How horrible is the stock CZ 75B trigger?

[kazaam]

I'm thinking about buying a 75B but am holding back because of the trigger. I hear it's a great gun, but without trigger work from a third party, the trigger has a ridiculously long reset, gritty, etc.

Any advice you guys can offer for someone who wants this as a first gun but doesn't want to send it out for third party work (and spend even more money)?

Thanks!

P.S. I was going to get a Sig P225 Elite Stainless but nearly everyone (even on two Sig forums, and 5 other general gun forums (yes, I'm that thorough lol)) says that they like the CZ 75B over the Sig P226, except the P226 has a way better stock trigger than the P226.

[bozwell]

How "horrible" it is really just depends on what you're accustomed to.  If you're used to shooting 1911's and highly tuned triggers, a stock CZ trigger will likely feel pretty rough.  They smooth out quite a bit though if you just shoot it.  Changing out the hammer spring is easy to do and can do a lot to the weight of the trigger, particularly the DA.  As a first gun, I really don't think any trigger work is required.  It's nice if you want to spend the money, don't get me wrong, but it's not required to enjoy your CZ.

If you're the "tinkering" type, you can also do a lot of the work yourself.  There are lots of great resources on the web that go over assembly/disassembly, the parts you need to polish, etc.

[JonNC]

Ditto what boz said.

For about $75 + postage for some CGW kits/parts (ultralight spring kit, extended firing pin, trigger pin, lighter trigger return spring, etc) and a little time spend polishing the internals you can get a great trigger pull.
Add a CGW Race Hammer and WOW!
But consider yourself warned, once you start, you might not be able to stop.

[kazaam]

How hard is the tinkering? I wouldn't mind doing they as long as it doesn't require any fancy tools lol. Actually does sound kind of fun. Here we go...

[bozwell]

Generally, you just need a punch and a hammer to break it down, and you'll need some way of polishing the internals (stones, high-grit sandpaper, etc.).  I ordered my stones online, but if you want to shop locally, just hit up your autoparts store for some high-grit sandpaper and polishing compound.  A pair of needlenose pliers helps a lot for installing some of the springs.  For hammer work, you'll need a vice and I find a dremel makes it easy to get the pins out of the hammer.  The dremel is not required, but it makes life easy. 

And that's pretty much it.  If you don't need to break down the sear cage, I'd recommend buying a slave pin from David at CGW.  Reassembling the sear cage is really the only intimidating part of it.  It's something that doesn't take long to do, once I remember how it fits together, but I spend a good couple hours every time remembering how it fits together.    If you have a slave pin, you can avoid breaking it down altogether for most work.

[bang bang]

triggers are like wheels on your car.

if you dont like it, change it!

go find a rental range if there are any near you and see if they have one to try.  if not go to a gun show/shop and handle one.  ask to dry fire it and see how you do or dont like it.  imo, if its something that can be changed, why him-haw over it?  if the wheels on a car sucked, it sure wouldnt keep me from buying it.

btw, most triggers will get better over time if youre willing to put in the range time.  if not, thats why there are gun smiths. 

just an fyi and imo, since this will be your first gun, i woudlnt think of it as the ONLY gun you will ever have/shoot.  it will be a learning experience.  also, whatever you choose and buy, i sure woudlnt keep it if you dont like it they why there are used guns on the market!  again, a gun rental range would come in handy.    but if you dont have one around you, youre  just out of luck and have to buy n try.  or if you have any shooting buds/relatives that willing to let you try, thats another way to try.

to answer your question tho, imo/ime i think that the eariler guns have better triggers, not just CZ either.  i think that they spend a little more time doing the finish work.   also, i have guns with worst triggers and some guns with better triggers. 

[larryflew]

Still have an original no work or changes 75B in stable of currently 9 CZ pistols and unless you know and/or are familiar with trigger feel etc would be hard pressed to tell the differences.

[armoredman]

It's all relative - compared to the single set trigger on my CZ 527M, the CZ pistol trigger is terrible! Compared to the trigger on my Beretta PX4 Storm, the CZ trigger is silky smooth and breaks like a glass rod.
I've been accused of having trigger jobs done on my CZ P-01 - just wore in to a slick and smooth trigger a professional gunsmith publicly admired.
I am not quite objective - I still want an HK vP70z...and that's one of the worst triggers,ever.

[Cavalryman]

The trigger on the CZ 75B is about average for a DA/SA pistol in my experience. A little work will make it very good. Of course, the best trigger job is about 5,000 rounds at the range. All the parts will smooth out and mate perfectly. I recommend doing the trigger job that way.

[skipper]

I have several different brands of da/sa pistols along with 75b cz's and don't like the factory triggers on any of them. They all work but leave a lot to be desired. The good thing about cz's are the accuracy and after market parts available plus the home gunsmithing available on this forum as mentioned above.





 

[dukecola]

Ditto what boz said.

For about $75 + postage for some CGW kits/parts (ultralight spring kit, extended firing pin, trigger pin, lighter trigger return spring, etc) and a little time spend polishing the internals you can get a great trigger pull.
Add a CGW Race Hammer and WOW!
But consider yourself warned, once you start, you might not be able to stop.

I agree.  I added all the CGW kits and parts, including the hammer kit.  I liked the 75 before, but I really love it after the mods.  The trigger pull is excellent.  I only shot 1911's in the military and from what I remember at the time, I much preferred my Dan Wesson 357 over them.  :-)  I stumbled across CGW while at my local range where a guy who was shooting had a 75 with the mods and he let me play with it. Loved it and immediately order the kits I needed.  Installed myself.

[skipper]

The cz platform is great except the trigger and sights. CGW and CZ Custom have those covered. No comparison between a stock cz and one done with the mods availble, but not necessary to have a dependable accurate pistol. It does not require a third party to do the work if you follow the home  gunsmithing video's and detailed instructions available on this forum.

[SCmalinois]

It's a personal preference thing.  I've owned a few CZs and the quality of triggers out of the box has varied from really good to 'man that's kinda rough.'  Try it first and shoot (and dry fire) a lot then decide.  I like a smooth, clean breaking trigger and to get around the 'camming' of the CZ trigger I've had most of mine worked.  The CZs are accurate pistols and I like a trigger that helps me utilize that accuracy consistently.  My $0.02.  Good luck.

[Joe L]

I read that the stock CZ-75B trigger was bad and I had the CGW parts ordered before I ever shot the gun.  I think I shot less than 50 rounds with the stock trigger before I knew I had done the right thing.  After installing the CGW and CZCustom parts, I was floored by how good the CZ trigger could be.  Close to 1911 good in SA, excellent in DA.  Better than my SIGs.  I would never have another CZ with the stock trigger.  Still, buying a new CZ and new aftermarket parts gets you a super accurate, super handling pistol for less money than anything else out there. 

Joe

[vincentperil]

Being a CZ newbie (all I ever shot is my 85C) I can't tell what trigger it has besides anything else but I believe I learn more about trigger control with a stock trigger than with a 2 pounds race gun. After 3000 rounds, ,it's much smoother than it was brand new ( or am I just getting better to control my finger ?)
My 85C had been working flawlwessly since the begginning and I enjoy it more an more. Just buy one and get used to it !
If I ever get good at shooting it, I'll make all the tweaks so I can see if I get better !