How dependable is the CZ 85B? I have two, one in black polymer and the other one is in silver polymer finish but sometimes I think about getting rid off both of these pistols and getting a Beretta or a Glock bacause of its famous slide stop problem. I don't want to have a broken slide stop especially in a gun fight. So what do you guys know about this problem? How many rounds can I fire before the slide stop breaks? Will the pistol continue to fire?
How dependable is the CZ 85B?
- Thread starter Irfan
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steveracer
Member
Do a search for "75B".
You will learn everything about the 75 series pistols. The 85B is a CZ-75B with Ambi safety and slide stop.
To answer your question: Mine has run about 5500 rounds without any kind of failure.
You will learn everything about the 75 series pistols. The 85B is a CZ-75B with Ambi safety and slide stop.
To answer your question: Mine has run about 5500 rounds without any kind of failure.
ChuckB
Member
I think you worry too much!
The CZ is an outstanding pistol. Take care of it, and it will take care of you.
Chuck
The CZ is an outstanding pistol. Take care of it, and it will take care of you.Chuck
rbernie
Contributing Member
I'll bite
What problem is that? Enquiring minds want to know.....
daysleeprx
Member
The only problems with CZs I've ever heard of were spring related.
nico
Member
^^ same here. I've heard that the extractor spring can be problematic, but a new one from wolf is about $3. I have about 600 rounds of WWB through my 75B SA and have had one FTE that may have something to do with the extractor spring (empty case was only partially removed from the chamber).
Cliff47
Member
Not to worry...the CZ75/85 series was designed to be a combat firearm (translate as: built like a tank, industrial strength). While other designs are gasping for air, the CZ design is still going strong (kinda like a DA Hi-Power, another classic combat handgun).
I think it depends in part on when your pistols were made. My 85 Combat (which broke during a match) predated the change in the slide stop lever. I think it was in the early 2000's when the change was made, but one of the resident CZ gurus will likely be of more help.
Walt Sherrill
Member
I've been a CZ fan for years, and am active on the CZ Forum. We have thousands of members and hear about every little crappy problem that exists for CZs. Springs are about the most common topic.
Slide stops are NOT a common problem. I think I've heard about 3 or 4 breaks in 6-7 years. And with two of those guns, CZ later replaced the weapons -- as it seemed the frame itself was a little out of spec.
The members who have shot them a lot in competition -- which includes members of the CZ Pistol Team -- replace slide stops every 5K rounds or so, to be safe, but others have easily gotten 15K rounds without problems. I've never had one break and I've put thousands of rounds through a bunch of CZs.
(Slide stop breaks were seen when the Witness Clones were widely used in IPSC/USPSA competition -- but not so wide as to be thought to be some kind of weird design failure. The Witnesses are CLOSE clones of the CZ.)
Slide stops are NOT a common problem. I think I've heard about 3 or 4 breaks in 6-7 years. And with two of those guns, CZ later replaced the weapons -- as it seemed the frame itself was a little out of spec.
The members who have shot them a lot in competition -- which includes members of the CZ Pistol Team -- replace slide stops every 5K rounds or so, to be safe, but others have easily gotten 15K rounds without problems. I've never had one break and I've put thousands of rounds through a bunch of CZs.
(Slide stop breaks were seen when the Witness Clones were widely used in IPSC/USPSA competition -- but not so wide as to be thought to be some kind of weird design failure. The Witnesses are CLOSE clones of the CZ.)
atblis
Member
THis comes up every so often
It is not common at all for a CZ to break a slide stop (never seen it happen). I think there are two things that happened, CZ had a bad run of slidestops, and or they had a few guns with something out of spec that caused them to break slidestops (which to the extent of my knowledge they replaced under warranty). Of the 8 CZs, and 5 Clones that I have/had, no broken slide stops and they all get the crap shot out of them.
Why do you have two of them if you think they are not dependable?
I've been looking to add some 85s to my collection, PM me if you're interested in getting rid of those problematic CZs.
It is not common at all for a CZ to break a slide stop (never seen it happen). I think there are two things that happened, CZ had a bad run of slidestops, and or they had a few guns with something out of spec that caused them to break slidestops (which to the extent of my knowledge they replaced under warranty). Of the 8 CZs, and 5 Clones that I have/had, no broken slide stops and they all get the crap shot out of them.
Why do you have two of them if you think they are not dependable?
