CZ 75 modifications

HistoryJunky · March 20, 2016, 05:39 PM

I just bought a CZ-85B. The DA reach is a bit much. With the gun at half cock the reach is manageable.

I was looking into getting a set of aluminum grips and a short reach package from CGW.

Does anyone have experience with these mods and which gives you a better reach advantage? Each one is around $90, which is expensive for me. If I can, I want to just buy whichever one does the most improvement until I can afford the other.

Anyone have experience with these?

Walt Sherrill · March 20, 2016, 07:16 PM

Just about anything you can get (or afford) from CGW is worth the time and effort. You do know that you can carry and start the 85b from cocked & locked, too, don't you?

I have an 85 Combat, and it remains one of my favorites. (Same basic gun, but without the firing pin block mechanism, an extended mag release, adjustable rear sight, and drop-free mag brake (which may now be standard on most new CZs.)

HistoryJunky · March 20, 2016, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt Sherrill

Just about anything you can get (or afford) from CGW is worth the time and effort. You do know that you can carry and start the 85b from cocked & locked, too, don't you?

I have an 85 Combat, and it remains one of my favorites. (Same basic gun, but without the firing pin block mechanism, an extended mag release, adjustable rear sight, and drop-free mag brake (which may now be standard on most new CZs.)

Yes I do carry it cocked and locked right now. I would prefer to carry it hammer down so I don't have to worry about the safety.

armoredman · March 20, 2016, 11:32 PM

Cajun Gun Works flat out rocks - great people, great products, great service, can't go wrong.

HistoryJunky · March 21, 2016, 03:06 AM

Yes I have heard that pretty much across the board. Just wondering which would be more beneficial to get first.

GoPappy · March 21, 2016, 07:23 AM

I don't know the answer to your question, but I'm anticipating the responses because my hand size must be the same as yours. I'm lusting after the SP-01 Tactical and the reach to the trigger in the decocted position is just a hair too long. It's do-able, but would be better if the reach was even 1/8" shorter.

marine6680 · March 21, 2016, 10:38 AM

The trigger kit would do the most for you.

The grip helps a bit, but not as much as the trigger would.

TunnelRat · March 21, 2016, 11:53 AM

I found swapping the grips to be relatively easy and honestly all I needed. For reference I wear a men's medium glove with just a little bit of space left in the fingers. I did get and install one of the RRK from CGW. On top of the slimmer grips it was honestly just a bit too far back for where I like my finger placement, though it did allow me to use the "power crease" if you remember that term from revolver shooting. Installing it wasn't brain surgery but it wasn't trivial either and sending the pistol in just for that seems wasteful imo. If you do send it in go whole hog and have a complete action package done.

My advice would be to start with the grips. For that matter, were I you I'd order some of the VZ grips from Amazon. Try them, install them, and if you don't like them send them back for a total loss of shipping one way. Hard to beat that. I'll also say I really like the VZ grips as they're both lighter and where I shoot it gets darn cold in the winter so having something that doesn't conduct cold as much is a plus.

Tucker 1371 · March 21, 2016, 03:47 PM

I'm fairly certain if you install the Reduced Reach kit that you also have to install the Short Resest system, else you will be left with a trigger that does not reset. At least that's what I think I read from CGW's site last time I looked.

chris in va · March 21, 2016, 03:58 PM

Give David a call first. Last I heard he was swamped with service orders but you may be able to just install the parts yourself.

BTW CZ's are designed to be carried at half notch. My P01 decocks to that position as well.

HistoryJunky · March 21, 2016, 05:04 PM

Quote:

I found swapping the grips to be relatively easy and honestly all I needed. For reference I wear a men's medium glove with just a little bit of space left in the fingers. I did get and install one of the RRK from CGW. On top of the slimmer grips it was honestly just a bit too far back for where I like my finger placement, though it did allow me to use the "power crease" if you remember that term from revolver shooting. Installing it wasn't brain surgery but it wasn't trivial either and sending the pistol in just for that seems wasteful imo. If you do send it in go whole hog and have a complete action package done.

My advice would be to start with the grips. For that matter, were I you I'd order some of the VZ grips from Amazon. Try them, install them, and if you don't like them send them back for a total loss of shipping one way. Hard to beat that. I'll also say I really like the VZ grips as they're both lighter and where I shoot it gets darn cold in the winter so having something that doesn't conduct cold as much is a plus.

How do the VZ grips compare to aluminum grips? I took the grip panels off of my CZ last night to see the trigger reach without them and it was a great feeling.

TunnelRat · March 21, 2016, 05:37 PM

They're fairly similar if I recall, perhaps a tiny bit wider. I've only felt the aluminum grips on a pistol, I haven't owned one with them. You can get them in different levels of aggressiveness as well. I like the frag pattern, with the tactical diamonds being somewhat aggressive and the diamond backs good for competition or if you like to rub against cheese grates. Again, if you order them and don't like them, send them back. That's the beauty of Amazon.

Walt Sherrill · March 21, 2016, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris in va

BTW CZ's are designed to be carried at half notch. My P01 decocks to that position as well.

