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CZ 52 Slide Hold Open
- Thread starter Retired W4
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Ivan the Butcher
Member
I had one of those 20 plus years ago. I don't remember it holding open on the last shot. On a 1911 the hold open is a step in the front of the mag follower. I don't see those features on your VZ 52.
Ivan
Ivan
OP
TJm15.38
Member
I have a similar problem with my CZ-52. It will hold open on both of my magazines, but normally won't lock back after firing the last round on either magazine. As you can see, I installed an after market slide stop that I can operate with my thumb. I thought that might solve the problem, besause the slide stop seemed to be working loose with live fire. It tightened it up some, but it still won't routinely stay open after the last round. The recoil springs are so strong on these pistols, the least little wear on the slide or slide stop will cause the described condition. It doesn't make it dangerous to shoot; it is just inconvenient.
OP
That is interesting. How easy was it to install? Another related issue is the spring on the hold open lever seems to be pretty strong. Maybe too strong.
.455_Hunter
Member
I only time I have experienced failure to lock back when firing with my CZ-52 is when using weak sauce modern commercial ammo.
TJm15.38
Member
Yeah, I'd say try to buy another magazine. If that doesnt work, you might have to replace the slide stop.
When I first got mine almost 40 yrs ago, ($89.99) I didn’t have a source to get any ammo to feed it. I did get a bunch of unprimed .30 Mauser brass from Greyback Wildcats and worked up a load that both my Fed Ord C-96 and VZ 52 ran perfect with.
I’ve never shot commercial ammo in either but with my tuned up reloads the 52, (and C-96,) have always functioned correctly. I’ve kept it stock although I was tempted to get a 9mm barrel when they were readily available.
Jim
I’ve never shot commercial ammo in either but with my tuned up reloads the 52, (and C-96,) have always functioned correctly. I’ve kept it stock although I was tempted to get a 9mm barrel when they were readily available.
Jim
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TJm15.38
Member
The installation was easy. I forget the company that makes these slide stops. Think I bought it off an Ebay seller, but the part is new and made in the USA. I did a couple of other upgrades on my pistol including hardened rollers and heat treated hardened firing pin. The original Czech firing pins and rollers were produced with inferior metallurgy. The firing pins are prone to breakage (don't dry fire a CZ-52) and if the rollers deform out of round, the slide may become damaged and unusable.
OP
I was not aware of the metallurgy problems. I always thought the CZ 52 was built tough. Upgrades to the weak points seem like a worthy project. The 7.62x25 round is pretty hot, depending on who made it. The old S&B seems to be the hottest, and cleanest I've got a bunch of Romanian (Cartuse Pentru Pistolet) and it is dirty and corrosive, but that's another subject.
My only other complaint is the ergonomics. It feels a little clunky in my hand. I think a select fire 52 w/shoulder stock would be a gas!
TJm15.38
Member
The follow on Czech service pistol built in the 80's was a much better design. The CZ-82 in 9x18 Makarov is one of my favorite milsurps and a lot more ergonomic than the CZ-52.
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LVSteve
Member
There is a part (hammer?) that wears and turns the decocker into a thumb operated trigger. The test for this is to poke a pencil or dowel down the barrel, cock the hammer and operate the decocker. If the pencil jumps, don’t use the decocker on a live round. The grip angle on the CZ52 is pretty weird, like somebody wanted to avoid Glock angle and took it too far.
The Hold Open Catch on these is a stamping
The spring that actually moves it into position to block and hold the slide in the locked back position is the empty magazine spring.
In doing that job, the mag spring has to overcome the torsion spring tension of the Hold Open Catch Spring which is holding the Catch in the Down or unlocked position.
If certain conditions develop with the springs and their tension and parts wear,,the Slide Stop will not be able to hold the slide open reliably after the last shot is fired.
So a slightly heavy Hold Open Catch Spring & a weak Mag Spring = the Hold open catch being elevated into position w/o much force.
The recoil spring is heavy. The slide is heavy in mass.
That Slide Stop stamping can wear easily on the edge that engages the slide itself to hold it open.
Many will hold open when you manually pull back the slide. But may drop the slide on the last rd fired quite often.
