About to get a CZ82

So after a lot of research, I have been looking for something that can integrate a little of everything I want in a handgun. I want something durable, reliable, accurate, powerful, high capacity, ambidextrous, concealable, and most significantly...affordable! And I think I've found just that in the CZ82. I like that it has polygonal rifling. Most testing I have read shows that it gives anywhere from 150-250 more FPS than regular Makarov handguns. As a currently enlisted member of the military, I CANT STAND the M16A2 that I trained with for so long, and realized if I am going to rely on a weapon, it has to be something that isn't a pain in the ass to clean. I am honestly a fan of switching to something like the Chinese AK's (But please don't draw the thread that way), but mostly because I want something durable. I do blackpowder shooting and I feel like Im cleaning my .45cal muzzleloader when I clean out an M16A2, let alone the damned star chamber...So I liked the Polygonal rifling in that it left the bore cleaner and didn't catch so much carbon in the grooves.

I also liked how easily it can be field stripped. The ambidextrous safety and mag release seems to make this an ideal gun for combat and/or defense situations just depending on what hand gets to it first, and the steel frame makes it a good CQC tool. Its heavy enough to be used for self defense but light enough to conceal and not worry about (I tried one on at a gunstore). Despite the fat grip, it tucked away well. Im not a big guy, Im about 5ft 9in and I weigh around 145-150, but Ive got some good size hands, that are begging me to not get a dinky gun. The name CZ just speak reliability, and have never heard anything negative about this gun.

I know theres a lot of fans out there who are going to probably thrash this and say if its not their brand then its not good enough...if its not this caliber its not big enough...yea whatever, I don't believe that. If caliber made all the difference, why do we use a 5.56 vs Haji with 7.62? Doesn't make sense right? Its all about where the bullet goes, and what you do with it. A .22 Magnum with do more damage than a .44 magnum if the .44 misses and the .22 doesn't...Its all in the shooting, right? So me being a 9x18 guy, I like the inexpensive ammo, I can get 500 rounds for about $114, and I can get 50rd boxes for $7...Kinda nice...Buffalo Bore makes a nice 9x18 round with 115grains that will do about as much as a 9x19, which is also commonly packed in a 115gr. One thing I read, that I have yet to confirm, is that the 9x18 Buffalo Bore packed tighter than a normal 9mm luger with the same grain measurements will equal a more compact explosion, creating a hotter load, but a more powerful shot, which supposedly the CZ82 was made to handle. And with 12 rounds, it will make a fine defensive weapon I should hope. Oh, and its affordable. $199 from J&G Sales.

I now open this to anyone who has an opinion on the 82! Please keep it mature, and I honestly don't want to hear about how my gun won't survive being dropped from six stories, be able to put 50k rounds through it, being able to bla bla bla...CZ makes a quality gun, and they've yet to do me wrong. I don't need a pocket M1A1 abrams guys! 8P

Anyone CCW this BTW? What are some good holsters, mag holders, places/ways to conceal, etc...

I share your appreciation for the CZ-Mak equivalent. My first handgun after I got my CCW license in CT was a CZ-83 in .380, and I love it. It sits in my night table drawer, full of Speer Gold Dots in the mag, just in case an Unwelcome Wagon person shows up at night. The polygonal MAK barrel is fascinating, albeit I have never seen one in the flesh.

Only thing about the 82 is, that would have to be a surplused Czech Army handgun, which is only in 9mm Makarov. If you already have found one, go for it, by all means! If not, check with CZ-USA , Guns America, etc. about getting a CZ-83 in 9mm MAK. As you know, the 83 was designed for commercial sale after the Iron Curtain fell, and to be more attractive for commercial sale, was designed to be chambered in .380 (USA market), 9x18 (for Makarov lovers), and .32 acp (for the rest of the European market (and for some countries which do not allow guns in military calibers), since the 82 was already scheduled to go out of production, since the Czech Republic was pushing hard to be the first ComBloc satellite country to be accepted into NATO, and needed a 9x19 sidearm (hence the P-01.)

Only issue I can think of is the slighly bulkier size because of the double stack mag, whereas most other guns in that caliber are single stack (at the cost of 3 to 5 rounds of ammo). The old Walther PPK/S and the MAK itself (even in ComBloc equivalents like the Polish and Hungarian versions) have only 7 rounds at best. If you are intending it for carry, there are not a lot of holsters around because it was a ComBloc gun until the mid 90s. I bought a MAK repro holster, softened it up, and left the gun in it for about a month. There may be others who have found alternatives, and CZ-USA has a holster, IIRC.

