Your opinions on 1911-style CZ in .40 S&W?

[Hellbore]

Your opinions on the CZ40?

CDNN has what they call a "1911-style CZ 40s&w" on sale for $250 smackers. Very tempting. It says "CZ-75 operating mechanism". Doesn't that mean it is really a CZ-75 in .40 S&W?

Edit: Ok, it's a CZ40. Thanks!

I'd really appreciate your input on this gun. I am looking for a workhorse of a gun that won't jam and can shoot all kinds of .40 ammo. It needs to be reliable and preferrably not have a horrible trigger. If you know much about this particular pistol please let me know what you think.

Also, anyone know how much it weighs?

It's either this gun, or a used USP from cdnn, or a Ruger P94, and it would be nice to save some money unless I'll regret it later...

 

[clipse]

I think its called a CZ40. They are no longer in production as far as I know. I have never held or even seen one in person but I have read quite a bit about them. They are supposed to be very reliable and durable. I am sure others will know more.


clipse

 

[rblack]

Here is a pic of mine. It has been absolutely reliable, as are my other CZ's. It was originally a joint venture by CZ and Colt, and Colt backed out after making 800 pistols that were DAO. CZ continued to make the DA/SA version for several years and I guess they never were a commercial success, but the people who have them for the most part like them very much. There are still quite a few being sold, so if you're interested you can still get a good price.

 

[Hellbore]

Do they have a decocker? Do they also have a safety? Can they be carried locked and cocked? How's the trigger on yours?
Thanks!

 

[PCRCCW]

Ok..they are a great gun. The triggers are typically better CZ triggers...very smooth and nice. The do not decock and they are Cond1 capable. Cocked and locked or hammer down..take your pick.

To hold one is like a cross between a standard 1911 and a double stack P/O....very nice. Its an alloy frame and steel slide, the trigger mech and safety etc is very close to the typical CZ 75 style. Its a Sig style barrel lockup instead of having locking lugs. It takes Colt Defender sights, so replacements are pretty common if you want that............

I get mine tomorrow and will be using it for a holster mold. It may just become my primary carry.

If you use the CZ40 baseplates on CZ Hi Caps, you can carry 12 rnds of 40 in them also ..........+1

Shoot well..............

 

[Hellbore]

Wait a sec, you said

If you use the CZ40 baseplates on CZ Hi Caps, you can carry 12 rnds of 40 in them also ..........+1


Where do I get the CZ Hi Caps? Is that what they are called, just CZ Hi Caps?

 

[CZSteve]

Hellbore,

PCR (Eric) described the 40B to a 'T'.
IMHO I think they are the best deal out there for a mid-size gun.

I installed a heavier recoil spring ($7.50) and put on big dot express sights.
Fits my hand better than a 75B full size (still want a pre-B though ).
Pros:
Double Stack of .40SW
DA/SA
Condition 1 or 2 carry.
Accurate
Reliable
It's a CZ (may have to inform some of this)
Never got real popular. Kinda of gun w/o a country; not a classic CZ or 1911 .

Edit: Forgot your ? re: weight.
Unloaded = 29.1 oz
Loaded = 37.5 oz (10ea 155gr gold dot)

Eric,
Let us know about the different Sig hammer springs you plan on trying.
(DA is a little heavy, but not terrible)
P.S. noticed you just got the P11, still happy?. Almost hate to admit I'm thinking about the same if I can't aford to spend for the RAMI for summer carry.

 

[FPrice]

Interesting post. I held one of these pistols yesterday at my local dealer's. He had worked at Colt and got one of the originals. He called it a "ColtZ40".

I thought it was DAO. But whatever it seemed to be a sweet pistol.

 

[DMK]

I've had one for about two years. It's got a lightweight alloy frame and has the approximate dimensions of a 1911 Commander. However, other than cosmetic appearance, it has nothing in common with a 1911.

It's a great pistol, a real sleeper IMO and a very bargain for the price. Mines been 100% reliable and very accurate. The trigger was a little gritty when I got it, but it smoothed out after a few hundred rounds and some dry-firing.

CZ-75 magazines in .40S&W will work in it. CDNN sells the 10 round mags for it. They also sell 12 round .40S&W/41AE Witness mags which should work with perhaps a little tweaking.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Re: baseplates and hi-caps.

The standard CZ-40B magazine is the standard CZ-75B .40 mag, with a different baseplate to make it fit the handgrip of the CZ-40B. Changing baseplates doesn't change capacity.

The earlier comment was that by using 9mm hi-caps in the 40B gun you get an extra 2 rounds. By using the CZ-40B baseplate on the 9mm mag, you get a mag that LOOKS like it was made for the gun, rather than sticking out a little, leaving a gap -- as would be the case if you used a 75B mag, otherwise.

