Czech submachineguns were made first in 7.62x25mm and their M48 cartridge was developed to give higher velocity in a ~10" barrel than the Soviet loading. Then they made the CZ52 to use the same M48 cartridge.
I suspect they used a slower burning powder giving the same pressure as the Russian load but a 20% or so higher velocity. The Czech S&B 7,62x25 load supposedly matches the old M48 load
The recoil impulse from the M48 load is hard on the bolt stop of the C96 Mauser. The Tokarev pistol though is as tough as its rep. But it is light compared to the CZ52. Just looking at the barrels (and not the effect on the rest of the gun or the shooter's hand), standard issue 7.62x25 Russia or Czech is as hot as you want to get with Tokarev or CZ52; in blowup tests with overloads, the CZ52 barrel will let go at the locking roller recess before the Tokarev or Mauser barrels will fail. Search user Clark for test-to-destruction details.
I bought my 7.62 CZ vz 52 at Appalachian Fair Gun Show in 2004 for $129.95 w. holster, rod, 2 clips, bought from an FFL dealer with NICS check (so much for "gunshow loopholes"
). Mine is the late 1954 production still with the matte grey finish (not rearsenaled). The only change I made was to shrink a rubber tube over the trigger: the sharp edges hurt my finger after two mags.
I'll admit I am still learning about the 7.62x25 and 7.63 Mauser and my CZ52 and C96 pistols.
Some ballistic figures I have run across on current factory ammo:
7.62x25 85gr bullet 525 mps (1706 fps) from 250mm 10 inch barrel. PPU
7.62x25 85gr bullet 503 mps (1630 fps) from 120mm 4.8 inch barrel. S&B
7.63 Mauser 85gr bullet 460 mps (1495 fps) from 150mm 6 inch barrel. PPU
-PPU Prvi Partizan (Serbia) S&B Sellier&Bellot (Czech)
In reading about the vz-52s, they say the Czech 7.62x25 was more potent (higher pressure, more powder) than the 7.62x25 round used for the Russian Tokarevs.
Again, higher velocity can be obtained with slower burning powder at the same pressure. (Watch the muzzle flash when firing Czech ammo in a pistol compared to other 7.62x25 ammo.)
Referring to W.H.B. Smith, "Small Arms of the World", Stackpole, 1966:
The Czechs were forced, as part of the Warsaw Pact, to adopt the 7.62x25mm cartridge.
The Russian 7.62x25mm loading from the Tokarev pistol was listed at 1378 fps, and from the PPSh submachinegun (SMG) at 1640 fps from a 10.6 inch barrel. (With the Russians, their pistol came first and the SMG was adapted to the pistol round.)
In 1951 the Czechs adapted their Model 24 and Model 26 SMGs from 9mm to 7.62x25mm. However, they gave their M48 7.62x25mm cartridge a loading that gave them 1800 fps from an 11.2 inch SMG barrel. Then they adopted the new CZ vz 52 (CZ52) in 1952 a year later to use the same ammo as their SMGs. The CZ52 pistol was listed as having a 1600 fps muzzle velocity with the Czech M48 load. (With the Czechs, their SMG loading came first and their pistol was adapted to the SMG round.)
Whether the pistol (52) will function well with std. 7.62x25 ammo?
Mine (1954 production, last year) functions well with any surplus ammo I have tried. One batch of military surplus PPU with Berdan primers requires a second whack of the hammer to fire 1 out of 10 or so. The commercial PPU with Boxer primers: no problemo.
Where one would get Czech military ammo?
Don't know, but as I have said, the S&B appears to dup the M48 performance.
The rounds are so hot that over half of the necks are cracked afterwards (old surplus Polish and Bulgarian).
I suspect cracked necks is more a testament to the age of the brass than to the hotness of the load.
