into orbit tho....not that it matters as it's berdan primed anyway. I reload for mine, using both cast 100 gr. wheelweight based bullets or Hornady's XTP's in the 90 gr. version.....as stated, the only problem with reloading is brass recovery.
Haven't seen one on a dealers shelf in several years hereabouts and likely if you can turn one for a decent price it's worth holding onto.
I have one in the original gray finish. It works well and looks good too. I have big hands so the grips are fine for me. The only problem is the ammo is getting expensive. Even to reload it won't be cheap like the milsurp stuff.
That said I only bought mine because of who owned it before me as a remembrance of a great guy. My Romanian TT-33 will get used more often.
-Spike
That said I only bought mine because of who owned it before me as a remembrance of a great guy. My Romanian TT-33 will get used more often.
-Spike
bigfatdave
Member
I got a beat-up but functional one off of a fellow forum member a while back.
Nice gun, ammo seems to be drying up, factory mags are rare and aftermarket mags are junk
It shoots accurately, and I like having a loud obnoxious gun sometimes
I replaced the FP and rollers with harrington parts
http://harringtonproducts.com/
I used the "CZ-52-2 Competition Firing Pin and Trigger Enhancement"
The decocker wasn't safe before, adding the comp. FP made the decocker entirely unsafe - one of these days I'll have to disable the feature entirely, somehow.
If I ever find myself in need of a Tokarev-chambered handgun for some reason, I even have a Kydex holster for the CZvz52, made by a local custom guy that seems to be out of business - it goes IWB or OWB with a nifty moveable loop setup, and has a built-in channel to keep the safety lever set to "more safe".
I have a holster coming for a yugo M57 as well, I just like having a useful holster for any gun that could be carried, even if they're not in the normal carry set.
But I seriously hope I never need a gun chambered in Tokarev.
Nice gun, ammo seems to be drying up, factory mags are rare and aftermarket mags are junk
It shoots accurately, and I like having a loud obnoxious gun sometimes
I replaced the FP and rollers with harrington parts
http://harringtonproducts.com/
I used the "CZ-52-2 Competition Firing Pin and Trigger Enhancement"
The decocker wasn't safe before, adding the comp. FP made the decocker entirely unsafe - one of these days I'll have to disable the feature entirely, somehow.
If I ever find myself in need of a Tokarev-chambered handgun for some reason, I even have a Kydex holster for the CZvz52, made by a local custom guy that seems to be out of business - it goes IWB or OWB with a nifty moveable loop setup, and has a built-in channel to keep the safety lever set to "more safe".
I have a holster coming for a yugo M57 as well, I just like having a useful holster for any gun that could be carried, even if they're not in the normal carry set.
But I seriously hope I never need a gun chambered in Tokarev.
fatcat4620
Member
I have one, first handgun I every owned. It's fun to shoot but was more fun when ammo was so cheap.
cougar1717
Member
Neo-50's styling. Bakalite grips. European mag release. Smooth slide release. Clunky ergonomics. Microscopic sights. Weak firing pin. Interesting camming action. Flinch-o-matic (IMHO). It used to be the best gun you could get for around $100. Now, it just makes more sense to put $250 - $300 toward a modern gun.
barnbwt
member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2011
- Messages
- 7,340
Nah, man, it was 50's styling
. It has probably the most unnecessarily beautiful lines (seriously, I don't think any of that machining was necessary) of any service auto up to that point (and since, too, probably). Yes, I'm saying it's prettier than a 1911, because those look mean not "elegant"Elegant was definitely not how those things operated, though:
-Parts breakage issues due to poor cast tempering (firing pin, rollers)
-unreliability of critical components (decocker/safety unit)
-"tool" (I use that term loosely) needed for full field strip (not normally necessary, though)
-Poor ergonomics (long, skinny, square grip profile), and a trigger notorious for slapping your finger silly
-Funky (but awesome) chambering that never gets any cred due to lack of non-FMJ
-The tiniest sights ever concieved
-Weird ergonomics (not necessarily bad, though) of the safety/decock lever, lack of slide release, heel magazine release
-Ugly (to some) grip material (which has held up for 60 years, despite being plastic)
Fortunately, American ingenuity has triumphed over most of these issues where the Soviet Bloc failed:
-Harrington and others make machined replacements for the firing pins
-New old stock decockers are still to be found (going fast, though), and can be disabled on the gun easily for the surest fix
-A couple people make replacement grips/sleeve to fatten up the grip profile and make the gun even more classy. I'm still waiting on some talented soul to add some weldment to the frame sides and fabricate a doublestack mag
-Wolf and PPU make soft/hollow point ammo for tok now, and Hornady make bullets as well (I think). All have been shown to be extremely reliable expanders because of the high velocity. 9mm drop-in conversion barrels are available in (extremely) short supply for the price of the gun.
