Surplus CZ-83?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Snejdarek said:
Again, Czechoslovakia was never part of Soviet Union, CZ guns were never manufactured in Soviet Union.
Click to expand...

But Czechoslovakia was a part of the Warsaw Pact which essentially controlled which ammo could be used in military weapons.

The CZ-75, which they created long before the fall of the Soviet Union was 9x19, a round that wasn't used by the Warsaw Pact. The CZ-75 was also apparently intended for export. Had it not been for a crippling Western Embargo of Soviet Bloc products, the CZ-75 would certainly have been far more popular in the U.S. during those dark years; it's only just now gaining the acceptance and popularity it deserved -- many years later.
 
My FiL has an excellent CZ83 in 380 from CDI. I think it was a $269 bid. It is in great shape. To be honest, I like it a little bit better than my Beretta 84. I would love to run across one at a reasonable price in 32acp.
 
what would it take to convert a .380 model to .32acp? just sleeve the barrel and weld up and re-cut the bolt face?
 
Dan Forrester said:
Whats the story with the apparently surplus CZ-83s on gunbroker? Are these old police guns?

Why would police forces from the Soviet Union be using .380 instead of 9X18?

Any idea on the condition of the guns? I find NIB CZ-83s (Czech Republic marked) for around $450 but these surplus (Czechoslovakia marked) can be had for the $250 range. Its worth the savings if they are not shot out. I don't mind holster wear at all but would like to get one with a low round count.

If anyone has picked one up lately let me know what condition yours was in and where you purchased it.

Thanks, Dan
Click to expand...
Stretch your budget a little and buy used Ruger SR9C, G26 or something similar. Much better guns than CZ82/CZ83.
 
PabloJ said:
Stretch your budget a little and buy used Ruger SR9C, G26 or something similar. Much better guns than CZ82/CZ83.
Click to expand...

I've had both, and still have an SR9c. That said, I would dispute your claim that the gun listed are much better guns than the CZ82/CZ83.

While I still have an SR9c and traded away two CZ82s, it wasn't because the SR9c was a better gun, but because I wanted a more powerful round (9x19) for concealed carry, and the SR9c does that very well. While I've had several Glocks, and like them, I really don't care for their sub-compacts. (The G19/G23/G32 and G38 are great compact guns, but bigger. I still have a G38.) I also have a CZ P-07, and I have had a hard time deciding which should be my regular carry weapon. The SR9c may eventually win out, because it's a tad smaller, but the P-07 is very comfortable carried concealed and easy to shoot well.

If you like metal, hammer-fired guns, and are comfortable with the 9x18 or .380 (9x17) rounds, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better value for your money for self- or home- defense. Only the Beretta 84 immediately comes to mind. The CZs are small enough to carry comfortably (but not pocket carry), and the double-stack mags offer good capacity.

Most of the small 9mms cost a good bit more and few hold as many rounds -- I had a Kahr P9, a Kahr CM9, a Kel-Tec P11 and PF-9 before I got the SR9c. I've also had several .380s (LCP and P3AT, and tried others.) I don't have any of those guns any longer, either -- even though all gave me good service. The Kel-Tec P3AT and Ruger LCP, tend to be guns you won't spend a lot of time practicing with, while the CZ-83 is more pleasant (but much larger.)

If you're want a hammer-fired, metal-framed gun, the CZ PCR is probably a better gun, because of the more potent round (9x19); it has the same capacity, and it's and only a hair longer, a bit lighter (1/2 inch), less tall, and a bit less wide. A CZ compact will cost you at least twice as much, even if used. And money does drive many gun-buying decisions.

.
 
Last edited:
Hi everyone, I thought this thread was dead!

Snejdarek said:
Again, Czechoslovakia was never part of Soviet Union, CZ guns were never manufactured in Soviet Union.
Click to expand...

I thought I was someone who knew my history pretty well but did not know this. I guess I have a little reading up to do.

Looks like you you have a beautiful country! I’m happy to see your people are taking the proper steps to keep it that way!

“justin” said:
what would it take to convert a .380 model to .32acp? just sleeve the barrel and weld up and re-cut the bolt face?
Click to expand...

I think it would just take a barrel. Remember the .32 acp is a rimmed cartridge. I don’t have a .32 acp round in front of me but I would imagine with the .32 being rimmed and the .380 being rimless the bolt face and extractor would be the same. I see both .32 acp barrels and magazines available for order on CZ-USA or www.midwayusa.com.

“PabloJ” said:
Stretch your budget a little and buy used Ruger SR9C, G26 or something similar. Much better guns than CZ82/CZ83.
Click to expand...

Budget isn’t a concern. I probably have half a dozen modern semi auto pistols from Glock, FN, Sig, etc. But what I really enjoy are the more oddball guns in my collection like my P64, Makarov, Sig P232, CZ-82. When it comes to serious business I have a boring soulless Glock 19.

“Ignition Override” said:
The majority of CZ-83s on Gunbroker have been continually relisted there for at least the last three months.
Click to expand...

Do you think I would be better off buying something like that? One of the “Czech Republic” guns as opposed to the “Czechoslovakia” guns?

The entire reason I posted this thread was because I purchased a Bar-Sto CZ-83 threaded .380 barrel. I really don’t want to remove the barrel from my CZ-82 since I would like to leave those original. I figured I would purchase a CZ-83 and change out the barrel on that.

Does anyone know where I can buy a barrel press? I changed out a barrel on a Makarov before and it wasn’t too big a deal. I figure I can do it on a CZ-83.