I am quite fond of the 9x18, I like the idea of a round thats a bit bigger than .380, and I would prefer 9mm luger, but with a Buffalo Bore 9x18, thats going to put a 9x19 to shame any day when they both have 115gr. Not to mention the polygonal rifling really is sweet, which is not available (to my knowledge) in the CZ83.

Do you carry yours?

The CZ82 is one of the best handguns out there.

You folks are making me wonder if I need a second CZ82.

Awesome gun. Buy it and don't look back. Load some decent FMJ's in there and have at it.

Ok so I have heard that in a 9mm Mak and lower you generally will get better penetration with an FMJ rather that HP ammo...Again Im new to owning modern firearms (Have a Kentucky .45 Rev War era, and a .36 1851 Navy) so Im more familiar with rifles, shotguns, blackpowder, fowlers, etc...

I used to carry my CZ 83 on a regular basis.

On a side note, to make a comment on your OP, you may know this, but don't carry over your military firearms cleaning practices to your personal firearms. Most military cleaning practices are idiotic. They do more harm than good.

The CZ82 is incredibly accurate, ergonomic and easy to shoot. Any shortcomings the 9x18 round may have with size, energy or the all-mythical "Stopping Power" are made up for with it's accuracy IMO. Load it with your favorite JHP and enjoy it.

No, the last three years I have been sidelined and disabled with a medical problem which severely limits my activity. CT is a weird state (typical for states run by Democrats) when it comes to carrying; while there is no law on the books which forbids OPEN CARRY, police will charge me with "Disturbing the Peace" if any squeamish butthead even SEES my pistol.

Prior to my medical problem, I always had it with me. I had a job which required a business suit, so it was easy to hide. If I did not think I needed it, I would have a cheap Staples $20 black briefcase which I would store it in in my car. Periodically I would need to spend one to three nights in Hartford, the state capital, which is about an hour from my home; rather than drive, I would get a motor Inn room to save the wear and tear of driving, and having to get up real early to be in Hartford by 7:30 class time. Whenever I did those trips, I always had my 83 on me; Hartford is a city not too far behind New Haven in terms of drugs, gangs, and shootings. While I sometimes would think about also having my 75-BD with me, just in case, I always had at least my 83.

BTW, if you find/order an 83 in 9mm Mak from CZ-USA, it will have the polygonal rifling; it is standard with the 9x18 chamber in the 83..

As I said about CT and its weirdness, if I use my sidearm to defend myself, and a round totally penetrates the BG and continues on to hurt an innocent bystander. I end up in more trouble than the BG who tried to break into my room to hurt me. Just another law to dissuade Nutmeggers from defending themselves. And in the state made famous by Colonel Colt! See how Progressives FUBAR everything when they take over government!. So I do my darndest to keep possibility of pass-thru penetration to a minimum by using Gold Dots and practicing my marksmanship whenever I can. That doesn't mean I don't have a half dozen boxes of FMJs on hand, only that I got into a Gold Dot exhibition with Speer reps several years ago at my local range, and the 83 and the Gold Dot did the best job of all the HPs that were fired. One guy had been a Golden Sabre user for years, and my 83 with the Gold Dot totally outclassed his shot; the friggin head of the bullet was the size of a quarter!. He emptied his gun and walked into the range store to buy two boxes of Gold Dots for his .380 PPK/S. (My son did the same thing with his SA XD-40 at his range in PA; his buddies were all speechless.)

I would trust my life to my CZ-82. They're outstanding pistols that just happen to be "inexpensive", but not "cheap".

It is a military-grade gun, designed so that it can be subjected to harsh military conditions and still work.

The CZ-82 is easily one of the best buys (and possibly THE best buy) in a handgun. I'm convinced that the only reason they don't sell more of them, is because of the odd (to us here in the U.S.) caliber. But that said, 9x18 ammo is easy enough to find, and not expensive.

Go for it!

9Mak, I just got a CDNN Catalog in the mail (#2011-4). The catalog is also on the web site at CDNNInvestments.com in an Adobe pdf file (big, but saves paper).

- Page 26 shows Good-to-VGood CZ-82sfor $180 in 9mm Mak with one 12 rd mag.
- Milsurp 12 rd mags are $30. (new 82/83 mags at CZ-USA are $39 for 10 rd and $43 for 12 rd) Same mags can be used for both .380 and 9x18.
- 3.8 inch polygonal barrel.
- Accessories available appear to be:
- officer holster fits 2" belt (in European armies, by tradition only officers carry sidearms), good $6, LN-2-E, $13.
- 1 mag pouch, used, good, $5.

