Got my AIM CZ82 today

[DMK]

Home from work today and the brown trucked just dropped off a nice treat for me.

I'm impressed. It's a very nice pistol for $200. I can certainly see the CZ75 lineage in it. Even the mags look like baby CZ75 mags. It's well made and has a really nice trigger. The DA is a bit gritty, but not too heavy. Not as good as my CZ75 or EG Makarov, but not as bad as my CZ70 either. SA trigger is very good. Just a tiny bit of creep on the second stage. The 12 round mags smoothly drop free and the mag release is right behind and below the trigger where it should be. Good sights that are almost identical to those on my CZ75B (I'm pretty sure they are even interchangable). The safeties are right at the thumb like the CZ75 and the CZ82 safety can be engaged with the hammer cocked. There is no decocker. All the controls are ambi. Even the holster can be used on either side. Must be a lot of left handers in the Czech army.

It field strips just like the Makarov and Walther PP. Pull down the trigger guard, then pull the slide all the way back and up.

Size wise, the grip is just as big and wide as my CZ75. It has a shorter barrel though and overall the CZ75 stands a little taller measure from bottom of magwell to top of rear sights. Overall dimensions, its about the same size as a Makarov, but just a tiny bit longer due to the CZ82s beavertail. The CZ82 is certainly no small gun. However, it feels very comfortable and should make a nice range gun.

Condition wise, it's got a black paint finish. There's some wear and chips on it. I'd say the finish is about 90%. The grips are perfect. The mags are in excellent condition, the holster is clean and only slightly worn (just broken in). Even the lanyard is in good shape. No cosmoline on anything, just a little light oil on the gun itself.

The only thing I don't like is the huge import marking stitched into the left side of the slide: "CZ M.82 9x19mm Czech Republic". The importer's name is on the frame just over the trigger and is a bit more discreet. The serial number is on the right side in three places: barrel, slide and frame. Mine is also marked with SHE 89 and crossed swords, which I assume means it was accepted by the Czech army in 1989. There are also crossed swords stamped in both mags. Neither mag has a serial number.

Due to the cheesy looking paint and the horrible importer scribing, I think I'm going to sandblast this one and refinish it in semi-gloss black Gunkote. I might stone the trigger a bit while I have it apart.

Overall though, I give it a big thumbs up.

 

[Shear_stress]

Post some pictures if you can. I'm curious how those $200 CZ-82s look.

 

[DMK]

I'll try to take some tomorrow. My camera only take decent pics in sunlight.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

DMK. Sounds like a good deal. I got my CZ82 in 9X18 from S.O.G back in August 2005 when they were first becoming available. I paid $249. It was in good shape with just some minor dings. It makes a nice companion piece to the CZ83 in .380 as they share magazines. Nice little pistols!

 

[briang2ad]

For $200 that's a good gun...

But who has details on detail stripping the 82/83? I asked on the CZ forum, and no one ever answered.

 

[swan hunter]

Shipping ?

I'd like to know what they charge for shipping on these pistols?

Did you buy it by itself?

thanks

 

[KINGMAX]

I like a CZ 83

Good luck w/ your choice of the CZ82. I hope to have a CZ83 SOON.

 

[NC-Mike]

Got mine too!

I took a chance and got two of them I "saved" on th shipping as one was about 32 and two could be shipped for 40, so my final cost was 220 each. My local dealer has one in the rack for 269 and he doesn't move on his prices.

I cleaned one and shot 100 rounds from it. Had one FTF but was using Wolf ammo and although I use it a lot, I won't be concerned till I shoot the mags with some dry lube and run some S&B through the pistol.

I'm also going to have to order a 9mm pilot for my crowning tool as both barrels have some nicks on the crown. It shot pretty well and I'm very impressed with the pistols, especially the price point and the fact they went C&R, so no transfer fee. I'm a happy camper. Here's a pic. They came with 2 mags each, the holster, cleaning rod and lanyard.

 

[DMK]

But who has details on detail stripping the 82/83? I asked on the CZ forum, and no one ever answered.

