More CZ addiction: New TSO

[JimLob65]

A few months ago on a trip to a few of Michigans better gun shops/sporting goods stores with my brother, where pickings were slim, I got the itch to buy a TSO. About a month later my local gun shop had one in stock which I checked out several times but just couldn’t make up my mind. It was very nice with a great trigger but there seemed to be a bit of noticeable play in the slide. On top of that it was bleep expensive! After a short period of time it was gone.

I already owned a Shadow 2 blue/black, my first CZ, and I absolutely loved it. My local Sportsman’s Warehouse then put an AccuShadow 2 in the case not quite 2 months ago. It followed me home. Fast forward a couple of years, after I missed out on the TSO that same Sportsman’s Warehouse had a Shadow 2 Orange in the case for a pretty good price. This pistol was tight as could be, and with an exceptional trigger. Tack several rewards dollars on to that transaction and I did very well with that purchase. It is an amazing pistol (it bleep well ought to be at the price I paid)!!

Still, I decided that if I found a TSO in 9mm that checked out I was going to snag it. Sportsman’s Warehouse actually had a TS2 in the case at a notably cheaper price than I would have expected to pay for a TSO, and it had a great trigger, but I decided that I really wanted the TSO. One of the stores my brother and I checked out a few months ago received one very recently so I made the 100 mile round trip on my Honda Magna to check it out today. Due to the panic this place quit putting 24 hour holds on pistols, so I knew I was taking a bit of a chance that it may not be there. A phone call a half hour before closing yesterday (8/4) verified it was still there and the sales guy behind the counter agreed to put it aside for me. I was there before it opened this morning, checked out the pistol, made the purchase and strapped the king sized case on my bike for the 50 mile ride home.



 

Any concerns I may have had about slide to frame play were immediately dispelled. This thing is TIGHT!! Even tighter than my S2O. It is tight even after cleaning and lubing it up. Trigger is just ridiculously light and crisp as well. I look forward to hitting the range tomorrow to put the first rounds through it. Hopefully I can do the pistol justice, and that it isn’t so tight as to require a breaking in period.

Obligatory CZ family picture:

[Mtb1083]

Very nice family ya got there. I too have the high end CZ sickness. Shadow 2(.22lr dedicated), shadow 2 orange, TSO and my last CZ purchase was the czechmate. Might be selling the TSO as the czechmate is hands down the better pistol and absolutely the tightest pistol I've ever put my hands around. Still haven't decided as the TSO is one sexy mammajamma

[Rmach]

Very nice story!  I stopped adding after the S2O purchase, but I'm picking up a new CZ75 Retro later today. Also, slide to frame fit will vary among the same models, but usually not the top tier models.

[George16]

Very nice family ya got there. I too have the high end CZ sickness. Shadow 2(.22lr dedicated), shadow 2 orange, TSO and my last CZ purchase was the czechmate. Might be selling the TSO as the czechmate is hands down the better pistol and absolutely the tightest pistol I've ever put my hands around. Still haven't decided as the TSO is one sexy mammajamma

Put the orange grips (from the TSO)and czechmate sightblock barrel combo together and you have a TSOMate  .

[cwmoss]

You will like it. My LGS sold a couple TSO's last year and one came back as a trade I think. I bought it and when I took it apart to give it a good look-see, this pistol had been fired ever so little or maybe none. It was VERY tight. I lubed it up and took it out and have put 2-250 rounds thru it. One time it didn't fully lock up and that was caused by a reload of mine, not at all a fault of the pistol. This thing is so accurate. Even after the 250 or so rounds fired, it is still tight. It will wear in, in due course. Yours will too.

[JimLob65]

Took the new TSO to the range where I met my brother. Along with the TSO I brought my S2O and SIG P226 Legion SAO.

Everything you may have heard about the TSO is as advertised. Very little recoil, very accurate, great trigger and ergos. I shot it about as well as I am capable of shooting a new pistol. One little piece of advice about shooting a TSO….don’t attempt to stage the trigger! There is no staging the trigger on a TSO!! If you attempt it you will sling lead before you intend!!! I shot several different kinds of ammo, including Remington and Winchester range ammo and SIG 115 and 124 gr Fuji. However it did not run 100%, failing to return to battery three times in about 75-100 rounds. As I stated previously, this thing is TIGHT!!! I also found I have to bump up the rear sight a bit as I tended to shoot it low.

I was more than happy with the S2O! I have been experimenting with different weight mainsprings in this pistol, with this last one being a 10lb spring. I shot the S2O better than the TSO, about as well as I think I am able to shoot a pistol, given a limited amount of rounds fired. Must have been a good range day for me as I also shot the SIG very well.

I am finding that I am an interesting phenomenon that I have noticed lately, especially since buying the S2O. When I go to the range to shoot a particular pistol, for example a new pistol or one that I have made changes to I tend to shoot the second pistol better than the primary one. Today I shot the S2O better than the TSO. Prior when taking the S2O as a new pistol or to evaluate a change I also shot my AccuShadow 2, and shot it better. Obviously I am battling some issues in my head as well as the effects of time.

[Rmach]

Thanks for the report.

[Motleycrue]

Nice report, JimLob. You mentioned you also have Shadow 2 Blue/Black...how does that compare to the S2O? I want to get an S2 and it will probably be the Blue, for budget reasons compared to the S2O, but just curious to see what I am giving up.

[JimLob65]

The blue/black is an excellent pistol.  In relation to the S2O you will most likely see a bit more slide/frame play and possibly some more barrel/slide play because it doesn't have the 1911-style bushing.  You will also likely see a longer trigger reset and trigger pull, which probably won't be quite as crisp.  To be perfectly honest with you for a shooter with my abilities and skills any improvement in accuracy is hypothetical.  My blue/black is very tight with just the slightest slide/frame play perceptible.  Interestingly enough since I have been experimenting with lighter mainsprings (I am running 10lb springs now) I find the lightest DA trigger pull on the blue/black, probably a result of the different discos on the AccuShadow 2 and S2O.  I find a huge improvement in weight and quality of trigger pull with lighter mainsprings, a quick and cheap mod.
Rest assured, you will be more than thrilled with a standard Shadow 2.  It is an excellent pistol.

[Motleycrue]

Appreciate the comments. I checked a blue one out at an LGS a couple weeks ago, and the trigger felt crisp enough for my shooting level, but may take your suggestion to improve it. Once I take one home, hope to eventually use it in USPSA Production.

[JimLob65]

You will love it!  Good luck.