[Travis McGee]

Here's my tip of the month: there is still a great pistol and ammo deal out there waiting for you. If you have waited too long to arm up, or are on a tight budget, look at the excellent milsurp CZ-52 pistol and 7.62X25 Tokarev ammo.

You can get a CZ-52 for about $200 at any gun show or at many gun stores. The ammo can be had for as low as 11 cents a round in any quantity you want. Extra mags are from $12 to $20 each.

The milsurp ammo is full metal jacket, firing an 85gr bullet at 1,600fps. These will go through car doors, kevlar helmets, kevlar vests etc like an icepick through butter. OTOH, they will also go through one bad guy and maybe hit a good guy behind him.

However, you can buy hollowpoints ("Wolf Gold" with brass shells) for about $19/50, or half the price of comparable 9mm JHPs. My test "Wolf Gold" JHP ammo expanded to .60 caliber, the same as my test 9mm JHPs.

So for $400, you could buy a CZ-52, 1,500 rounds of assorted ammo, and a few extra mags. OR, you could buy about 2/3s of a "brand name" pistol, and no ammo.

It's just a thought. This is a great bargain. The ammo is cheap and plentiful at all of the internet catalog sites. Don't wait, the libtards will soon slam the door on foreign gun and ammo imports, and the prices will go way up.

Another benefit of this pistol is that it is very accurate, with very fine sights. WIth this flat-shooting ammo, you can hit at 100 yards with ease. Downsides are brittle firing pins (buy a spare, and don't dry fire) and a decocking function that you should not trust. Just lower the SA hammer like a 1911. The safety works like a 1911, so if you are used to 1911s, it will be very easy to use the CZ-52

[PVT4evr]

I have a CZ 52 myself, it’s a great little weapon, though I would think it more for home defense than concealed, as it is a little on the bulkier side. The recoil is negligible and the report and muzzle flash will make someone think twice if you don’t hit them.

[teenyelliott]

gun ping

[refermech]

Cool gun. I have a Makarov and like it alot for a cheap gun.

[TonyInOhio]

Here's my tip of the month: there is still a great pistol and ammo deal out there waiting for you.

Great advice, Travis! I'm very fond of my CZ-52. I had a 9mm barrel for mine, too, but never used it - the Tokarev round is more fun.

One note for the prospective CZ-52 buyer - most of the surplus ammo uses corrosive primers, so be sure to wash out the barrel with Windex or Hoppes #9 at the range (that is, right after shooting) to prevent barrel rust. Then, clean as normal.

[FreedomPoster]

But DUUUUUUUDE! Your picture has a COMMMA! YARRRRRGH!!

;-P

I needed an excuse to go to the gun show this weekend. I think that might well provide it.

[stevie_d_64]

Good solid pistols!

[familyop]

The CZ-52 looks like a cool weapon. I’m wondering about how I could justify the purchase, though, in high country: the land of high winds, extreme ranges and monster predators. Even from little ol’ SA revolvers, we tend to launch gigantic hunks of flat nosed lead. As for the smaller critters that make holes in the ground (leg-breakers for horses),...at least 300 Win Mag, of course. ;-)

[OB1kNOb]

Travis - thanks for the great info. I printed it out and will take it with me to a gun show this weekend. Hopefully I’ll find this model to check out. - OB1

[R W Reactionairy]

CZ52s also are prone to having certain pins that hold them together back out. Make certain they are peened and monitor them closely. If you do that, this becomes a non-issue.

I also had the bottom of a surplus magazine drop out and I never found base or the spring. I have never heard of this happening to anyone else, so it is probably unfair to label it as a problem.

I have several. They are fun to shoot, and feed or ejection failures have been non existent with any of the nasty surplus ammo I have used in any of my CZ52s.

One more comment — the Bulgarian surplus is not well regarded. Romanian is almost the same price does not have the issues [serious over pressures?] that seem to have been attributed to the Bulgarian stuff.

[NewHampshireDuo]

I got a CZ a couple of years ago as a backup gun. Compact, reliable and cheap.

[Eaker]

Comma is gone.

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn153/TomEaker/FreeRepublic/762ammo.jpg

[Stonewall Jackson]

I have been looking for large quantities of 7.62x39 ammo for my SKS, but have been unsuccessful so far. I have tried the local Bass Pro Shop, Gander Mountain, and Dick's Sporting Goods, as well as National Gun Day (huge gun show in Louisville every three months). I just called Cabela's to see if they had any in stock and the guy told me that there is a six to eight week backorder of 7.62x39 ammo.

I guess that the best bet will be to hit all of the local gun shops and pick it up a couple of boxes at a time.

[Rockhound]

I like my CZ52’s. The only real complaint I have with them is that the small black military-style sights are getting hard to see for my old eyes. Some day I might have the slides dovetailed and mount modern three dot sights.

And don’t forget about the long arms. You can pick up a Mosin-Nagant 91-30 for under $100. Ammo for them is still commonly found and relatively cheap. Be advised that the older surplus stuff will have corrosive primers, just take the necessary steps when cleaning (wipe down bolt, swab barrel with windex or soap and water, then clean and oil as usual). The modern ammo made by Wolf, Brown Bear, etc. is non-corrosive.

They are very basic, even crude bolt action rifles, but most have acceptable accuracy with 30-06 power.

A year or two ago I would have recommended a Yugo SKS as an outstanding bargain, but like all semi-autos, they have increased considerably in price.

[MileHi]

Some one is gonna chastise you for that...

[Squantos]

You are clearly sold on that CZ !........:o)