A customized CZ52 to Czech out: fast, cheap and easy — is this a pistol we're talking about?

The front sight was the perfect width for rapidly engaging silhouettes and nestled nicely in the Novak rear. I also came to appreciate the stippling. This pistol has some noticeable jump with ball ammunition and recoil with the .223 Timbs load was noticeably more controllable, allowing for much faster follow-up shots. The trigger was fairly light and broke crisply aiding quick and accurate shooting. Hits all the way out to 100 yards were fairly easy to make. Reliability throughout testing was flawless and the all-important fun factor was extremely high.

All Is Not Sugar

Negatives? Well the pistol design is by no means perfect. In the hand the grip shape feels somewhat like a Walther P-38, which is not a good thing in my book. The CZ naturally pointed very low because of that. The heel mag release got a "no" vote, but that's just my own opinion. Also, on a couple of occasions, my thumb knocked the safety off "Fire" under recoil. This brought shooting to a sudden halt until the safety was again disengaged. However I readily admit this could be labeled as shooter error. As much as I hate to admit it.

While $150 to $175 doesn't generally fetch much today, it will get you a CZ52. A unique design that's inexpensive to shoot, a CZ52 can provide an awful lot of fun without busting the bank. Plus, if you so choose, you can even have one customized to suit your individual desires. While maybe not as glamorous as a tricked-out M1911, the Parker-modified CZ52 proved eminently reliable and accurate. Plus, it provided loads of shooting fun while looking good. And we all know that looking good while shooting is at least as important as having fun, eh?

ACCURACY AND VELOCITY CHART

LOAD                       VELOCITY  ACCURACY

1963 CHINESE 85 GR. FMJ     1,532       3.3"
SELLIER&BELLOT 85 GR. FMJ   1,535       4.2"
WINCHESTER 85 GR. FMJ       1,541       4.5"
MAGSAFE 52 GR. DEFENDER     2,234       4.0"
.223 TIMBS 55 GR. SP        1,852       2.84"

VELOCITIES RECORDED 12 FEET FROM THE MUZZLE WITH AN OEHLER 35P AT AN
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 40 DEGREES. F. GROUPS ARE AN AVERAGE OF FOUR,
FIVE SHOT GROUPS FIRED OFF OF SANDBAGS AT 25 YARDS.

For more information, contact Parker Arms and Toolworks (Fine Gunsmithing On CZ52's And Other Weapons) at (215) 541-1099; Quality Cartridge (.223 Timbs Ammunition) at (301) 373-3719.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group