CZ SP-01 Range Report and Questions

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daysleeprx

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Finally got to take out my new SP-01 today (thanks manofsteele!) Stripped it, cleaned it (man these guns are greasy out of the box!), lubed it, and took it out with me. First impressions of the gun:

-The always popular CZ ergonomics are fantastic

-Factory night sights = yay

-Some people talk about rough internals...and yes I can see this to a degree
(compared to my other two handguns, both HK USPs).

-Double action trigger = bleh (common complaint from CZs I've heard)

-I'm a fan of the extended dustcover/rail. Maybe I'm just a closet mall ninja.

Took her to the range and shot 100 rounds each of WWB 115g FMJ, WWB 115g JHP, and CCI Blazer 9mm.

This gun is freakishly accurate. I'm not a great shot by any means, but I was chewing out the center of every target I was shooting at (15 yards). The gun shoots like a pussycat...I think the combination of the rather hefty weight of the gun and the 9mm round makes the recoil almost unnoticable. Followup shots were quick and accurate!

Now the bad...

First up was the WWB JHP. Had 2 FTEs...no biggie.

CCI Blazer was flawless.

WWB FMJ...Holy cow. I had at least 10 FTEs (I stopped counting after awhile) including 2 stovepipes. This was kind of disappointing seeing as how I've never had a problem with this ammo in the past (9mm or .45, both in HK USPs).

So my questions are, do you guys think this is ammo related? Or is there something about the gun I should be worried about? (I'm not very good at troubleshooting guns yet). Also, those of you that own CZs, what ammo do you use for home defense that is reliable? I've never had any qualms about keeping my HKs loaded with WWB JHP ammo for HD, but obviously today's range session is making me leery. I want to find an ammo that I can totally trust before I can decide the CZ is a gun I'd rely on for HD. (I'm thinking about trying the Federal HST).

Overall I love the gun. It's one of the best shooting 9mm I've ever tried (comparing to Glock 17, HK USP) and I'm really happy with the purchase. I'm really hoping the problems are just ammo related, and that I can live with. CCI Blazer is cheaper to practice with anyway, and I don't mind shelling out the extra bucks for some quality HD ammo as long as I know it works.

Thanks in advance!
 
Most of the ejection problems from cz can be solved from an extra power spring from wolff.Worse case it'll probably be a new extractor (which cz has supposedly sent to some people when advised of the problem )and the spring.
 
Ah yeah, I've heard about replacing the extractor spring as well. How difficult is it to do?
 
WWB bulk 9mm is notorious for having slightly out of spec rims that play hell with certain pistol extractors. The early HS2000 pistols had issues with this.

This looks like what is going on with your gun.

Chris
 
Put in a Wolff extractor spring and stop using WWB ammo and your gun will be 100% reliable. It's as simple as that.
 
My CZ75B has never had any extraction problems no matter what I've fed it.

I usually just go with the cheapest stuff I can get at a gun show (not reloads)
which is most often Russian or other eastern-European ammo.

Commie ammo for commie guns. :D
 
Before you start replacing parts BREAK IT IN. I put a minimun of 500 rounds through a 9 before I start to worry. Also keep it lubed. CZ's love lube.

Kevin
 
I use S&B 115 gr ammo from Natchez Shooters in all my CZs and I've never had a problem of any sort. A little hotter than ordinary 9mm ammo, but very accurate in a CZ (it is the ammo used by the factory).

foxmoor
 
Welcome to CZ ownership

I am still waiting on my "extra power spring" and extractor from CZ. It's been "in the mail" for a few weeks now.

I have endorsed cz for years but I have been in denial. I had ftf's when the gun was new. Replaced the recoil spring now it feeds better but extracts like crap.

What kind or quality gun requires spring replacement form the get go. For the time I have been waiting on my stuff to arrive from cz I could have walked there and back many times. I am rapidly loosing faith.

Oh sure they are accurate, but my self defense pistol is no longer a cz. Maybe I will feel better when my parts arrive.

the real bitch is that I was gonna buy a sp-01 as an upgrade. Sound like I would be replacing the POS I have now with another POS.

Oh and definitely disregard the "break in" advice given here. I have been believing that crap for years and my gun still is not reliable. I would send it back and insist on a gun that works.

my 2 cents. -bevr
 
Get the Wolff extra-stength extractor spring. Nothing else. We KNOW that the extractor springs are marginal.

(Don't ask CZ to replace the spring. Spend a few -- very few -- bucks and get one from Wolff Springs. CZ-USA is, by the way, sending out extra-strength extractor springs when there is a problem.)

The design of the extractor is a possible issue, too. Shooting dirty ammo can cause gunk to build up in the extractor cavity (under the extractor.) If that happens and enough gunk gets in there, the extractor won't close as firmly or fully on the case rim. Be sure there's no junk in there. WWB is notorious for dirt.
 
"What kind or quality gun requires spring replacement form the get go."

Every time I acquire a CZ pistol or AR-15 rifle I put in a Wolff extractor spring. Doing so has solved extraction problems for me many times in the past so now I just do it before I place the gun in service. Sure the factory SHOULD do it for me but it's no big deal and it WORKS. It takes less time to change the spring than it does to whine about it on the internet.

http://www.gunsprings.com
 
Thanks for the advice, I just ordered some wolff springs. I was just wondering, how easy is it to replace the extractor spring on my own? (ie: what tools would I need, etc.) or would I just be better off having a smith do it? Thanks!
 
