How To Reverse Mag Drop Button For 85 Combat

[renothecat]

New guy here.....but not new to CZ's. I had both my surplus 83 and my 75B with competition hammer and SA trigger STOLEN on Valentines Day - sucks. I've since replaced them with a new 83 and I just picked up a new 85 Combat last night. Being a lefty, I want to move the mag drop to the right side. Yes, this model will allow for it. The design/opening is the exact same on both sides. I did some light work on my 83 in the past and removing the mag drop was very easy - but I had instructions how to do it. Does anyone have some helpful advice on how to remove the mag drop on the 85? I'm thinking it should be pretty easy but I've never tackled this sort of thing without instructions or a video. Any help would be great. Thank you!
reno

[th3ug1y0n3]

Here is a quick how to.  This is for the EAA but pretty similar.   I have done this on mine eventhough I am a right hander. 

One note: I wrapped a strip of electrical tape around the Grip in order to hold the mag release spring from jumping out. 

http://pistolsmith.com/cz-pistols/13271-how-change-mag-release-eaa-witness.html

Field strip the gun.
Inside the frame, under the trigger bar, just behind the trigger is a spring loaded plunger. This is the trigger bar spring assembly.

Press the plunger down and rotate it to the rear.
Pull the plunger up and out of the gun.
WARNING: The mag release spring and plunger will pop out, don't lose them. These are inside the hole visible on the side of the release.

Reverse the mag release button.
Make sure the spring and plunger are in the hole.

Using three hands  hold the mag release in place, insert the trigger bar plunger assembly into the hole behind the trigger. Use a tiny screwdriver to press in on the mag release plunger, and press the trigger bar plunger assembly down until it locks in place.

Rotate the trigger bar plunger around to the front to it's seat under the trigger bar.

The only problem is pressing the mag release plunger into the hole in the release, while also pressing the trigger bar plunger down from inside the frame.

[75Plus]

The magazine latch in the CZ is not held in like the one in the Witness. There is a screw just in front of the mag well that secures both the trigger bar spring and the mag latch spring. Removing the screw allows you to remove the mag latch spring which holds the mag latch in place. Just turn the latch around and replace the springs. Look at the parts diagram here:

http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=45696.15http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=45696.15

Look at parts # 32, mag latch, 33, mag latch spring,  34, trigger bar spring and 35 the screw that holds them all together.

Don't be surprised if you find the screw staked. That is common. Another caution is to ensure that the ends of the trigger bar spring are properly located in the groves on the bottom of the trigger bar.

Good Luck,

Joe

[th3ug1y0n3]

75Plus is correct.  I forgot to make that notation.  I used this instruction to guide me and did find that out when I swapped mine around.  Should have made a note of that as well.

[renothecat]

Been a long time since I've posted here.....thanks for the tips on how to do this. It's been a few years, but it worked perfectly. Thank you!

[Jake G]

75 Plus is correct. When reassembling everything I torque the screw to properly seat the springs and then back off and just snug it up. I use some blue loctite (you could stake it) to keep it from moving. It you simply torque it and leave it you will run into the problem mentioned above in that the arms of the spring will not be level and you can have reset issues.