Although have been a handgun shooter for many years this is my first experience with relics and curios. I recently purchased a CZ52. The only ammo available locally was some steel case berdan primed of questionable origin. Rather than try this I elected to order a set of Lee dies and a couple of hundred pieces of Starline brass. Decided to use an 85 gr. bullet from the Lyman mould 313249 sized to .308. The load data that came with the Lee dies listed for a 85 gr. Jacketed bullet a starting load of 11.8 gr. of Acc. #9 and a maximum of 13.1.
I reduced the starting load by 10% and loaded my first batch with 10.6 gr. of Acc.#9. I was surprised when this load chronographed at 1486 ft/sec. Looking a little further I found Accurate Powder online data Listed for an 85 gr. bullet a starting load of 9.1 gr. of Acc. #9 and a maximum of 10.4. I presently handload 25 different handgun cartridges and I have never found that great a difference in published data before.
My CZ52 functions very well with one exception. The slide does not stay back after the last shot is fired. The projection on the lever that contacts the follower of the magazine that should push the lever up to lock the side springs out rather than up to lock the slide.
