22 LR PistoL conveRsions A QUARtet of 380 AcP PocKet PistoLs BALListic ReticLes

32 Pages·2014·2.47 MB·English

GUN TESTS®
THE CONSUMER RESOURCE FOR THE SERIOUS SHOOTER
$5.95 June 2010/Vol. XXII, No. 6
A QUARtet of 380 AcP PocKet PistoLs
CZ USA M83 WAlThER PK380 SiG P232 SiG P238
We like both CZ USA’s Model 83 and Sig Sauer’s P238.
They beat Sig’s P232 and Walther’s PK380 … ● Page 6
22 LR PistoL conveRsions
ciener’s Hi-Power Plus rimfire conversion is our pick over Advantage Arms’
target unit and the solid but pricey tactical solutions 2211… ● Page 19
CiENER hi-PoWER PlUS AA 1911-22T TARGET TACTiCAl SolUTioNS 2211
BALListic ReticLes: BUsHneLL, LeUPoLd, niKon
in this pricey riflescope test, Bushnell’s doA 600 and Leupold’s Boone &
crockett reticles have a slight edge over nikon’s Bdc reticle... ● Page 26
NiKoN MoNARCh BUllET DRoP BUShNEll EliTE 3200 lEUPolD VX-3
CoMPENSATioN (BDC) RETiClE DEAD oN ACCURATE RETiClE BooNE & CRoCKETT RETiClE
Downrange: 2 l Firing Line: 3 l Back issues: 31 l coming up: 32
0610GT1 Cover p1-5.indd 1 5/11/10 1:08:07 AM
DDOOWWNNRRAANNGGEE GUN TESTS®
THE CONSUMER RESOURCE FOR
THE SERIOUS SHOOTER
AR BeATs AK in online suRvey Editor
W. Todd Woodard
SEnior tEchnical Editor
GunReports.com, a website affiliated with Ray Ordorica
Gun TesTs, recently asked its members, contributing EditorS
“Which is the better platform: The AR or Roger Eckstine, Gene Taylor,
the AK?” The 467 respondents showed Ralph Winingham, R.K. Campbell
a strong preference for the designed-in-America Product coordinatorS
ArmaLite Rifle model. The tally was 282 votes Ben Brooks, Joe Syczylo,
for the AR platform and 185 votes for the AK. Kevin Winkle, Richard Matsler
More than 100 voters left comments, and those Social MEdia coordinator
comments broke down into wide areas of agree- Tracey Taylor Woodard
ment about each design’s positives. Among the Todd Woodard
most-cited AR positives were its wide cartridge availability, accessoriza- PubliShEr
tion, and familiarity. Timothy H. Cole
Dennis [his online handle] wrote, “Our military has chosen this rifle
as the shoulder weapon of choice to defend our nation. The Taliban has Gun TesTs® AccepTs no
chosen the AK. Need more be said?” commeRciAl AdveRTisinG
N. Mex. Declines Utah Carry Licenses. Effective immediately, New
Mexico will no longer recognize concealed carry licenses issued by the Gun Tests® (ISSN No. 1042-6450) is
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had situations where certain concealed carry instructors in New Mexico 800 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, CT
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solicit clients with the promise that if they train here and obtain a Utah
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license, which entails significantly less training than does a New Mexico
ing offices. Copyright © 2010, AG Me-
license, it will qualify here,” said Department of Public Safety Secretary
dia. All rights reserved. Reproduction
John Denko. “This is nothing less than an effort to circumvent New Mexico
in whole or part is strictly prohibited.
concealed carry requirements.”
Printed in U.S.A. Revenue Canada
Lipsey’s Announces Exclusive Ruger 44 Special Vaqueros. Since the GST Account #128044658.
success of the Flattop 44 Special in 2009, the company has had numerous Subscriptions: $49 (U.S.) annually.
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high polish stainless steel with black hard rubber checkered grips, and for one year, $144 (U.S.) for two years.
fixed sights. Barrel lengths will include a 3.75-inch Sheriffs Model and the Single copies $7.50 (U.S.). Bulk-rate
classic 45⁄ -inch model. subscriptions for organ iza tions and
8
educational institutions are avail-
Remington’s new 1911. Big Green will start delivering its new hand-
able.
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2 June 2010
0610GT1 Cover p1-5.indd 2 5/11/10 12:22:33 AM
FIRING LINE
Wild Bunch Pistols Not 45s?
