I think I am a CZ wannabe--info please.

[Boats]

I am in the market for a new 9mm pistol after migrating away from the cartridge for many years in favor of the .45ACP. I alternated between Berettas and BHPs the last time I had 9mms, but with the growing plastic plague on the Berettas and the mods required of a BHP to prevent them from biting me, I am really intrigued by the CZ pistols but have a difficult time finding one to handle.

I hail from the 1911 community and so I have a few questions about the CZ 75/85 series I am hoping somebody can answer before I invest my time and money into one (or more). I tried searching on CZforum and TFL, but I came up with sometimes contradictory info.

As a DIY gunsmith for most projects my questions are these:

1. How hard is it to detail strip these pistols?

2. Does the 75 B come with an optional ambi-safety? (I thought I saw one in Hakan's grip gallery). If not, can the ambi-safety from the CZ 85 or 75 Champion or ISPC be retrofitted to the vanilla CZ 75B? (I am a southpaw, but do not care if I have an ambi slide release so I'd prefer the lower cost/cleaner frame of the 75B if possible and just buy and install the ambi part myself.)

3. Is there an ambi-mag catch available? If not, is the extended rightie mag catch available from the factory, how much does it cost, and is it a drop in part?

4. Are CZ pistols cast or forged steel, what about the small parts?

5. Are the barrels chrome-lined?

6. Are full-cap mags still available from the factory? If not, what is the market rate for one these days.

7. Any mechanical issues I should be aware of? (Weak spots in the design?)

8. Do the 75 compact mags fit the P-01?

Thanks for any answers.

 

[10-Ring]

Hope these links help: http://www.cz-usa.com/ & http://pub105.ezboard.com/bczechpistols82792

 

[Chris Rhines]

1.) Not too hard after a bit of practice, although getting the trigger spring seated properly requires three hands and patience. Have a good set of punches, extra roll pins, and a good pair of needlenose pliers.

2.) The CZ-85s and the CZ-75SA (single-action only) both have ambi controls. It is not possible to retrofit a CZ-85 safety onto a CZ-75; the frame is different. I have heard of people putting ambi EAA Witness saftey levers on CZ-75s, but I've never seen it done.

3.) There is no ambi mag catch available for the CZ-75 (there should be.) The extended mag catch runs around $29 from the factory, and it is drop-in.

4.) I'm not 100% sure, but I think the CZ frames are cast. Most of the small parts are stock removal.

5.) No, the barrels are not chrome-lined.

6.) Not sure if 15-rounders are available from the factory. Going rate for factory mags in good shape is $35-45, and they're easy to find. Try www.empirearms.com.

7.) I busted a firing pin on a CZ-75 once, so you might lay in a spare. I'd also prefer a CZ-85 Combat to a -75, as the -85 does not have that stupid roll pin retaining the firing pin.

8.) Yes.

- Chris

 

[PCRCCW]

All 40 cal 75's are ambi also, ...thought Id throw it in for good measure
Shoot well

 

[RBull]

Just to complement the info above - some models do have reversible magazine catch. For example the CZ-75B SA, or the new P-01 compact. (The SA also does have the enhanced ambi safety from Champion model). I believe, the Champion safety will fit the regular 85, not sure about the regular 75 though.
RB

pics of 75 B SA model
www.czsight.wz.cz

 

[CZF]

What did they leave out??

A. weak spot: slide stop, but is common with the 1911 and P35
among other pistols. Some break sooner than others.

B. P-01 mags are just 10 round Compact mags. There are
some Hi-cap Compact mags on the market. 15-shot mags
also fit and feed splendid thru Compacts and P-01s. $45.00
for a genuine CZ factory hi-cap from CZ-USA.

75B with ambi safety?
Unless you Need the DA option. The CZ75SA is a better gun.
the SA trigger contributes to greater accuracy. It is only a
few dollars more than a 75B commercial model.


Any other questions..feel free to ask.

 

[Boats]

Well the reason I ask about ambi-safeties on a 75 B is that my SAO needs are more than currently met by 1911 pistols and I daresay the CZ 75 SA would pale in comparison to them triggerwise. Therefore I want the DA/C&L option, especially if I wind up carrying this pistol, (I am a big guy). To C&L a 75 B in 9mm, (the only caliber CZ I am considering), as a lefty requires an ambisafety, though most of the time I'd probably carry it DA first shot. This option makes the CZ line pretty attractive to me, especially for IDPA, where I can shoot the class I feel like lining up in that morning.

Hence, I have a difficult time figuring out why a right-sided safety cannot be slapped on to the basic CZ 75 B when the same feature is already on the 75 framed Champion and ISPC as well as the 85 B and 85 Combat. Truth be told, I'd probably buy the Combat but for the desire to rid it of the adjustable sight and put on some Ashleys or Trijicons on it only to be left with a wierd looking slide that has a milled area where the adjustable used to be. I'd buy the 85 B if I could get rid of the FP safety and get the overtravel trigger on it, because I do not really care for roll pins.

Aside from the B FP block, the ambi-friendly CZ 75B in .40 S&W, (but in 9mm), would be my perfect Czech weapon. So here are two more questions common to 9mm/40S&W pistols:

1. Can the CZ 75B in .40S&W be converted to 9mm?

2. Can one use the 40.S&W mag of a CZ as a 9mm full-cap?

Thanks again, sorry if my questions are tough. They have to be for a pistol I might wind up buying sight unseen.

 

[cratz2]

As the owner of several 1911s, most with trigger jobs, I think the trigger on the CZ75B SA might surprise you. The CZ IPSC Standard has a better trigger than any 1911 I own. Bar none! The standard SA isn't quite that good but is better than almost any Springfield, Colt or Kimber trigger I've tried. And a week and $150 spent with George Smith at EGW and I assure you will be very pleased.

I've owned several CZs and EAAs. Currently have an EAA Silver Team SA that I wouldn't get rid of unless my kids were very hungry.

 

[PCRCCW]

As a first time owner/shooter of a 9mm SA 75 B...I can attest to the accuracy/trigger combo. Last night as the sun went down, I dropped by the range for a minute just to 'first shoot mine"...
VERY Pleased....off hand rest at what had to have been 40 yds...I paced it off, could have been 35.....I shot 5 strings of Defensive JHP's...the Rem +p 115's were less than 4" and the Gold Dots were in a group of about 2" with a flyer making it 5"...none were bigger than 6"....pretty damn amazing for me shooting a first timer....my son has never seen me "blow away stood up shot gun shells with such ferver!...After a while he was bored choosing which one I should shoot next.....I got em all.
Im gonna get the IPSC trigger and drop it down to about 3lbs...and have some fiber optic sights on order....wolff springs on the way and Now Im gonna have to make me a damn fine rig that will Cond 1 carry.....total bummer man!
Shoot well

 

[CZF]

Imagine a CZ with MMC Adjustable nights. SA trigger and in ..45
I think it is better than my MMC'd 75SA.

I have doubts that any stock 1911 is more accurate than a 75SA in 9mm.

When HANDGUNS got the 0.5 inch groups. They said that they
could have probably done better with better sights.

Fiber-optics will be interesting.