FN 1922, FEG AP MBP or CZ 50??

[Redcoat3340]

I'm looking to add to a very small collection of 7.65's (Beretta model 70, Beretta 1935 and 1915/17.) Trying to decide between FN 1922 (love the Browning design, length of barrel, C&R status, and grip safety); FEG (decent reputation, and its a poor man's PP) and the CZ 50 (C&R right to my door and other CZ's I've had were good guns.)

Anyone have any pros or cons to any of these. I'm shopping carefully and pricing seems to be between $225 and $350. I'm willing to trade looks (to a point) for good bore.

So far, just looking online. Need to do some yellow-pages shopping at LGS.

 

[HPShooter]

The FN 1922 would be a nice addition to your collection, and being a JMB design, they always run (unless broken or worn out, or the mag is bad). A lot of history with those pieces. Apparently every fourth G.I., Sailor, or Airman in the E.T.O. brought one of these back, too, in their seabags. There are a lot of them around with Kreigsmarine markings, it looks like the German Navy issued them heavily.

The FEG MBP is in the family that includes the PA-63; in fact I think it was the first postwar FEG Walther influenced designs the others were developed from. In my experience the PA-63 is stone reliable out of the box - the MBP should be as well. I think they started making them in '48.

Good candidate for CCW, no collectible value unless you just want to have one of each of the (thankfully) former ComBloc stuff. I've seen no complaints on the boards about the MGP, either.

The CZ-50 is well made but probably requires Euro .32/7.65mm to run. Due to a combination of mag design and apparently a very slight dimensional difference in the cartridge case, like the improved version - the CZ-70.

CZ-70s love Euro .32 but you probably won't even be able to load a full mag of U.S. .32 in them.

With that caveat, both the CZ-50 and CZ-70 are reliable with ball. All I ever shoot in .32 anyway. As with the MGP, good for CCW once thoroughly test fired.

One last precaution - when the CZ-50s were coming in by the shipping container about 12 - 15 years ago, they had a tendency to break firing pins in the shaft - apparently a weakness in the type of metal used. For a while there was an aftermarket replacement firing pin out there because it was a relatively common problem.

I'd see what the guys on the Gunboards Forum Czech forum have to say about the CZ-50, too.

BTW my $200 pawn shop find Beretta 1935, stamped 1941 - which looks like it went through the war for sure externally and has a slightly loose grip - shoots as reliably as anything I've ever owned - NO problems. Like a lot of these older
designs, built to run all day in adverse conditions as the first design priority.

 

[Tallball]

I love my FEG AP 32acp. It is pretty and well-balanced and shoots well. However, some of them seem to arrive with iffy magazines and you might have to adjust the lips a little. Mine doesn't like American ammo. AIM Surplus had them for $199, but are out of stock right now.

I just got my CZ70 a few days ago and haven't shot it yet. Southern Ohio gun has them for $199, or $249 for super nice ones with box, holster, spare magazine, and cleaning brush. It is a little heavier than the FEG and maybe not quite as pretty. I think it has a steel frame instead of alloy. It is supposed to be a slightly improved model of the CZ50. The fit and finish look very good. I will take it shooting this weekend. (I have heard that these might not like American ammo either, we will see.)

 

[bannockburn]

My brother has an FN Model 1922 and it is very well made. I believe it was part of a pre-war contract with Yugoslavia (I seem to recall seeing a royal crest on the top of the slide). Probably some G.I.s war trophy bring-back as somewhere done the line someone had it nickel plated. The upside of that was whoever did the plating did a first class job with it, making it look like it was a presentation piece.

 

[HPShooter]

PS Maybe a little off topic, but for Redcoat, I've got a Beretta Model 70 .in .32, too.......what a beauty, and a good shooter, too. It got me a little hooked on the Model 70s in general. I finally snagged a Model 70S in .22 in December for target practice with the daughter on the cheap (well, come to think of it, shooting a .22 used to be cheap, anyway).

Reliable small guns that you can hit with are better than cannons which are either too big for easy concealment - or which are hard to hit with for some - or (with certain new models rushed to market too fast recently) unreliable, and subject to recalls.

Make no mistake, I am a firm and loyal believer in the Browning Hi Power.....but
the .32 ACP is no BB. I think it's more effective in the small gun role than .380.......so did the German Army, read somewhere they extensively tested both calibers and picked der 7.65 Browning, ja?

 

[Walkalong]

I really enjoy shooting my FN Model 1922. The trigger is smooth but heavy, which makes me concentrate, which is good. Very dependable. I don't have either one of the other two.

 

[lincen]

I have owned and shot all three. The CZ-70 was traded to fund another purchase but it was a good shooting gun other than the heavy double action trigger pull. The FEG is still a bargain at $200 and the trigger pull can be reduced with a lighter spring. It is so similar to the Walther PP that an FEG was used in a gunsmith video for the Walther.

Now the FN 1922, I have two, may be one of the remaining bargains in old war time handguns. Both of mine are great shooters, reliable, accurate, and still less than $350 each.

 

[Redcoat3340]

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Well, I made a decision and choose an FN 1922. Figured it was the most classic, I can use my C&R, probably shoots a bit better than the others with its longer barrel, and I like the Browning design (I just got a Hi Power clone via an FEG,)

Here's a few pics from the Gunbroker ad. Yeah, it was nickeled and that kills any real collector value, but it was listed as in perfect mechanical shape with a near perfect bore. As I like to shoot 'em more than assemble a "collection," I figured condition was more important at the $325 price point I paid for it than spending another $100 or so for a collector piece.

It'll take a week or so for it to arrive, so more pics and a range report when I get it.

thanks for the advice, it was all much appreciated. (And will go towards what I buy next, even though I'm swearing, "This is my last pistol.")

 

[HPShooter]

Great choice, a unique classic. You can pick up the FEG and CZ next time. Looking forward to the range report.

 

[Monac]

I'd suggest a Beretta Model 100 if they didn't always get bid up sky high. They're a 32 ACP target pistol on the Beretta 70 series frame, and not much bigger than an FN 1922.

The other guns that come to my mind are the FN 1900 (first of the breed), the Colt 1903 (a certified American classic, but quite pricey nowadays), or the H&R Self-Loader (one of those unusual guns that shoot much better than they look).

Of the ones you list, I would get the FEG. It's probably the most pleasant to shoot, and I don't think I have a gun from Hungary. I think it is also the lightest, because it has an aluminum frame, but I'm not sure about that. I think the FN 1922 has tiny sights and a poorly shaped grip, but I've never owned one.

 

[Redcoat3340]

I was tracking a Beretta 100 on Gunbroken, but when it went over $550 or so I decided it was waaay more than I wanted to pay. Let a serious collector have it. I've got a Beretta 70, and except for a bit of hammer bite (bought some golf gloves I'll use to protect hand) I liked the way it shoots. Not sure what my next purchase will be....think I'll focus on making a bunch of ammo, sink a couple of bucks into getting a beat up Smith 3904 Cerakoted, and think about a Swiss 96/11 or another K-31.

 

[lincen]

Very nice looking 1922 FN. you will be very pleased with it and admire the simple design of J M Browning. Others have said and you may know already that the European ammo tends to be a little hotter and cycles better in these old 32's. I buy Sellier and Bellot, Privi, and Fiocchi. They are the correct loads for these guns. Winchester white box is some of the lightest loads.

 

[bannockburn]

Redcoat3340

Great choice. Looks much like the one my brother got years ago. Let us know how it does at the range. Another nice .32 to be on the look out for is the Beretta Model 90 Roma. A beautiful sleek design that so often characterizes Beretta pistols.