Reader Kimball points out that we had Stars in our eyes instead
of Colts. Reader Howard shares an expert’s shooting technique.
Reader Jackson moves on down the road—Godspeed to him.
Re “Wild Bunch Pistols: Colt 1918 Leads The years in a row and did very well on the division level.
Pack, But At A Price,” May 2010 At the National Matches at Camp Perry, I met the great
Loved the article. However, you stated that the M1911 Jimmy Clark the year he won the National Title. He gave
fi gured heavily in the 1969 production of Sam Peckinpah’s me something he called “group tightener,” and it help
The Wild Bunch. This is incorrect, to a certain extent. me relax during the matches. It was 90 proof and very
Within the storyline, these were the pistols carried by smooth. —P.C. Howard
many of the Bunch—but the pistol actually used for Texas
fi lming were Star Model B’s in 9mm. Stars were often
used in place of 1911s by prop masters because the Star P.S. I don’t use “group tightener” any more—haven’t
9mm pistol was much easier to adapt for blanks than in 25 years.
the 45 and was very similar in appearance. Thank you
and keep up the good work. —Blake Kimball Re “High-Velocity 45 ACP Loads: Impressive,
Saint Cloud, Florida But Hard to Handle,” April 2010
I thoroughly enjoy GT each month, and you have saved
Re “Smith Lover’s Quandary: Is One Of These me money or helped me choose the right pistol many
9mms Right for You?” April 2010
I read with great interest your recent article on the
three S&W 9mm handguns. As an owner of the S&W
952 Performance Center, I can attest to this particular GUN TESTS REPORT CARD GRADING
pistol’s ability to be a winner on the target range.
Its Model 52 heritage is evident, and S&W is to be Gun Tests Grade: A
applauded for bringing out a wonderful “cousin” to the A gun with this rating functions perfectly, shoots
old 52 and 52-2. accurately, and exhibits comfortable, easy use for its
Your article did not mention, however, that a 6-inch- owner. We may prefer one gun over others based on
long-slide variant is available from S&W. My particular its unusual accuracy, superior performance, unusual
9-52 is the 6-inch-long-slide version. In doing testing features, or nice cosmetics. We recognize such a gun
last year for load development, using a Ransom Rest, for these traits without regard to its cost.
I was able to achieve essentially eight shots in a single
hole at 25 yards time after time. Gun Tests Grade: B
Also, the trigger does get better and better over time We give this ranking to a gun that functions appropri-
and shows no creep or click with well over 10,000 rounds ately for its category, but which might not do as well
through the tube. in major areas as an A-ranked gun.
The 952 is one accurate pistol, as your tests revealed.
Thank you for that verifi cation! —Art Gumbus Gun Tests Grade: C
We may have reservations about some aspect of
I really enjoyed the article about bullseye pistol shoot- a gun’s performance or pricing. We express those
ing and what to use on those mean old paper targets at reservations so the reader can balance our concerns
50 and 25 yards. From 1957 to 1960 I was in the Army. I with his or her needs.
was very blessed with being on the all-DASA (Defense
Atomic Support Agency) pistol team two years in a row. Gun Tests Grade: D
We were not given the greatest fi rearms to compete Some aspect of a gun’s performance — in particular,
with, but we did have High Standard Supermatic 22s. safety, function, or accuracy — doesn’t meet our stan-
Also, we were given S&W 38 Sp. 6-inch revolvers for dards and isn’t easily resolved.
the centerfi re matches. As for 45s, we were given Colt
competition models. They were average, but not super. Gun Tests Grade: F
So I purchased a Colt 1943 GI model from the NRA. I Some aspect of a gun’s performance is dangerous,
sent it to a pistolsmith with instructions to make me a inappropriate for the category, or is likely to fail.
hardball gun. He did just that. I put a good set of sights
on it and went to work. I won our post shootoffs two
Gun-Tests.com 3
0610GT1 Cover p1-5.indd 3 5/11/10 12:22:35 AM
FIRING LINE
times. In the April 2010 edition, you tested personal the stainless to its parkerized twin, I’m thinking you
defense ammo, which was very informative. But why found a goofy individual gun. —Ross
did you not test the Hornady Critical Defense brand? San Diego, California
This seems to be the trick setup right now, and I have
had great success in all my carry guns with this ammo Re “22 LR Semiauto Shootout: ISSC, Sig Sauer,
in both 9mm and 45. No misfeeds and very accurate. and Walther,” and “Rim-Tac Rifles, Round II:
—Fred Weeks The Sig 522 Edges Umarex’s M4,” May 2010
Ft. Worth, Texas I enjoyed the rimfire pistol and rifle reviews in the
current issue of Gun TesTs but was surprised to see in
No slight on Hornady. In the limitations of time the Accuracy and Chronograph Data sections that the
and budget, we just didn’t include it this round. Also, pistols produced more muzzle energy than the rifles.
