CZ83 in 32ACP as my first pistol.

Jacketed · May 23, 2012

Hi,

I am planning to buy a CZ83 in 32ACP. I love this pistol and I know the round might not be powerful for defense but I am planning to get it for fun shooting. Does anybody have it? how do you like it ?

I understand the ammo can be bit expensive as compared to 9mm but I am so obsessed with this one.. that I want to have it

. Is the ammo readily available ? I have seen it at the wally world.

any tips and reviews highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

sprocket3 · May 23, 2012

I think 32ACP is worthless. I had a 32 ACP and was shooting a thin plate of metal. It didn't go through, but a .22 did go through also shot from a pistol. I know that's not much of a test, but really why .32? Get the .380 if you like the CZ83.

sturdius · May 23, 2012

Why wouldn't you get a milsurp CZ-82 in 9x18 instead? They are cheap and the ammo is relatively easy to come by online or in most gun stores.

Bill Siegle · May 23, 2012

32cap is a limited caliber powerwise but for a range toy it is plenty fun! I have a Walther in 32 that is a joy to shoot. More boom than a 22lr and still easy as pie to shoot. If you like the gun get it! You will probably never regret it and I doubt it will remain your only pistol for long

If you do need it for defensive use, just know the calibers limits so think multiple hits and aim for the face.

TCOV · May 23, 2012

I would guess that anyone badmouthing the 32acp would not stand and let you shoot them center of mass. I say guess because once in a while a pure idiot posts here. Of course it would not usually be a first choice for anyone for self protection but saying it is useless is absurd. Euorpean guns generaly have longer barrels which improve balistics and used 32acp for decades for police and military use. The 32acp is a pleasure to shoot and affordable if you buy online. Still more than 22 of course. Too many people confuse assualting hamburger hill with personal protection and want a pistol that will shoot through their house and their neighbors house and maybe the next house for personal protection. Buy the pistol and practice and enjoy it.

Goat Herder · May 23, 2012

Jacketed said:
I am planning to buy a CZ83 in 32ACP. I love this pistol and I know the round might not be powerful for defense but I am planning to get it for fun shooting. Does anybody have it? how do you like it ?

It shoots accurately and it goes boom. So what is it that's not powerful enough? Nobody likes to get shot and no bad guy likes to see people pulling out a gun. Even a well placed .22RL is powerful enough so I would say the 32ACP is plenty good for home defense. Don't let anybody else to tell you differently.

kibs45 · May 23, 2012

I have a CZ-82 and like it very much. I have large hands and have found that after a box of ammo, I will get hammerbite. I have not figured out if it is in my grip, or just a function of my hand and that gun. Having said that, the platform is very nice, and very comforable to hold. I would also reccomend the 82 (or 83 in 9x18) as it has the polygonal chrome barrel. 9x18 is the more powerful of the three rounds available, and I would definitely consider it "snappy" in that frame even with stiffer recoil springs...

Jacketed · May 23, 2012

Bill Siegle said:
32cap is a limited caliber powerwise but for a range toy it is plenty fun! I have a Walther in 32 that is a joy to shoot. More boom than a 22lr and still easy as pie to shoot. If you like the gun get it! You will probably never regret it and I doubt it will remain your only pistol for long If you do need it for defensive use, just know the calibers limits so think multiple hits and aim for the face.

I understand that the round would be weak as compared to 45 and a 9mm but its fun to shoot at the range

TCOV said:
I would guess that anyone badmouthing the 32acp would not stand and let you shoot them center of mass. I say guess because once in a while a pure idiot posts here. Of course it would not usually be a first choice for anyone for self protection but saying it is useless is absurd. Euorpean guns generaly have longer barrels which improve balistics and used 32acp for decades for police and military use. The 32acp is a pleasure to shoot and affordable if you buy online. Still more than 22 of course. Too many people confuse assualting hamburger hill with personal protection and want a pistol that will shoot through their house and their neighbors house and maybe the next house for personal protection. Buy the pistol and practice and enjoy it.

Well I love the caliber and want to start with this caliber as my first pistol. I have shot almost all the calibers in pistol and revolver at the ranges and I love them all but its just that I want to get this one for sure.