One more piece of info which might contain a clue about the reputation and quality of CZ firearms: during the Cold War, all ComBloc satellite countries were expected by the Russkies to produce either the SKS or the AK-47, both in 7.62x39. Interestingly, the Czechoslovaks had their own assault rifle, which was not an AK-47 knock-off. In fact, it was a mod of the German STG44, which some say was the first Assault Rifle. Neither did they make a Makarov clone; they equipped their officers with the CZ-82 with a double stack grip and 13 9x18 rounds. They had arguably an explosives factory equal to our E.I. DuPont (the Skoda Works), and the ammo coming out of S&B was some of the best in the Communist world. During WW2, after being invaded by the German Wehrmacht, CZ Brno produced a K98K Mauser clone (the VZ-24) which some collectors say was better made than the rifles coming out of the Mauser factory itself. CZ Brno designed the British Bren light machine gun. The gun was designed in Brno, and was made at the Brit Enfield factory, hence the name BREN gun. I guess the point that comes through is that even their enemies respected CZ's ability to design and produce quality firearms.

Damn!! I just bought mine for $199...I coulda saved $20...Oh wel...

Thats very interesting though. I am a firm believer that if a company can build a firearm that has modern technology that is so good that they continue to build the gun after 30 years, there must be something sensual and just 'right' about the gun. I know its not a .40, and I know Glock fans wont accept anything thats not Glock, but I think the CZ82, from everything I have seen and read, can put any modern 9MM Luger, 9MM Mak, or .380 ACP to shame. I'll report back after I go toe to toe with some glock, sig, and other fans at the range!

Good to hear you were able to get one. Don't sweat $10 or $20; the difference is you have yours NOW: by the time you could have called the CDNN FFL clerks, you may have gotten the word they were sold out. One in the hand is worth two in the bush.

The 82/83 is very easy to field-strip and clean (CZ-USA has a youtube video on its website, or you can go to youtube directly.), and take a look at the mags. If you clean the mags, before you do the cleaning, take some pictures periodically as you disassemble it with a digital camera or webcam, in order to help putting them back together properly. A mag spring reassembled in reverse will screw up the functionality. IIRC, CZ-USA has a pdf doc of the user manual for download.

BTW, did you get 2 mags with your gun? Given that they are costly even if used (CDNN's cost $30 used; the 2 I bought for my 83 were in VG/ex condition), if you got 2 mags, you came out ahead. The only sources I know of for mags for 82/83 guns are the used ones that came from the Czech military when the guns and accessories were milsurped, and CZ itself for new ones. At issue is long term availability; consider saving a few sheckles and buying up at least enough so you have at least 4 to 6 mags.

We look fwd to your reports, and pics would be great also!

Indeed!! I have not bought the extra mags yet, I am still trying to find a place to pick some up cheaper. I havent found it yet, but there has to be someone with magazines cheaper than $30.

I've got 2 CZ83's one in .380 & the other in 9mmM. Several extra mags, both pistols & calibers use the same mags:). I plan on trying to pick up one in .32acp whenever I run across one and probably will grab a up 82 while they're inexpensive. They're great smaller caliber pistols, of course it's hard for me to say anything bad about CZ's

$30 is pretty much the going rate for these magazines. If they're available anywhere for less, I haven't seen 'em.

The CZ-82 I bought about four years ago from Aim Surplus came with two mags, and I bought two more for $25/each. I'd like to have a couple more mags, but at $30 each I'll just stick with the four I have.

BTW, the 82 I bought was pristine. It looked like it had been fired very little, if at all. The ones available today are mostly in "good" or "very good" condition, but not "excellent" condition like they were years ago. Not that it really matters. I can't imagine anyone ever wearing one of these out.

Damn you guys.

Just ordered one from wideners.

2 mags plus all the other stuff that I won't use (duty holster, lanyard, cleaning rod. $199 + shipping.

I have one. It's mostly a house gun, and a range toy my wife enjoys shooting. I carry it when I ride my ATV. They are excellent quality, aside from the finish. Fine for carry, but there are many better choices available these days. For someone on a budget, they will do just fine.

I prefer to say that you made an investment in a fully equipped piece of Eastern European firearm history. All guns eventually become "collectibles",
and later sales value is often enhanced when you have the particular accessories (the whole becomes greater than the sum of the parts).
Think positive!

Honestly, the CZ 82 is one of the last items on my list of "readily available and inexpensive C&R guns" that I had left to buy before I start focusing on the less common guns that I'd like to own. I figure that stuff like the CZ 82 may be inexpensive for now, but hell, look at M44's now compared to even just a year ago. If the prices on those are going up, who knows what's next right?

So I was going to order one eventually, I just hadn't really planned on doing it yesterday.

