Pre B CZ-75 mag compatibility

Almost all 10-round mags made for the CZ will work with the pre-Bs. Most factory 15-round mags will work with the pre-Bs. If you shoot IDPA, all you really need are the 10-rounders -- so you can get several of those, and two of the 15-rounders for carry, if you carry..

Most of the newer 16-round (or higher) mags made by CZ or Mec-Gar (Mec-Gar makes the OEM mags for CZ) won't work.

Take your gun to a gun show, and try mags for CZs and CZ clones. Don't buy anything without first trying them in your gun.

Some of the older Tanfoglio/Witness mags will work. If they fit easily in the grip frame, they'll be fine.

CZ-USA has pre-B mags in their online store on the CZ-USA website. They're expensive, but if you only need a couple, it's really no big deal.

Finally, a gunsmith can open up the top of the pre-B CZ grip frame so that any of the mags will work.

Aren't most (if not all) Pre-B mags pre 1994?

The gun was phased out of production in the late 80s I think...

Robertsons use to have spare mags for sale with the pistols. Are they out of them?

WB

The later pre-B became more and more like the B models, so that the tight mag column is more likely to be a problem with earlier versions than later ones.

There's just no hard and fast rule or guideline. CZ also had the practice of making up lots of parts and not serializing or dating them until they were assembled for export or sale. Serial numbers are not a clear indication of manufacture date -- but there is a date stamped on the slide that tells when it was assembled.

Anyone looking for mags that work in their pre-B CZ needs to take their gun to a gun show and try mags there. Unless you can go somewhere like the CZ Forum, http://www.czfirearms.us/

As noted above, if you just need one or two, buy the new pre-B mags directly from CZ-USA. You'll pay a bit more, but there'll be no question about whether they work.

I no longer have any pre-Bs, but if I did, I'd just pay to have a gunsmith open up the grip column to accept the mags -- or, more likely, do it myself with a Dremel.

it about 30 minutes and a file or diamond hone to open up the magwell to run the newer 16rnd mags. the NEW AFC mags from MecGar won't work. just too tight.

I can attest to the fact that the newer SP01 18rd mags work in the Pre-B pistols. I figure if they work in my 1978 short-rail they should work in any Pre-B.

A few years ago I opened up a 75 mag well with a file. It didn't take very long.

vidi0t said:

i can attest to the fact that the newer sp01 18rd mags work in the pre-b pistols. I figure if they work in my 1978 short-rail they should work in any pre-b.

Click to expand...

you have a short-rail?!?!?!

I'm so jealous of you you don't even know

HDCamel said:

you have a short-rail?!?!?!

I'm so jealous of you you don't even know

Click to expand...

Yep. They show up every now and then on Gunbroker.

An ANIB short-rail is probably almost worth its weight in gold.

As I understand it, the shift from short to longer rails was because CZ came to believe that the short rails were not as structurally sound as they should be.

That "understanding," however, may be the gun equivalent of "urban myth," as I've not seen it addressed by someone really in the know.

Walt Sherrill said:

An ANIB short-rail is probably almost worth its weight in gold.

As I understand it, the shift from short to longer rails was because CZ came to believe that the short rails were not as structurally sound as they should be.

That "understanding," however, may be the gun equivalent of "urban myth," as I've not seen it addressed by someone really in the know.

Click to expand...

Yeah one new in box. Gosh the value on something like that, the skies the limit. I got my '78 on Gunbroker a few years ago for $750. It was in bad shape. The previous owner had bead blasted it (poorly) and then parkerized it. I didn't like the grey parker finish so I duracoated it. Here's a before and after pic:





As you can see, the 18rd mags fit this gun nicely.

If anyone is interested, I kinda documented the duracoating process over at the CZForum here.

Walt Sherrill said:

An ANIB short-rail is probably almost worth its weight in gold.

As I understand it, the shift from short to longer rails was because CZ came to believe that the short rails were not as structurally sound as they should be.

That "understanding," however, may be the gun equivalent of "urban myth," as I've not seen it addressed by someone really in the know.

Click to expand...

From what I understand, the steel used in the original short-rails was much harder and of higher quality than it is now. This caused problems with mass production since the milling blades wore out very quickly and the materials themselves were expensive to produce. They lowered the quality of steel to meet that of most contemporary firearms and the rails were extended to compensate for the lowered structural integrity.

Those grips (in the second photo) are also worth a lot. <grin>

I've got a 75 slidestop stashed away in case I ever get another pre-B.. (The newer ones work fine, but don't look just right.)

Walt Sherrill said:

Those grips (in the second photo) are also worth a lot. <grin>

I've got a 75 slidestop stashed away in case I ever get another pre-B.. (The newer ones work fine, but don't look just right.)

Click to expand...

Actually the grips in the photo are repros.
I wish I had an extra Pre-B slide stop. I don't use the original slide stop at the range. I just don't want to take a chance on breaking it. As you said the newer ones work but they won't hold the slide back after the last round. They will when using that newer 18 Rd mag though.

That is a fine looking short rail.

vidi0t said:

Actually the grips in the photo are repros.
I wish I had an extra Pre-B slide stop. I don't use the original slide stop at the range. I just don't want to take a chance on breaking it. As you said the newer ones work but they won't hold the slide back after the last round. They will when using that newer 18 Rd mag though.

Click to expand...

I have some pre B mags and the follower would miss the slide stop in my 75sa. I got some of the new followers for 16 round mags and it fixed the problem.

railroader said:

I have some pre B mags and the follower would miss the slide stop in my 75sa. I got some of the new followers for 16 round mags and it fixed the problem.

Click to expand...

That's a good idea. I should try that.