Pictured above is my CZ-52. The former Czechoslovakia created some fine weapons, both handguns and rifles. The finest weapon, in my opinion, is the CZ-52, also known as the "Czech Hand Cannon."
Chambered for 7.62mm Tokarev (7.62X25mm), the Czechs had a special high velocity loading specifically designed for this handgun. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any of the high velocity Czech 7.62mm Tokarev ammunition. I have instead used, to date Winchester White Box 7.62 Tokarev 85 grain FMJ (yes, they sell this...it's made by Sellier and Bellot in the Czech Republic and reboxed) and Sellier and Bellot (S&B) 7.62mm Tokarev 85 grain FMJ. Been happy with all the ammunition I've fired in it so far, but haven't had the opportunity to fire any hollowpoints. It's very difficult to find any hollowpoints. I was lucky enough to get one box of hollowpoints from Makarov.com. They were made in Portugal by FNM. I haven't fired any of them, but the hollowpoint cavity appears a little small to guarantee expansion. I wish I had some ballistic gelatin to use to test them out. But, I guess I'll never know (unless they are used for home defense in an actual situation). Reed Ammunition and Research http://www.reedsammo.com/ has several hollowpoint loadings that I'll be trying out soon, once I get the money to experiment. Especially promising are the 85 grain and 100 grain XTP hollowpoints.
Shooting the CZ-52 at the range was interesting. I heard before that there would be "a foot of flame" coming out the front and that everyone on the range would stop shooting and stare at me, due to the "boom." Ok, none of that happened. No "foot of flame" and no onlookers staring intently. Also, the CZ-52 shot low, about 3-4 inches low. This is distressing...maybe it's due to the lower velocity of the non-Czech ammuntion. I mentally just put the front sight higher in the rear sight picture, and I manage to get reasonably close to Center of Mass. Not the perfect solution, but it works.
The handgun itself feels relatively confortable in the hand. The angle of the grip seems a bit off, but is easy to compenstate for. The safety is easy to operate with the right thumb. I have heard that the decock function of the safety is unsafe to use, due to the firing pin not always being blocked. As such, I have not decocked the handgun with the decock function of the safety with a round in the chamber. I have used it when the chamber was empty, with no ill effects.
The single-stack magazine holds 8 rounds. The magazine release is what is known as a "heel release." The magazine release is located behind the magazine floorplate when the magazine is inserted in the handgun. It is not in the location we are used to in the US, which is just below and behind the trigger guard. I don't see this as much of a problem, as long as you remember where it is.
The handgun is parkerized. I believe this is an original finish, and is not a rearsenaled finish. I've heard the rearsenaled finish is a dark blue/black color. I much prefer the parkerizing.
Disassembly is actually pretty simple. Remove the magazine. Pulling down on the two knobs in front of the trigger guard, one on each side, allows the slide to be removed. Remove the slide, which will contain the barrel, recoil spring, firing pin, sear, etc. The frame itself only contains the magazine and safety. I have yet to have removed anything from the slide, as cleaning was possible without removing anything. The CZ-52 uses a roller-block operating system, a modified version of that found in the German MG-42 GPMG of World War 2 fame (and still found in the modern German MG-3, same machine gun as the MG-42, slower rate of fire).
I've heard that the firing pin is cast, and is very weak. I've also heard that you're not to dry fire this weapon ever, unless you replace the firing pin with a forged firing pin. I have not yet replaced the firing pin, so I do not dry fire the CZ-52. I plan on one day replacing the firing pin, but not anytime in the near future.
It's possible to convert the CZ-52 to fire 9mm Luger ammunition. You switch out the barrel and extractor, and you've created a 9mm handgun. I might try this someday, but once again, not anytime in the near future.
I hope this helps anyone with their own CZ-52 or anyone considering purchasing a CZ-52. They're a bargain, a Czech diamond in the rough.
3 comments:
i have used the reeds ammo in 100 grain xtp's. do yourself afavor and get the 18.5 lbs. recoil spring. it puts less strain on the slide and rollers and make it more controlable. pretty good accuracy, and an awesome muzzle blast.
i also use polish mil surplus 70 rounds per brown box very accurate hp rounds. funny crimp usually spilts the case, but very good.
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