Anyone own a CZ83 chambered in 9x18?

[ericXD9]

I've been looking at these for a long time. I like the capacity and the size as a possible carry gun. So I'm most interested in reliability. Any range reports available from you guys?

I have a CZ75 and a CZ97, and I completely adore both of them. Does the CZ83 (in 9x18) stack up?

Thanks.

[M2 Carbine]

I got a new one from makarov.com in December.

It's a slick well made accurate pistol.

Only problem I've had with it is feeding hollow points.

The last few times I shot it, it did pretty good but I'm not ready to trust it yet.

[ericXD9]

Originally posted by M2 Carbine

Only problem I've had with it is feeding hollow points.



Certainly not a desireable attribute for a carry gun. I guess I'll take it off the wish list.

Thanks for your candid response.

[RENEA]

Bear in mind that this was designed as a military sidearm and not an uber tactical CCW piece. That said, I had mine polished /throated and now it feeds any 9x18 JHP I care to stuff into it.

[M2 Carbine]

Don't write it off completely.

The last few days I shot it some more and while it was only a hand full of magazines of HP and several mags of JRN nose this is what I got.

JRN rounds, no problem and fairly accurate.

Barnaul JHP, good, no problem. Trouble is, Barnaul JHP ammo has all but dried up.

120gr JHP Silver Bear that I have set the bullets a little deeper in the case, so it will load in the Makarov magazines.
This round jams bad on the feed ramp of my 83.
Doesn't really matter anyhow because the 120gr SB is no longer available. (but I put up a few cases;f )

This morning I dug out some 115gr JHP Silver Bear and 95gr Hornady JHP reloads.
I also dug out some Fiocchi JHP. This round is almost round nose, the hollow point is so small. It makes for good feeding but expands poorly.

In the next day or two I'll recheck these loads and whatever else I can find laying around and post how they do.

Personally I favor the 115gr Silver Bear because it's heavier bullet and is as fast as the 90-95gr commercial loads and it expands well.

[ericXD9]

Originally posted by M2 Carbine

Personally I favor the 115gr Silver Bear because it's heavier bullet and is as fast as the 90-95gr commercial loads and it expands well.

This is the ammo I was looking at for potential carry ammo. I've seen some test results here, and it looks good.

I guess I'll put it back on "the list" :cool:

Thanks again.

[M2 Carbine]

Ran some HP through the 83 a couple hours ago.

Fiocchi JHP is a stinker. The round nose HP bullet is set too far back in the case and the round jams on the top of the feed ramp and top of the cylinder. Just as well, it's not a good HP anyhow and is expensive.
It does feed in the Makarov and my PA-63 OK though.

The 115gr JHP Silver Bear functioned fine. The 25 yard groups weren't anything to brag about, at about 6.5 inches.

I also shot my reloads of Hornady JHP XTP and Speer Gold Dot JHP.
They functioned fine also. The bullets are the same bullet found in Hornady and Speer commercial ammo.

The groups with these loads wasn't anything to brag about either, in the 4.5 to 5+ inch range.

Could be just me having a bad day.:)

I'm only talking about shooting 6 or 7 magazines of hollow points today so the jury is still out but I'll run some more 115gr Silver Bear through the 83 and see if it burps.;f

The 115 SB was clearly the most powerful load that I shot today.

[TED]

Actually, that would be a CZ82. Tehy were actually the military and police issue pistol in Czech Republic instead of the Makarov, during communist times.

I have a question for anyone who might know. Makarov magazines work interchangeably with either 9x18mm or .380, is this alos true of the 9x18mm and .380 CZ mags? If so would it be a two way or one way interchange?

TED

[M2 Carbine]

ericXD9,

Well I have bad news.
The 115gr Silver Bear did poorly today.

The first magazine the SB jammed on the feed ramp three times. 2nd mag jammed again a couple times and after jamming a couple times on the third mag I gave up.
Used 2 mags.

My guess is the magazine spring is not getting the rounds up high enough, fast enough to feed properly. Most of the time all I had to do was pull the slide back a little and the round would pop up into position at the top of the mag and feed OK.

But without a stouter magazine spring to try I can only guess why the Barnaul and my reload JHP works good and the Silver Bear doesn't.

And maybe I just have the one CZ83 out of many that happens to dislike Silver Bear.;Q

BTW, the feed ramp in my 83 is polished.


I did find something interesting.
I chronographed the 115gr SB today.
Out of the CZ83 it averaged 1050fps and out of a Makarov it averaged 1009fps. (same box of ammo)

But the SB was more accurate in the Makarov. (25 yards)

[ericXD9]

M2,

Thanks for all the effort you put into this pursuit. I do truly appreciate it.

It just seems that this isn't a good CCW combination. I don't come to that conclusion just by your results, but also the complete lack of any other testimonials. I'l just have to make do with my sig p239 or my Bulgarian Mak. (I also have a new Steyr S40 I'm just getting to know ^c ).

Thanks again for your help, I really value your opinion. Hell, if you told me the sky was orange I'd believe you.

I just hope I didn't cause you to spend unnecesary time at the range ;)

[M2 Carbine]

Originally posted by ericXD9
I just hope I didn't cause you to spend unnecesary time at the range ;)

No problem at all, anyway I can help. I'm always looking for little projects, that don't involve too much work.;)

I didn't have to go to the pistol range, it's in the back yard.
I've got a hundred yard range in the woods but when it's hot like it's been lately I can shoot a few magazines from under the trees then go back in the air conditioned shop to load some more magazines.;f
BTW, this was taken from 50 yards.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v135/Bell406_206B/Back_yard_range.jpg

[ericXD9]

I knew your range was your backyard, but I still appreciate the effort. Thanks again.

BTW, I hate you for your backyard range ;f

[M2 Carbine]

Originally posted by ericXD9
.
BTW, I hate you for your backyard range ;f

As a young kid I wanted enough land for three things, a shooting range, a runway and a F51 Mustang.
I guess two out of three isn't bad.;f


I think I'll give up on the Silver Bear in the 83 and shoot the Barnaul to make sure the gun is 100% with that JHP.
For my use it doesn't make any difference because I won't be carrying it and it's too nice to use as a car gun.
But if I've got it laying around the house loaded I do want to know that it would function 100% in the rare case I'd ever use it.