Great Value: Cz-82 pistol

[sturmgewehr]

I've been buying a number of surplus firearms this year. I always seem to overlook these firearms and gravitate towards the more expensive stuff out there - whatever the latest and greatest is from the big manufactures. I've decided to buck that trend and pick up interesting surplus firearms and see what I think about them.

The Cz-82 is a pistol I bought several weeks ago and have been shooting quite a bit lately. The Cz-82 is chambered in 9x18 Makarov but is also available in .380 ACP (Cz-83). I chose the 9x18 because it's the original military caliber and I enjoy shooting it.

Here's a full video review of the Cz-82 pistol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG_odS0HSfY

Questions and comments are welcome.

 

[Godsgunman]

I absolutely love my CZ 82. I carry mine and it also serves as a bedside gun also. I find it very easy to shoot and it is plenty accurate as I can put all 12 rnds in a 2" circle @ 25 ft. The sights on mine took a little getting used to as it seems to shoot slightly low and left other than that it is a completely reliable gun and super simple to clean and care for. Definitely a keeper and "must have" IMO for any collector or anyone looking for a cheap reliable firearm.

 

[Furncliff]

I have to say I really like mine as well. My daughter shoots it and shoots it well, it has an excellent trigger. Mine is accurate with inexpensive Brown Bear Ammo. I think it really fits the niche for a small pistol very well. A nice extra is the excellent CS from CZUSA should you need to have your pistol worked on.

 

[stonecutter2]

I love my CZ82. Beautiful trigger pull, beautiful ergonomics.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Great! Another post that will no doubt drive an increase in the price of surplus 82s before I can get a couple more.

In truth, I love seeing these build a following and hope an accessory market will follow.

 

[Wishoot]

Love mine like crazy. The only thing that worries me is that finding replacement springs for the mags is next to impossible.

 

[jehicks87]

I've been buying a number of surplus firearms this year. I always seem to overlook these firearms and gravitate towards the more expensive stuff out there - whatever the latest and greatest is from the big manufactures. I've decided to buck that trend and pick up interesting surplus firearms and see what I think about them.

The Cz-82 is a pistol I bought several weeks ago and have been shooting quite a bit lately. The Cz-82 is chambered in 9x18 Makarov but is also available in .380 ACP (Cz-83). I chose the 9x18 because it's the original military caliber and I enjoy shooting it.

Here's a full video review of the Cz-82 pistol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG_odS0HSfY

Questions and comments are welcome.
__________________

Sturmgewehr, I've been watching your stuff for a while and you were a huge inspiration to me and my buddy starting our own youtube channel. I'm stoked to hear you are getting more into surplus weapons, as that is more my cup of tea, whereas my buddy really loves your "latest and greatest" videos.

I DO have a question though, and it's one I have thought often over the past month or so as I have noticed the Cz 82 being touted as a "great self-defense pistol".

The 9x18 is a lower-pressure round than the .380 which many people (myself among them) feel is sub-optimal for self-defense in most loadings you're likely to encounte and it makes even less ft-lbs than the .380, so how do you feel about this being someone's go-to self defense pistol if you were being candid?

 

[Furncliff]

Have you tried CZUSA? The fact that this pistol is still being made (different number, different caliber) should make getting parts a lot easier.

 

[sturmgewehr]

I DO have a question though, and it's one I have thought often over the past month or so as I have noticed the Cz 82 being touted as a "great self-defense pistol".

The 9x18 is a lower-pressure round than the .380 which many people (myself among them) feel is sub-optimal for self-defense in most loadings you're likely to encounte and it makes even less ft-lbs than the .380, so how do you feel about this being someone's go-to self defense pistol if you were being candid?

The Russians and most of the Com-Bloc countries have used, and many continue to use, the 9x18 cartridge. I don't believe its inadequate but at the same time I don't find it to be ideal. For me, I prefer 9mm but I've been known to carry .380's and even 9x18's from time to time. Would I carry the CZ-82? Yes, and I have. I don't feel under-gunned in the slightest.

As for ballistics, with current Hornady defensive loads for both the .380 and 9x18 we have this (from the Hornady website):

9x18:
95gr XTP bullet
1000fps / 211 ft-lbs of muzzle energy

.380:
90gr XTP bullet
1000fps / 200 ft-lbs of muzzle energy

Hornady doesn't list a heavier load for the .380 than the 90gr bullet in their XTP/Critical Defense line-up on their website.

Source: http://www.hornady.com/store/380-Auto/

So I would say the 9x18 marginally out performs the .380 in modern defensive loads. It's not a major difference, but if .380 is your bare minimum the 9x18 should suffice.

Congrats on your YouTube channel. If you make it to SHOT next year, drop me a PM and I'll invite you to the YouTube'ers dinner I hold every year.

 

[jehicks87]

Thanks for the invite, I'd love to attend, hut we'll have to see how it goes. I doubt I will be able to... Although I have always wanted to go! I was looking more at the "boutique brands" that load their ammo hot, like buffalo bore and double tap. I see from your post and hornady's site that more mainstream loads do benefit the 9x18 and that is interesting to note. Thanks for the insight and for taking the time to answer my question!

Keep making those videos, too! :thumbsup:

 

[PabloJ]

I've been buying a number of surplus firearms this year. I always seem to overlook these firearms and gravitate towards the more expensive stuff out there - whatever the latest and greatest is from the big manufactures. I've decided to buck that trend and pick up interesting surplus firearms and see what I think about them.

The Cz-82 is a pistol I bought several weeks ago and have been shooting quite a bit lately. The Cz-82 is chambered in 9x18 Makarov but is also available in .380 ACP (Cz-83). I chose the 9x18 because it's the original military caliber and I enjoy shooting it.

Here's a full video review of the Cz-82 pistol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG_odS0HSfY

Questions and comments are welcome.

Surplus CZ82 is about the best bang for buck to be had on the surplus market. The only Eastern European country still holding on to 9x18 like it was gold is Ukraine. They actually designed high capacity blow back thingy that externally resembles CZ75. Czechs also use CZ82 as military sidearm but it will soon be replaced by NATO standard with is 9x19.

 

[sturmgewehr]

Yup, I know the world is moving to 9mm... even the Russians have moved to 9mm. It makes sense.

The former Com-Bloc countries are also going outside of their own borders these days to buy weapons from other European companies vs. designing and manufacturing everything in house.

The Alpha Group, a Russian special response team, has been using AWM-F .338 Lapua AI rifles.

Some former communist countries have adopted the Glock 17 including the Czech Special Forces.

Also, some former Com-Bloc countries are adopting NATO standard ammo.

These countries are realizing, just as the U.S. did years ago, that sometimes foreign weapons designs make more sense both functionally and economically.