Any must-do mods to P-07 Duty?

[daved20319]

Got to the range on Tuesday, mostly just doing short range work with a modified Dot Torture drill, since I didn't have a holster for it.  As 3 of the 4 are either new to me, or in the case of my 1911, have had extensive action work since the last time I shot it, this was as much function testing as anything else.  That said, I continue to shoot my 1911 most accurately and consistently.  I suspect a large part of that is my recent florescent orange paint job on the front sight, I pick up that orange sight better than any of the others.  Need to do the same to at least a couple of the others.  All the 9's were shooting Speer Lawman 124 gr. FMJ's, with just one mag of Speer Gold Dot 124's through the CZ and Witness for testing.  More on those later.

Cutting to the chase, I can only describe my performance with the CZ as meh.  The tight trigger curve didn't bother me as much as I expected it to, but the sights were a different story.  This has the factory night sights, and the daytime dots are quite small, and not very bright.  Not only hard to pick up without lots of concentration, but also quite a ways off.  Interestingly enough, the original CZ test target was included in the box with the pistol, and it was shooting just like that target, high and left.  In looking at the back sight, it's obviously offset to the left.  It's curious to me that neither of the previous 2 owners ever adjusted them, as it's fairly easy to do, but considering the condition of the pistol, it makes sense, as it's pretty obvious it hasn't seen a lot of use.  Unfortunately, I didn't have any tools with me, but I adjusted it after getting back home with the help of a laser bore sighter, and I'll be taking tools with me to fine tune it during my next range session.

I found the very low profile safety more trouble than I expected, engaging and disengaging is not as easy as it should be.  But by the same token, at one point, my thumb must have ridden up and reengaged the safety while firing.  I attribute this to the grip, at least in part.  I found it fairly slick, and a little thin for my hands.  I do have a set of Talon grips on order, they made a noticeable difference with my XDs, hopefully that will help with this one.  But I'm also considering switching it over to the decocker vs. the safety, simply because it's so difficult to engage/disengage.  The idea of carrying it cocked and locked is nervous making, especially as my preferred carry method is AIWB.

I ran 250 rounds through the 3 9's, most of it in the CZ and the Witness.  Other than one stovepipe with the Gold Dots, it ran fine, no other failures of any kind.  The trigger was good, although the reset is quite long, I know, a common complaint.  The tight curve of the trigger didn't seem to be an issue, although I did have some finger pain when done, but this is also my first range session since July, so I'm definitely rusty.  This was also reflected in MY performance, I was somewhat erratic even with my 1911, compared to my previous sessions with that pistol.  Part of that I'm sure was due to the guys sighting in their hunting rifles, the boomers kept catching me off guard.

In contrast, the Witness was a real star, ergonomics were better, the trigger was better, and accuracy was much better, very nearly as good as my 1911, and this was my first range trip with it.  The safety was also much more user friendly, and just felt more positive.  This has me second guessing my decision to get a P-07 as my EDC, my initial plan was to get one of the metal framed compacts.  I settled on the polymer frame mostly for weight savings, and because I couldn't get quite what I wanted with a safety.  Not ready to give up on the P-07 yet, 100 rounds is not a fair test, and I'm not sure switching around did it any favors, either.  Next trip will be just the CZ and the Witness.  Being steel framed, I'm sure the extra weight of the Witness contributed to the soft feel, and the longer barrel/sight radius helped as well.  The sights, although still a 3 dot, were brighter, larger, and just seemed to work better.  They were also pretty much dead on, at least at short range.  I've shot a CZ 75 Compact, this reminded me of that.  I really liked the feel and heft of the Compact, but the straight beavertail chewed up my hand, and at the time, I was focused on decockers.  Which had me looking real hard at the PCR, but those are hens teeth.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

In summary, I'm considering the P-07 as definitely provisional for now.  At least for me, it isn't living up to the hype, but then, maybe I was expecting too much.  Next trip, I should have both a holster for it and the Talon grips installed, plus I'll be much more focused on running this through its paces.  Will post more then.  Later.

