A recent gun magazine stated that CZ-52's can be damaged by Bulgarian import ammo. Anyone heard of this?
I reload my own at safe levels so it is not a problem for me but was just wondering if anyone else has heard about this Bulgarian ammo. I know Hornady released reloading info several years ago then backed it down in power level based on studies of actual ammo designed for the CZ-52 in Europe and not the machine gun ammo available originally.
LD, I have heard about the x25 subgun ammo too, but never saw any or heard about any problems from the guys who own and shoot 52s, but I stumbled on this you might want to check out...
Yep, that's it, alright. When handgun ammo pressures are typically in the 10,000 to 20,000 range and magnum cartridges are in the 35,000 range, it is obvoius that this 46,000 average ammo with some at 52,000 is way out of bed.
Accurate Arms issued their lower power reloading data a year or so ago and I'll bet that this investigation triggered them to determine the real power levels the gun was capablie of. They reduced their initial levels. Of course the CZ52 community had some nay sayers that pronounced the CZ52 to be so strong as to be able to take almost anything but the article shows that to be not true!
As I reload at the reduced Accurate Arms levels and never shoot this surplus ammo, it is not a problem for me. But someone out there might stumble into this ammo and get a big surprise. Hope this posting raises the awareness level. The magazine caution will certainly help.
What's funny LD, is the last blow-up I witnessed was a couple of months ago at the range I shoot at a guy had his PA-63 in 9x18 blow, I didn't actually see it blow, I was on the rifle range but the well meaning but "not knowing as much as he thinks he knows" RO came over and said, "Well don't use Wolf Makarov ammo, a guys Makarov just blew over there...."
Since I'm a BIG Makarov guy I was one of the FIRST on the scene and asked to see it...it was the alloy frame PA-63, NOT a "Makarov." The barrel was bulged and split right in front of the chamber, the frame was cracked, and the slide had separated from the frame....he SWORE he didn't rack the slide anytime during the string, but the only explanation I could see for the bulge and split where it was, and almost NO damage to the actual chamber..was that he actually STUCK one and fired the second with the obstruction..rather than a detonation or an OVERCHARGE, I'm more inclined to believe one with NO powder, (maybe enough to rack the slide and feed another on a simple "blowback" of the primer?)
He was shooting just the cheapo green lacquer Wolf 95gr fmjs....but they WERE factory....
I know a couple of guys that own and carry as CCW PA-63s, so I was VERY surprised to see one "blow." ESPECIALLY apparently with factory ammo....
Prior to that the only blow-ups that I had ever witnessed were 1911's in .38 Super where stupid guys trying to get an edge were intentionally "pushing" them to try and hit IPSC "Major," which is RIGHT on the edge, maybe a little OVER, of max...
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
The Firearms Forum
2.2M posts
71K members
Since 2003
A forum community dedicated to all firearm owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!