Tell me about the CZ-52.

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denfoote

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I'm thinking about picking one of these up.
How are they??
As far as I know, the '52' is the only CZ that will fit my hand!!
What about ammo?? Is it an "internet only" proposition??
What about sources?? I know Aim has them for right about $100, but after you add shipping and transfer fees, it gets pretty close to the $200 my FFL wants to charge!! It may be worth it to me to just pick it up that way and avoid the paperwork hassles of trying to transfer it in from out of state!!
What say ye??? ;)
 
I'm not sure if this is true, but I have heard that the CZ52 is much weaker than the TT33 Tokarev...

As for the ammo, you'd probably want to reload for this caliber, because there seems to be a wide varitation in pressure levels between different lots of surplus ammo...
 
Its a great little gun Den... You will love it. Looks like a hot .357 Magnum when shot... 50 rounds for 6.50... cool looking... cheap.
Go for it.
Use some caution and educate yourself on them... of course... but it a great gun. Love them.
 
First apply for your C&R license.$30.00 for 3years.You make your money back on the first few purchases form various retailers.Then go hog wild buying old guns and having them shipped to your door.
Second,the cz52 is a real head turner at the range.It sounds like a cannon just went off and the 3 foot flame that shoots out of the muzzle is cool at night.It's a real bit---n' gun for the money.
 
If you spend some time looking, they can be found for $80. If you're getting charged about $100 for shipping and transfer, you need to find someone else to do your transfers. I've never paid more than $25 for a transfer that I can recall, and there's one guy around here who does $10 transfers.

Shipping shouldn't be more than $20. So, you should be able to get a CZ-52 for about $125 in your hands.
 
David, I'm not sure where you heard that the Tokarev is stronger than the CZ-52. The latter pistol was designed to use a higher pressure cartridge than the former, so I imagine the opposite is true barring outside factors.

I use S&B 7.62x25 in my CZ-52. I paid $7.35 for 50 rounds. It works just fine for target shooting. I know it's difficult to find JHP for this round, but Auction Arms has some third-party stuff available for $13.50/50.

Denfoote, I love my CZ-52! The quality is outstanding and is every bit as equal to any mainstream pistol out there. Mine was made in 1954 and it must have spent that time in dry storage, 'cause it looks new. I paid a little more than the prices being thrown around here, but it was still less than $200 with a spare mag and holster.

Recoil is snappy but manageable. The penetration power of the cartridge is impressive, too. This will definitely punch a .30 caliber hole in whatever you're shooting at. The pistol itself is flat like a 1911 and easy to conceal. I find it to be rather handsome although at least one of my buddies classifies it as "butt-ugly."

EDIT: Here's a good link: http://www.makarov.com/cz52/index.html

My only gripe is that I had to modify my grip in order to make sure I didn't accidentally wander the safety on during firing. If I wrap my right thumb over the safety I can prevent this from happening.
 
It depends on what you mean by "weaker." I recall someone doing tests with high pressure loads on both the Tok and the CZ. The CZ failed first due to the "thinness" of the metal immediately below the chamber. So, in this sense, the CZ might be weaker.

In terms of general concept, however, I would guess the CZ design is stronger, if executed better. The roller-locked, short recoil design of the CZ emulates that used in the MG-42, and is capable of handling quite powerful ammunition. I've never seen the Browning tilt-barrel action like that used on the Tok used on anything above handgun calibers. Although this might only be due to the difficulties in designing a practical rifle with a tilting barrel. So, who knows which is "theoretically" a stronger design.:(
 
Denfoote,i cant believe youre JUST NOW thinking about a CZ-52! Whats wrong with you?:p
Anyway ,get one (Aim) and why dont you order in a case of that surplus ammo they are expecting.Youll be well stocked for a while.
 
Den, all the great things have been said about the 52 so I won't bore you with my accalades.

I don't know where in Arizona you are but J&G in Prescott has them if that's not to far to drive.

There is a gun show at the Phoenix Fair Grounds the weekend of Feb 28-29th and I've seen many sold there.

