CZ82 not drop safe

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Curly1
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CZ82 not drop safe

Post by Curly1 »

There was a long discussion over on the gunboards about this which included the following post.

Here is a link to the 3 page post of the OP's AD incident that started it all if you want to wade thru it.

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread. ... -drop-safe

I know I said I was done commenting on this matter but well guys thanks to members Slimjim and Akmore some new important details have now emerged. Slimjim posted this thread in the Original CZ Forum and a member there(Igrlik)posted the following information..
The CZ82 IS NOT 'Drop Safe' ! (and CZ83 too)
Was proven after some incidents by czechoslovak weapon testing authority.
It is a design flaw. After that, there was oredered police must not carry round loaded in chamber.
Falling perpendiculary on the hammer, although the "auto safety" does block the hammer from full falling, it does still come forward just a smidget. After that, inertia of the slide moves round from chamber using extractor just enough to cause ignition.
He then provided a link per request:
Czech journal Střelecká revue (Shooting revue) 6/2012 - Monograph on CZ vz. 82 under title "Sad saga of cs. pistol vz. 82" pages 52-53:

http://img10.rajce.idnes.cz/d1002/6/...2s52.jpg?ver=0
http://img10.rajce.idnes.cz/d1002/6/...2s53.jpg?ver=0
The above Czech article translated:
All thanks to friend from another czech forum:
Rana z milosti - "Coup de Grace"

During the 90’s, when police officers started carrying a round in the chamber after the level of security has taken a turn for the worse, doubts about the vz. 82’s drop safety started to surface in light of multiple accounts of drop-induced accidental discharge with severe consequences. Any deficiency in the design’s safety was initially dismissed by the Czech police management, until in 1998 in an accidental discharge following a drop, a bystander was hit in the head and gravely injured.

During the following examination of the handgun by Prague’s Institute of criminal investigation, it was experimentally proved beyond a shadow of doubt that it was entirely possible for an accidental discharge to occur after said model of firearm was dropped. (Until then, a drop safety test used to be performed in adherence to the TP-VD-637-81, which was the methodology required by the handgun’s technical documentation. The methodology, which specified a number of ways for the handgun to be dropped – all from the height of just one meter – did not cover the worst case scenario: a drop straight on the hammer.) A follow-up investigation revealed that all revisions of the handgun since the start of production were affected by the issue. Every single vz. 82, regardless of whether the hammer mechanism was pre- or post-update, in otherwise acceptable technical condition and carried in accordance with the instructions for use, for example according to the DoD regulation Děl-21-28 „9mm pistole vz. 82,“ can suffer from an accidental discharge after being dropped from a reasonable carry/use height (even less than 1m), if a round is chambered at the time.

This revelation, in light of the past accidents and other challenges faced during the service of the vz. 82 pistol, effectively sealed its service with the Czech law enforcement. Solving the issue would be complicated, among other things due to the fact many of the parts were being manufactured in a number of size categories (disconnector 1-5, sear 1-3, safety 1-4, trigger bar disconnector 1-5, rear sight 1-6) and some of the other parts weren’t interchangeable between all of the revisions of the handgun. That would necessitate the acquisition and use of a wide range of specialized tools, keeping a surplus of different spare parts in stock and employing highly qualified specialized personnel (armorers).

The decision to phase out the vz. 82 pistol from service in the Czech law enforcement (the military and the prison guard were perfectly happy to retain them in active service, and in Slovakia they’re being issued even to this day) was also influenced by the limitations of the 9mm Makarov / 9mm vz. 82 round, particularly its lower penetration and worse immediate incapacitation rate, its unimpressive accuracy and a narrow selection of bullet designs available on the market compared to the standard 9x19 round (9mm Luger). The price of the round compared to the already mass-produced 9mm Luger round was also higher. However, the outdated and obsolete vz. 82 pistols were still in the proces of being phased out by 2002, tied to the distribution of CZ 75 D Compact pistols chambered in 9mm Luger. (The adoption of which by the Czech LE was anything but smooth, but that’s a different story entirely.) A limited number of vz. 82 pistols was still in service by as late as 2008. „Between the years 2002-2008 the rearmament of the entire force was completed,“ confirmed the public relations officer of the Police presidium, Zuzana Součková. Yet according to sources close to Shooter Revue, a certain number of these handguns remains in service with the Ministry of Interior to this day.
Laugh Hard and Often.

Gary
Ketchman
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Re: CZ82 not drop safe

Post by Ketchman »

Wow Curly. A whole lot of good info there. And not to be a smartass here but are there any truly "drop safe" weapons?
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
OG17
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Re: CZ82 not drop safe

Post by OG17 »

No gun is "safe drop" in your hands amigo. And BTW you are a SA. :mrgreen:

Curly - Great info brother. Makes me rethink getting one because of that issue.
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Curly1
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Re: CZ82 not drop safe

Post by Curly1 »

Yeah anything can fail.

Sold my CZ82 when the Safe Act went into affect here a couple of years ago outlawing mags over 10 rounds.

I didn't carry it much as it was too bulky IMO.
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Re: CZ82 not drop safe

Post by Ketchman »

Hey I own a CZ82 and use it DA and will continue to do so. And thanks for the compliment OG. SA indeed!!!!
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
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