My poor accuracy with CZ double action

[GAC]

After several weeks of handgun inactivity I finally went out shooting Sunday afternoon.


The only centerfire handgun I have is my CZ PCR in 9mm. When firing single action I have good accuracy and am happy with my results. But, the double action trigger pull drives me nuts. I was pushing my double action shots way low - one time I was 8-10" low at 10 or 15 yards - from the point of aim. I almost exclusively dry fire on double action, but when at the range I have to do a fairly slow trigger pull for any accuracy. I like to shoot IDPA and IPSC when I can and the double action either slows me down or screws my score.

Any tips or recommended drills/practice on improving my double action shooting?

 

[Sprout]

Try dry firing with a dime on the slide. When you can do that without a wobble, try it with the dime balanced on the front sight. I find it a very difficult, but helpful, exercise.

You may also want to try a lighter hammer spring from Wolff. With my 75BD, I've found that a 16# hammer spring will reliably ignite Federal, Winchester, and American Eagle primers (but not S&B, it took a 19# spring to get 100% ignition with S&B).

 

[Shear_stress]

How long have you had your PCR? It took a good bit of dry-firing before I was happy with the triggers on the newer production CZs that I've got. As for training, Sprout's advice is great. If, after plenty of dry-firing and double action drills, you still aren't happy with the trigger pull, you can send the gun to either CZ or Miossi Gunworks in Iowa for an action job.

I probably don't need to remind you, but please don't dry fire your (B model or later) CZ without snap caps.

 

[chris in va]

Lighter hammer spring. Factory ones in my BD and 40P run about 20#, so I changed them out with 16#. Much better and no light strikes.

 

[Majic]

delete

 

[GAC]

Snap Caps?

The necessity of snap caps is news to me. Is this a factory recommendation? What damage occurs when dry firing without a snap cap in place?

 

[Shear_stress]

The necessity of snap caps is news to me. Is this a factory recommendation? What damage occurs when dry firing without a snap cap in place?

All "B" model CZ75/85 pistols (except the 85 Combat) use a roll pin to retain the firing pin. Dry firing without snap caps will eventually cause this roll pin to fail. The factory supplies five or six snap caps with each gun and recommends their use in the manual.

 

[chris in va]

That's odd. Nowhere in my BD's manual does it state the caps have to be used.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I'll bet it was in older manuals only. I checked a newer one (that includes the P-01) and it doesn't mention it.

A number of us here particpate on the CZ Forum, and a handful of owners there have busted the firing pin retention roll pin. (I did so, myself, on my 40B, but dry-fired my original 75B thousands of time, without problems.)

The new CZs have a stronger roll pin (roll pin within roll pin), and are unlikely to break.

 

[Grayrider]

A trigger job might be in order if it really bothers you. The CZ double actions can be quite lovely after the attention of a tallented smith.

GR

 

[GAC]

Walt:

When you say "newer roll pins" how far back does that go? I think my PCR has a '99 manufacture date. Maybe I can post on Angus' board on CZForum and he will know.

Grayrider: I'm too cheap and poor right now to pay for a trigger job.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Put a snap cap in it and dry fire the heck out of it. You may not need a snap cap, but for a few bucks does it certainly doesn't hurt so don't worry about it.

$400 or so for a pistol and folks are fretting of $6 for a baggy of dummy rounds.

 

[PCRCCW]

Dry firing breaking firing pins????????????? Ive dry fired my CZ's probably 1/2 a million times over the years and have yet to have a problem. But now today, Ill break one just because I said that.

The main spring replacement is a SOLID recommendation. The PCR will take a fullsize main spring.......not the Compact. Dont know why the Compact springs I have from Wolff just didnt work. Get a FS and compare it in OAL compared to the OEM one.....adjust your weight from there.

I use a 9mm case for my dry firing practice. Put it right behind your front sight and dry fire. Start slow and work your way up to faster...it will help alot.

Shoot well.

 

[eerw]

it just takes practice..when I first got my SP01 and 75b...I was shooting two groups..the double shot would go one place and the single acton shots the other...

after about a concentrate 100 rounds..my two groups are not in the same spot..

really got to focus on that trigger when shooting the double action and watching that front sight..it is amazing how far that sight can move in the motion of the trigger...

I now dryfire a lot, as well as the live-fire practice...

a action job will really help improve it, especially if your trigger doesn't smooth out..a lighter hammer spring will help too..

 

[wingman]

I was taught to shoot with a single action and I prefer that type, I have
one DA only and that is a Kahr MK9 only DA I have found that I could shoot
well. I also have a 75B, super accurate, I've never fired it DA I always pull the hammer back, love that hammer.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Dry-firing doesn't break CZ firing pins. Eric (PCRCCW) knows that.

Dry-firing has been known to break some firing pin retention roll pins.

With my original CZ-75B, I dry-fired it thousands of times, and never had a problem.

With my 40B, I dry-fired it about 300-400 times, and it broke. Surprised the crap out of me, as I had been saying "nonsense," when told about the potential problem.

Its an easy replacement, and the pin can be found in most hardware stores for about $.25.

Do you have a "doubled" roll pin? You can tell by looking. You'll see an smaller pin inside the larger one. With non-doubled pins, there's a lot more visible light showing through the middle.

 

[GAC]

Thanks for the info on the roll pins. I check that next time I dryfire.

I had also forgotten about the coin on the slide/sight method.