Care and Feeding of my 75 Shadow T

[linux3]

OK, if this is the wrong place let me know but it's all about things I have learned about keeping my 75 Shadow T running ALL the time.  The slightest equipment malfunction will cost you a match.
I will not go into detail, just what went wrong and the fix.
As a side note, I think the 75 Shadow T is a better competitor than I am.

1) About 10k rounds I started getting light strikes.  I thought it was ammo / primer problems.
  Fix was to replace the extended firing pin, FP spring and trigger spring.  Not sure which was the problem but all 3 was a cheap and easy fix.

2) 14k'ish rounds I had to switch to 10 round mags (NYS) and I had jam problems.  The nose of the round would jam against the feed ramp and not chamber.  Never happened with my 17 round Mec-gar mags.
  This is a 2 part issue.
    a) Replacing the slide stop helped a lot.  Look carefully at your slide stop.  Little wear marks make a big difference.
   b) I almost eliminated feeding problems.  In competition almost just aint good enough!  I then replaced the return spring.  Last 3 matches, 62, 155, 132 rounds and all is well.

3) Every once is a while in the middle of a stage, say 10 ~ 15 rounds in I could feel the slide rack back and forth.  Not a smooth movement but 2 distinct actions, almost like something is running slowly.  Maybe not a problem but not good I thought.
   I am a big fan of Hoppe's gun lube.  Well, I switched to Shooter's Choice Grease.  The kind in the hypo looking tube.  A little expensive but a little goes a long way.  Smooth racking, smooth slide.

4) Adding some.  I was having extraction issues.  I think if it's a moving part it should get lube.  Nope, keep the extractor and spring dry, dry.  Oil and gun residue make a concrete that is very hard to remove.

OK, so what have I learned.  The 75 Shadow T is tuned to a very high degree.  Everything is right on the edge and I think that's why I like it.  Gosh do I like my CZ when all is running right.
So, now I plan to replace the slide return spring, extended firing pin, FP spring, trigger spring and slide stop every 8k ~ 10k rounds.  Parts are pretty cheap and everything works all the time.
Oh, and I also the the Short Reset Trigger.

I'm learning more and more about my CZ and liking it more and more but it is a very high strung machine and rewards care and proper feeding.

Go forth and win.

[1SOW]

Linux3,

1) About 10k rounds I started getting light strikes.  I thought it was ammo / primer problems.
Fix was to replace the extended firing pin, FP spring and trigger spring.  Not sure which was the problem but all 3 was a cheap and easy fix.

Just curious here.  Had you removed the FP and cleaned the channel before you replaced the FP & spring?   Sometimes crud can build up there and interfere with the strike.
Sorry to hear you had to switch to 10rd mags--
If you save your old trgger spring and keep a spare slide stop, you'll probably never need them.  If you don't have them, you'll need them in the middle of a match. where your shooting two grades above normal.

Your right about fine tuning can put it on a finer edge between going bang and not going bang.  

I'm just getting to know my new 75 Shadow at near 1K rds;  but so far it's not persnickety about ammo or being dirty.    I DO  have my spare parts in the gun box.

[linux3]

1SOW; On a semi-regular basis I remove the FP and clean it, the spring and the channel.  I also, at the same time, remove the extractor pin and clean it and the spring and channel.  Both are run dry.
I do this every couple of months.

I didn't have any problems at first either and I don't have any problems now but there was a learning curve to be sure.

I do save the old parts if they are ones I replaced before failure but I keep a spare set of new ones around too.

Also, Thanks to Rob Bagnato @ CZ Custom for assistance putting together the first repair kit and making sure I get the part I really need.

[GSilver]

good info.

[Rex Kramer]

good info.

Agreed. My shadow t has run like a top, but it has less than 1000 through it.