VAQ, I hear what you're saying. The problem always comes down to our reach always being greater than our grasp, and our foolish assumption that we can always be in control; in my case, I had to finish up some financial obligations before I could get serious about the geld that would be needed to buy guns, finally changing the "want to" to the "able to" that had to be for the 30 years that I had three beautiful kids to raise, paying for braces, college, a first car, etc. I had about 6 good years to build and enjoy shooting my collection, before my medical condition hit me, which fouled up all my plans. It is something like what General George S. Patton said about plans, that "you can plan all you want, but the minute the shooting starts, all your plans go to h_ll".

In any case, we who partake of and enjoy the shooting sports are usually one of two types: the first type who buys a small number of guns and only gets a modicum of time to enjoy them, and the second type, who gets into the sport with both hands and feet, and who probably ends up building a collection of firearms, making it almost an avocation. The latter type are probably often members of groups, clubs, internet boards, etc., like most of us. In my case, Uncle Sam and my Dad, a WW2 vet, also had influence in building interest and proficiency in all of the aspects of the sport. Uncle Sam taught me to maintain the small arms for my company, something I enjoyed very much. So just as I have a Makarov-equivalent CZ-83, a weapon carried by my enemies during the Cold War, I also have an M1903, an M-1 Garand, an M-1 Carbine, an MiA and an AR-15, and an M1911 and a Beretta M9 equivalent. Was it necessary for me to buy all of them? Heck no, but the interest in acquiring and shooting all of them is a form of paying tribute to those who designed, built, and fought wars with them. And heaven knows we owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have defended our country since the beginning of this longest-standing government in the current world.

End of my First and Second Amendment rant, and let us all be wary of those who would gladly take those rights away from us.

Agree.

Well the 82 came in today, and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with the quality of this little pistol.

Can't wait to get out and shoot it!

Laser beam accurate with brown bear steel, well balanced feel for it's weight ( it is heavy for it's size), cocked and locked single action with DA as well. Easily a 4-500 dollar pistol for half the price.

.... and here I am about to get my 3rd ..... got the deal made and all, just need to find the time to meet the seller and finalize the transfer. Why do I need 3 CZ-82? I don't know, 3 is better than 2, right?

People collect all kinds of things. CZ82's just happen to be very functional, quality things to collect.

Bought a couple CZ82's a few months ago. Both shot well but felt that the slides recoiled very hard against the rear of the frame and were uncomfortable to shoot. I ordered heavier recoil springs from Wolf and that seemed to solve the problem. Wolf also included new firing pin springs too. Can't beat a CZ82 for quality/reliability. Fun gun to shoot.

Picked up my 3rd CZ82 a couple days ago. Very good condition. The grip is a bit rough, but still very solid. Cannot wait to shoot it. Local private seller for $200 (comes with 2 mags, holster, and pouch). Then he let me have 7 boxes of Silver Bear for $50. I think I got a good deal.

I have been carrying one of the CZ82 as my ccw piece this week. I use an IWB holster made for the KelTec P11. It was a good fit and comfortable enough to carry while driving. I have some Silver Bear JHP, but for 9x18 I usually loaded the mags with FMJ. With this time being winter and people wear thicker clothings, I think FMJ would fare better if I have to use it.

Just remember that a fair number of CZ 82s will not function reliably with the 115gr. Silver Bear JHPs. Mine won't even think of working with them. My Bulgarian Mak will though.

I have heard bad things about Silver Bear JHP 115gr, but I have heard the CZ82 is good to go with the Buffalo Bore 115gr

Finally got to get out and shoot my 82 the other day. My initial impressions are good. Accurate (it's a better shot than I am), easy to shoot, solid little gun.

I've already ordered a Wolff extra power recoil spring (the stock spring feels pretty worn. It still cycles fine, my hand just took a beating from the recoil).

If I can ever find the time to mold up a holster for it, I'll be carrying this little gun for sure.

Time to order up some buffalo bore....

I know I need a third.

It is cheaper to buy a 3rd CZ-82 than it is to buy spare parts... So it is a good reason to build the arsenal.

After reviewing info at this site and others, I ordered several CZ-82's from SOG International. Two or more cash price is $179 each and they come with two 12rd mags each. There is a 3% up-charge for using a CC. Shipping for six CZ-82's with two mags each plus four P-64 mags was $38. Condition listed on their site was good to very good. I'm not overly concerned with what the finish looks like just as long as they function properly and the barrels are not shot out.

I'll be stripping and trying my hand at parkerizing these units. May even try my hand at Duracoating a few after they are parkerized and installing some nicer grips.

Mark

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