All decocker-equipped CZs decock to the half-cock notch. And almost any CZ (except the DAO models) can be carried or started from the half-cock notch. That said, I don't think you can make the case that it was "designed to be carried at half notch."

My first pre-"B" CZ-75 didn't have the half-cock notch. None of the early manuals mentioned the use of that notch as a starting position. The notch was introduced later. I would argue that the half-cock notch was intended to be a SAFETY notch for the earliest CZ-75s, which could start from hammer down or from cocked & locked. It was there to offer a little extra protection, as in 1911s, if the hammer was inadvertently dropped while manually decocking.

I think it was only after CZ introduced it's decocker versions (which decock to the notch and start from that position) that folks started considering it a an alternative starting method. It does shorten the trigger pull and lighten it a bit... Note: you can't (legally) start a non-decocker CZ from the half-cock notch in an IDPA match; I'm not sure, but I don't think it's allowed in USPSA, either.

March 20, 2016, 05:39 PM	#1
HistoryJunky Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2010 Location: Freeport, IL Posts: 833	CZ 75 modifications I just bought a CZ-85B. The DA reach is a bit much. With the gun at half cock the reach is manageable. I was looking into getting a set of aluminum grips and a short reach package from CGW. Does anyone have experience with these mods and which gives you a better reach advantage? Each one is around $90, which is expensive for me. If I can, I want to just buy whichever one does the most improvement until I can afford the other. Anyone have experience with these?

March 21, 2016, 11:53 AM	#8
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,215	I found swapping the grips to be relatively easy and honestly all I needed. For reference I wear a men's medium glove with just a little bit of space left in the fingers. I did get and install one of the RRK from CGW. On top of the slimmer grips it was honestly just a bit too far back for where I like my finger placement, though it did allow me to use the "power crease" if you remember that term from revolver shooting. Installing it wasn't brain surgery but it wasn't trivial either and sending the pistol in just for that seems wasteful imo. If you do send it in go whole hog and have a complete action package done. My advice would be to start with the grips. For that matter, were I you I'd order some of the VZ grips from Amazon. Try them, install them, and if you don't like them send them back for a total loss of shipping one way. Hard to beat that. I'll also say I really like the VZ grips as they're both lighter and where I shoot it gets darn cold in the winter so having something that doesn't conduct cold as much is a plus. __________________ Know the status of your weapon Keep your muzzle oriented so that no one will be hurt if the firearm discharges Keep your finger off the trigger until you have an adequate sight picture Maintain situational awareness

March 21, 2016, 03:47 PM	#9
Tucker 1371 Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: East TN Posts: 2,649	I'm fairly certain if you install the Reduced Reach kit that you also have to install the Short Resest system, else you will be left with a trigger that does not reset. At least that's what I think I read from CGW's site last time I looked. __________________ Sgt. of Marines, 5th Award Expert Rifle, 237/250 Expert Pistol, 382/400. D Co, 4th CEB, Engineers UP!! If you start a thread, be active in it. Don't leave us hanging. OEF 2011 Sangin, Afg. Molon Labe

March 21, 2016, 05:37 PM	#12
TunnelRat Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2011 Posts: 12,215	They're fairly similar if I recall, perhaps a tiny bit wider. I've only felt the aluminum grips on a pistol, I haven't owned one with them. You can get them in different levels of aggressiveness as well. I like the frag pattern, with the tactical diamonds being somewhat aggressive and the diamond backs good for competition or if you like to rub against cheese grates. Again, if you order them and don't like them, send them back. That's the beauty of Amazon. __________________ Know the status of your weapon Keep your muzzle oriented so that no one will be hurt if the firearm discharges Keep your finger off the trigger until you have an adequate sight picture Maintain situational awareness

March 20, 2016, 07:16 PM	#2
Walt Sherrill Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 1999 Location: Winston-Salem, NC USA Posts: 6,348	Just about anything you can get (or afford) from CGW is worth the time and effort. You do know that you can carry and start the 85b from cocked & locked, too, don't you? I have an 85 Combat, and it remains one of my favorites. (Same basic gun, but without the firing pin block mechanism, an extended mag release, adjustable rear sight, and drop-free mag brake (which may now be standard on most new CZs.)

March 20, 2016, 11:32 PM	#4
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,297	Cajun Gun Works flat out rocks - great people, great products, great service, can't go wrong.

March 21, 2016, 03:06 AM	#5
HistoryJunky Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2010 Location: Freeport, IL Posts: 833	Yes I have heard that pretty much across the board. Just wondering which would be more beneficial to get first.

March 21, 2016, 07:23 AM	#6
GoPappy Member Join Date: November 28, 2015 Posts: 78	I don't know the answer to your question, but I'm anticipating the responses because my hand size must be the same as yours. I'm lusting after the SP-01 Tactical and the reach to the trigger in the decocted position is just a hair too long. It's do-able, but would be better if the reach was even 1/8" shorter.

March 21, 2016, 10:38 AM	#7
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	The trigger kit would do the most for you. The grip helps a bit, but not as much as the trigger would.

March 21, 2016, 03:58 PM	#10
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Give David a call first. Last I heard he was swamped with service orders but you may be able to just install the parts yourself. BTW CZ's are designed to be carried at half notch. My P01 decocks to that position as well.