Quoheleth
Member
I decided that I would carry my CZ85 9mm this morning. Weather has cooled off a bit, and with an OWB rig and a long-tailed shirt, it's managable. No worse than a 1911.
Loaded 15 rounds of Fiochhi Xtrema 115 gr HP 9mm ammo in the mag, cycled the slide, and lowered the hammer to 1/2 cock. For some reason, I was thinking that the trigger moved backwards, too, and when it didn't, I lightly pressed the trigger. Oh, yeah...that's right - it doesn't move rearward except for full cock. So, I had a little trigger play...that kept on going! No...not a ND, but the trigger didn't engage the seer, I guess, and the trigger moved fully rearward. Nothing happened.
Stop.
Yes, I did two VERY STUPID things here: one, finger on trigger; two, pressing the trigger, even just to feel trigger slack. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
But wait...there's more.
For some dumb-arsed reason, I was so flummoxed that I tried it again. Again, full travel of trigger - no engagement of seer - and the hammer didn't move from 1/2 cock.
I tried it again. This time [
shudder alert] the trigger caught just enough of the seer, I guess, that the hammer released from 1/2 cock. I AM ABSULUTELY 100% SURE THE HAMMER WAS NOT IN FULL-COCK!!! This released from the 1/2 cock position. Suddenly realizing what I had just done, I dropped the mag and cycled the slide to unload the pistol. Horror of horrors, there was a light firing pin strike centered in the firing pin. I was literally a whisker's hair away from a negligant discharge in my house and murder of my wife's prized leaded antique mirror (gun was pointed that way).
A very dumb lesson was learned today, and I am grateful it worked out in the end. I accept full responsibility for my actions.
Now, I need to figure out why my gun failed in two ways. First, the trigger moved freely rearward and did so repeatedly. I quadruple checked the gun to be clear and have tried to replicate the situation all morning w/out success. It had happened a few times when I first got the gun, but a good cleaning & lube job seemed to cure it. WRONG! Second, the gun "fired" directly from 1/2 cock. I have been able to replicate this by cocking the gun, and while squeezing the trigger, ride the hammer to 1/2 cock. Release the trigger just a little big - not to full reset - just to where the 1/2 cock position will hold. Without resetting the trigger - so it can fire in DA mode - press the trigger. Every time, this is allowing the hammer to fall from 1/2 cock position.
My gun is an older model - imported by AAL out of Philly. SN is C6XXX. I bought it used last summer. Obviously there is an internal problem with the free-travel from full reset. But what about the release from 1/2 cock? Is this something that other CZs do, or is my gun screwed up? Who would be better to service the pistol - a local 'smith or someone who specializes in the CZ?
I've gotta go change my shorts...and until I get this resolved, this gun has just become range use only. Or, is it not even safe for that?
Q
Loaded 15 rounds of Fiochhi Xtrema 115 gr HP 9mm ammo in the mag, cycled the slide, and lowered the hammer to 1/2 cock. For some reason, I was thinking that the trigger moved backwards, too, and when it didn't, I lightly pressed the trigger. Oh, yeah...that's right - it doesn't move rearward except for full cock. So, I had a little trigger play...that kept on going! No...not a ND, but the trigger didn't engage the seer, I guess, and the trigger moved fully rearward. Nothing happened.
Stop.
Yes, I did two VERY STUPID things here: one, finger on trigger; two, pressing the trigger, even just to feel trigger slack. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
But wait...there's more.
For some dumb-arsed reason, I was so flummoxed that I tried it again. Again, full travel of trigger - no engagement of seer - and the hammer didn't move from 1/2 cock.
I tried it again. This time [
shudder alert] the trigger caught just enough of the seer, I guess, that the hammer released from 1/2 cock. I AM ABSULUTELY 100% SURE THE HAMMER WAS NOT IN FULL-COCK!!! This released from the 1/2 cock position. Suddenly realizing what I had just done, I dropped the mag and cycled the slide to unload the pistol. Horror of horrors, there was a light firing pin strike centered in the firing pin. I was literally a whisker's hair away from a negligant discharge in my house and murder of my wife's prized leaded antique mirror (gun was pointed that way).A very dumb lesson was learned today, and I am grateful it worked out in the end. I accept full responsibility for my actions.
Now, I need to figure out why my gun failed in two ways. First, the trigger moved freely rearward and did so repeatedly. I quadruple checked the gun to be clear and have tried to replicate the situation all morning w/out success. It had happened a few times when I first got the gun, but a good cleaning & lube job seemed to cure it. WRONG! Second, the gun "fired" directly from 1/2 cock. I have been able to replicate this by cocking the gun, and while squeezing the trigger, ride the hammer to 1/2 cock. Release the trigger just a little big - not to full reset - just to where the 1/2 cock position will hold. Without resetting the trigger - so it can fire in DA mode - press the trigger. Every time, this is allowing the hammer to fall from 1/2 cock position.
My gun is an older model - imported by AAL out of Philly. SN is C6XXX. I bought it used last summer. Obviously there is an internal problem with the free-travel from full reset. But what about the release from 1/2 cock? Is this something that other CZs do, or is my gun screwed up? Who would be better to service the pistol - a local 'smith or someone who specializes in the CZ?
I've gotta go change my shorts...and until I get this resolved, this gun has just become range use only. Or, is it not even safe for that?
Q