GT reader Allen Smith of Raleigh, NC, checked with Since this seems counter-intuitive, I’m guessing there
Federal about the availability of Hydra-Shok rounds. must be a logical answer to how a 4-inch barrel outper-
He wrote them, “I have heard that Federal has discon- forms a 16-inch barrel firing 22 Long Rifle ammunition.
tinued the Hydra-Shok rounds for personal defense. Please help me to understand. —Bob
Is this true?” Federal replied, “The Hydra-Shok has NW Indiana
not been discontinued nor do we have plans to.” In the
article, we didn’t mean to imply that the Hydra-Shok First, one of the listings in the pistol test was an
line was being discontinued—just that a certain load editing mistake: the 8 ft.-lbs. energy reading for the
wasn’t listed for consumer sale. We were specifically CCI Mini-Mag in the ISSC M22 should have been 88
looking at the availability of the P45HS2G load, a 45 ft.-lbs. of energy. Hat tip to reader Terry Thomas, who
ACP 185-grain listing. It is listed only on the Federal was the first to point that out. Otherwise, a lot of things
LE site, and ATK spokesman Jason Nash confirmed can influence muzzle velocity, from which energy is
that it is restricted to law-enforcement buyers. Eligible calculated. But to be sure, I took the two rifles back
buyers can consider it a Grade A selection, but we’ll to the range with the same ammos and rechecked the
keep its score as a Grade C because of its limited velocities with another chronograph, and got compa-
availability. —Todd Woodard rable data. However, the pistols have already moved
out of our inventory, so we couldn’t recheck them. One
Re “22 LR Semiauto Shootout: ISSC, Sig Sauer, potential answer is that semiautos require differing
and Walther,” and “Wild Bunch Pistols: Colt amounts of gas to operate their actions, so the rifles
1918 Leads The Pack, But At A Price,” May 2010 may have used more than the pistols, thus depressing
I was overjoyed to see that you tested two guns I the rifle velocities. Also, because there were no common
already own. On the Walther P22, you pretty much hit ammos (CCI’s Green Tag 40-gr. solid lead roundnose,
the nail on the head. Its not the most accurate gun in the Remington Golden Bullet brass-plated 36-gr. hollow-
world, but it’s great as a cheap plinker. The one thing point, and Wolf Match Extra 40-gr. lead roundnose
you had against it was the separate pin needed to reas- for the rifles and CCI Mini-Mag 40-gr. roundnose,
semble the gun. I lost my pin within a week of getting Federal Lightning 40-gr. solid, and Winchester Super
the gun, and I too managed to launch my spring across 37-gr. hollowpoints for the pistols), it’s hard to make
the room on multiple occasions. But after a few times an apples-to-apples comparison. —tw
disassembling and reassembling the gun, you get the
hang of it. With just a little practice, it isn’t a problem at Re “22 LR Semiauto Shootout: ISSC, Sig Sauer,
all. Now I can reassemble my P22 just as fast and easy and Walther,” May 2010
as any of my other pistols, and I’m not by any means Thanks for such a great magazine. I have been a sub-
dexterous. If you’re looking for a semiauto 22, don’t let scriber since 1995 or so and have thoroughly enjoyed
this dissuade you from the P22. the articles and information over the years.
