Took the CZ83 plunge again.

[imarangemaster]

Well, I have had several CZs: 52, 82,and 83 (with large trigger guard).  I sold off my 83 about 3 years ago (maybe a little less) when I decided to stick with my Glock 19 (that I have had since 1995) for EDC.  I had decided the 380 was not serious enough for self defense.  Since I live in California, I did keep my pre-2000 possessed by me 13 round magazines, though.

Fast forward to about a month ago.  I had a Taurus 85 .38 Spcl. I would use in an ankle holster when I was "all dressed up" selling Real estate.  I also had a Kahr CW45 that I got so I would have a compact 45 ACP for up in the mountains.  Well, I couldn't hit anything at more than 7 yards with the Taurus, and the Kahr proved unreliable with a variety of mags and ammo.  I had a friend show me a Bersa FireStorm .380. (one of the few 380s on the roster of approved handguns for CA) It turned out to be the perfect ankle holster gun.  It was a wonderful shooter, and gave me a fist sized group, rapid fire, at 10+ yards.  I bought one

So I started researching current 380 ammo, and stumbled on Buffalo Bore +P, with 288 ft lbs ME from a 3.5 inch barrel. With that ammo, I started using the Firestorm as my EDC weapon.

That made me miss my CZ83.  14 shots of Buffalo Bore is potent medicine!  Checked the DOJ roster, and found current production (not surplus) CZ83s are on the list.  Found one NIB with two 10 round magazines for $499 out of state, and have it being shipped to my FFL. I sold the Taurus 85 and the Kahr CW45 to fund it.  Boy, I wish I had kept my old 83, but happy to get another one.

My old 83 was the most accurate semi-auto handgun I have ever owned, and the Bersa is a close second.  Considering a sub-compact Glock 26 only gives about 300 ft lbs of ME, a Bersa or CZ83 with Buffalo bore will give 288+ (test weapon, Walther PPK).  The Firestorm will remain my ankle weapon, and the CZ83 will be my EDC in an IWB holster when I am dressed casually.  I'm 63, so I don't feel like carrying a cannon like I did when I was a young buck Cop. If I go to LA or SF area, I'll probably tote my Glock 19, though.

[tpelle]

Congratulations on the CZ83 purchase.  I have one of the new ones that were made for a special production run (now pretty much all sold out, I gather), and it is without a doubt my favorite of all of my handguns.  I use it for my EDC gun, loaded with Hornady critical Defense ammo.

I had been carrying it in a Don Hume IWB belt-clip holster - the same one that fit my Bersa Firestorm .380 - but didn't like the way it shifted around on my belt.  I ordered one of of these:

http://www.craftholsters.com/iwb-concealed-carry-holster-with-open-muzzle-falco

and just received it on Thursday - about a 2-1/2 month wait - but it was worth it!  It is the most comfortable holster that I own, and with the two widely-spaced belt loops it is rock solid.  I've been wearing the CZ in it all day today, and I almost forget it's there.  I was a little bit concerned that it might be too thin when the belt is pulled tight over it, and would collapse to prevent re-holstering, but it's stiff enough that it stays open just fine.  I highly recommend it.  With this holster, along with Falco's double magazine holder, I have a total of 37 rounds of ammo which I think will be enough to solve most problems.

[Paul Kersey]

I too have just bought a new 2015 production CZ-83. I was lucky enough to get a black 12 rd. model as there are no capacity restrictions where I live. I love the way it feels in my hand. It has a nice fat grip I can get all my fingers around yet is still small enough for CCW. It has good sights and I love that I can drop the mag using my index finger with the ambidextrous release faster and easier then I can with some thumb operated releases. Having the option to carry it cocked and locked is also part of it's uniqueness.

Yes, it is .380acp but I'll take that trade off in caliber for the fit, features, function and reliability of this justifiably famous pistol, one of the scant few .380's compacts I would ever carry for SD. If and when I come across a compact 9mm I like equally as much I will make the switch, but for now the CZ-83 is my primary carry.

As far as ammo goes, there are only a few JHP's that have been proven to perform well. The Federal 90gr. Hydra-shok and Hornady 90gr. XTP's (not the Critical Defense) are two of them. Any manufacturer that utilizes the Hornady XTP bullet, such as Precision One and Wilson Combat are also great choices. I wouldn't carry any .380 JHP's that were heavier then 90gr. as that seems to be the perfect weight for reliable expansion. I also wouldn't carry or shoot any +P varieties in my .380's, and I would hope you to do some more research and reconsider your choice on that one.

