Arik
Member
Zastava also built a 10mm version but it was in limited numbers and never exported
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Any CZ-52 lovers on here?
- Thread starter perfectcircle1
- Start date
BigBill
Absent Comrade
If we look at the pre cz52 the Cz50 & post cz 52 the cz70 how did the design change so much on the cz 52? I don't understand why.
OP
perfectcircle1
Member
Agreed. I'd like to know too. Hopefully an expert will chime in
Marshwheeling
Member
No expert, but as I understand it, the 52 replaced the vz. 50 for the Czech military. Although both were designed by the Kratchovil brothers, they are completely different designs. The vz. 50 is blowback-operated, DA/SA, derived from the Walther PPK and PP. The vz. 52 is recoil-operated, SA-only. The 50 was considered too wimpy and unreliable for military use. However, it continued to be sold to Czech police forces.
The vz.70 was a rehash of the vz.50, and does not derive at all from the vz.52
The vz.70 was a rehash of the vz.50, and does not derive at all from the vz.52
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LVSteve
Member
The "thumb operated trigger" syndrome in the CZ-52 is a sign that the half-cock shelf has worn or been messed with. There is plenty of commentary on the subject around the web. I keep meaning to get the firing pin kit for mine.
I bought mine many years ago; the hammer drop will fire a round in the chamber. Not long after I bought mine, there was a recall on the firing pin. I didn't do it, prefering to keep the pistol original. I think those on which the hammer drop funtions correctly have the new design of firing pin. EVERYONE with a CZ 52 shouild check the hammer drop, either on the range with a live round, or at home with just a primed case.
Oroginal Czech ammo for the CZ 52, Russian ammo for the 7.62 Tokarev and ammo for the 7.63mm Mauser have the same dimensions. Tokarev and CZ 52 ammo is on the tight side and 7.63 Mauser may not chamber in some guns. I shot mine with 7.63 ammo by Fiocci and it chambers fine. Original ammo for the CZ 52 puts out about 1600 fps, while ammo for the 7.63 Mauser is only about 1150. Original Czech CZ 52 ammo is much too hot for use in Tokarevs and broomhandles and will probably damage the gun. Continued use will shoot the CZ 52 loose too: note the pins in the mechanism that are staked in place; during a rebuild of the pistols.
Oroginal Czech ammo for the CZ 52, Russian ammo for the 7.62 Tokarev and ammo for the 7.63mm Mauser have the same dimensions. Tokarev and CZ 52 ammo is on the tight side and 7.63 Mauser may not chamber in some guns. I shot mine with 7.63 ammo by Fiocci and it chambers fine. Original ammo for the CZ 52 puts out about 1600 fps, while ammo for the 7.63 Mauser is only about 1150. Original Czech CZ 52 ammo is much too hot for use in Tokarevs and broomhandles and will probably damage the gun. Continued use will shoot the CZ 52 loose too: note the pins in the mechanism that are staked in place; during a rebuild of the pistols.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
This is not true. The sub-machine gun PSP, the one with the drum mag. was made for 7.62 x 25. The Russians designed it for the Tokarev ammo the Checks on the other hand, loaded it much hotter and that is why the CZ 52 uses the locking roller design, to handle any 7.62 x 25 loading. In Europe it was common for countries to use the same brass for totally different loadings. For example the Italians (pre WW I)used 9 x 19 brass for their pistol "Glinseti" (SP) and Germany used it in their pistol "Luger". There used to be a couple of other 9x19 loads, and if you use a hot round like Luger or Parabellium in one of the weak designs, you can end up with less fingers. The German ammo company DWM assigned a product number to each cartridge LOADING, not case shape. As for surplus 7.62x25 drying up, I saw some at a flea market 3 weeks ago, there aren't huge adds for it but it is out there. Besides you can make brass out of 223/5.56 NATO cases. I cut it off just below the shoulder and FL size in a 30 Mauser die, Trim to length and ream the neck (or turn the neck and run the sizer button through it again, but takes much longer). This brass has thicker walls so use the lower end of pressure for the 7.62x25 loading you desire. I could make about 200 converted brass an hour. I still have 100 for my C-96 as well as the surplus. Ivan
I had one for a while.They were cheap,,I think $100 or something like that from AIM at the time. Obviously rebuilds, but with perfect bores and a new phosphate finish. Two mags and a leather military flap holster came with the deal.
I had some Bulgarian(?) surplus ammo that I shot in it. Big flash,,much noise. Lots of fun.
Some of the stuff required a second strike to get it to go bang, but so what.
There was lot's of surplus ammo around at the time, Chinese, Polish and Bulgarian I think were the main stocks.
A friend bought a crate of the Chinese made ammo and shot it in his Tokarev. Then he decided it would work well in one of his C96 pistols. It worked for a bit, but it also resulted in the locking lugs shearing from the block.
Aftermarket bbls in 9mmLuger were available quite cheaply but I didn't hang on to my prize long enough to get involved in the switch caliber thing.
Kind of a clumsy pistol,,the angle of the grip to the frame. Heavy and difficult (for me) to operate the slide. The de-cocker worked OK, but it wasn't any sort of an accessory I'd trust in public anyway no matter what pistol it was on.
