new cz 75B and some questions

[BullRunBear]

Hi,

Just came home with a CZ 75B 9mm. This is my first centerfire autoloader in many years. I'm mostly a revolver and black powder guy. But I got a chance to try the CZ at a recent competion and really enjoyed it. Just as important, it was comfortable for my wife to handle and shoot comfortably. (This pistol was a surprise Xmas present from her.) Haven't been to the range with it yet, hopefully in the next day or so. We'll be using it for casual action pistol competion and just for fun. I haven't loaded for an auto for 20 years and never for 9mm, so I do have some questions.

Are hard cast lead bullets OK to use in a CZ?
Any recommended bullet weights?
Any pet loads for the CZ 75B?
Is the fired brass reusable? My WW I era 45 acp sometimes dinged up the brass.
I assume I'll use a taper crimp instead of the roll crimp I normally put on revolver rounds. Is that correct?
Is there a specific make of magazine that is reliable with the CZ?

I would appreciate any thoughts, suggestions and impressions about the pistol. I am really excited about this new toy. It will add a new dimension to my shooting. Thanks.

(Gotta love this hobby and its variety. My previous purchase was a Uberti 1860 Army cap and ball revolver.)

Regards, Jeff

 

[Majic]

Hard cast........yes
Bullet weight......124 grain (standard weight is always good)
Pet loads........ most CZs aren't finicky
Reusable brass.........yes (the old Govt Models dinged brass because of the ejection port, beveling the outer wall eliminated this)
Taper crimp.........correct
Specific magazine........factory mags aren't expensive (check with CDNN)

I've owned a 75, 85, and a couple of 83s. The 85 I sold to a good friend. The 75 I gave to my oldest son. One of the 83s I gave to my youngest son. None have had problems. They are accurate, reliable pistols that fit many hands like a glove.

 

[JDGray]

Congrats on the CZ purchase! Awesome guns
The last poster pretty much sumed it up, my fullsize likes 124gr bullets over 115s, but its not drastic. My favorite load is 5.5gr Power Pistol, with 115gr fmj. Its a reduced load that gives great accuracy at 1100fps out out of my CZ compact. 9mm are easy to load for, I use a little spray lube to help with sizing, and dont over crimp. I use a Lee Factory crimp die, and just barely touch the shell, with lead, you can get into trouble, and over crimp. Good luck, and enjoy the CZ!

 

[Pilot]

I've used both 115 gr and 124 gr, FMJ, Hard Cast Lead and Copper Plated with very good success in my CZ-75B.

 

[rmb721]

I use 5 grains of Unique with a Lee 120-tc bullet. Shoots much better that I can.

 

[armoredman]

8.8gr AA#7 under a Rem 115gr JHP. Max load, but works soooo well in every CZ I've tried it in. Academic purposes only, use at own risk, etc., etc...
I have a buddy down in Tucson with CZ 15 round mags, (older ones)for$10 each, described as NIB.

 

[schmeky]

BullRunBear,

Your questions have been appropriately answered. You don't know this yet, but you made probably the best choice you could have made, going from revolvers to the CZ-75. You will find, without a doubt, the 75 will shoot with, if not outshoot, many of your revolvers.

The problem will be in the future if you decide to buy another auto-loader, other than a CZ. Trust me

 

[mikec]

My 75B also likes the 124gr bullets over 115gr loads. This sucks because my BHP likes the 115 gr bullets. I haven't tried any handloads yet in either.

It is a great gun.

 

[BullRunBear]

Guys,

Thanks for the advice, reloading suggestions and enthusiasm for the CZ. I just got back from the range where I put 200 rounds through the new pistol. My God, what a different trigger feel and balance from my revolvers!! This is going to take some practise.

I was using some inexpensive 115 gr. jacketed rounds, American Eagle and Magtech. Everything fed without a hitch or even a hiccup. The brass will be fine to reload. I tended to hit about 4 inches low and groups were 3 to 4 inches across, at 25 yards offhand. I'm sure the piece can do better but my shooting with it needs improvement. I'm not the best pistolero anyway. Happily, my wife shot it better than I did, with 2 inch groups, although still a bit low, and the recoil was comfortable for her. (She outshoots me with a Ruger Mk II as well.) To my surprise, I did better when I did rapid fire than with slow, careful shooting. (CZ zen?) Next time out I'm going to try some 124 gr. rounds and see if that makes a difference. And I'm going to pick up the Lee 4 die set in the near future.

Armoredman: I sent you an email about your buddy in Tuscon.

Again, thanks for your help. The experimenting will be fun.

Regards, Jeff

 

[armoredman]

Definately the 4 die set -I love Lee dies, and the FCD can make the differance. Answered ya back, sir, hope that helps! They also have huge load of TZ75 mags for the Tanfoglio people, for $10 each, as well.

 

[AndyC]

Are hard cast lead bullets OK to use in a CZ? Absolutely - just about all I shot were lead handloads
Any recommended bullet weights? 115 gr, 124 gr
Any pet loads for the CZ 75B? Dunno US pistol powders yet, sorry.
Is the fired brass reusable? My WW I era 45 acp sometimes dinged up the brass. Yep, very much reloadable
I assume I'll use a taper crimp instead of the roll crimp I normally put on revolver rounds. Is that correct? Taper crimp or factory crimp - never roll-crimp the 9mmP.
Is there a specific make of magazine that is reliable with the CZ? CZ

 

[JDGray]

Next time out I'm going to try some 124 gr. rounds and see if that makes a difference.

My gun shot great with 124gr Fed American Eagle. My gun needed a shorter rear sight, as it shot about 4" high at 25yrds. Shoot it off a rest at 25yrds, and call CZ if it still shoots low, they will send you the correct sight (that is after you send them the old one) You need to remove it anyways, to see the number thats on it.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

In fact, according to CZ, the gun was built around Sellier & Bellot 9mm 124 gr. hardball. (When the gun was first developed, in the early 70's, the Communist Bloc militaries didn't use a lot of 9mm. Sellier & Bellot built the round special for CZ.)

Come join us at the CZ-Forum, some time. Almost everything you wanted to know about CZs can be found there. Almost.

http://czechpistols82792.yuku.com/