The CZ-40B is a 100% CZ. Nothing about it is Colt or 1911 design -- except the grip angle . (Parts diagrams for the 75B and 40B line are remarkably similar.)

Its a good gun. The DA trigger tends to be a bit on the heavy side, but that can be fixed. The SA trigger is generally pretty good.

A decocker model is not available. It can be carried cocked and locked or hammer down on a loaded chamber. You can also carry -- safely -- with the gun on the half-cock notch (because of the firing pin block.) This reduced the trigger weight by a pound or two. The CZ decocker models, which have the same design, decock to the half-cock notch. The sear is robust; IT IS SAFE!

 

[Ukraine Train]

I'm looking at getting one in about a month, after I turn legal. Check out czforum.com for more info. From what I've read, most everyone loves this gun, especially for the price.

 

[Sox]

will standard 1911 grip panels work on it?

 

[chaim]

I had one for just over a year. It was a very good gun and I liked it, I just didn't like it enough and I sold it to Spot77 here on THR.

Most answers have already been given. It is a CZ 75B mechanically with some hints of the 1911 cosmetically (it was originally made for Colt but Colt backed out). It is a DA/SA gun without a decocker just like the standard CZ 75B (you have to manually decock it if you want to carry it DA). The safety allows "cocked and locked" carry.

Mine was pretty accurate, though a little disappointing since I was expecting it to be up to my CZ 75B's accuracy (it is better than average but not up to my 75's standards). It was extremely reliable. Typical CZ quality, good fit and finish (though a little lacking cosmetically in the internals). The price is a great bargain.

OK, why did I sell it? It wasn't really what I wanted. First, I was looking for something that would make a good CCW when I move, yet big enough to be comfortable at the range (I didn't have that many guns then, and I am not yet in a carry state). Well, being an alloy frame the weight isn't bad, but at 28-29oz it isn't that much lighter than a 75B. However, it was just light enough that with .40s&w it isn't quite a target gun either (though it is far from uncomfortable at the range- one of the more comfortable .40s I've tried). I'm also not a big fan of the .40S&W cartridge. Last, I love CZ and I love 1911s. I figured a CZ with a 1911 grip angle would be terriffic. Well, being a double stack it doesn't feel like a 1911, and with the 1911 grip angle it doesn't feel like a CZ 75.

It was a good gun, but it wasn't quite so "perfect" for me as I thought it might be.

That said, is it a good gun? Certainly. Is it an incredible deal? No doubt. In fact, if the Winchester value packs in .40S&W came to Walmart a month or two earlier I'd probably still have that CZ 40B.

Bottom line:

I'd really appreciate your input on this gun. I am looking for a workhorse of a gun that won't jam and can shoot all kinds of .40 ammo. It needs to be reliable and preferrably not have a horrible trigger.

For what you want, there might not be a better gun than the CZ 40B and there certainly isn't a better one anywhere near the price.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

No -- 1911 grips will not work on the 40B. Different size and shape, and different mouting positions. Not even close.

 

[tomkatz]

I just bought a cz 40b last Saturday. I haven't shot it yet, but plan to get it out next weekend. My trigger feels very smooth in dbl. action mode. My favorite local dealer had 10 on friday @ $269.00 ea. Sold em all by 5pm saturday. I had been thinking of ordering one but when I held one and looked it over it was a go . Good to hear all the favorable comments here. I think I'm gonna like it.......tom

 

[racenutz]

My friend's girlfriend owns one. Darn nice gun! The only bad thing I can say about it is it doesn't like Wolf brand ammo at all. The extractor tends to slip over the rim of the cartridge & the pistol feeds the next round into the back of the case that's still in the chamber. Never had any problems with any other brands of ammo though.

 

[tomkatz]

If my new cz can't handle wolf, we are made for each other, I hate wolf ammo too ......tom

 

[Walt Sherrill]

I did a poll here, recently, on Wolf ammo, and only those with direct, personal experience, responded.

About half of those responding had problems -- ranging from minor to major -- shooting Wolf. The other half loved it, and have shot thousands of rounds downrange without problems.

It seems to be an indivdiual gun thing -- but guns designed with tight chambers seem to choke first.

Be sure there's no crap behind the extractor, in the extractor cavity on your CZ. (That keeps the extractor from tightly grabbing the case.) Be sure the chamber is clean and not made smaller by lacquer build up.

 

[PCRCCW]

If her extractor is slipping over the rim, its very likely the chamber has lacquer build up in the chamber....get some bore scrubber quick.

Sometimes you cant see it until its too late and when it gets hot from shooting it tends to be like most other medias...it likes to stick togethor.

Remember your Cheerios gravitating togethor when they are almost gone?

Shoot well......................