With the Springfield GI 45 Stainless, I’m not sure which Your recent article on the Sig Sauer Mosquito is very
gun you were testing. I didn’t have any problems with disturbing and has prompted me to send you a letter for
break-in. It was perfectly reliable right out of the box. the first time. I purchased a Mosquito in October 2008
I’ve put all kinds of ammo through it, and never had any for several reasons, including teaching firearms funda-
problems with reliability. It’s also one of the most ac- mentals to my children using a smaller caliber round and
curate pistols in my modest arsenal, and though I don’t then moving them up to a 9mm and .40 S&W. I estimate
benchrest or anything like that, I would venture to say I have fired 400 rounds through the Mosquito and have
that my GI 45 is as accurate as my Glock 35 (the long- not had a single failure to feed or eject problem. I real-
barrel target 40 S&W model). I can see the gun losing ize the double-action trigger pull is heavy, but in single
points for a heavy trigger and bad sights, but the GI 45 I action it is not at all noticeable, even for my kids.
know and love shouldn’t be getting docked for accuracy Obviously, my concern is the firing of a round with an
and reliability. Judging by the inferior performance of open breech and agree completely with your reasons
4 June 2010
0610GT1 Cover p1-5.indd 4 5/11/10 12:22:36 AM
for stopping the evaluation. I would really hate to have get a tricked-out “tactical” piece. Your wife or child may
this happen to one of my kids and have them injured need to use it to save you!
and then be hesitant about dealing with fi rearms. 3. Get a 22 rifl e, and when you can, a 22 pistol or re-
I for one am extremely interested in any followup on volver. The 22 will supplement the 12 gauge and makes
the Mosquito and encourage you to follow through and a fun gun to own and to train your family and friends.
notify your readers. —Nicholas Borchard 4. For a centerfi re rifl e beyond the SKS, fi gure out
Apple Valley, California what four or fi ve calibers you like and stick with them.
There are hundreds of calibers out there now, and most
Please see the letter below. —tw of them are simply the gun and bullet companies’ way
of trying to get you to buy more junk. I believe the 30-06
I am a NRA Certifi ed fi rearms instructor in the Cleve- is a great choice. It will kill anything in North America.
land Area for Concealed Carry Courses and want to The 308 is a fi ne caliber and close to the 30-06. In my
inform you of major problems we have had with Sig view, the Remington 700 is one of the fi nest bolt-action
Sauer Mosquito pistols. On the fi rst one, we had the rifl es ever made, and is all you need in a long gun.
front 1 inch of the slide completely break off during a In my 50 years of gun ownership, I’ve come up with
shooting session with a client. There was no squib or a few observations:
other barrel obstruction of any kind. The gun just broke
apart with no warning. The company replaced the gun ● Some gun companies don’t make anything! They
with a new one, and after only a few days shooting, simply put their name on stuff made by other folks.
the gun’s slide was sticking so bad it would not come ● Do not go hunting if you have not shot four boxes
off the gun. It, too, was sent back, and now I do have a of bullets at the range this year.
replacement for that gun. ● Any ammo your rifl e shoots accurately will harvest
On the plus side, Sig did get me two new guns to animals within 100 to 150 yards, so Remington Core-
replace the fi rst two defective ones. But I will not let Lokt @ $15 a box is as good as McDuff’s Finest at $45
students fi re the latest Sig Mosquito. So far, no one was a box— if you keep your shots within this range.
hurt, and I’d like to keep it that way. ● Nothing prepares you for a 300-yard shot except
—Kim Rodecker practicing 300-yard shots.
Cleveland, Ohio ● Shooting a 45-caliber pistol with a 22 conversion
www.concealedcarrycourses.com will not teach you how to shoot a 45. It will teach you
how to shoot a big, clumsy 22.
Dear Todd and Gang: ● Optics, scopes, and binos are worth what you pay
Receiving GUN TESTS each month has helped make for them. $1200 scopes/binos/spotters are terrifi c, and
the years go by faster than I think they should have. $1800 scopes/binos/spotters are outstanding.
I don’t know when I started receiving GUN TESTS, but ● Don’ be the kind of ass who shoots something and
I started keeping them in a binder with the July 1995 then does not make every effort to recover it.
issue, and have fi lled four 3-inch binders with them. I All of that said, I leave you. Thanks for the years of
have enjoyed each one—not always agreeing with the informative reading. —John Jackson
fi ndings or the products reviewed, but I enjoyed read- Tampa, Florida
ing each issue.
Now, at 65, with all the guns I want except for $5,000 We appreciate the advice, John. We hope you’ve got
to $25,000 shotguns and engraved rifl es with exhibition many more years of hunting in you. —tw
wood, this is as good a time as any to sadly say adios.
