Author Topic: CZ 83 Magazine Loader – maybe for some  (Read 3029 times)

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Offline ILpaul

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CZ 83 Magazine Loader – maybe for some
« on: November 06, 2020, 05:24:29 PM »
I think I contacted every magazine loader manufacturer on the web, regarding a loader for CZ83  .32ACP. I have received “sorry” or no response period. I finally found a product by Rock&Load, which seemed promising, and at a low cost.
I own RAE Industries .32ACP loader. It is a sleeve type with a vertical “beak” to push the cartridges into the magazine. Its performance may be just above dismal. These types of loaders push the cartridge down in a single point, near the primer end. After about a half magazine the cartridges start to rack katywompus. I normally use chop sticks to straighten thing out.
The Rock&Load design has a continuous ramp, which allows equal pressure along the entire cartridge length.

This is a report on the Rock&Load Speed Loader 32ACP 380ACP 9MM 40Cal 45ACP Single/Double Stack
https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Load-Loader-380ACP-Single/dp/B07H9DFDCR?th=1

Web pictures always look good, but I was greatly disappointed upon my receipt of the loader.
1. It would not work for the .32ACP. The cartridge ramp is 5/16” (0.3125”) wide, and the inside dimension of my magazine cartridge “grasp” lips is 0.296”. The loader ramp is 0.0165” too wide.
2. The lasted design change and/or cost reduction removed the based center support, directly under the cartridge ramp. This would be the exact location where you would exert the most force and pressure.
3. The overall base dimensions are quite small. Good manual dexterity by me was required to load.
4. The general overall build quality is quite poor. Including the cartridge ramp not centered between the flared wings.
5. The pictorial instructions took a while to understand, and allow proper operation.

My choices now are: return, with probably added cost(s); trash can it, and eat the $9.99; or MacGyver it. I chose the MacGyver route, because the modifications did not appear difficult. I was running out of sources, and the Rock&Load design operational concept looked solid.

My first modification was to narrow the ramp. I just filed it narrower by about 1/64”. This is when I discovered the ramp was not centered between the flared wings.
Hint #1 – Take an aluminum beverage can and cut some strips to fit between the ramp and wings – bend ends under. This will be a sacrificial plate to minimize possible damage to the base. Also, place tape on the side of the file, which faces the wings.

Next I used a scrap piece of plywood to increase the base size. I also could have used a length of board to allow clamping to a work surface. 

To add a support under the ramp, I chose a tongue depressor (I have 100’s - they are my shop essential).
It was slightly not thick enough. My remedy was a generous bead of hot-melt glue. As the glue begins to setup, use the loader to push the tongue depressor to the exact height needed.
Hint #2 – Use forceps or needle nose pliers to position the tongue depressor with glue. This could probably prevent burned finger(s). Hot-melt glue sticks to human flesh the same as to wood.

Finally, I screwed the loader to the plywood base, over the new support.

It was now time to test the modifications. This is where I had problems understanding the instructions. I placed a cartridge on the ramp, and could not load it into the magazine. It took me a while to understand the problem. I was trying to load a totally empty magazine.
Hint #3 – The instructions step #1 and associated photo have a cartridge in the magazine. After I “hand loaded” a round into the loader functioned as depicted.

Addendum: after about 1/2 magazine I was developing some non-pickup loading issues. I attributed it to the small diameter of the .32ACP, the height of the cartridge stop on the ramp. I trimmed off 1/16”-3/32” off the post, and was able to continue to the full [15] rounds without hiccups.

SUMMARY: The loader functions twice as well as the sleeve & “beak” type at half the cost. Minimal skill and tools are needed to make changes. Because of my large base size, it may not be the most range friendly loader. If you were to consider this loader, I would contact the Amazon seller to ask about availability of the version, with the center support under the cartridge ramp - regardless of color.   





bonj

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Re: CZ 83 Magazine Loader – maybe for some
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2020, 04:49:13 PM »
My Makershot Speed Loader #LDQ works fine. Sometimes the last round needs a push with a manual type loader device from Magloader.com

Offline vmr357

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Re: CZ 83 Magazine Loader – maybe for some
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2021, 03:32:38 AM »
That's a very interesting loader. I tried the Rae loader which they claimed would work for the .32 cartridge. It didn't. I looked at the UpLULA which worked so well on my 9's and 380's, but it was impossible to get the beak through the feed lips of a .32 magazine. What I decided to do was to get a second UpLULA and modify it. I bought a bright colored one so not to mix them up. I carefully filed the sides of the beak until it would pass through the magazine lips. The difficulty is that the beak locked into the body of the UpLULA and you have to get the file between the metal beak and the plastic body of the loader, but with careful filing I was able narrow the beak without damaging the loader.

Offline ILpaul

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Re: CZ 83 Magazine Loader – maybe for some
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2021, 11:24:16 AM »
I originally contacted RAE Industries for a .32ACP. the original one they sent didn't work. They said they would design and furnish free of charge a .32ACP model. The replacement had a design flaw. The vertical "beak" (for cartridge depression) was set to close to the base of the cartridge. This caused severe racking issues after [5] rounds. It was possible to load all [15] rounds after numerous "secondary" manipulations of rounds already in the magazine. I let RAE know of this, but do not know of their actions.

The MagLULA UpLULA 24222 Univ. Pistol Magazine Loader was primarily designed for 9mm. It does happen to work with other calibers, but not .32ACP. DenStinett a forum member does modifications to convert it for .32ACP. They are similar to the beak reduction(s) you mentioned.

The standard beak will fit in all my .32ACP magazines, but the free space around the magazine does allow proper positioning of the magazine, for operation. I did a crude preliminary prototype of following a different strategy. I placed spacers inside the loader to align the magazine properly. The prototype worked, but achieving a working final design proved extremely more difficult. Finding compatible components / tooling was also challenging. I will post results, when I complete my loader modifications.