Goat Herder said:
It shoots accurately and it goes boom. So what is it that's not powerful enough? Nobody likes to get shot and no bad guy likes to see people pulling out a gun. Even a well placed .22RL is powerful enough so I would say the 32ACP is plenty good for home defense. Don't let anybody else to tell you differently.

I agree, a well placed .22 is lethal. The reason why I said it is less powerful is because I was comparing the 32 with other high caliber rounds.

I still have a question about ammo? is 32ACP readily available ?

Mark W. · May 23, 2012

Midway USA carrys 29 different 32ACP loadings looks like about 1/3 of it is on backorder (but then a lot of ammo in always on backorder)

If you want to know if you can buy it local pickup the yellow pages and a phone make a couple calls see who has what in stock.

Federal .32ACP throws a 71gr FMJ slug at 900fps with 126flbs of energy from a 4" barrel plenty to mess up someone day.

Grizzly .32ACP Self defense throws a 45gr segmented hollow point slug at 1200fps

Jacketed · May 23, 2012

Mark W. said:
Midway USA carrys 29 different 32ACP loadings looks like about 1/3 of it is on backorder (but then a lot of ammo in always on backorder)

If you want to know if you can buy it local pickup the yellow pages and a phone make a couple calls see who has what in stock.

Federal .32ACP throws a 71gr FMJ slug at 900fps with 126flbs of energy from a 4" barrel plenty to mess up someone day.

Grizzly .32ACP Self defense throws a 45gr segmented hollow point slug at 1200fps

I totally agree on the fps, I am sure it would be fun to shoot.

Jacketed · May 23, 2012

I am planning to buy this one !

Natty Bumpo · May 23, 2012

I have had a CZ82 in 9x18 Mak. I would expect the CZ 83 in .32 acp to be very accurate and easy to shoot well, considering the cartridge, the weight and ergos of the pistol and the fixed barrel.

The .32 acp has a very good reputation for accuracy and I have gotten good results in lessor pistols, like the Colt 1903 and excellent results with the Walther PP. While probably not anyone's first choice for SD, it would do (and has done) if it had to.

.32 auto is locally available at BiMart in Remington UMC.

Jacketed · May 23, 2012

I was wondering what is the difference between .32ACP and .380 dimensions wise ?

I was comparing the size of cartridges and they pretty much look the same ??

.32 ACP - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

.380 ACP - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

confused ????

Mark W. · May 24, 2012

Look and measure are different. The .380 case is roughly .046" in diameter larger then the .32 ACP this convets to MORE powder. More powder equals more speed or the same speed with a heavier bullet which equals more knock down power.

Jacketed · May 24, 2012

So a 32 is 7.65x17mm and a .308 is 9x17mm so I guess the case length got me confused but it is a bigger bullet as compared to the 32. Right?

BSG 75 · May 24, 2012

A CZ-83 in .32ACP costs around $400 new and the cheapest .32ACP ammo is around $14.95 for a box of 50.

A CZ-82, which is essentially the same gun, in 9x18 Makarov costs around $200
Century International Arms
Czech CZ-82 9x18 Makarov Pistol

and the ammo is both more powerful and less expensive at $11 per 50 9x18 Makarov 92 Grain FMJ TulAmmo - 50 Rounds

Same design gun at half the price and it uses ammo that is both less expensive and more powerful. It's a no brainer, that's why I bought one. :s0155:

Jacketed · May 24, 2012

That is a very beautiful gun BSG.

Mark W. · May 24, 2012

Jacketed said:
So a 32 is 7.65x17mm and a .308 is 9x17mm so I guess the case length got me confused but it is a bigger bullet as compared to the 32. Right?

yes

B-Towner · May 26, 2012

Bill Siegle said:
32cap is a limited caliber powerwise but for a range toy it is plenty fun! I have a Walther in 32 that is a joy to shoot. More boom than a 22lr and still easy as pie to shoot. If you like the gun get it! You will probably never regret it and I doubt it will remain your only pistol for long

Must agree with this post. I also have a Walther - an old PP in .32acp - that's a range gun. Pretty good pop. For what it's worth, seems to me .32 is more similar to .380 than to .25 when it comes recoil.