However, there may soon come a time when our
country may need real men to stand together, and to GUN TESTS welcomes mail from its readers. To
that end, I give you the following. send us comments or questions about previous
1. Get a Mossberg Model 500, 12 gauge, with a bird articles in the magazine, email us at
barrel, a slug barrel and a blackpowder barrel and put <[email protected]>. If you’ll in-
it in the closet with a lot of ammo. Birdshot to feed clude the month and year of the article you’re
your family, slugs for deer and humans, and buckshot writing about, it’s a big help. Also, please in-
for people intent on doing you harm. The 12 gauge is clude your name, address, and phone number.
the single most versatile cartridge in the world. If your We won’t publish your personal information,
wife lets you have only one gun, this is the one to own. but we may need to contact you. You may also
Get one, learn to use it, and then put it away. request that we not publish your name.
2. Do the same thing with an SKS. It is one of the sim- If you want to send postal mail, send letters
plest guns in the world to shoot; your wife or daughter to Gun Tests Magazine, 1510 Eldridge Pkwy.,
can handle it, and the SKS doesn’t jam (much). If you Suite 110-163, Houston, TX 77077. GT
cannot get an SKS, than anything will work, but don’t
Gun-Tests.com 5
0610GT1 Cover p1-5.indd 5 5/11/10 12:22:37 AM
PISTOLS
380 Pocket Pistols: CZ USA,
Sig Sauer, Walther Shoot It Out
Our team said that CZ USA’s Model 83 is a home run, and
they also liked Sig Sauer’s modern P238. Sig’s P232 may be a
sentimental favorite, but we’re mixed on the Walther PK380.
One of the hottest trends in firearms sales is the tion of 380 ACP pistols. The $643 Sig Sauer P238 is a
resurgence of pistols chambered for 380 Auto or much smaller pistol with little pretense towards filling
9mm Browning. This cartridge is also referred the role of a primary carry gun.
to as 9mm Kurz or 9mm “short.” However, Our test procedure was broken down into two phases
scarcity of available ammunition remains a problem. of operation. Phase one was to determine base accuracy.
We checked with several retailers and found they were We wanted to know what kind of groups could be shot
hesitant to sell quantities of 380 ammunition unless the with each gun from sandbag support. Test distance was
customer was actually buying a 380-caliber handgun. 15 yards. Our point of aim was the white 1.9-inch circle
It wasn’t until our local gun shop made contact with at the heart of the Reckstine Sight-In Target. This test
a wholesaler by the name of Camfour (www.camfour. was performed outdoors.
com) that we were able to locate the necessary quan- To assess the close-quarter capabilities of each pistol,
tity of ammunition to complete our tests. But with so we utilized a three-shot drill fired at close range upon a
many new 380s in the offing, supply of ammunition is Hoffners ABC16 target. Placed 5 yards downrange, we
bound to catch up. recorded elapsed time beginning with the audible start
We begin our tests of available 380s with two models signal from our Competitive Edge Dynamics electronic
that have been in production for so long they are, in shot recording timer (www.cedhk.com). The drill was
regards to marketing, almost invisible. They are the to fire two shots into the 5.5-inch-wide by 7.9-inch-high
$522 CZ USA Model 83 and the $900 Sig Sauer P232. Our A-zone at the center of the humanoid print and then a
third gun was the $393 Walther PK380. The PK380 has third shot to the B-zone or cranial pocket. The B-zone
been available for little more than one year. The fourth was represented by a semi-circle about 5 inches wide
gun represents the new genera-
The $522 CZ 83 was never
meant to be a deep conceal-
ment pistol. In fact the model
83 is a civilian version of the
CZ 82, issued in 1982 to the
Czechoslovakian military. But
that doesn’t mean it’s not a
good concealed carry piece.
The CZ 83 is a well-balanced
high-capacity pistol for those
who prefer lighter recoil. It can
be carried with hammer down
for traditional double-action or
single-action only cocked and
locked. Manual decocking was
easily achieved and placement
of the ambidextrous safeties
was perfect, in our view. What
this 380-caliber pistol gives up
in power it makes up for in ac-
curacy. That’s a six-shot group
fired with Sellier & Bellot am-
munition from a 15-yard bench. The error in elevation was the result of faulty set up, not the sights.
