CZ 82 Review: Double Stack Mak Done Right

[plouffedaddy]

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I've had the CZ 82 for a few months now and must say I'm impressed. I've got 3 guns chambered in 9x18 Makarov (CZ 82, Bulgarian Mak, P64) and of the bunch the 82 is my absolute favorite. Quick summary:

Pros:
-Cost ($220 is tough to beat)
-Accuracy
-Great single action trigger
-Usable sights
-Easy to maintain
-All steel construction
-12+1 capacity
-Ability to carry 'cocked and locked'
-Chrome bore; polygonal rifling
-Parts are readily available as the CZ 83 shares most parts and is still in production

Cons:
-27oz weight is a little heavy by modern carry gun standards
-I would like the option of replaceable sights without knocking pins out
-No decocker


Here's a video of some shooting, a table top review, and some chronograph tests:

Review Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGYFwc02fEY&feature=plcp)

Chronograph results:

Hornady XTP 95gr JHP: 1045fps, 226ft/lbs of energy
Silver Bear 94gr HP: 1108fps, 256ft/lbs of energy
Brown Bear 94gr FMJ: 1119fps, 261ft/lbs of energy

As to whether or not to use FMJ or JHP rounds for defense––-I'll leave that up to the experts but I'll be carrying hollow points myself.

[Tomahawk_Ghost]

My wife has one of these as her "kitchen cabinet" gun. Bought it for $169 years ago and refinished it with Alumahyde II. As stated it is great that most spare parts can be acquired from CZ. I had to replace the magazine release on the gun. I found instructions online.

Not a modern carry gun but a handy gun to put in a handy place.

[Hizzie]

Buddy has one as his "traveling" gun JIC TSA steals/losese it. Stiff trigger pull and brisk recoil but very shootable. A real bargain. Logistics of yet another caliber and room in the safe are the only things that have kept me from adding one.

[KalashniKEV]

I prefer the Markarov.

The CZ-82 (like the Beretta 84) is weird and unbalanced.

I also found the Makarov to have superior accuracy, despite the CZ having a much better trigger and sights. (funny how that works...)