P-07 Recoil Springs

[jnichols2]

I just bought two CZ-P07 pistols.  One is standard, the other is suppressor ready with a mounted RMR.

About five years ago, I developed arthritis in both of my thumbs.  I have both good days and bad days.
I REALLY love these two guns, with only one issue.

The rail in frame design cuts down on the slide surface for racking.  The sloped slides make it even more difficult.
I try to use a fingers and palm grip, because a finger and thumb slingshot grip sometimes hurts a lot.
The suppressor model is easy, because the RMR provides more surface to grip.  The standard model works best with slingshot. (Ouch)
I keep a Handi-Racker in my range bag, it works great, but isn't very Handi for concealed carry (pun intended).

I'm trying to find out what the CZ captured recoil spring weight is?
Also; what is the lowest recommended spring weight for reliability?
Would the old styl recoil rod and spring work better?

Thanks in advance for inputs.

[M1A4ME]

If you cock the hammer first it is usually easier to pull the slide to the rear.

My DUTY P07 came with the separate guide rod and recoil spring.  I bought a captured P07 guide rod/recoil spring and the guide rod was too large in diameter to work in the earlier slide.  I had to drill the hole in the slide larger and it works fine.

Are the after market separate guide rods larger in diameter than the older factory P07 guide rods?  I don't know.  If they are, no issue.  If they are smaller diameter than the captured recoil spring style guide rods will it be an issue if you have a sloppy guide rod to frame hole fit?  I don't know.

[jnichols2]

IF I switched to separate guide rod and spring, I would source them from CGW, made for the P-07/P-09.

I have no real need to switch, but that would let me buy a spring kit to do trial and error.

I should also say, the P-07 pistols are MUCH easier to rack than my S&W Shield.

But, if there is wiggle room to go a little lighter without affecting reliability, that would make sense.

[Winkel]

Have you considered putting some grip tape on the top of the slide so you could rack it at waist level with your left hand over the slide, left thumb towards the hammer?

[jurek]

IF I switched to separate guide rod and spring, I would source them from CGW, made for the P-07/P-09.
I have no real need to switch, but that would let me buy a spring kit to do trial and error.
I should also say, the P-07 pistols are MUCH easier to rack than my S&W Shield.
But, if there is wiggle room to go a little lighter without affecting reliability, that would make sense.

P-07 is by definition hard to rack...
I've heard from few people that they used 15# recoil spring with good results (no malfunctions and easier rack). However with arthritis on hands maybe you consider M&P 9 EZ M2.0? This pistol is so light to rack !

[jnichols2]

I actually do have a M&P 9 EZ M2.0, but that's for a few years down the line.

Right now, I can rack the CZ, but as the years add up, I may need a little help. 

[nevada]

CGW has the SS recoil rod for $26 ( https://cajungunworks.com/product/97040-fits-p-07/ ) and a reduced power recoil spring you try ( https://cajungunworks.com/product/15rs-recoil-spring-for-p-0709/ ) for $6.

I've read somewhere that the CZ75B compact recoil spring worked in the P-07. I got a standard, reduced power, and extra power springs to try out. They are 14, 16 & 17 pounds, and fit the length of the rod. I have yet to try them, so can't give you any results. Sorry about that, but you might consider that route. Glock recoil spring have also been mentioned here and there. I understand trying rack the p-07 slide. I've read it's 18 or 20 LBS, but not from anyone able to prove it or from the CZ website. I hope you find something to help. If only little wings on the rear of the slide like the S&W 380 EZ were an option.

[briang2ad]

The P07 is perhaps the easiest CZ to rack - the serrations are much better and more accessible than the original 75 model.  Does it feel like a Glock or SIG?  No. 

Also, while there is a need to rack in some circumstances, like a malfunction, I would recommend what modern pistol instructors who know their trade actually recommend:  Use the off hand to release the well designed P07 slide stop.  This works amazingly well, is faster than racking, leads your support hand back on point, and allows the use of OTHER pistols that have hard to reach or goofy (Beretta) slides.

