NCJ Number
138912
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 40 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1992) Pages: 30-34,75- 77
Date Published
1992
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article presents the specifications of five handguns that are being imported into the United States from countries formerly part of the East Bloc: the Zastava CZ99 (Yugoslavia), the Hungarian FEG P9R, the Czech CZ52, the Hungarian FEG PA63 .380, and the East German Makarov.
Abstract
The assessment of these weapons addresses physical description, design background, shooting impression, cartridge overview, and tactical evaluation. Of the pistols reviewed, the Yugo CZ99 is most like existing NATO-type duty sidearms. It is a 15-shot, 39-oz. (loaded) DA automatic that looks like a SIG P226 slide assembly accommodated to a Walther P88 frame. Some 51 U.S. police departments have contacted the distributor, Nationwide Sports, about purchase of this pistol for duty. The Hungarian FEG P9R has a mixture of classic features: the Browning High Power's large- capacity magazine and lockup with the Walther pattern's double-action, hammer-drop safety design. The trigger action is a well-designed double trigger bar setup. The police will likely use this handgun for private ownership or undercover work. The Czech CZ52 is regarded by some authorities as one of the most technically advanced designs in existence. It is a roller locking gun of slightly simpler mechanism than the similar Heckler and Koch rollers. It is not suitable for U.S. police service, since it is a single-action pistol that fires the East Bloc 7.62 x 25mm bottle-necked round. The Hungarian FEG PA63 .380 is a Walther PP clone. Its most obvious difference is a pronounced thickening and rounding of the grip backstrap. It does not have the Walther's loaded chamber indicator, however. Tactically, the PA63 is as useful as any much more expensive Walther PP or PPK automatic pistol. The East German Makarov has the specifications of the .380's, except that it uses a markedly different cartridge, the 9 x 18mm. Overall, these five pistols are priced right and offer great value. A list of the suppliers of the pistols and the ammunition is provided.