I've searched for everything I can find on these pistols this week, and I can't help you there either. However, you can download a complete blowup drawing here, a really cool cutaway drawing here and the manual here on the downloads page at www.czub.cz

It's no 1911, but the CZ82 doesn't look too difficult to take apart. As far as I understand, the mag release is the only thing different from those CZ83 documents above.

I'd like to know what they charge for shipping on these pistols?

Did you buy it by itself?

I bought mine by itself. Like NC-Mike said, shipping was exactly $32 for UPS Next Day. It came to a total of $231.99 to put the pistol on my doorstep.

I'm also going to have to order a 9mm pilot for my crowning tool as both barrels have some nicks on the crown.

That's weird that both have dinged crowns. Mine has a perfect crown. The bore is really dirty though.

BTW, these have crome lined barrels. You might be better off calling AIM and getting replacements. Even if you pay for shipping, it might be better than buying the tools and the whole PITA of trying to recrown them.

 

[Richard]

DMK, these are my impressions after one trip to the range with mine:

"...CZ82 9x18 Mak, this pistol is like new inside but the exterior has chips missing from its paint. The factory grip feels great in my size 12 hands and it has very good sights. I have strong hands but the magazine was hard to load to capacity, I will try to find a loading tool somewhere. This pistol is combat accurate and 100% reliable. My major faults with the CZ82 9x18 Mak are it is a larger pistol, many 9mms are not much bigger and it exhibits stout recoil. If one were looking for a carry weapon I am sure they would be better served by a subcompact 9mm."

CZ82:

I find that handguns with fixed barrels kick more than those with the Browning system. In fact, I prefer to shoot 45acps to 380/9x18Maks due to felt recoil.

My EG Mak:

I compared my CZ82 to my EG Mak and I prefer the Mak for carry. My Mak is thinner and fits in my Milt Sparks Mirage holster that was made for a 1911. The EG Mak I compared my CZ82 to has Novak sights and the sights on the CZ82 are just about as good. The fit on my CZ82 compares well to the EG Mak but the finish is better on the EG Mak.

A comparison of the triggers give the edge to the Mak but I have shot it a lot. In reality, I find very little to complain about the trigger on the CZ82, I can live with it as it came from AIM.

Would I recommend the CZ82 to someone on a budget? YOU BETCHA!

Regards,

Richard

 

[DMK]

Richard, I agree. The CZ-82 isn't a good CCW. This gun was intended as a military sidearm. I don't think concealability was ever a design issue. The modern CZ75 compacts are of similar size and would be a much better CCW IMO. Mine certainly isn't going to usurp my Colt CCO or even my J-frame S&W.

This gun is an interesting collectable. Nothing more.

The comparison to the Makarov is most appropriate. The Czechs have a long history and a lot of pride in making very fine firearms, even outdoing the Germans by making a better Mauser (vz.24 vs Kar98) when when occupied by the Nazis and forced to make weapons for the Reich. They never accepted Russian designs, although it's apparent that they had a lot of pressure to field compatible and very similar weapons. You can see this clearly in the CZ-52 handgun (the Czech answer to the TT-33 and the CZ82s immediate predecessor), the vz-52 carbine (the Czech answer to the SKS), the vz-58 (the Czech answer to the AK). These weapons are arguably all better designs than the Russians.

The Makarov on the other hand was a very exceptional firearm as far as Russian weapons go (although for a battle sidearm, I think the 9x18 was a step backwards compared to 7.62x25). I do think the CZ82 (actually called the vz.82) is a better weapon in a strict comparison. The ergonomics are better. Out of the box, the vz.82 sights are much better. However, the margin is close, especially when comparing to a better example of the Mak, as the EG made ones are. One also has to take into account that the vz.82 is a much later design. In the 50's the Mak was state of the art by European standards. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to buy an example of each.

I have to wonder if the Czechs were left to their own, without Soviet interference, if they would not have carried a much more powerful sidearm. An article on Surplusrifle.com even suggests that they loaded 9x18 hotter than most other WARSAW Pact countries. By the time the vz.82 was designed, the CZ-75 was well established as a reliable and robust sidearm.

 

[Texfire]

But who has details on detail stripping the 82/83? I asked on the CZ forum, and no one ever answered.

