CZ Shadow 2 Compact Magazine Guide

[mechdog]

I started what I thought would be a simple job on my CZ Shadow 2 Compact. The Magazine guide has a different shape to it and I jsut can;'t figure out what order or angles of the dangles I need to use to get it to fit in. It has a hook that seems to sit in under the Hammer spring so It can't go back in after the spring is in like on a regular Shadow 2(I don't think).

Trying to get a picture of it but hoping this is just me being dumb. Any help appreciated!

Mark

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

The tail goes under the coils when the spring is compressed to the point that the hammer spring retaining plug is in it's proper position. Since the mag brake with the tail is such a pain to reinstall most people just trim it off flush at the bottom and drive on.

[Alcoy]

In fact the one available for sale for full size Shadow 1 & 2 does not have the tail.

https://cajungunworks.com/product/24-mag-guide-full-size-hvy-duty-competition/

Welcome from Virginia.

[Grendel]

Welcome.

Please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with all the sticky posts in the 'New Members' section and the other forums, together with the Help Topics in the 'Important Information' or 'FAQ' sub-section.

[mechdog]

The tail goes under the coils when the spring is compressed to the point that the hammer spring retaining plug is in it's proper position. Since the mag brake with the tail is such a pain to reinstall most people just trim it off flush at the bottom and drive on.

Trimming is very tempting for sure. Thank you for the reinstall tip. Just wondering why they added the extra manufacturing step to put it there, must of been for some reason?

[mechdog]

In fact the one available for sale for full size Shadow 1 & 2 does not have the tail.

https://cajungunworks.com/product/24-mag-guide-full-size-hvy-duty-competition/

Welcome from Virginia.

Thank you! I have that one for my Shadow 2s but am pretty positive that it is longer then the one in the Compact. The Shadow 2 Compact also seems to have a thinner slot then the full-size as well. I’m thinking that is because it actually has to bend on the compact???

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

There's nothing at all unique about the mag brake in the S2 compact. The part is used in all the 75 variant compacts and everyone trims that tab off during reinstallation. The aftermarket mag brakes available from CZ Custom are manufactured without the tab.
If you must keep the tab as I said above it goes under bottom of the spring so you'll need a third hand to slide the tab in while you hold the gun and spring and plug together.

[tdogg]

The tail goes under the coils when the spring is compressed to the point that the hammer spring retaining plug is in it's proper position. Since the mag brake with the tail is such a pain to reinstall most people just trim it off flush at the bottom and drive on.

Trimming is very tempting for sure. Thank you for the reinstall tip. Just wondering why they added the extra manufacturing step to put it there, must of been for some reason?

The only reason I can think of for this tab is to make the mag brake actually act like a brake and retain the magazine so it doesn't drop free.  I don't know who actually wants that "feature" but it must be in a government contract somewhere.  If you don't get that tab completely under the magazine spring, you can cause it to bow inward thus holding the magazine from dropping free.

I'd clip it off and save yourself the headache during install.

Cheers,
Toby

[Earl Keese]

If you want to retain the tab...
1.Install the hammer spring and plug
2. Depress the plug(I push the gun down on a bench block)slightly past where the pin will go in
3. Align the mag brake so the tail curves under the bottom of the hammer spring
4.Release some pressure on the plug and insert the pin
5. Align and install the pin at the top of the mag brake
6. Or just trim the tab like the rest of us.
It's been years since I switched to Shadow brakes with no tab, so I might not have perfectly described the process. Should be pretty close though.

[mechdog]

It's been years since I switched to Shadow brakes with no tab, so I might not have perfectly described the process. Should be pretty close though.

Perfect, that one finally got thru my head, lol. I thought this was something new to the CZ Shadow Compact 2 but sounds like other 75s had it. IT's getting happily trimmed next time I pull it apart.

Thank you!!!

[mechdog]

There's nothing at all unique about the mag brake in the S2 compact. The part is used in all the 75 variant compacts and everyone trims that tab off during reinstallation. The aftermarket mag brakes available from CZ Custom are manufactured without the tab.
If you must keep the tab as I said above it goes under bottom of the spring so you'll need a third hand to slide the tab in while you hold the gun and spring and plug together.

Thank you!!! I thought this was something new. It's getting trimmed next time, thank you!.

[Motorcop]

I had asked this same question somewhere when I disassembled my Shadow 2 Compact the first time.  From what I was told and it sounds logical, the tail is present to capture the hammer spring and keep it from rotating.  Like I said, it sounds logical, but is it necessary, I don't know.  Mine was a pain to get back in the first time so rather than just cut it off, I straightened it out a little at a time until it was much easier to install.  So far so good and assembly is much easier now without that drastic curve on the tail and magazine still drop free.  I got a host of reasons for the curved tail being present when I asked about it, but only one made any sense to me.

Rick H.