-Novak will machine the rear sight dovetail and install one of their fabulous sights. I was able to file down the front sight, drill a hole (carbide bits, people), and install a peened-on tenon sight (1911-style) with minimal fuss (if you have carbide bits).
-After-market slide releases and extended mag floorplates are available to remedy euro-style ergos to American sensitivities. I believe Sturmgewer has also gotten a push-button mag release to work with slightly modified mags, as well.
There's a lot going against the CZ52, but a whole lot of potential as well. I'll always have a soft spot for them, being my first project gun. You won't regret buying one if you like shooting magnums
TCB
Fastcast
Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2008
- Messages
- 874
Someone say pics?
Mine appeared unissued when I purchased it....I still went ahead and replaced the recoil spring with a Wolff spring and switched out the firing pin for a machined one.
A simple Hogue grip feels great....S&B ammo is ridiculously accurate from end zone to end zone out of my 52....It's unusual, was made in low numbers and shoots a nasty round.
I didn't buy mine for CC or home protection, I bought it simply because it was intriguing. With that said it's not going anywhere as I believe I'll save it for a possible zombie apocalypse.
Mine appeared unissued when I purchased it....I still went ahead and replaced the recoil spring with a Wolff spring and switched out the firing pin for a machined one.
A simple Hogue grip feels great....S&B ammo is ridiculously accurate from end zone to end zone out of my 52....It's unusual, was made in low numbers and shoots a nasty round.
I didn't buy mine for CC or home protection, I bought it simply because it was intriguing. With that said it's not going anywhere as I believe I'll save it for a possible zombie apocalypse.
GBExpat
Member
Funny, but I decided to purchase my first CZ52 over the Polish TT-33s being offered because of appearance ... I thought that the TT-33s were unattractive.
I found the CZ52s (I have 3) to be accurate & fun to shoot but heavy, clunky and uncomfortable.
TTs, on the other hand (I current have 3 Soviet TT-33s and 8 other Variants) are accurate & fun to shoot ... and comfortable & light & concealable ... and, now, to my eye, quite attractive.
I found the CZ52s (I have 3) to be accurate & fun to shoot but heavy, clunky and uncomfortable.
TTs, on the other hand (I current have 3 Soviet TT-33s and 8 other Variants) are accurate & fun to shoot ... and comfortable & light & concealable ... and, now, to my eye, quite attractive.
LiveLife
Member
I had a CZ-52 with the grey finish ... nice shooter and now wish I had kept it as I reload .223.
Why?
Because you can convert .223 brass to 7.62x25 brass to reload them - http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=42003.0
How to video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhG08yQGD38
Also - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=609366
And for those that complain about snappy recoil, you can simply reload milder recoil reloads.
Enjoy your CZ-52!
Why?
Because you can convert .223 brass to 7.62x25 brass to reload them - http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=42003.0
How to video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhG08yQGD38
Also - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=609366
And for those that complain about snappy recoil, you can simply reload milder recoil reloads.
Enjoy your CZ-52!
aarondhgraham
Member
Here is a company that sells the pistol and spare parts.
http://www.czechpoint-usa.com/products/vz-52/
$285 or $305 depending on which one you order.
Aarond
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http://www.czechpoint-usa.com/products/vz-52/
$285 or $305 depending on which one you order.
Aarond
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