CZ-82: Thank you SOG

[ck]

Nothing says Christmas like the purchase of a gun.  Thank you SOG.

In the next few days I'll take possession of a CZ-82, and it will be my very first gun.  Consequently, while I'm sure its purchase was a prudent decision, I lack the knowledge to properly inspect it upon receipt.  (I'll run it by a friend's house, for a quick once over.)

Could anyone give me some pointers of what to look for?  Maybe potential weak points, etc? 

What should I keep my eyes open for?

[SMSgt]

Understand that this pistol shoots 9mm Makarov ammo, not the more common 9mm Luger round. Shooting Luger ammo in the -82 cold be disasterous. Mak rounds are slightly shorter but larger in diameter.

The most obvious weak point, to me at least, is the grips. Because they use a single screw attachment and no other pin to secure/position them, the grips tend to work loose during firing. The grips also had cracked support strips on both -82s I bought. Nothing that interfered with operation, but I chose to order wood grips from Marschals in Hungary.

Some have put a small "o-ring" under the screws to help keep them from loosening, but I've used thin (photo album) double-sided tape to prevent the grips from shifting.

Some have problems with the mag release being difficult. It disassembles easily and can be cleaned/polished up to help.

The CZ-82 uses the same part as the -83, the exception being the barrel and the slide lock lever. The -83 has a square trigger guard (which I don't like) but I believe it will fit the -82.

Expect the pistol to be gummed up, many are sprayed with a preservative. It takes a thorough cleaning to get it all out. A can of "non-chlorine" brake cleaner will do the job. Break down the mag(s) also. They can be pretty dirty inside. The bore is larger than a 9mm Luger (.365 to be exact) and you'll probably need a larger brush to clean it. I use a .40 brush with no problems.

Don't be alarmed if it looks like the rifling is all shot out. It will look like a smoothbore. That's normal.

There's no telling what wear and tear the recoil spring might have or # of rounds fired, so I'd suggest ordering a replacement recoil spring or calibration pack from Wolffs. It comes with a new hammer spring also, which is easily replaced.

I refinished mine with DuraCoat (see avatar), but it's by no means a requirement. Functionally, I haven't any issues with mine and it's gobbled up all factory ammo and reloads I run thru it. Great gun, my favorite shooter.

Here's a couple of sites that will assist you in maintaining it:

http://sailorcurt.blogspot.com/2008/04/cz-82-gunsmithing-part-1.html

http://myweb.cableone.net/leolani/cz-82-disassembly.html

http://www.marschalgrips.com/?content=CZ-models

[Cosmij82]

Enjoy your CZ-82 (first of how many more, I wonder?) 
CZ's are addicting, believe me! 
.

[ck]

Understand that this pistol shoots 9mm Makarov ammo, not the more common 9mm Luger round. Shooting Luger ammo in the -82 cold be disasterous. Mak rounds are slightly shorter but larger in diameter.

This, I knew.  9mm Mak is easily available around here...I've already checked.  Heck, there's even a CheaperThanDirt outlet in this general area.

The most obvious weak point, to me at least, is the grips. Because they use a single screw attachment and no other pin to secure/position them, the grips tend to work loose during firing. The grips also had cracked support strips on both -82s I bought. Nothing that interfered with operation, but I chose to order wood grips from Marschals in Hungary.

I was more concerned about mechanical issues, like the decocker.  I've read that it can be an issue, or that the hammer can drop, but what do I actually look for when inspecting it?

The CZ-82 uses the same part as the -83, the exception being the barrel and the slide lock lever. The -83 has a square trigger guard (which I don't like) but I believe it will fit the -82.

It appears that a lot of parts are interchangeable between the 82 and 83, so parts availability should not be an issue.  Glad to have that confirmed.

Expect the pistol to be gummed up, many are sprayed with a preservative. It takes a thorough cleaning to get it all out. A can of "non-chlorine" brake cleaner will do the job. Break down the mag(s) also. They can be pretty dirty inside. The bore is larger than a 9mm Luger (.365 to be exact) and you'll probably need a larger brush to clean it. I use a .40 brush with no problems.

Field strip cleaning, or total disassembly cleaning?  I've read that reassembling the 82 is akin to an IQ test.

Don't be alarmed if it looks like the rifling is all shot out. It will look like a smoothbore. That's normal.

Polygonal rifling...Bersa 380 has the same kind of rifling.

Here's a couple of sites that will assist you in maintaining it:
http://sailorcurt.blogspot.com/2008/04/cz-82-gunsmithing-part-1.html

http://myweb.cableone.net/leolani/cz-82-disassembly.html

http://www.marschalgrips.com/?content=CZ-models

*This* will likely be helpful, thank you.  And yes, those Marschal grips are beautiful, but let me get the gun, in my hands, first.

Talk about a helpful forum...and a helpful member.  THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SMSgt

[ck]

Enjoy your CZ-82 (first of how many more, I wonder?) 
CZ's are addicting, believe me!  .

Let me guess.  Run.  Run now.  Run while I still can.

Sound about right?