[Hemiscorpius lepturus]

I would think the suppressor ready model is LESS than 15#... I  think this because I have 2 of them, one is stock, the other has the CGW 15# spring in it, and that one is harder to rack than the stock captured spring.

However... somewhere I read that all P-07 variants used a 16# captured recoil spring, so I am not quite sure which information is correct.

I am currently experimenting with a flat 13# glock spring that probably needs to be trimmed down, to get the gun to work well with a compensator, making it easier to rack and to shoot

[pooty]

Have you tried pinching the front serrations, using the first thumb joint and the fore finger knuckle, then pushing the pistol forwards with the firing hand?

[jnichols2]

I can't use the first thumb joint on most guns, that puts the stress right where the arthritis is.

I usually use the large pad, where my thumb joins the palm, and the fore finger knuckle.
That shifts the stress from my thumb joints to my palm.
It works well, but requires a fairly large grip area.  The CZ slide presents a smaller grip area.
The reason I can rack the RMR equiped P-07 easier is the RMR gives me a larger area to grip.

Fortunately, the standard P-07 has a "slide stop" that also works well as a "slide release".

I don't shoot my S&W Shield much any more.
It's a real hard to rack slide, and the "slide stop" does not work as a "slide release".
My Shield 380/9mm EZ racks like a dream.  Someday I will have to rely on it a lot more.
The RMR P-07 is also pretty easy to rack, as are most Red Dot equipped pistols'
The Standard P-07 is somewhere in the middle.  But the "slide release" helps a great deal.

[eagle-eye]

There's a company called Arachnagrips that makes grip tapes for slides. They make them for CZ's and lots of other models. I haven't tried any out yet, but I'm starting to feel the pain in my right hand. It stinks getting old

[CCWLearner]

I have two P-07's and have run the following recoil springs in each:

1. CZ's 2017 and 2018 stock polymer guide rod assemblies with captured springs: kind of stiff before broken in, never had reliability issues, never saw the weight published anywhere official

2. ssguiderods.com stainless steel guide rod assemblies with captured springs: REALLY stiff before broken in, never had reliability issues, weight isn't published

https://ssguiderods.com/shop/cz-p07-gen2/

3. CGW 15 lb recoil springs on their stainless steel guide rods: not as stiff as the others when new, never had reliability issues

I have been carrying the 15 lb recoil spring in my CCW but I am a bit concerned about it creating extra wear on the gun if used for frequent range trips.

I detail strip whichever pistol I am regularly shooting every 6 months or maybe around 2000+ rounds to thoroughly clean and inspect everything.  I was running a 15 lb spring recently on a range trip with my son, where we burned through 400 rounds of Federal Syntech 147 gr shooting steel targets, in about an hour.  When I detail stripped the gun after that, I was inspecting the ejector and noticed that in addition to the usual spots where the finish was worn, there was also a noticeable circular indentation on the left side of the ejector, where it rides in a groove on the sear pin.  I could be mistaken, but I never noticed that before on the ejectors in either of my P-07's, so I think it is probably new, and the harder impact of the shell casings on the ejector related to lighter recoil spring may have something to do with it.

Another related issue is that for cleaning purposes, I prefer to have an uncaptured spring and a solid steel guide rod, so I can use solvents that may not be friendly to polymer guide rods or thread lockers.  So wanting to move back up to a heavier spring but uncaptured, I removed the spring off of one of my ssguiderods assemblies and stuck it on my solid steel CGW rod.  Interestingly, the ssguiderods spring and the CGW 15lb spring look very similar, with the heavier spring having what looks to be one additional coil and being about 1/8 inch longer.  It is noticeably tougher to get into place when reinstalling, but honestly when I rack the slide with each of them, I can't tell any difference at this point of their break-in period.  When that ssguiderods spring was new, it was a real challenge to rack the slide.  I could do it but the slide serrations would dig into my thumb and forefinger pretty good when I slingshotted it.  At this point with 2-3K rounds on it, it feels like the less used 15 lb CGW spring.

Anyway, sorry to ramble, but if I were you, I would probably look at putting some grip tape or similar on your slide rather than try to drop the weight of your recoil spring too much.  Even if it is reliable in the short term, it may shorten the life of your gun's components in the long-term.