6 June 2010
0610GT2 380s p6-18.indd 6 5/11/10 12:39:55 AM
ACCURACY AND CHRONOGRAPH DATA
PMC Bronze 380 Auto CZ USA Walther Sig Sauer Sig Sauer
90-gr. FMJ 380A CZ 83 PK380 P232 P238
Average Velocity 954 fps 896 fps 912 fps 877 fps
Standard Deviation 23 fps 12 fps 12 fps 11 fps
Muzzle Energy 182 ft.-lbs. 161 ft.-lbs. 166 ft.-lbs. 154 ft.-lbs
Smallest Group 1.5 in. 2.8 in. 1.3 in. 2.4 in.
Largest Group 2.2 in. 3.4 in. 1.8 in. 3.0 in.
Average Group 1.9 in. 3.1 in. 1.6 in. 2.7 in.
Sellier & Bellot 380 Auto CZ USA Walther Sig Sauer Sig Sauer
92-gr. FMJ CZ 83 PK380 P232 P238
Average Velocity 1008 fps 863 fps 849 fps 883 fps
Standard Deviation 23 fps 41 fps 37 fps 45 fps
Muzzle Energy 208 ft.-lbs. 152 ft.-lbs. 147 ft.-lbs. 159 ft.-lbs
Smallest Group 0.5 in. 3.0 in. 1.4 in. 2.7 in.
Largest Group 1.4 in. 3.5 in. 1.9 in. 3.4 in.
Average Group 1.0 in. 3.3 in. 1.7 in. 3.1 in.
Hornady Critical Defense CZ USA Walther Sig Sauer Sig Sauer
380 Auto 90-gr. FTX 90080 CZ 83 PK380 P232 P238
Average Velocity 952 fps 885 fps 892 fps 874 fps
Standard Deviation 14 fps 12 fps 6 fps 16 fps
Muzzle Energy 181 ft.-lbs. 157 ft.-lbs. 159 ft.-lbs. 153 ft.-lbs
Smallest Group 1.3 in. 2.9 in. 1.1 in. 3.0 in.
Largest Group 1.7 in. 3.5 in. 1.4 in. 3.4 in.
Average Group 1.5 in. 3.2 in. 1.3 in. 3.2 in.
To collect accuracy data, we fired five-shot groups from a sandbag rest using open sights. Distance: 15 yards. We re-
corded velocities using an Oehler 35P chronograph, with the sky screens set 10 feet from the muzzle.
and 3 inches high. Start position was with the gun held
in both hands pulled in towards the chest with the
muzzle raised at approximately a 45-degree angle. We
recorded elapsed times for 10 three-shot strings of fire.
This test was performed indoors at the newly renovated
Top Gun Handgun Training Center in Houston (www.
topgunrange.com). Here we benefitted from a state-of-
the-art air filtration system and the safety of ballistic
partitions, plus a splash-proof backstop. Lighting was
adjustable from back-alley dim to classroom bright. We
also noticed digital multi-screens behind the counter and
behind the scenes in the administrative offices. Not only
was unsafe handling quickly addressed by staff, but our
vehicles were under constant surveillance as well.
Test ammunition consisted of full metal jacket fod-
der and an innovative defense round from Hornady
Manufacturing. Our FMJs were the 92-grain rounds from
the Czech Republic by Sellier & Bellot, and 90-grain
rounds of PMC Bronze from Korea. To determine carry The magazines that fed our 380-caliber pistols
weight of each gun at full capacity, we weighed each were, left to right, the six-rounder belonging to the
gun (unloaded) with a full magazine plus one round of Sig Sauer P238, Walther’s eight-round PK380, Sig
the 92-grain Sellier and Bellot ammunition. During our Sauer’s seven-round P232, and the double-column
break-in session, we fired a variety of rounds, includ- twelve-round magazine from the CZ 83.
Gun-Tests.com 7
0610GT2 380s p6-18.indd 7 5/11/10 12:39:56 AM
PISTOLS
CZ USA CZ 83 No. 91302 380 ACP, $522
Gun Tests grade: A
The CZ 83 may be the best example of a traditional double-action pistol we’ve tested. This is a great
high-capacity semiauto for those who desire lower recoil.
SPECIFICATIoNS
Overall length ...................................................6.8 in.
Barrel length .....................................................3.8 in.
Sight radiuS .......................................................4.8 in.
Overall height ....................................................5.0 in.
FrOnt Strap height .............................................2.0 in.
Back Strap height...............................................2.9 in.
Weight unlOaded/lOaded .........................25.7/33.0 Oz.
capacity ...............................................................12+1
MaxiMuM Width .................................................1.4 in.
grip thickneSS (Max)............................................1.3 in.
grip circuMFerence (Max) .....................................5.2 in.