I don't even have the gun yet, and I'm already thinking about stripping it, blueing it, custom grips, etc.  This forum is helpful, but also dangerous...some of those pics in the other threads look *amazing.*

Help me.

[jcrntx]

No help for you at this point, better to just enjoy the ride!

As a side note to some of the info above, the CZ83/82 barrels are exchangeable, just normally a different caliber.  CZ occasionally puts out a run of 9x18 makarov 83s but have not seen one in a while.   The slide stop is the same, but on the new 83s (ones with the squared trigger guard) they have a different slide stop spring.

Anyways, you will no doubt enjoy it.  Lots of experienced folks on here can help if you have any issues.  Good luck and happy holidays!

[SMSgt]

"Field strip cleaning, or total disassembly cleaning?  I've read that reassembling the 82 is akin to an IQ test."

No "decocker" on the -82, safety only. Decock carefully with your thumb!

Remove the grips and slide. I'd also remove the firing pin, which is easy. Just keep a finger over the end as you slide off the little cover. A lot of gunk can build up in there. I clean the firing pin and its chamber (Q-tips wwork fine) with every gun cleaning. It's that easy to do!

A spray cleaner works well ( a can of brake cleaning spray is a lot cheaper than the so-called "gun cleaners), as does a bucket of solvent and a paintbrush. Just gotta get the preservative goop out. I applied a coat of Rem-oil spray afterwards and wiped it all down, then a "thin" coat of grease to the rails. Since then I've gone almost entirely to Gunzilla.

Complete disassembly is no problem if you follow the sites I gave. Reassembly can be tedious, especially the sear parts. Patience is a virtue. After 3-4 attempts, you learn the tricks--tape and toothpicks! Something the sites don't mention very well is the hammer spring can (and will) fall out easily and will not go back in without more disassembly. Once you initially install the hammer spring--tape it in place!

I haven't had any problems with the hammer "drop" so you'll have to read up on the other recent posts on that issue.

Whether to refinish or not is a personal choice. I bought mine purposely for a project gun, figuring at that price it was a throw away if things went bad. It was actually in pretty good condition. Paint remover strips the OEM finish right off. A dab of DayGlo-Orange model paint really makes the front sight and rear sight dots stand out, even in dim lighting.

[SMSgt]

As a side note to some of the info above, the CZ83/82 barrels are exchangeable, just normally a different caliber.  CZ occasionally puts out a run of 9x18 makarov 83s but have not seen one in a while.   The slide stop is the same, but on the new 83s (ones with the squared trigger guard) they have a different slide stop spring.

I've read of a couple people who replaced their -82 barrel with the -83 barrel and just shot .380s instead, with no problems.

[ck]

Interesting. 

A client is a gunsmith by trade, and owes me a few favors.  Now you've got me thinking...

[SMSgt]

I enjoy the Mak round, always liked something "different" that the run-of-the-mill factory ammo and sought out the unusual such as the .30 Herritt in the Thompson Contender. You couldn't even buy factory ammo for that, had to make it from .30-30 cases.

The only real limitation I see with the Mak caliber is the lack of a good SD round. The blow-back design limits the pressure ranges of the round.

I'm not impressed with reports on the 9mm Mak Hornady SD round (if it can even be found) and Buffalo Bore dropped theirs. The Silver Bear FMJs and HPs seems to be suitable, although I haven't tried them yet. Right now I shooting strictly LRN reloads.

I haven't seen a great deal of .380 ammo with any advantages over the Mak, but with the upsurge in .380 popularity all of a sudden, I'm sure some decent (as decent as .380 can get!) SD rounds will emerge. If my MAK barrel went south on me, I'd consider replacing it with the .380 barrel. Until then, I really like my handmade cartridges!

[ck]

Mak doesn't seem to be hard to obtain...there's always the online option, and I've seen it in local stores.  However, it's nice to know that I can convert it to .380 if I so desire.  And, a search showed that the .380 barrel is fairly cheap from CZ-USA, so it's a practical conversion.

This should be interesting.  I've purchased something sight unseen, and am already redesigning it, before even having it in my hands.  Yep, this project is very me.

[Cosmij82]

This should be interesting.  I've purchased something sight unseen, and am already redesigning it, before even having it in my hands.  Yep, this project is very me.

Just to whet your appetite some more, here's my CZ-82
with Tuff Gun-coated slide and simulated ivory grips. 


.

[SMSgt]

They had pimps in them commie countries too? 

[ck]

It's very attractive, and it matches your computer very well, indeed.  Your refinishing job looks top notch.  Who did it?

Anyway, it looks nicely done.  I'm guessing that you call it your 9x18 iMak.  

I wonder what the Apple hippies would think of that piece?

[Cosmij82]

They had pimps in them commie countries too?  

Commie pimps had pearl grips, not ivory! Hehe!  

(Gen. George S. Patton, when asked by a war correspondent in WW II if those
were pearl grips he had on the twin revolvers he wore to battle, replied:
"Only pimps use pearl-handled guns. These, sir, are ivory.")
.