I figured it was time to contribute rather than just ask questions, so here's a little review of a great little find.
I purchased a CZ-82 a couple of months ago and have gone through around 200 rounds thus far. Here are my observations:
1. This is a military surplus weapon, so the finish is not "as new". The finish is not "blued" per se, rather it's baked-on or something. As such, it doesn't hold-up nearly as well as some. That being said, mine was in pretty good shape. One recently purchased by a friend was in fantastic shape, but he paid a little more for his.
2. I paid $169 and got the pistol, a brown leather flap-style holster, cleaning rod, lanyard and 1 magazine. Extra mags were $25, so I bought one as they are sometime difficult to find.
3. My friend's cost him $200, the only difference was the cosmetics on the outside and the holster was a much better one.
4. This fires the 9x18 Makarov, holds 12 in the magazine. The magazine is a booger to load. If fires from single action or double. Field stripping is a piece of cake.
5. I took mine home and stripped and cleaned it. It was surprizingly clean already. The barrel was spotless, it showed very little wear on the hammer or firing pin areas. As with all Mil Surp, it may have been fired 10 times or 10,000 times. Best to check it out.
6. This little thing fits my hand ( a Med-Large golf glove) like it was made for it. The thicker handle due to the 12 round capacity doesn't seem overly large at all. I'd guess this would make a great CCW piece as it's so small and not heavy in the least.
7. Out to the range- I fired 50 rounds the first time out, all from standing, two hand typical style grip. I'm a Southpaw, so the completely amidexterous (sp) features were great. The grouping was very acceptable at 25 feet and not embarrasing at 50. An 8" target was easily acquired and punched full of holes with all 12 rounds the first time out. I take that back, the first three rounds went low-left, once I compensated, they held that same pattern. I was using Wolf fmj (alway use fmj with mil-surp autoloaders). All 50 rounds ejected flawlessly. Recoil was nothing to note...about what you'd expect. It re-levelled after firing pretty well.
8. Since then I've put around 150 more rounds through it. All casings have ejected flawlessly, all rounds have fed with no issues. I put 50 rounds through it out in the desert several weeks ago. I chased a soda can around from 30 feet. All 12 rounds in 15 seconds. I managed to hit the can 7 times and moved it all 12. I've never done that well with anything other than my Ruger Mk 1 .22 (8 rounds in 10 seconds). I guess that attests to the earlier observation that the barrel re-levels after firing. Or, I was just lucky...
9. Bottom line- I can't imagine a better autoloader could be purchased for $169. Fits well, handles well, points and shoots where you aim. Reliable so far.
I realize the 9x18 Mak isn't the greatest round for self defence. But, it's better than a .380 or .32. The 12 round capacity makes it preferable to the Makarov or Polish 64. It's Czech made which puts it above alot of the competition. I'm planning on ponying-up the $125 to take the CCW course at Gunsite in a couple months and figure I'll use this for the qualifying and to carry thereafter.
PS. I bought mine at the J&G Sales warehouse (yes, I went into the actual shop as it's only about a mile from my home). Last week my dad bought one, same grade. The $200 models were in excellent shape inside and out. I checked the Polish 64's as well- they can't compare...
I purchased a CZ-82 a couple of months ago and have gone through around 200 rounds thus far. Here are my observations:
1. This is a military surplus weapon, so the finish is not "as new". The finish is not "blued" per se, rather it's baked-on or something. As such, it doesn't hold-up nearly as well as some. That being said, mine was in pretty good shape. One recently purchased by a friend was in fantastic shape, but he paid a little more for his.
2. I paid $169 and got the pistol, a brown leather flap-style holster, cleaning rod, lanyard and 1 magazine. Extra mags were $25, so I bought one as they are sometime difficult to find.
3. My friend's cost him $200, the only difference was the cosmetics on the outside and the holster was a much better one.
4. This fires the 9x18 Makarov, holds 12 in the magazine. The magazine is a booger to load. If fires from single action or double. Field stripping is a piece of cake.
5. I took mine home and stripped and cleaned it. It was surprizingly clean already. The barrel was spotless, it showed very little wear on the hammer or firing pin areas. As with all Mil Surp, it may have been fired 10 times or 10,000 times. Best to check it out.
6. This little thing fits my hand ( a Med-Large golf glove) like it was made for it. The thicker handle due to the 12 round capacity doesn't seem overly large at all. I'd guess this would make a great CCW piece as it's so small and not heavy in the least.
7. Out to the range- I fired 50 rounds the first time out, all from standing, two hand typical style grip. I'm a Southpaw, so the completely amidexterous (sp) features were great. The grouping was very acceptable at 25 feet and not embarrasing at 50. An 8" target was easily acquired and punched full of holes with all 12 rounds the first time out. I take that back, the first three rounds went low-left, once I compensated, they held that same pattern. I was using Wolf fmj (alway use fmj with mil-surp autoloaders). All 50 rounds ejected flawlessly. Recoil was nothing to note...about what you'd expect. It re-levelled after firing pretty well.
8. Since then I've put around 150 more rounds through it. All casings have ejected flawlessly, all rounds have fed with no issues. I put 50 rounds through it out in the desert several weeks ago. I chased a soda can around from 30 feet. All 12 rounds in 15 seconds. I managed to hit the can 7 times and moved it all 12. I've never done that well with anything other than my Ruger Mk 1 .22 (8 rounds in 10 seconds). I guess that attests to the earlier observation that the barrel re-levels after firing. Or, I was just lucky...
9. Bottom line- I can't imagine a better autoloader could be purchased for $169. Fits well, handles well, points and shoots where you aim. Reliable so far.
I realize the 9x18 Mak isn't the greatest round for self defence. But, it's better than a .380 or .32. The 12 round capacity makes it preferable to the Makarov or Polish 64. It's Czech made which puts it above alot of the competition. I'm planning on ponying-up the $125 to take the CCW course at Gunsite in a couple months and figure I'll use this for the qualifying and to carry thereafter.
PS. I bought mine at the J&G Sales warehouse (yes, I went into the actual shop as it's only about a mile from my home). Last week my dad bought one, same grade. The $200 models were in excellent shape inside and out. I checked the Polish 64's as well- they can't compare...
