Is it true that the Czech CZ(VZ)52 is the most powerful handgun to be standard issue for a military? - General discussion Forums

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Forums / Public / General discussion / Is it true that the Czech CZ(VZ)52 is the most powerful handgun to be standard issue for a military?

Author	Message
BlindPoet Members 115 posts Location: Uganda Occupation: Progamer Age:	#47387 2008-05-13 10:27 GMT
	I saw this on a surplus collector's website. Is it true? That cartridge doesn't seem that muscular. If it's not true, which handgun IS the most powerful standard issue?


CatNap Members 114 posts Location: Rwanda Occupation: Snake charmer Age:	#47388 2008-05-13 10:34 GMT
	the gun was built around a smg round, the 7.62x25, a 30 caliber bullet with a velocity around 1600fps. it is pretty powerful, i doubt it's the most powerful tho. it will pierce a modern kevlar helmet, and soft body armour.

Rocky Members 115 posts Location: New Caledonia Occupation: Cheesemaker Age:	#47389 2008-05-13 10:51 GMT
	It is not easy to measure power. There are different theories about that. I do not think any .30 can rival a .45 in actual KO power. The USA .45 Colt cartridge used in the "Single-Action Army Metallic Cartridge Revolver" is a prime candidate for the honor you mention. It was used 1871-1892. The .45ACP used 1911-1985 is not as powerful. British soldiers used several .455 Webley rounds, but velocity was low, so they cannot match the .45 Colt. One must consider muzzleloaders too. Some were .54 single shots. In the 16th Century, there were .70 wheelock "horse pistols".

Freedom Members 100 posts Location: Montserrat Occupation: Urban planner Age:	#47390 2008-05-13 11:06 GMT
	I own a CZ-52 and a Tokerov TT33; both use the same round, 7.62 X 25. 1600 FPS is about right...the round does tend to over-penetrate,though. I don't know about current non-US issue handguns insofar as 'most powerful'. It is absolutely fun to shoot.

NoName Members 108 posts Location: Thailand Occupation: Theatre director Age:	#47391 2008-05-13 11:08 GMT
	The CZ 52 is no longer an issue weapon so if we are talking about guns in that time frame The 1911 was the most powerful military issue weapon Only the British agreed with the American big bore mentality with their .455 Webley Other countries have considered a sidearm as a sign of rank more than an actually fighting tool Now days most just carry a 9mm but the Russians have developed and gun capable of firing hot amour piercing 9mm rounds

Apples Members 105 posts Location: Mongolia Occupation: Hunter Age:	#47392 2008-05-13 12:01 GMT
	That is not correct, as the CZ-52 simply used an existing Soviet cartridge, 7.62x25, that had been in existence for a couple of decades and was used in the Tokarev pistols like the TT-33. Now, the Czechs did load their 7.62x25 to pressures that were 25% higher than the Russians did for the CZ-52....and since it was already a potent caliber, it makes for a darn hot pistol. Finding the Czech ammo is hard, as most of the surplus you find is Yugoslavian or Russian manufacture, and commercial 7.62x25 is weaker still. What the cartridge offers is speed and energy in a bottle-necked rifle type cartridge that will offer significant penetration in hardened materials and body armor. Other answers are correct in that .45acp and some of the big revolver cartridges offer more punch. Also, look up the FN Five-Seven, another specialized hot armor-penetrating caliber that's been introduced.

Casper Members 109 posts Location: Dominica Occupation: Record Producer Age:	#47393 2008-05-13 17:21 GMT
	I have to agree with Miyuki, unless you count the Walker Colt. People denigrate it because it was a cap-and-ball revolver, but until the advent of the 357 Magnum, it held the position of most powerful handgun, and was more powerful than many rifles of the time. I suppose strictly speaking it's more "paramilitary," so you can exclude it if you wish.

BurningBiker Members 110 posts Location: Ecuador Occupation: Manager Age:	#47394 2008-05-13 17:56 GMT
	That little cartridge can be hotloaded for SMGs, and because it is small and fast, it is a pretty good armor penetrator. But it is far from the most powerful handgun to be standard issue for a military. You know what handgun is the most powerful standard issue? Walker Colt, in use by US troops in the Mexican-US war of 1847 That blaster weighed a ton, but then the idea was you were carrying it on your horse. It fired a .454 caliber conical bullet and was designed to be loaded with anywhere between 40 and 60 grains of blackpowder (compare to the famous 45-70, used a heavier bullet on top of 70 grains of blackpowder) The followup to the Walker Colt was the Walker Dragoon, which was pretty much the same gun, just improved, and designed to use only 50 grains of blackpowder. Now, some of our military is issued 45ACP handguns, and if they use +p+ 45 ammo, it would exceed the power of the Walker, but standard 45ACP ammo does not.