Congratulations on your new CZ-83, and I hope you don't make the same mistake twice by getting rid of it again. If I was living in CA, I don't think I would ever sell ANY semi-auto pistol or rifle I managed to acquire.

[imarangemaster]

I wouldn't carry any .380 JHP's that were heavier then 90gr. as that seems to be the perfect weight for reliable expansion. I also wouldn't carry or shoot any +P varieties in my .380's, and I would hope you to do some more research and reconsider your choice on that one.

Congratulations on your new CZ-83, and I hope you don't make the same mistake twice by getting rid of it again. If I was living in CA, I don't think I would ever sell ANY semi-auto pistol or rifle I managed to acquire.

Thanks for the concern about +Ps.  I have 22 years LEO and 7 years Military, much of all that time as a firearms instructor, armorer, and rangemaster.  I have checked the brass from the buffalo bore, and there are no signs of excessive pressure (i.e. cratering of primer, primers backing out, etc). 

One advantage a straight blow back firearm like a 380 has, is a decreased dwell time between the shot firing and the breech opening.  Many 380s will function without extractors, because the case itself is pushing the slide reward.  I shot a PPK one time that had a broken extractor.  It functioned fine. 

SAMMI does have max load pressure specs for "Proof" loads for 380, and I am sure that Buffalo Bore are loading somewhere between standard SAAMI pressures (safe for 70-80 year old weapons like old Brownings and Beretta 1932s) and "Proof" loadings.  I would guess they load about half way between the two pressures.  That seems to be what Federal does with its 9BPLE 115 grain +P+.

[Paul Kersey]

I wouldn't carry any .380 JHP's that were heavier then 90gr. as that seems to be the perfect weight for reliable expansion. I also wouldn't carry or shoot any +P varieties in my .380's, and I would hope you to do some more research and reconsider your choice on that one.

Congratulations on your new CZ-83, and I hope you don't make the same mistake twice by getting rid of it again. If I was living in CA, I don't think I would ever sell ANY semi-auto pistol or rifle I managed to acquire.

Thanks for the concern about +Ps.  I have 22 years LEO and 7 years Military, much of all that time as a firearms instructor, armorer, and rangemaster.  I have checked the brass from the buffalo bore, and there are no signs of excessive pressure (i.e. cratering of primer, primers backing out, etc). 

One advantage a straight blow back firearm like a 380 has, is a decreased dwell time between the shot firing and the breech opening.  Many 380s will function without extractors, because the case itself is pushing the slide reward.  I shot a PPK one time that had a broken extractor.  It functioned fine. 

SAMMI does have max load pressure specs for "Proof" loads for 380, and I am sure that Buffalo Bore are loading somewhere between standard SAAMI pressures (safe for 70-80 year old weapons like old Brownings and Beretta 1932s) and "Proof" loadings.  I would guess they load about half way between the two pressures.  That seems to be what Federal does with its 9BPLE 115 grain +P+.

It's not just issues of reliability or wear and tear to the gun that concerns me its also that .380 +P's can be pretty brutal, punishing rounds to shoot out of the smaller .380 pistols. Even though the CZ-83 is large and heavy for a .380, it still has fairly snappy recoil due to it's blowback design, as much or more then some compact 9mm's do and with +P's may be considerably worse.

If you've already shot some and are familiar with them and you and your gun are OK with it, more power to you, but I will stay away from .380 +P's.

[imarangemaster]

I will say, that even I would not shoot a regular diet of them!  I shoot a mag or two to make sure they feed, then 99.9% of all other shooting is with FMJs.  I was actually surprised, though, that there was very little difference in the felt recoil over the Federal Hydra-Shocks from my Bersa FireStorm!  My 9BPLE 115 +P+ Illinois State Police load has way more felt recoil from my Glock 19, than even 124 grn Gold Dots.

Right now, the only mag that will feed the Buffalo Bore +P in my Bersa FireStorm is the 7 round factory mag.  The 8 round Mec-Gars feed Hydra-Shocks and Critical Defense fine, but have a FTF on the 3rd or 4th round with the BB loads.  Right now, I just have a BB +P in the chamber, and a mag full of Hydra-Shocks.  I'll have to see whether the CZ83 feeds them any better.

[imarangemaster]

Called in my credit card and paid for the CZ83.  It will ship to my FFL tomorrow.  Yippee!

