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.
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.