Dave

PS Quick question, this gun no longer had the decocker parts with it.  Is all I need the levers and spring, or are there other parts required?  Thanks.

[badwrench]

Give CZUSA a call they just might send you the decocker parts you need. Frankly, IMO, a decocker on a DA/SA pistol is a better setup that the saftey lever.. Decock when done shooting, and reholstering, and when you draw, all you have to do is pull the trigger. Speaking of triggers, while you're talking to CZUSA,  ask if one of the newer, straighter, triggers will work in your p07, I think they will interchange, if your finger hurts just a little from shooting the recurve trigger that's in it now, it's not going to get any better as you shoot it.. I'd also take something to adjust the sights with next time you go out, my p07 shoots lights out, the sights were dead on right out of the box. These pistols are accurate. I'd also start looking for replacement sights, Dawson makes some nice ones for CZ's..

You could also go over to CGW,  and make some minor changes that will improve the trigger. All I did to mine was replace the firing pin,and spring, for a CGW extended one, along with a reduced power firing pin spring, reduced power firing pin saftey block spring, reduced power, trigger return spring, and a 18# hammer spring, and one of CGW's firing pin retaining pins..

[CCWLearner]

I have two of the newer model P-07's from 2017 and 2018, not the older "Duty" model, so I can't comment on issues with the old curved trigger style and other differences between the two.

For P-07's in general, for CZ pistols in general, the first thing I would invest in is a pack of rubber #83 o-rings, which run less than 3$ at Home Depot, and place one over the firing pin any time you are dry firing the pistol.  This will help to prevent damage to the firing pin retaining pin described below:

Next thing would be to order a CGW firing pin retaining pin.  Then, remove the old firing pin retaining pin and inspect it.  If there's a hole gouged in it, like there was in one of mine, then also expect to find some metal bits from it in your firing pin channel.  Also inspect the firing pin itself, especially the edges where the retaining pin and firing pin block fit.  Clean out your firing pin channel thoroughly, reinstall it with the new retaining pin, use the o-rings for dry firing for now on, and you should be good to go.

I would definitely do this with a used gun that had an unknown count of live and dry fire, before I thought about carrying it for defense purposes.  This seems to be the most common point of failure for P-07's and CZ pistols in general, and the consequences of failure are often serious... failures to fire due to interfering with movement of the firing pin, and sometimes a jammed retaining pin that can't be removed with a punch and needs to be drilled out.  I guess it could also jam your firing pin forward and maybe even lead to an accidental discharge when chambering a round.

The other common point of failure is the trigger return spring, so that would be the next thing I would replace, with the CGW reduced power version.  Again, with a used gun and unknown number of DA trigger pulls on the stock spring, I'd replace it before I carried it.  This requires a full detail strip of the frame to get to, but a forum user here (Joe L) has good videos on Youtube that walk you through it.  He strips a P-09 but the internals of the gun are the same as the P-07.

[daved20319]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys, IF I decide to keep this pistol, those are definitely where I plan to start.  For now, I just want to put some more rounds through it, and focus on additions that make it better/easier/safer to do that.

In that vein, I have some Talon grips coming, to improve my ability to get a grip  .  I also ordered the decocker parts last night, probably just my perception, but it just feels safer carrying it decocked rather than Condition 1, especially as the safety doesn't also lock the slide like a 1911 or my Taurus.  If something breaks in the meantime, no biggie, until I've got at least 500 rounds through it with no failures, it's just a range toy, and won't be loaded except at the range.  Although not necessary, I'll probably do a full detail strip once the decocker parts arrive, just so I can do a thorough clean, inspection, and lube.

Assuming that these minor changes and more shooting convince me that this is the right choice for me for EDC, then it will be time to put my shopping list together.  I may start with the minimum, trigger return spring and FP retaining pin, or if I decide I really like it, I may go whole hog (gator?) and order the CGW Pro kit.  Not concerned with a lighter trigger pull on this, but I would like a shorter reset, this one is really long compared to my other pistols.  Later, and thanks again.

Dave