The extractor pin is staked, so you'll need a strong steel punch to break it loose. Drive the pin from the top of the slide out the underside.

Except for that, its pretty easy. (Push it forward until the tip clears the breechface.)

Don't be surprised if the pin is HARD to get loose.

You might want to put some masking tape on the slide around the pin to minimize the chance of maring or scratching it.
 
you may call it whining

I call it a heads up.

Much the same as saying to avoid putting ammo in the gun to avoid problems. I'm glad you all are happy buying guns that don't work the way they should. Frankly, I find it a bit upsetting and think it may be helpful to share experience. Especially when asked to do so or maybe you did not read the thread title.

Sorry if I stepped on anyone's brand loyalty.
 
Sorry about your experience Bevr, and to an extent I agree with your opinion. It would be great if everything worked properly from the get go, and I think CZ should invest in importing some good quality springs for their pistols.

I own 6 CZs myself, and of those 2 needed a little tweaking (springs, polishing and break in) before they were fully reliable with all ammo. Because of the price and the other things I like about them such as the accuracy and ergonomics I'm willing to accept this. You are not, so CZ probably isn't the brand for you.

Now my CZs run great, and I wouldn't trade them for pistols costing much more out of the box. That is why I continue to be a CZ customer.

Nonq
 
I'm with nonquixote: they aren't perfect but they're pretty darned good. And they shoot as wel (and point better) than any gun I've got or had (unless the other gun cost 3-4 times more, ala SIG P-210-6 or S&W 52-2).

People think nothing of buying other things and tweaking them -- especially cars and motorcyles. And many folks who buy custom guns (some costing $2000+) frequently don't get perfect reliability until after a LONG breakin period, or until the gun has gone back to the maker. Is that the way it should be? Nope. But it happens. A lot. Heard much about Kimbers having problems? Sprinfields? It happens. They aren't perfect either, but once they settle down, they're pretty nice.

The kind of perfection you seem to expect generally comes at a cost that isn't just dollars.

Springs remain an issue for *SOME* CZs. But, of all the ones I've had (and its probably 15 plus), I've had spring issues with one -- an extractor spring. I've since upgraded the extractor springs on most of my current CZs and CZ clones (which include several AT-84s, two Sphinxes, and a Witness.) I didn't upgrade the Sphinxes.
 
Bevr,
I apologize for the harsh wording. My bad.

The point I would like to make is that CZ's are incredible guns IF you add a minor amount of tweaking. All my CZ's get extractor springs & Meprolight night sights. Some get a lighter mainspring and I flatten the mag brake on those that don't come that way from the factory. But after decades of firearm ownership, years of competition, and years of concealed carry, I think CZ's are one of the best pistols out there.
 
I bought my CZ 75BD used and have done no tweaking. To my knowledge, the guy before me did no tweaking except for switching to the CZ rubber grips instead of the standard plastic ones. My CZ is flawless and by far the most accurate and ergonomically outstanding gun I've shot yet.

I believe people who say they need to switch out to Wolff springs, but I haven't yet. If that's the only modification you need to make, then just add the cost of the Wolff spring (next to nothing) to the cost of the CZ handgun, and it's still the best deal out there.

I personally don't believe any gun is totally perfect. Sure, if you buy a top end Sig, you probably won't have to modify anything, but you're also paying twice as much for the gun. I'm a fan of those top end guns, as well, but for a newbie starting out with not a lot of $$$, you'd be hard pressed to find a better gun than CZ for the same price, even including the price of a Wolff spring.

So, yes, CZs aren't perfect, but they're pretty darn great, IMO. The flaws are well known (springs and maybe DA trigger, according to some) and easily (and cheaply) remedied.
 
I think I have tweaked every gun...

springs, carry bevels, sights, triggers, chamfer cylinders..

just a matter of course..because I like to tinker and change things..


that said...I love my SP01s...both were tweaked with new springs and sights..and have been exceptionally perfect..
 
I have never changed anything on any of the CZs in this house, with the exception of Hakan grips on four of them! No issues with any ammo, nor was there with the CZ-75 Compact I was forced to sell several years ago, niether was there with the Witness/Tanfoglio clones I owned in the past.
Sorry you have such a bad experiance with CZ - mine has been unqualified excellence.
 
CZ changes

Minimal, heavier recoil spring only. Clean extractor slot between 700 and 1000 rnds, it gets jammed with junk and crud, CLP does not get it out! Need to use solvent and Q-tip, pick and pipe cleaner.:)
 
250 rounds through my new SP-01 (bought last week) and no FTF/FTE issues. So far nothing but WinClean used though. Haven't tried anything hot or any HP's.
 
I've had 10+ different brand guns and the only gun I haven't had any malfunctions of any kind is my CZ 75B and really no issue with my Sig
P220 and Browning either, all others have had some fte and ftf including a Sig 380 that I traded but honestly the CZ has been the most flawless and I used the same ammo mentioned.

Perhaps the anniversary model I have gets more attention to detail but soon I'll have the new stainless 75B and see how that goes.
 
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