FraMe ...............................................Steel/Satin nickel
Barrel ..................................................................Steel
Slide .................................................Satin nickel Steel
grip ........................................................Black pOlyMer
trigger pull Weight dOuBle actiOn ...................14.0 lBS.
trigger pull Weight Single actiOn ......................6.0 lBS.
trigger Span dOulBle ..........................................2.9 in.
trigger Span Single ............................................2.5 in.
Warranty ........................................................5 yearS
telephOne .............................................[phone]
WeBSite ...............................................WWW.cz-uSa.cOM
Right: Right: Neither left- or right-
The CZ 83 handed shooters
operated via found it
blowback design necessary to
with a fixed barrel. shift their grip
Note the slide lock/ to move the
release located just thumb safeties
forward of the grip. up or down. The
Not every blowback CZ 83 can also be
pistol offers this feature. shot beginning with
the hammer down.
ing Hornady XTP hollowpoints. But for recording ac- CZ USA CZ 83 No. 91302 380 ACP, $522
curacy data, our third test round was the new 90-grain The CZ 83, now available from CZ USA, located in
Hornady Critical Defense ammunition. These rounds, Kansas City, Kansas (www.cz-usa.com), has been in the
manufactured in Nebraska and sold in boxes of 25, catalog in one form or another since 1982. That’s when
were constructed with a filled hollow point to ensure the Czechoslovakian military received its 380-caliber
expansion at any velocity in any media. What struck us pistols. The Model 83 appeared the following year for
was that all four guns ran without a single malfunction. civilian sales. The CZ 83 is also available chambered
Another aspect was that every round we tried in all four for 32 ACP. The 380-caliber models come finished in
guns, regardless of being offered as target ammunition blue steel or satin stainless. The satin-nickel slide on
or for defensive purposes, resulted in about the same our CZ 83 was stamped Cal. 9 Browning Court. This
amount of felt recoil. Usually, target rounds are softer is yet another name for 380 Auto. (Wikipedia lists as
and defensive rounds leave our hands sore. The test many as 10 different names for this cartridge.) The
turned out to be a lot of fun. Here is what we learned. steel frame was also finished with a satin-nickel sheen,
8 June 2010
0610GT2 380s p6-18.indd 8 5/11/10 12:39:57 AM
but other parts were glossy blue. These parts were the
trigger guard and ambidextrous magazine release, the
ambidextrous safety levers, the hammer, and the sights,
front and rear. The grips were black plastic panels that
left the backstrap exposed.
Our Model 83 arrived with two steel-bodied magazines
that held 12 rounds of ammunition staggered side by
side above a removable steel basepad that seated flush
to the bottom of the frame. Other notable characteristics
were the externally mounted extractor, rear only cocking
serrations on the slide and a white dot front sight blade.
The rear sight, also showing white dots, was dovetailed
into the slide and fixed with a small vertical pin.
The CZ 83 was blowback operated, wherein the
3.8-inch-long barrel was fixed to the frame. Field strip-
ping the pistol begins with an empty pistol, hammer
down and safety off. Then, pull the trigger guard forward
and down until it hinged away from the frame. Next, Takedown on the CZ 83 began with pulling forward
the hammer was pulled back to make it easier to move and down on the trigger guard. Note the grip con-
the slide. The slide was pulled to the rear until it was tour just behind the magazine release. This slight
released from the frame rails. The slide was then slid hindrance was our only complaint with the gun.
forward over the muzzle and removed. So was the stout
recoil spring that surrounded the fixed barrel. Reas- seconds. The computed average elapsed time of 2.13
sembly meant applying the slide over the barrel, letting seconds was actually a few tenths of a second longer
it forward and snapping the trigger guard upward into than we needed to guarantee all hits landing where they
position. Unlike many other blowback pistols, the CZ were supposed to. Stray hits were no more than about
83 had a left-side lever that can be used to lock back one-inch outside either the A or the B zones.
the slide. Firing our action test, single-action only proved to
The trigger system offered both traditional double be considerably faster. Elapsed times ranged from 1.73
action (TDA) and single-action only (SAO) fire. Once seconds to 2.10 seconds. Many strings of fire completed
the slide was moved to load the chamber, the safety in about 1.9 seconds produced perfect shot placement.
could be applied with the hammer back for cocked and Shots from the bench were also fired single-action only.
