Took a few out today that I had yet to shoot or yet to test after mods. It’s been a while since I bought much in the way of surplus guns but over the last couple months the deals have been there, so I grabbed a few.
Pictured are, closest first: Beretta 81, Yugo M70, CZ70, and a pair of CZ52 pistols.
The Beretta is my third and really just an impulse purchase as of late because the lot was said to be so pristine for the price. For $199 it was good info.
Second was a huge surprise, the Yugo M70. It’s called the little bird or something over there, idk. Just another .32ACP single stack I thought. Think again..
Three is one I’ve been curious about for years and will need to work on for sure, the CZ70. Improved on the model 50, touted to be the Czech PPK, but that 20 pound trigger tho...
the last two ain’t exactly mouse guns. They might even hurt your hand to shoot them. If .40 S&W is too snappy, you won’t like these.
Reverse order no I guess, the CZ 52, or VZ 52 to some, when the Soviet Union moved in and told the Czechs to adopt their 7.62x25 cartridge and build a bunch of TT-33 pistols, the Czechs only heard the cartridge part and beefed up their planned 9mm Largo sidearms to accommodate the Soviet submachine gun round. They made 200 thousand and called it a day. They use a pair of rollers to mitigate recoil and keep the barrel and slide together. Problem is the rollers and firing pin are cast steel and the rollers wear out of round pretty soon and the firing pins often break right at the tip. The fix is aftermarket hardened steel stuff which also affords a very nice trigger and the added relief from trigger bite. Yes, the pistol has a knack of transferring energy back through the firing pin and fire control group to the shooter’s trigger finger. So as soon as I purchased the darker of these two I contacted Harrington products to purchase their hardened steel competition parts and convert it. That particular pistol, according to the markings, looks to have been sent to the armory once, restored and packed away. The other pistol shown already had the update kit installed at some point. The finish is the original and it appears the pistol was never issued for service. Many people love the clunky Russian and polish TT pistols and the Zastava 57’s that shoot this round, but I think the 52 is the sweetest out there once the parts are swapped out. Expect 1700-1900 fps depending on which ammo you’re shooting...
The Beretta 81 is definitely the sweeter of the 32’s, and the only double stack pictured. Smooth, accurate and reliable with a great trigger. It feels very refined compared to the others. Not much more pop than a 22 on this
frame.
The CZ 70 was my least favorite for the day simply due to the terrible trigger. The pull weight is extreme, especially for a single action pistol. How bad is it? I bet 9 out of 10 shooters would check the safety a few times. The guns were produced in the 1970’s so it’s not like they’re ancient. Hopefully I’ll find a fix.
Lastly and most surprising was the Yugo M70. Smallest of the bunch by a tad, easy predictable trigger, decent sight picture for the era and punched holes exactly where directed. Only hiccup was a single stove pipe that was quickly cleared with a single sweep of the hand and back to business. This pistol was also the best deal of the 5 shown. J&G had them a few weeks back for $149 and the gun is in immaculate condition. I also appreciate the way this pistol breaks down, the entire fire control group lifts out the frame in one unit. Very cool.
So, others that are well worth the money if you can find them are the Star 9mm pistols in full size or compact, CZ82 is a fine offering, any of the surplus Berettas are good to go for sure, and if you want something with a little more punch, hard to beat anything that spits out the 7.62x25.
Go shoot!
Pictured are, closest first: Beretta 81, Yugo M70, CZ70, and a pair of CZ52 pistols.
Second was a huge surprise, the Yugo M70. It’s called the little bird or something over there, idk. Just another .32ACP single stack I thought. Think again..
Three is one I’ve been curious about for years and will need to work on for sure, the CZ70. Improved on the model 50, touted to be the Czech PPK, but that 20 pound trigger tho...
the last two ain’t exactly mouse guns. They might even hurt your hand to shoot them. If .40 S&W is too snappy, you won’t like these.
Reverse order no I guess, the CZ 52, or VZ 52 to some, when the Soviet Union moved in and told the Czechs to adopt their 7.62x25 cartridge and build a bunch of TT-33 pistols, the Czechs only heard the cartridge part and beefed up their planned 9mm Largo sidearms to accommodate the Soviet submachine gun round. They made 200 thousand and called it a day. They use a pair of rollers to mitigate recoil and keep the barrel and slide together. Problem is the rollers and firing pin are cast steel and the rollers wear out of round pretty soon and the firing pins often break right at the tip. The fix is aftermarket hardened steel stuff which also affords a very nice trigger and the added relief from trigger bite. Yes, the pistol has a knack of transferring energy back through the firing pin and fire control group to the shooter’s trigger finger. So as soon as I purchased the darker of these two I contacted Harrington products to purchase their hardened steel competition parts and convert it. That particular pistol, according to the markings, looks to have been sent to the armory once, restored and packed away. The other pistol shown already had the update kit installed at some point. The finish is the original and it appears the pistol was never issued for service. Many people love the clunky Russian and polish TT pistols and the Zastava 57’s that shoot this round, but I think the 52 is the sweetest out there once the parts are swapped out. Expect 1700-1900 fps depending on which ammo you’re shooting...
The Beretta 81 is definitely the sweeter of the 32’s, and the only double stack pictured. Smooth, accurate and reliable with a great trigger. It feels very refined compared to the others. Not much more pop than a 22 on this
frame.
The CZ 70 was my least favorite for the day simply due to the terrible trigger. The pull weight is extreme, especially for a single action pistol. How bad is it? I bet 9 out of 10 shooters would check the safety a few times. The guns were produced in the 1970’s so it’s not like they’re ancient. Hopefully I’ll find a fix.
Lastly and most surprising was the Yugo M70. Smallest of the bunch by a tad, easy predictable trigger, decent sight picture for the era and punched holes exactly where directed. Only hiccup was a single stove pipe that was quickly cleared with a single sweep of the hand and back to business. This pistol was also the best deal of the 5 shown. J&G had them a few weeks back for $149 and the gun is in immaculate condition. I also appreciate the way this pistol breaks down, the entire fire control group lifts out the frame in one unit. Very cool.
So, others that are well worth the money if you can find them are the Star 9mm pistols in full size or compact, CZ82 is a fine offering, any of the surplus Berettas are good to go for sure, and if you want something with a little more punch, hard to beat anything that spits out the 7.62x25.
Go shoot!
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