Pull the slide back manually and let it lock if it does. Then see if it will 'Push-Off' by striking the back of the slide.
Many do.
Inspect the slide stop and the area where it contacts the slide during Hold Open for wear.
The recoiling slide can bounce a slightly weak empty magazine spring allowing it to over come the Slide Stop Spring tension. That drops the Slide Stop back down on the last shot (if it ever made it up) and the slide closes instead of locking back.
These pistols were always coming in for problems with slide lock back issues as well as broken firing pins (brittle originals).
Replacement springs helped a lot with these as well as keeping them clean like any other firearm.
There were tons of parts avail when these came in. Lots of upgrade stuff.
Many of the issues were ammo related IMO.
The spring that actually moves it into position to block and hold the slide in the locked back position is the empty magazine spring.
In doing that job, the mag spring has to overcome the torsion spring tension of the Hold Open Catch Spring which is holding the Catch in the Down or unlocked position.
If certain conditions develop with the springs and their tension and parts wear,,the Slide Stop will not be able to hold the slide open reliably after the last shot is fired.
So a slightly heavy Hold Open Catch Spring & a weak Mag Spring = the Hold open catch being elevated into position w/o much force.
The recoil spring is heavy. The slide is heavy in mass.
That Slide Stop stamping can wear easily on the edge that engages the slide itself to hold it open.
Many will hold open when you manually pull back the slide. But may drop the slide on the last rd fired quite often.
Pull the slide back manually and let it lock if it does. Then see if it will 'Push-Off' by striking the back of the slide.
Many do.
Inspect the slide stop and the area where it contacts the slide during Hold Open for wear.
The recoiling slide can bounce a slightly weak empty magazine spring allowing it to over come the Slide Stop Spring tension. That drops the Slide Stop back down on the last shot (if it ever made it up) and the slide closes instead of locking back.
These pistols were always coming in for problems with slide lock back issues as well as broken firing pins (brittle originals).
Replacement springs helped a lot with these as well as keeping them clean like any other firearm.
There were tons of parts avail when these came in. Lots of upgrade stuff.
Many of the issues were ammo related IMO.
TJm15.38
Member
An excellent description on the problem. Glad to know I'm not the only one having trouble with slide lock back after the last round. I also agree with you on the ammo issue. My CZ-52 had problems with some of the commercial steel case ammo, however it shot the Norinco commercial copper-washed steel case ammo reliably. Unfortunately, the Norinco 7.62x25 is no longer imported. The surplus Romanian ammo was also a good performer, although corrosive priming required some cleaning modification. These military surplus pistols are fun to shoot and I simply accept their "Cold War" characteristics and limitations. I would never use one for personal defense unless that was the only option.
Resurrecting a (not so old?) thread… I’m having the opposite problem with my CZ-52. The slide is locking back prematurely. This has occurred twice, about 40 rounds apart. First time it occurred after firing the first round of the magazine; today it occurred after firing the 5th round (3 rounds still in the magazine). I’ve attached “as-found” photos of both occurrences.
My first thought is the hold open catch spring is weak, allowing the slide stop to bounce up during live fire and engage the slide. But the spring is not obviously limp to me, recognizing I don’t have another CZ-52 for comparison.
FWIW, I believe the magazines I’m using are OEM. Bought ‘em off ebay, arrived packed in yellowed plastic (like new-old-stock), covered in oil, and marked “CZ mfg.” on the bottom. But I don’t think the magazine can cause premature lock back…can only lead to failure to lock back after the last round is fired.
I’m going to order a new hold open catch spring. Any other thoughts on what may be causing the slide to lock back prematurely?
Thanks!
My first thought is the hold open catch spring is weak, allowing the slide stop to bounce up during live fire and engage the slide. But the spring is not obviously limp to me, recognizing I don’t have another CZ-52 for comparison.
FWIW, I believe the magazines I’m using are OEM. Bought ‘em off ebay, arrived packed in yellowed plastic (like new-old-stock), covered in oil, and marked “CZ mfg.” on the bottom. But I don’t think the magazine can cause premature lock back…can only lead to failure to lock back after the last round is fired.
I’m going to order a new hold open catch spring. Any other thoughts on what may be causing the slide to lock back prematurely?
Thanks!
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