Pima Fair Grounds is having one the first weekend in March.

Otherwise, shop around as many used gun shops carry them.


But, whatever you do, get one....two....three.......
:D
 
NavajoNPaleFace,

Yup!! The Crossroads of the West show!! I might have to hit it this year!!
I sort of gave up on gun shows because of all the other BS that they let in along with the inordinate number of gang punk looking types who flood the area!!
 
But do not dry fire, firing pin is very brittle, always have a spare or two
Click to expand...
Well, it won't tolerate even a small amount of dryfiring, but it stands up to normal use well. I have a spare or two but have never needed them...
 
As far as the CZ52 being weaker.......nope. Just different. The roller slide locks on the CZ are one of the strongest designs made...........

This nails it...............

"the tok will fail first with ammunition that doesn't blow it up.

the CZ will fail first with kaboom ammo"

You can get firing pins from Makarov.com and other places.......

If you dont have one of these or shot one.......get one. People can explain it all they want and you have to just do it yourself to get the real story :what:

Shoot well..........
 
More to the point...

They are cheap to buy (About $100 WITH HOLSTER AND EXTRA MAG) and you can get cheap surplus or Sellier & Bellot online for about $7.50 per box which is brand new, non-corrosive brass case reloadable, and moves out at more than 1500 fps. NOT A "CADDY", BUT HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY NOT HAVE ONE OR TWO. Why even waste time thinking about it?IMHO
 
Denfoote,
All I can say is ''get one''. I purchased two with my C&R. These guns are a hoot to shoot. CDNN has new, unissued CZ's for $139.99. They are fantastic weapons. I also buy my ammo from Natchez shooting supplies, in Tenn. I use Sellier & Bellot ammo. [$7.95 a box of 50]. I'm not too keen on using the surplus stuff. You never know what to expect with it.
The bottom line is the fact that they are well built, durable, and fairly accurate weapons. The firing pin has never been an issue with mine. I just keep it clean, and never dry fire.
Give it a try. I seriously think you'll enjoy it. Shooting them is different to say the least. If you find you don't like the CZ you will at least know you didn't spend a lot to get one. I know it puts a smile on my face when everyone on the firing line just stops shooting when I crank off a round. They just say, ''what the h#@l was that''. Believe me, it happens all the time. Trust me on this one.
Good Luck, and be safe.


SILENT ONE
 
I believe the whole controversy is around the CZ's barrel. The CZ52's barrel is weaker than the Tok's because of the roller cutouts and is weaker than any other pistol according to THR member "Clark" who regularily pushes pistols to their limits, but the roller locking mechanism of the CZ is stronger than the Tok's setup, but the CZ's barrel will fail before the Tok's mechanics will. (SOMETHING LIKE THAT) :D

I don't know about the poll in the thread, seems to be more of a popularity contest than anything...

CZ-52 vs. TT-33

"No other pistol is as thin in the chamber wall as the CZ52 is on the bottom where material is milled out to make room for the rollers." - Clark
 
Wondernine,
I don't know about the barrels being weak on the CZ. There has been some discussion about the rollers being less than perfect on some of them. I personally keep the rollers well lubed, and haven't had any problems. I have put well over 1,000 rounds through both CZ's and haven't had any issues with them, other than the slide hold open lever spring came off it's step, and I had to remove the left grip and hook it back over the lever. Other than that these are very well made weapons. The engineering is nothing short of extraordinary. If these weapons were produced today, they would cost a fortune to own IMHO.
Good Luck, and be safe.


SILENT ONE
 
Don't procrastinate ... go get one. Great fun to shoot ... and mine is amazingly accurate. No self-respecting shistol pooter should be without one!! :p


cz52_s.jpg
 
The person pushing that the CZ52 is weak is a guy on the boards named Clark. He blew up two using ammo that he made that was 10% or more over the maximum pressure for the cartridge. As long as you don't get your ammo from him, you have nothing to worry about. There is no factory ammo made to that level.
 
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