locked carry. Or, the hammer could be lowered for a The Hornady Critical Defense ammunition printed
first shot double action with single-action only shots to five-shot groups measuring about 1.5 inches across on
follow. Without a decocking lever in place the hammer average. The PMC Bronze ammunition was less satis-
needed to be lowered manually. This meant grasping fying, averaging about 1.9 inches across for five shots
the hammer and holding it back. Then, pressing the measured center to center. But the Sellier & Bellot
trigger until a click was heard. At this point the trigger ammunition was stunning. We printed a one-hole group
was released but the hammer remained in our grasp. that, after deducting for one-half the bullet diameter at
We gently lowered the hammer. Actually, once the click the top and one-half the bullet diameter at the bottom,
sounds and the trigger has been released there should measured about 0.5 inches across. Loaded into the CZ
be no danger of ignition. Thankfully, the hammer was 83 the Sellier and Bellot 90-grain jacketed ammunition
properly shaped and large enough so that we didn’t feel was the only round to exceed 1000 fps in our tests. As
our grip on the spur was ever in question. Plus, there such, muzzle energy was also the greatest, measuring
was room for us to grasp the hammer with one finger 208 ft.-lbs. on average.
wrapping partially around the hammer blocking the The CZ 83 held 12+1 rounds, making it the only high-
firing pin. We’re not sure the CZ 83 was actually meant capacity pistol in the test. It transmitted the least recoil
to be carried with the hammer back at all times. Rather, while producing the most power. The magazine release
the safety may best be applied at the conclusion of live was partially blocked by the contour of the grips, but
fire for safe holstering. This would maintain a higher shooter comfort and bold sight index made this gun
state of readiness should a safe situation take a turn easier to shoot. We never felt in danger during the
for the worse. manual decocking process and both the double- and
In performing our action tests we decided to engage single-action triggers were among the best we’ve tried.
the target utilizing both the single-action only and tra- The ambidextrous thumb safeties did not require that
ditional double-action options. For TDA fire we manu- we change our shooting grip. Detent on each lever was
ally decocked the gun before every run. Fired in this of the correct strength in our opinion. There were no
manner elapsed times varied from 1.99 seconds to 2.23 points of snag to spoil concealed carry, and its size and
Gun-Tests.com 9
0610GT2 380s p6-18.indd 9 5/11/10 12:39:58 AM
PISTOLS
Sig Sauer P232 No. 232-380-SSS 380 aCP, $900
Gun Tests grade: B
The strengths of this design are its narrow profile and natural index. But we’d choose the least
expensive model P232 that was lighter, too.
SPeCiFiCa TioNS
Overall length ...................................................6.6 in.
Barrel length .....................................................3.6 in.
Sight radiuS .......................................................4.6 in.
Overall height ....................................................4.7 in.
FrOnt Strap height .............................................2.3 in.
Back Strap height...............................................2.6 in.
Weight unlOaded/lOaded .........................22.1/26.7 Oz.
capacity .................................................................7+1
MaxiMuM Width .................................................1.3 in.
grip thickneSS (Max)..........................................1.27 in.
grip circuMFerence (Max) .....................................5.7 in.
FraMe .....................................................StainleSS Steel
Barrel ..................................................................Steel
Slide ......................................................StainleSS Steel
grip .....................................................textured ruBBer
trigger pull Weight dOuBle actiOn ...................12.0 lBS.
trigger pull Weight Single actiOn ......................5.0 lBS.
trigger Span dOuBle actiOn.................................2.5 in.
trigger Span Single actiOn .................................2.5 in.
Warranty ...............................................nOne Written
telephOne .............................................[phone]
WeBSite Or eMail ..............................WWW.SigSauer.cOM
Right: The hammer was Right: The
shrouded by the takedown latch
slide. All three was countersunk
models (bottom arrow),
of the helping to keep
P232 are the gun slim and
shipped snag-free. The front
with night sight was low mounted,
sights. but clearly visible. Note the
wavy lines on the top strap.
They helped reduce glare.
Left: The magazine catch was located at the
bottom of the grip. Slower to manipulate than a
button, this design helped keep the gun narrow
and ensure retention when the gun is pocketed, for
example. The Hogue grip helped us shoot, but did
add bulk.
10 June 2010
0610GT2 380s p6-18.indd 10 5/11/10 12:39:59 AM