CZ's slide stop – how long will it last?

[Irfan]

I oftenly hear at some gun forums that the CZ 75/85 is more durable pistol than the Beretta 92FS, but is it really true? You can read at the Beretta official website that the locking block sould last more than 17,000 rounds, but I oftenly hear that the slide stop of the CZ 75/85 pistol breaks at much lower point, less than 10,000 rounds. My CZ 85B feels in my hand much better than my father's 92 but if you guys think that the Beretta is more durable (I know it is more reliable) than the CZ I may get rid of it and get a new 92! Please help.

 

[jlbraun]

The slide stop I've heard will go over 20,000 rounds, and is an easily replaceable part - CZ will send you one for free. How easy is the locking block to replace on Berettas?

 

[Destructo6]

How easy is the locking block to replace on Berettas?

About the same.

 

[Ash]

I'm not sure you could say the Beretta is more reliable than the CZ, save by anecdote only. They are both on par when it comes to reliability. Ditching a pistol because you are afraid a slide stop will break and buying the much more expensive Beretta doesn't seem like the best thing to do, unless you are just hankering to get the Beretta. A free slide stop is, well, free and as easy to fix as taking the pistol down for normal cleaning. And, there is no guarantee either the Beretta or CZ will ever break in the first place. I have personally never broken a slide stop on any of my CZ's, and I have owned many.

If the 85 fits you, then keep it and don't worry. The slide stop and deformed roll pins are the two most seen troubles with CZ's (some folks get stronger recoil springs, but I never have and have never had a problem with stock springs). The double-roll pins solved the problem with the pins (and a roll pin is very cheap in any case to replace) and so CZ's have no issues with dry firing. Berettas have not only had brocken blocks, but also cracked slides. Glocks go Kaboom, too.

The point is, if you want to get the Beretta, then get it, but the CZ will be every bit as reliable and durable, if not more so, than the Beretta.

Ash

 

[railroader]

oops!

 

[railroader]

The slide stop broke on my cz75. I don't have a round count but is after 5 years
and alot of rounds, quite a few 1000's. The stop broke during a match, but the gun kept running. I noticed it was broke when I got home. Great gun by the way. Mark

 

[HorseSoldier]

None of my three CZs has had a slide stop or anything else break. The two 9mm's have enough rounds through them that duh intraweb says they've already broken a couple times. My CZ-97 has a lower round count but seems to be chugging along just fine as well.

Working around military M9s on the range a lot I've seen dozens of locking block failures in the last 2-3 years, on the other hand. Maybe where I work we run them a little (or a lot) harder than most users, law enforcement and 95% of other military users included, but I have very little faith in the mechanical durability of the Beretta 92 based on my own personal observations and experiences. Actually that should probably be stated as "I have no faith in the mechanical durability of the Beretta locking block" as otherwise M9s seem extremely durable and not much else on the pistol ever fails.

Obviously my sample of three CZs does not compare to several hundred M9s, but personally I can't help but feel that the Beretta's durability is subpar compared to the CZ (and pretty much every other pistol from reputable manufacturers out there). I'd take a CZ over a Beretta reflexively and without a moment's hesitation.

 

[Tecolote]

If you're really worried keep an extra slide stop in your kit. Like railroader posted a CZ will continue to function even with a broken slide stop if you're worried about a SHTF scenario where you can't immediately replace the part. It doesn't make any sense to avoid a pistol because something might break down the road.

 

[shamus]

if i recall correctly, the slide stop is not the problem. A few years back, some CZ-75bs were had the slide stop holes drilled slighty *off*. This caused the slide stop to not seat evenly in the frame, causing concentrated points of stress, thus breaking the pins. Long story short: if the hole for the slide stop is driled correctly in the frame , then there will be no problems.

check out the link: http://p201.ezboard.com/fczechpistol...cID=3991.topic

 

[Surefire]

Apples and oranges IMO.

IMO, the slide stop is a minor part that is cheap and easy to fix.

IMO, the locking block is a major part that is not so cheap, but still easy to fix.

I'd rather have a less expensive part fail, all things being equal.

Even with this said, I prefer the Beretta over the CZ due to IMO better reliability (never had a malfunction in my Berettas, but have some some in my CZs).

I own both, but for defense I prefer the 92 (however the CZ is more fun to shoot as a target gun for the great accuracy). I just don't trust the CZ reliability... IMO its good, but not great (as my Berettas and Sigs have been).

Long story short: both are great guns... you can't go wrong with either. However... comparing a slide stop breakage to a locking block breakage is like comparing apples to oranges, IMO.

 

[JohnKSa]

... None of my three CZs has had a slide stop or anything else break.
...
Working around military M9s on the range a lot I've seen dozens of locking block failures in the last 2-3 years, on the other hand.

Not a good comparison.

You're looking at 3 well-maintained personal firearms vs a large group of "shared" guns each of which has probably had more rounds through it than all your guns put together.

The M9s may indeed be more prone to parts breakage, but you would need a far more controlled experiment before you could even begin to draw any useful conclusions.