You noticed it recoils like a 9mm. The CZ 83 is a blow-back design and the fixed barrel contributes to it's accuracy; but the blow-back action doesn't help dissipate energy like a locked-breach and therefore contributes to greater felt recoil. Overall a very accurate and reliable gun.
I traded the CZ-83 I inherited from my Brother up toward a fantastic CZ-75 SP-01 Tactical. The 75's (locked-breach) in both full size and compact IMHO are among the best hammer-fired all metal pistols ever!
I was stripping it to clean and found the left grip panel is broken.

I've got a CZ 75C Massada Compact that is Israel marked. The sights are almost non exsistant. Cool gun though