CZ-82 or PA-63???

[electric wombat]

I'm trying to make a decesion on which gun I should get. The cz-82 I would call in fair condition (some of the bluing has flaked off), comes with 2 - 12rd mags, holster & cleaning rod and has the polygonal rifled barrel for $216. The pa-63 in good condition & only come with 1 mag for $130. The rifle bore is in excellent condition on both. I want to buy one to bring camping & hiking with me so being brought into the woods the gun would probably get roughed up a bit anyway. give all that.... Which one would ya'll go for?

 

[woad_yurt]

CZ 82 from Centerfire Systems = $159!

 

[FEG]

I have owned both a PA-63 and CZ-83 in 9x18mm (civilian export version of vz-82). It really depends on what you want to do with the pistol. The PA-63 is a slightly better choice as a truck gun or beater, because the alloy frame is nearly indestructible and quite light. For CCW or target shooting, the CZ is clearly the superior weapon in almost every other regard. The CZ is accurate in an absolute sense; the FEG is accurate for a light pistol in this chambering (assuming you respring it and shoot 95 gr. loads). I also question the long-term durability of the FEG.

 

[Moonclip]

I'd go CZ. I've owned the PA63 and I own a CZ83. CZ is much nicer quality. It is bigger though if thats a concern.

 

[jwxspoon]

CZ for sure. I own them both; the PA63 is a nice little gun, but doesn't come close to the CZ82 in features or quality.

jw

 

[alamo]

I don't think there's any question the CZ is the superior pistol. The PA-63 beats it in weight if that is the deciding factor.

 

[PTK]

I own an example of both - and only shoot the CZ. The PA-63 isn't really a great pistol, though it works well enough.

 

[North Bender]

I don't think I'd call the PA-63 "indestructable", as the alloy frame is known to be weak and for that reason the pistol is limited to milspec cartridges. Don't shoot the heavy stuff.

I vote for the CZ 82. I like all-steel. Just resign yourself to never taking it completely apart - that's a gunsmith's nightmare.

 

[electric wombat]

So I went with the VZ 82. Picked it up on my way home from work. Went to the range right after & put about 75 rounds through it. I'm really pleased with it. Accuracy is good, Shot tight groupings at 10, 20 & 30 feet. The groupings weren't quite as tight at 40 & 50 feet but still pretty good. Either way I hit the target. Only drawback was that the bevertail cut into the web of my hand a little. But for what I bought it for, protection when I'm camping in the middle of nowhere, it's perfect.

 

[GLOOB]

I only have limited experience with the PA-63, and not the CZ-82.

IMO, you might want to consider a FEG is if you want an inexpensive gun that you might enjoy putting a little work into. I would consider a set of replacement springs and some filing down of sharp edges to be the minimum you'll want to do to it. The Wolff hammer springs make a world of difference.

After a good bit of work, I'm completely happy with it. I am particularly keen on how it carries in a holster - partly due to it's overall light weight, and partly due to it's relatively long and thin slide vs. light aluminum handle. And for this class of pistol, that aspect might be worth giving some extra consideration.

 

[mrming]

If the recoil seems a touch out of hand, get a replacement recoil spring. Mine didn't bite but would sort of numb my hand after two mags full.


Replaced the spring, and I can't keep ammo on hand for it any more. Its an absolute joy to shoot now.. just wish I could get my hands on a cz-83 in 380.

 

[Snowdog]

IMHO, you made the right choice, EW.

The PA-63 seems to be a decent option if you absolutely must stay within a $120 budget, but it wouldn't fare well if pitted against the attributes of the CZ-82. It really is an unfair comparison, much like comparing the performance of... say an '88 Saab 9000 against an '88 Ford Tempo; both certainly have their niche but likely wouldn't be compared side-by-side for any other purpose outside personal amusement.

 

[GLOOB]

I don't doubt the quality of the CZ-82/83, but I don't see the allure of a snubby-nosed pistol with a large and heavy high-cap handle. Those Czechs have some odd ideas of what a handgun oughtta be. Oh, wait, did someone say $159?

 

[offthepaper]

I love my CZ82. Bought it from AIM for $209, looks unfired.

 

[Cliff47]

I own both a CZ83 and a FEG AP-9 (the .380 version of the PA-63), and the DA trigger pull on the CZ is far superior to the SA pull on the FEG. At least on the ones that I own. for my money, it's the CZ every time.

 

[Keeterbird]

I have 3 Cz82s. Love all of them. One came almost new in the box. It shoots well. One from a gun store, about 80-85%; It shoots well. One comes from a show, that looks rough. The finish is worn around the grip, the grips looked like they were treated with some caustic stuff. It is ROUGH. It shoots best of all. The most I paid was $199. They are great guns. I shoot one each week. They actually make me feel like a performance shooter. That is a task

 

[electric wombat]

If the recoil seems a touch out of hand, get a replacement recoil spring.

The recoil isn't bad at all, really light actually. There was a tiny sharp point where the safety wraps around the bever tail that was poking the web of my hand. I noticed it afew days ago. A quick filing down fixed that problem.

Mine is about 85% or so cosmetically but it functions perfectly. I can hit the bullseye everytime.... well almost everytime.

 

[PAPACHUCK]

Great choice. The CZ82 is a wonderful handgun, so much so that I bought two.

 

[FEG]

When the PA-63 was $89 (1999-2002), and the CZ was only available infrequently in the CZ-83 version for $300, it would be a real contest. A vz-82 for $150-$200 makes it a lot easier.

Earlier, I said that the alloy of the PA-63 was "indestructible," in the context of a truck gun, etc. I mean that it is almost impossible to scratch the frame. My PA-63 had some sort of enamel coating on the slide, rather than bluing. At any rate, the finish on the PA-63 was tougher than the vz-82 military models, but not as tough as a modern polycoated CZ-83.

 

[azhunter12]

Cz82

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

If you get a CZ-82 and the finish is worse than mine, you might want to look into replaceing the recoil spring.

I have only put about 400 rounds through it since I bought it, and the trigger guard of all things broke. The smith at CZ-USA said it may have been caused by a weak recoil spring allowing the slide to hit it too hard.

 

[johnnyonthespot]

i bought my cz for very similiar reasons (backpacking protection/ defense)...

no need to re-enact ned beatty's role in deliverance when you are 25 miles from a road and some wingnut wonders into your camp...

just keep your cz82 handy.

i must say though, cocked and locked on this gun seems very dangerous... bump the safety and its nothing...

i hear more than a few people have shot themselves...

 

[Grayrider]

So they have recoil spring issues? I had one and it kicked vastly harder than my 45 and 10mm 1911s. It was so bad I got rid of it. Could the spring have been the issue? I could not believe the severity of the recoil and I am used to shooting 10mm. It was close to some magnum revolvers I have fired. If a recoil spring fixes that I may grab another one as I really liked the feel of the gun--that is until I pulled the trigger.

John