Need CZ-52 Buying Advice

[fiddleharp]

I've only seen CZ-52's on the internet. I have yet to see one in a store, pawnshop, or on a range in my part of Florida. Next weekend (Oct. 13th) I may have the chance to buy one when a gunshow comes to town.
I could use some advice on what to look for, what to stay away from, and how much is too much to pay. Might it be packed with East Bloc cosmoline, and if so, will I be able to test the decocker? So many questions, so little time!

 

[wad]

Take a look at this web site -> http://makarov.com/cz52/ It might answer some of your questions.

 

[Tortuga12]

My Opinion

I've got one, and you might see it at the range if you're ever in SW Florida! I think it's a really cool gun, lot's of fun to shoot! I bought mine, an un-issued '53, for $175 at a local shop. Buying online and paying the transfer fee would have run me the same, and I just can't afford to buy enough C&R guns to make the license worth it (although I'm seriously considering a CZ-82!)

As far as I know, if you see one with a greenish/grey parkerized finish, there's a good chance it's original, not re-arsenaled. There should also be markings on the frame that will indicate this. I hear alot on the forums about heavy trigger pulls, they usually seem to be associated with re-arsenaled guns. Mine's great, anyhow, at about 6 lbs.

Don't trust the decocker of course (for me, on any gun!). Mine works, not all do.

Mine shot WAY low when I first had it, thoght my barrel was messed up, turns out it was just me. Take a real high grip on it, and you should do fine.

I like the Hogue handall grip, it helps to smooth off the recoil a little, which can be sharp, esp. considering the narrowness of the frame.

All in all, a great gun, and one I'm glad I bought!

 

[ZeSpectre]

+1 on going to Makarov.com for info.

Do not, ever, under any circumstances, trust the decocker on a CZ-52.
Ever.
Never.

Got it?

The decocker is an old design and a very poor one. Just consider the decocker a second trigger and don't use it.

Also, I always give the same advice to anyone who has a "new" CZ-52

1) AIM Surplus Romanian ammo seems good
http://tinyurl.com/2q8dfe

2) Buy the Wolff 16.5 lb springs from Makarov.com
http://www.makarov.com/cart/52springs.htm

3) Buy the (far more durable) machined firing pin from Makarov.com
http://www.makarov.com/cart/52parts.htm

 

[chris in va]

I had one...for a couple months. Everyone hyped it up how FUN it was at the range.

Yeah well. First off the gun's sights are very small and fixed in place. Mine shot 8" high at 20 yards, hardly worth trying to hit anything with accuracy. Then there's the sharp edges. Notice the curve under the trigger guard on the grip? Wear gloves.

The mags must've been made with sandpaper or something because they took some real effort to slide in the magwell. I think one was even bent.

It's an 'interesting' gun for sure but not something I enjoyed shooting.

 

[fiddleharp]

Hey Tortuga12, I'm in SW Florida too. Do you shoot at the Webb/Babcock range? I usually shoot on weekdays (less crowded)
Which shop did you get yours?

 

[Quiet]

Two pieces of advice relating to the CZ-52.
1. Don't use/trust the decocker on the CZ-52, if you do it may fire.
2. Don't dry fire the CZ-52, if you do it may damage/break the firing pin.

Goto www.makarov.com for more info and to find parts/upgrades for the CZ-52.

 

[tkendrick]

buy extra firing pins

sooner or sooner, you'll need them

 

[LoneCoon]

I have one. I love it. I replaced the recoil spring (Wolff 16lb), added the new firing pin assembly, and replaced the grips. It not a beautiful gun, by any stretch of the imagination, but I like it.

 

[Gord]

Got mine for $150 at the Gun-n-Pawn with the walnut grips already on from whoever owned it previously.

Ammo is cheap, recoil is snappy but not as bad as I expected, and I regularly pelt 5-gallon buckets at ~200 yards with mine. It does have a problem with shooting 6-8" high close-in - I'm guessing they were meant for around 50 yards. Makes a big boom - always a plus.

I consider mine a range toy, and I'm happy enough with it in that context.

First off the gun's sights are very small and fixed in place.

The rear sight is dovetailed and can be drifted around with the same 3/16" punch you'll want to use to get the barrel out of the slide for cleaning.

The mags must've been made with sandpaper or something because they took some real effort to slide in the magwell.

They do fit snugly, and the (stiff) heel release means that inserting mags takes some getting used to over "normal" handguns - I figured out within a few tries that if you use the back of the mag to push the release back and then angle the mag slightly forward, it goes in with no problems.

 

[woad_yurt]

Get a chrome one from Classic Arms. $200. I got one and it's great. I had to peen a few pins to tighten them up but, since that, it's a great gun. And now Wolf makes a pretty decent hollow point for it, too.

 

[fiddleharp]

Thanks everyone, for the advice and the links!

 

[Tortuga12]

yep

I've been to Webb quite a few times. I haven't been in a while due to work, and , truth be told, I don't really like going there anymore. The facilities are good, but the last time I went two things happened that turned me off:

1. A family showed up and took the lane next to mine. No problem right? Well, the daughter brought her boyfriend along, who had never fired a gun before. Needless to say, I packed up my gear and left for one of the rifle lines after he flashed the muzzle of a loaded GP 100 at me. "Huh, why didn't it go off? Maybe I should take a closer look!" At least the dad noticed the looks he was getting from my end of the line.

2. Later, after the crowd had dissipated, I went back. Then I had the pleasure of being showered with hot brass from an AR, while the operator was cheerfully blasting away at a target 15 yards away. Using a scope. And a bipod. And missing most of the time. On a range CLEARLY marked "pistol and rimfire rifle ONLY".

So now I shoot at the indoor range on Fowler, and I've put in an application for the local NRA affiliated range. I'll gladly pay $50 a year to protect myself from the doofi! (Plural form of dufus)

 

[fiddleharp]

You'd never catch me at Webb on a weekend. My trick for enjoyable shooting is to show up at daybreak on a weekday. And, I mean first light! Apparently, I'm not the only one who uses that trick. There's usually about five or six guys there when I arrive. After a few hours, the crowd shows up, but by that time I'm ready to leave.
By the way, Tortuga12, did you check you PM's?