Thanks, Dan
 
Snejdarek said:
RugerSR9C-Stress-Crack.jpg
Click to expand...
My Gen IV G20 has >1300 rounds through it ranging from weak PPU loads to Winchester Silvertip and HPR ammo. There is remarkably little wear on the gun just small line on bottom of the barrel and slight rub mark on inner top of slide. The durability and reliability of this weapon is outstanding. If plastic frame crack I understand replacement is around $60. What is truly remarkable is how easy it is to handle with full power loads. I rather shoot that than full size 1911 .45 with standard 230gr ball ammo.
 
Last edited:
Dan Forrester said:
I think it would just take a barrel. Remember the .32 acp is a rimmed cartridge. I don’t have a .32 acp round in front of me but I would imagine with the .32 being rimmed and the .380 being rimless the bolt face and extractor would be the same. I see both .32 acp barrels and magazines available for order on CZ-USA or www.midwayusa.com
Click to expand...

If all you need is a barrel and mags, you'd might be home free. I suspect that someone at CZ-USA would know what parts are needed if the conversion can be easily done with parts alone. The CZ-USA site does says that the .32 ACP barrel is for the .32 version only.

If the .32 barrel has the same outside diameter as the other two barrels (like Tanfoglio did with their small-frame 9mm and .40s) the .32 ACP barrel might press fit just like the 9x18 and 9x17 barrels do. It looks as though the CZ-USA prices are cheaper than other vendors, too.

The breechface and extractor may be the biggest issues. I suspect there will be more space at the top of the breech face when converting a .380 to .32 ACP -- and that could allow some slop when positioning the round for it's trip into and out of the chamber. The extractor alone may not be enough to position the round properly.

It would be interesting to know whether they all use the same extractor and ejector. While the diameters of the .32 ACP rim (.358/9.1mm) and .380 rim (.374/ 9.5mm) aren't THAT different, that small amount may be great enough to make extraction and ejection a bit erratic.
 
Last edited:
There is no Glock ever that is as sweet shooting as the CZ-82. No way. Not even sure why Glock was brought up in this great thread. I have owned quite a few Glocks. Sold them. I do have a Glock 20SF Longslide. Great gun. But back to CZ-82,-83. A .32ACP would be OK, but I doubt I would shoot it much. I also own a VZ-70 32ACP. Fun little gun, but maybe every couple years I shoot it.
 
is there any difference at all between the 380 and 9x18 slides? is the 380 slide a tad lighter or does it merely use lighter springs to compensate for the lower energy output of .380?.. if they are in fact the same, then a .380 should be able to be pushed up to 9x18 or higher as my understanding is the CZ82 was designed for a 9x18 cartridge loaded hotter than the russian stuff

i practice instinctive shooting that relies on hand-eye coordination... combine the ergos, pointability, and fixed barrel accuracy of the CZ-82 and you can see how i really like them and pistols like them for defensive purposes
 
Last edited:
Dan Forrester:
I can't make any seasoned recommendations on any handguns, as my interest in them developed only about two years ago.
The vast majority of my plinking/handgun exposure is while shooting alone.

To parallel the experienced advice which is often found here, have you checked on "the Original CZ Forums (the 82/83 forum)"? Even "Surplusrifle" has a Czech handgun category, plus Polish and Russian.
 
Last edited:
The CZ is mass produced pistol therefore to save costs the slides should be identical. My Gen IV G20 will function with both PPU and Winchester Silvertip ammo where velocity difference is around 200fps. The difference between 9x17 and 9x18 is about 50fps therefore other than barrels themselves (the 9x18 has greater bullet diameter) everything else is same. The 7,65mm CZ 83 are far less common because they sold as well as stale bread when they were offered in USA. Several years ago LGS had half a dozen at closeout prices because nobody wanted to buy one.
 
I just contacted CZ-USA about the .380 to .32 conversion. Ill let you know what their response is.

Thanks Ignition Override, i'll go check out the "Original CZ Forums" once this thread dies.

Still can't find any info on a barrel press to instal my new Bar-Sto threaded barrel. I asked CZ-USA about that and if they can recommend a gunsmith too.

Ill post the response when I get it.

Dan
 
Here's my update from CZ USA. They were very quick to respond to me. Got back within 24 hours. Unfortunately it looks like the conversion can't be done.

Andy - CZ USA said:
It is not reasonably possible to convert an 82/83 to 32 acp if it was not original made for 32 acp. The breech face on the slide will be much larger on the 38 browning and 9mm Makarov and a simple extractor swap will not work. The only possibility would require welding and recutting the slide, which would likely cost much more than simply purchasing an 82 in 32 acp.

Thank you, Andy
Click to expand...
 
Not sure on the CZ, but the Beretta 84 can be converted from 380 to 32 with a barrel swap. Over at the BerettaForum, a few have done it.

I have had a CZ82 for quite a few years, and it is a fine pistol. But I like the Beretta 84F I got from CDI much, much more.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
CZ-82 vs. CZ-83
Replies
6
Views
4K
wally
wally
T
  • Locked
CZ-83
2
Replies
38
Views
2K
CZguy
C
W
  • Locked
CZ-83 - Options? Availability? Why Good?
2
Replies
38
Views
3K
wbond
W
H
  • Locked
Cz 82
Replies
12
Views
1K
M2 Carbine
M
The_Shootist
  • Locked
CZ-83 in .32ACP
Replies
9
Views
2K
usp9
usp9
Back
Top