[imarangemaster]

I got called by my dealer today, and it came in! It will be the 26th, however, before I can pick it up. In California's ultimate wisdom, you can not buy more than one pistol in a 30 day period.  I bought my Bersa FireStorm .380 on the 15th of January, I can't start another DROS for a pistol until February 16th!

BTW, can you tell I am a born again .380 lover!  Using Buffalo Bore +P 90 JHPs, My 19 oz. Bersa FireStorm gives my 9 shots of 288 ft. lbs. ME.  The CZ83 will give me 14 rounds (I have pre-2000 posed 13 rounders) of a slightly higher 300 ft. lbs. ME.  My buddies bulkier Glock 26 only gives 300 ft lbs with 9mm!  I love the FireStorm in an ankle holster, a role once filled by a 5 shot .38 that I sold to buy the CZ83.

Both the Bersa and the CZ83 will be a heck of a lot easier for EDCC (Every Day Concealed Carry) than my Glock 19 or the 38 and Kahr CW45 I sold.

[imarangemaster]

I went to the dealer and fondled it shamelessly, giggling like a school girl to have a CZ83 in my hands again (like I say, I was stupid enough to have sold my last one in a fit of "bigger guns are better").  It just fits my hand so well.  My last one, I could bounce pop cans at 20-25 yards with little effort.  It's going to be a long two weeks!

[imarangemaster]

Pistol went into California jail today (had to wait because we only get to register one pistol every 30 days).  The dealer confirmed it was "glossy blue" and had a SKU# "03101" as that is the only model approved in CA!  I also ordered a Gun Glove butt forward IWB holster for it.  I really like the looks of it with the clip behind the weapon, so it sticks out a lot less than the Bianchi Model 100 IWB I use for my Glock 19.  It is going to be a VERY LONG 10 days....

I only have about 600 rounds of ammo for it and my Bersa FireStorm .380.  I try to have 1,000 rounds PER WEAPON, so I guess I need to get another 1,400 rounds LOL!

[imarangemaster]

Yippee!  I can pick my CZ83 up today.  It is one of those pistols that hI have truly missed since I sold my last one.

[Robert Louis]

Congratulations for getting another CZ 83 you certainly deserve it especially for having to live in California, i.e., great state, Exceptionally beautiful, wonderful weather, etc. but horrible anti-gun laws and regulations.

[BubbaLa]

i finally shot my 83 in .380. picked it up in so cal. and thankfully the sa trigger was MUCH better then the one in the case.
my extra large hands have no problem finding a place on the gun.
  but the magazines are really stiff ,and can barely take 9 rounds.

  i got the base off the mag easily,but the metal plate holding the spring seems like a puzzle. any tricks?

[imarangemaster]

i finally shot my 83 in .380. picked it up in so cal. and thankfully the sa trigger was MUCH better then the one in the case.
my extra large hands have no problem finding a place on the gun.
  but the magazines are really stiff ,and can barely take 9 rounds.

  i got the base off the mag easily,but the metal plate holding the spring seems like a puzzle. any tricks?

Tip one side edge of the lock plate down at a 45 degree angle, and the opposite edge pops up.  Remove it at a 45 degree angle.  The spring will loosen up after a few mag cycles.  My 10 rounders were the same way.  Did you have as much trouble finding a CA legal CZ83 (SKU# 03101) as I did?  NO ONE in nor Cal had one, or was willing to find one.  I searched Gunbroker and finally found a guy back east that had two.  Got it for $499 + $25  shipping to my FFL.  He charged $50 for paperwork and $26 DROS fee, no sales tax.  I actually got him to do paperwork and DROS for free, as I traded him two 50 round boxes of Winchester T Series 45ACP +P ,  and two more 50 round boxes of SPEER Gold Dot 45 +P in lieu of the $76.  No one would take in a surplus CZ83, as they need to have the correct SKU and be manufactured by CZ-USA.  Pity, I could have save about $300!

[imarangemaster]

i finally shot my 83 in .380. picked it up in so cal. and thankfully the sa trigger was MUCH better then the one in the case.
my extra large hands have no problem finding a place on the gun.
  but the magazines are really stiff ,and can barely take 9 rounds.

  i got the base off the mag easily,but the metal plate holding the spring seems like a puzzle. any tricks?

Jot being nosey, just curious. How much did the local gun shop charge you?

Bernie