Here's the link to CZ's page on the 83. It has links to a PDF manual which will walk you through field stripping the 82 as well as the 83. Probably doesn't have all the details you want, but it does have a schematic in the manual.

http://www.czub.cz/index.php?p=32&idp=1&ids=2&idz=3&lang=en

Tex

 

[NC-Mike]

That's weird that both have dinged crowns. Mine has a perfect crown. The bore is really dirty though.

BTW, these have crome lined barrels. You might be better off calling AIM and getting replacements. Even if you pay for shipping, it might be better than buying the tools and the whole PITA of trying to recrown them.

The crowns are not bad but not good. I'm thinking a couple turns with the 45 degree cutter will clear it right up. all I need is the brass pilot, I already have the cutter and handle. I won't return them, they are mine now.

I just got done trimming an eighth-inch off a Russian SKS barrel that looked like someone had a rat's tail file in. It was tough going. When I used the 90 degree cutter to face off and square the barrel after trimming, the tool started jumping over the lands and inducing a good bit of chatter. Finally got it sorted and have a perfect crown on that barrel now. This just need a good touch-up on the ID. Due to the way some metal has moved around, I'm very hesitant to use the brass screw method.

BTW, I really like the pistol and fully intend to use it as my carry-pistol. I'm taking the class next month. This pistol is not as small as it looks, so a good paddle holster should work out well. I don't think an ankle holster would work to well with this pistol but that never struck me as a good idea anyway.

 

[DMK]

Good luck with them NC-Mike. It sounds like you know what you are doing. I have never tried recrowning a chromed barrel.

 

[Richard]

The barrel crown on my CZ82 is perfect; mine was handpicked for $20 extra. Was it worth the extra $20? I doubt they looked inside and that is where my CZ82 shines (it appears new). In the end, I would rather face a horde of villains with a CZ82 than a five shot 38 Special. Regards, Richard

 

[NC-Mike]

I have to say, that's the only thing I was dissapointed with but it will be a easy fix. (Hopefully)

As far as me knowing what I'm doing, I didn't know what to expect on that chrome-barrel SKS but decided I had nothing lose. I knew my tools were only hardened steel and might not cut the chrome but I had to remove the chrome that came out onto the crown anyway and a file took care of that. I had a make a few passes with 45 cutter to cut the chrome of the lands and totally free the end of the muzzle of chrome, then I was able to reface the muzzle end with the 90 cutter and go back and make one more pass with the 45. The 45 didn't cut very deep but it did so in a very nice, even way all around the bore. That's what I'm hoping it'll do with barrels on the CZ's.

 

[Richard]

I played around with my CZ82 some more and I truly believe it would make a great camp gun in the lower 48 states. The more I hold my CZ82 the more I think it's grip feels like a Walther P38/P1 and that is not a bad pistol to be compared with. As I said, I believe this is a great low cost handgun for home defense or camping. Regards, Richard

 

[spystyle]

Gun fun

 

[SleazyRider]

Fabulous guns they are. Easily the best money I've spent on a handgun.

 

[Hawthorne2k]

Here's mine, bought J&G in-person two weeks ago for home defense. After putting a hundred rounds through it a week ago, I think the only thing it's missing is some night sights for low-light work and a Hogue grip as the factory plastic grips are a bit slippery.

 

[Casefull]

I just got mine. Some dies coming from cabelas and bullets from someone else. The trigger is fantastic in da and sa. Light pull and consistent all the way to the sear breaking. Polygonal rifling too. Someone earlier said it was "just a collectible". He obviously has not shot one. Will be trimming some 9mm brass down and loading that up. (Suggested in my speer reloading manual). I am anxious to shoot it. I have an hk in .32 and .22 that was a east german police pistol that is great to shoot and this cz reminds me a lot of the hk.

 

[harmon rabb]

buffalo bore makes some +p hardcast loads. if you're going to carry it, i'd use those.

 

[North Bender]

Although labeled "+P" Buffalo Bore wrote to me that the cartridge does not produce pressure over the normally accpted limit of 24,000 psi. They labeled it +P only to make people aware that it is a more powerful round than standard.