I've been looking to add some 85s to my collection, PM me if you're interested in getting rid of those problematic CZs.
dairycreek
Member
Well, as you know now there is no "famous" slide stop problem with CZ's. You have also learned that the 85 series of the CZ are just variations of the basic 75 series. Cz's are reliable. I have two - a 75B and an 85C. Got around 6K through each-replaced springs once on general principles but never the slide stop. They just keep chugging along with absolutely no problems. Get a Beretta? Absolutely not
Walt Sherrill
Member
By the way, if you've got an 85B in silver finish, it isn't polymer -- its satin nickel. They've never made a silver polymer.
(CZ was talking about doing that, and the users raised so much stink -- with calls to CZ-USA -- that they apparently changed their mind, at least for a while.)
(CZ was talking about doing that, and the users raised so much stink -- with calls to CZ-USA -- that they apparently changed their mind, at least for a while.)
3 gun
Member
CZs do have the earned rep of breaking slide stops. I've broken one myself I still have 2 CZs and make sure I have a slide stop in my bag whenever I'm going to a important shoot. They aren't a weak link like in flawed, but if something on a CZ is going to break it's most likely going to be the slide stop. Truth is in my circle of shooting friends I've never heard of ANYTHING else breaking on a CZ.
CZs also have the rep of weak springs from the factory. They should be 14lbs for recoil spring but have been found to be 12 and under even when brand new. Again that can't help the slide stop much but really doesn't become a problem unless you shoot a lot of +P ammo. Just change the spring at 3K/rds with a 14lbs Wolff and forget about it. The extra power extractor spring doesn't hurt but I've NEVER found it to be a must.
Keep a spare slide stop. Replace the recoil spring with the factory rate at normal intervals. Ditto with mag springs. The truth is for a high volume shooter I doubt you'll find a smaller list of spare parts than with a CZ.
I still have 2 CZs and make sure I have a slide stop in my bag whenever I'm going to a important shoot. They aren't a weak link like in flawed, but if something on a CZ is going to break it's most likely going to be the slide stop. Truth is in my circle of shooting friends I've never heard of ANYTHING else breaking on a CZ. CZs also have the rep of weak springs from the factory. They should be 14lbs for recoil spring but have been found to be 12 and under even when brand new. Again that can't help the slide stop much but really doesn't become a problem unless you shoot a lot of +P ammo. Just change the spring at 3K/rds with a 14lbs Wolff and forget about it. The extra power extractor spring doesn't hurt but I've NEVER found it to be a must.
Keep a spare slide stop. Replace the recoil spring with the factory rate at normal intervals. Ditto with mag springs. The truth is for a high volume shooter I doubt you'll find a smaller list of spare parts than with a CZ.
Walt Sherrill, I think you are wrong on this one. I really have one in silver metalic polymer finish, it is NOT satin nickel! You can check this at the CZ website:
http://www.czub.cz/index.php?p=32&idp=1&ids=3&idz=13&lang=en
By the way, I live in Europe, maybe this is the reason.
http://www.czub.cz/index.php?p=32&idp=1&ids=3&idz=13&lang=en
By the way, I live in Europe, maybe this is the reason.
Walt Sherrill
Member
Re: silver polymer.
If you live in Europe, that explains it. They wanted to introduce the silver polymer in the US and we inundated CZ-USA with complaints. (You'll notice that I mentioned CZ-USA in my first reply.) I'd like to see one up close and personal. They don't come where we live.
As for another comment about a heavier recoil springs protecting a slide stop. In fact, its likely to do the opposite.
The heavier recoil spring will slam the slide FORWARD with more force, and that's the part of the cycle that hits the slide stop -- not when the slide goes back. A heavier recoil spring may manage recoil better, and protect the frame, but its likely to adversely affect the slide stop, over time. Either way, I don't think its a big deal, and I'll agree that a true 14lb. or 16lb. spring works better.
If you live in Europe, that explains it. They wanted to introduce the silver polymer in the US and we inundated CZ-USA with complaints. (You'll notice that I mentioned CZ-USA in my first reply.) I'd like to see one up close and personal. They don't come where we live.
As for another comment about a heavier recoil springs protecting a slide stop. In fact, its likely to do the opposite.
The heavier recoil spring will slam the slide FORWARD with more force, and that's the part of the cycle that hits the slide stop -- not when the slide goes back. A heavier recoil spring may manage recoil better, and protect the frame, but its likely to adversely affect the slide stop, over time. Either way, I don't think its a big deal, and I'll agree that a true 14lb. or 16lb. spring works better.
When the rt hand portion of my ambi slide stop broke, CZ told me that they had changed the design of that part of the slide stop b/c they were breaking at a greater than acceptable rate. They remachined the hole in the rt side of the frame and installed a differently configured rt side lever on mine. Mine had about 3k through it at the time. I shot the thing for the rest of the match, but had to hold the lever in with my thumb.
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