The firing pins were brittle on them, so the internet experts said. Many reports of breakage w/minimal dry firing. So I didn't dry fire it and it didn't break. I didn't want to find out either.
I did buy some extra holsters complete w/2 magazines for $12 total at the time.
When I sold the pistol, I sold the extra magazines also and one holster with it.
The CZ52 military leather flap holsters were light weight and handy. They fit many other pistols. I still carry my WaltherP1 in one of them. Even the extra mag pouch fits well. My brother has another of them and he carrys a STAR Model B Super I gave him in it.
No more CZ52. It was fun though.
I had some Bulgarian(?) surplus ammo that I shot in it. Big flash,,much noise. Lots of fun.
Some of the stuff required a second strike to get it to go bang, but so what.
There was lot's of surplus ammo around at the time, Chinese, Polish and Bulgarian I think were the main stocks.
A friend bought a crate of the Chinese made ammo and shot it in his Tokarev. Then he decided it would work well in one of his C96 pistols. It worked for a bit, but it also resulted in the locking lugs shearing from the block.
Aftermarket bbls in 9mmLuger were available quite cheaply but I didn't hang on to my prize long enough to get involved in the switch caliber thing.
Kind of a clumsy pistol,,the angle of the grip to the frame. Heavy and difficult (for me) to operate the slide. The de-cocker worked OK, but it wasn't any sort of an accessory I'd trust in public anyway no matter what pistol it was on.
The firing pins were brittle on them, so the internet experts said. Many reports of breakage w/minimal dry firing. So I didn't dry fire it and it didn't break. I didn't want to find out either.
I did buy some extra holsters complete w/2 magazines for $12 total at the time.
When I sold the pistol, I sold the extra magazines also and one holster with it.
The CZ52 military leather flap holsters were light weight and handy. They fit many other pistols. I still carry my WaltherP1 in one of them. Even the extra mag pouch fits well. My brother has another of them and he carrys a STAR Model B Super I gave him in it.
No more CZ52. It was fun though.
jonny13sb
Member
I bought one of these a couple of years ago and replaced the rollers and firing pin prior to test firing. Rollers went in pretty easily but the firing pin required some fitting. The pistol is very fun to shoot and makes an interesting addition to my Cz collection. I've been buying new non- corrosive ammo from AIM surplus when they have it in stock and prefer not to use corrosive surplus ammo in any of my guns. I am surprised however that the roller locking design hasn't been used in other handguns especially higher pressure chamberings.
OP
perfectcircle1
Member
I don't like corrosive ammo either. I use all modern production ammo in all my guns. The roller design has obviously stood the test of time so I don't know why it hasn't been used
jonny13sb
Member
I just checked the AIM Surplus site, when in stock the PPU ammo runs $16.95 for FMJ and $17.95 for JHP. Even with shipping its cheaper than most ammo you'll find at the local gun shop. I request an email alert on any out of stock ammo and they have been very good in letting me know when ammo becomes available.
OP
perfectcircle1
Member
Cool! Thanks for the heads up. 23.99 round here
The CZ 52 is built to take a lot hotter ammo than the 30 Mauser loads we find here. But you don't have to shoot it that hot. I did a lot of experimentl reloading in 7.63 Mauser some years ago and found the CZ 52 would work with the milder loads for the 7.63 Mauser pistol, and would even work with those loads cut 10% for use in the shorter Bolo length Mausers. So you don't have to shoot the hot stuff if you don't want to.
Engine49guy
Member
I had a Broomhandle Mauser many years before the internet and was misadvised that 7.62 Mauser and 7.62 Tok ammo were interchangeable.
FF to range day firing brass cased 7.62 Mauser ammo first then copper plated .7.62 Com Bloc Tok ammo (intended for PPSH sub Machine guns) the MASSIVE MUZZLE BLAST quickly indicated these two rounds were in fact VERY DIFFERENT !
BTW although the factory CZ52 rollers are reportedly a bit soft the roller locking lug system is quite impressive in a handgun especially considering it is the foundation for the robust Nazi MG42 and post war HK G3 platforms.
FF to range day firing brass cased 7.62 Mauser ammo first then copper plated .7.62 Com Bloc Tok ammo (intended for PPSH sub Machine guns) the MASSIVE MUZZLE BLAST quickly indicated these two rounds were in fact VERY DIFFERENT !
BTW although the factory CZ52 rollers are reportedly a bit soft the roller locking lug system is quite impressive in a handgun especially considering it is the foundation for the robust Nazi MG42 and post war HK G3 platforms.
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mi2600
US Veteran
I reload moderate loads for my M57s, Cugirs, and a couple CZ52s. And, to entertain myself during winter months, I've started to make my own brass out of .223/5.56. The resulting brass can be used for the 7.62X25 and 7.63X25.
I like several of the surplus European guns because many have ambidextrous safeties.
I like several of the surplus European guns because many have ambidextrous safeties.
jonny13sb
Member
If you really want to watch a fun YouTube video search "PPSH41" and check out the video posted by Scout Chris as he empties a full drum of 7.62x25 through a captured PPSH41. Looks like a really effective submachine gun round, note the lack of muzzle rise. The Nazis probably hated those things.
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