The CZ-82 is a compact pistol chambered in 9mm Makarov, or 9x18mm. It was designed for the Czechoslovakian military when the Soviet Union standardized to the 9x18mm round. The pistol is a double action/single action design, meaning that the first shot is a heavy double action and each subsequent shot is a short single action pull. It holds a 12 round magazine and has an ambidextrous magazine release and safety. The slide release is on the left side of the frame. I prefer my carry pistols not have a safety, so I carry it with a round in the chamber and the hammer down. In this condition, the safety cannot be activated, so I don’t worry about the safety being inadvertently activated. There is an internal hammer block that does not allow the hammer to strike the firing pin, unless the trigger is pulled. The sights on the pistol were no longer filled with the original red paint, but I was able to swap them to tritium sights designed for the CZ-75. My pistol was made in 1987 and showed very apparent wear from carry. It
was very well broken in and the trigger was smooth as silk. The barrel has polygonal rifling, which aids in accuracy. One thing to note on the rifling is that it will look smooth, but if you look closely, you will see there is rifling. This is the way they are made, so don’t worry. I am able to shoot very nice groups with this pistol. My only complaint of this pistol would be that when using a "thumbs forward" grip, there isn't really much for my left thumb to rest on, so it tends to rub the slide. This causes enough drag that the pistol will sometimes not fully cycle, and leave a spent case in the chamber. With a conscious effort to correct my grip, I have never had a malfunction. The way I remedy this is to curl my thumbs together. CZ also offers their Model 83, which is a newly made version available in .380 ACP and .32 ACP. On a final note, if you are ever in dire need, you can use the pistol as a bottle opener by locking the slide back and hooking the dust cover under the cap!
Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points
Claim to Fame: Compact and inexpensive pistol
Target Market: Concealed carriers, Curio and Relic collectors
FNBs: (Features & Benefits of this product)
- Compact(a little smaller than the Glock 19)
- 12 round magazine
- Double/Single action trigger
- Frame mounted safety
- Polygonal Rifling
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: The CZ-82 is only available in black with black plastic grips. The CZ-83 is available in black or nickel with black plastic or wood grips. Aftermarket wood grips are available from Marschal Grips. Pictured are my Marschal Red Wattle grips.
What others are saying?: “Probably the best built of the 9mm Makarov pistols used by the Soviet Bloc nations.” - Mike Beliveau
Price point:
- MSRP = The CZ-82's are surplus, so there isn't an MSRP. The CZ-83 is $452.
- Retail = Prices can vary. I bought mine about 2 years ago for $202 shipped from CDNN. They seem to be pretty scarce right now, but here is one (out of stock, at time of writing) for $235.99.
I need it now! Availability: Many of the retailers seem to be out of stock on them, but there are quite a few on GunBroker.
Our Rating:
+ Compact + Good capacity + Inexpensive + Accurate + Smooth trigger + Can be used as a bottle opener
- Limited holster options - Currently hard to find - Can malfunction with improper hold
Score: 8.5
