Forced to carry a .32. Make it a CZ!

[CZF]

Every once in a while a person will come across something in a gun magazine that is both interesting and sensible.

The recent issue of Combat Handguns, features an article by Leroy Thompson, concerning the country of Paraguay
and the 7.65 mm caliber- more commonly called the .32 ACP.


He states that security agencies are restricted by law to the
7.65mm and that the officers/agents of the agency in question..uses Walthers and Cz83s in .32 ACP.

Citing that the CZ offers 15 shot magazines, but he also gives fair mention to the Beretta and Browning .32s.

Advocating the "Triple-Tap with the diminutive .32.
I can see why they would want/require hi-capacity.

That they choose the CZ83 speaks well of the design and
I think that there are certianly better caliber choices
if one has the ability to make the decisions, but these
guys do not.

They are also known to use Hardball rounds, as for the
supply of JHPs being scarce and I would guess somewhat
expensive there.

Knowing that the stellar Cz83 is both reliable and durable..
with low recoil and fast recovery.

They are very well armed, despite the restrictions on caliber.

The Cz50/Cz70 might be another option for deep concealment/backup use, as would a Ruger Sp-101
in .32 Magnum

 

[middy]

I wouldn't use JHP in a .32 ACP anyway, the penetration is barely sufficient with hardball...

 

[Newton]

It's hard to take anyone seriously if they recommend JHPs in a .32

 

[Nicky Santoro]

I wouldn't sell .32 ACP JHPs short too quickly. I've put both Fiocchi and Speer JHPs through a deer carcass and both went pretty deep and expanded well. A very unscientific test to be sure, but I wouldn't want to be shot by one.
That being said, when I carry it is .38+P. My house gun is .45 ACP.

 

[Moonclip]

If 32 H&R mag was allowed, I'd probably carry a revolver so chambered, with a 32acp CZ82 as backup. There is other 32's I'd like too like an older Colt or a Llama on the 1911 design, but the higher capacity of the CZ would get the nod.

 

[PCRCCW]

One of my favorite guns of all time........seriously! Just awesome.....
Shoot well, very interesting article Kev...........

 

[Onmilo]

I own and shoot several .32 acp pistols.
I have yet to come across a CZ-83 in .32 but will probably buy one if I do.
I have handled three CZ-83s in .380 and one in 9X18 Makarov but didn't have the chance to shoot them.
I don't have any use for JHP bullets in this caliber and stick to Geco and Sellier and Bellot for the most part but I have been having good luck with the new Winchester flat nose FMJ.
The only bad thing about the Winchester ammunition is the price.
Even at dealer, it is nearly twice the price of Geco or S&B.

 

[k_dawg]

.32 only? I'ld insist on H&RMag, if not, the .32NNA looks interesting.

 

[280PLUS]

If not JHPs, how about silvertips? I carry them in my P32 when I actually carry it.

 

[Snowdog]

I believe it was the old-style Winchester Silvertips that had the worst reputation for shallow penetration due to its near dead-soft lead clad with a jacket barely thicker than tin foil. Interesting enough, they were still regarded as among the best choices for defense by some of "those-in-the-know".


I understand Winchester has changed the old Silvertip for the .32acp, so perhaps some of those properties have changed... I've been slacking on my reading lately.

For a while, I carried Corbon 60gr JHPs in my P32 (a search either here or at TFL should yield some of my previous posts with pictures of expansion tests results) but began to run into rimlock issues after 3 boxes of trouble-free rounds. Since then, I've been using Sellier&Bellot FMJs and haven't looked back.

Though I don't take this pistol to the range much, when I do I tend to fire three rapid shots towards the targets respective "snot-locker" at close range. I do this as I firmly believe two or three 73gr .32acp FMJs in one's face will take the fight out of any man, regardless of size or ire.

 

[armoredman]

I had a CZ70 years ago, and .32 HydraShoks went through it with no trouble, shot POA very well. Good little pistol. Wish I'd never sold it. It was my BUG for a while.

 

[Preacherman]

If I were forced to depend on .32 ACP for my defence, I'd load the magazine with alternating rounds of the hottest FMJ I could find, and the best-expanding hollowpoint I could find (I'd probably try to get Cor-Bon to produce a DPX load in this caliber). I'd then triple- or quadruple-tap any opponent, and expect to need a head-shot as well. I wouldn't be happy with this round, but it beats having nothing at all, I guess...

 

[JMusic]

Preacherman I do that with most "sub caliber's" up to and including 38+P's and 9mm. Make sure that your combo is reliable in your auto's. I've talked to many people who carry a backup revolver for bear when hunting and some do the same. It can't hurt but as I said make sure that your combo reliably will opperate in this mode. I've seen some that would not.
Jim

 

[280PLUS]

IIRC Seecamp was recommending silvertips for his .32 but changed that recommendation after winchester changed the round. Apparently they were trouble free at first but after the changes caused feeding problems. In my neck of the woods some of us refer to .32ACP as a "face gun" as shooting someone in the face with it is the most sure way of getting a stop.

 

[jc2]

That they choose the CZ83 speaks well of the design and I think that there are certianly better caliber choices if one has the ability to make the decisions, but these guys do not.

Nothing against the CZ83, but the fact a third world government agency uses probably speaks far better for the cost (read "low bid") than the design, but if I had the choice, I'd opt for one of the Beretta models over the CZ.

 

[CA2005]

I had a CZ 83 in .32 for a while. It rim locked on JHP, all the time. JHP in that caliber is unreliable at best. FMJ is reliable, but I hate to carry FMJ. Due to this issue, the CZ 83 had to go. I replaced it with a CZ-75 and have been happy ever since.

CZ does make a great gun, I just dont trust .32 JHP ammo in any firearm. Semi Rimmed=potential for rimlock.

 

[Moonclip]

I went and bought the mag this weekend to see the article for myself, and true, it was a good point that someone mentioned the 32NAA as another alternative.