CZ 75 Shadow Black

[1SOW]

Has anyone tried one of these out from CZC?

[1SOW]

Nobody has one??

[Rex Kramer]

I have the T version of it with the short reset trigger and love the thing. Easy handling, great pointing, and smooth action.  No failures of any kind though I only have a little less than 1000 rounds through it.  I use it for IDPA with no problems.

[TSOL]

I have two I like them so much the first one I got was the now discontinued 2 tone black & silver a picked up an all black one a little later.

[j-jamerson83]

I have one and think it's a great gun! You can get the same results to a degree on a CZ-75B by tinkering with it yourself but Stuart and the guys do a good job and you'll have the upswept beavertail as well.

[1SOW]

Thanks to Stuart, I recieved my new pistol this morning and shot it this afternoon at the range.

I've shot my son's SPO1 Shadow with comp hammer a lot lately, and still had better results with my 75B and it's lighter front end when doing transitions.  .
I needed a new gun (who doesn't ), so I took a chance on this Shadow with the full length guide rod, no firing pin interrupt, heavier barrel, shorter dust cover lower without the heavier tac-rail front end, but with the up-swept beavertail.

I asked for and recieved a 3# SA trigger and the DA was measured at 7.15#, 13# main, 11# recoil springs.  The SA break is crisp and smooth--really.  The reset is noticeably better than my 75B with a Shadow Hammer and a mixed bag of work on the action.
The DA pull is smooth and predictable but feels a little heavier than my B set-up was.  I'm going to shoot it as-is for several hundred rds so the pistol (and the shooter) can settle in before I change anything.

I ordered the HAJO rear and FO front sights and they were exactly as described:  the same as my 75B Comp rear but adjustable for elevation.
At 10yds  the pistol shot about a 2 1/2" group off the top of my shooting bag.  I moved the target to 20 yards and shot a 2" group---BIG SMILE HERE.  This is good for me and even better, they were all around the one inch red dot--no adjustments made!. Whoo hoo.    I had two white carboard 7"  "plates" set up at plate rack height at 20 yards and they were being hit smooth and fast.  I got a dirty look from another shooter for firing 5 quick shots into one plate.  "NO RAPID FIRE" was the mental message. 

It came with three 19 rounders and I function checked them and the mag drop and the new DOH that I ordered with the pistol.  All ran smoothly.   I tried my 22 rounder and it ran fine too.   The new holster was still stiff and not quite willing to release the pistol without a determined pull.  I adjusted it some, but it'll take some time in the holster  before it feels smooth on the draw and shoot..

The cases were flying about 5'-6'  and just barely behind me---good.  I christened it with the Berry's 124 HBRN at 129 PF.  I also ran a mag of Zero 125 JHP and M.G. 124 JHP at the same PFs,  again all three ran smoothly and shot to POA.--thank God, I have a bunch loaded up.

Today was just a get-to-know-you session.  I'll give it a more careful workout soon.

Results so far:  I'm HAPPY!




   

[Stuart]

Great to hear. That DA will work itself in. 

[1SOW]

PM to Stuart

Messrs Kramer, SOL and jammerson I didn't mean to ignore you.  Even old guys get excited by shooting their new guns.

I looked hard at the T, and I'm sure it would have made me smile too.

I have over 60K rds through a 75B with most the mods allowed in production class.  It's been a great shooter with a light smooth trigger action in both SA and DA, but like me, it's getting long in the tooth. 

This gun is basically designed and streamlined with nothing added to do anything but basically shoot straight and fast in production class-type shoots.   I think it will do that.  I can't do it justice, but I sure can appreciate it.

[coolbox]

You have got yourself a winner here! Well, almost every CZ is a winner, but it is great to hear that this one is just the way you want it to be. This is most important factor. Happy shooting.

[1SOW]

I have made 4 trips to the ranges so far this week, about 430 rds.  The pistol performed perfectly with 4 types of bullets -reloads.

I cleaned it for the first time yesterday at about 300 rds.  The bbl is pretty well polished all over, and the tops of the bbl lugs are chrome-like.  There is no black or discoloration on this bbl unlike other 75s I've seen.   
No solvent was used, just wiped it down and it was spotless.  The CZC said they cleaned and oiled it before the shooting test, and they may have used CLP or a light oil as it ozzed oil every time I took it out.   I replaced that with Mobil1 and ran it a little wet--everywhere.

I shot a match/Fun-Shoot this morning and it's feeling more natural as I adjust to the differences from  the 75B.  I'm still having some hesitation finding my weak-hand grip thumb position.  On the B it just falls into place,  but on the Shadow the slide release is slightly different and I haven't  developed a habit yet.
The 75 Shadow has dead smooth front and rear straps, so grip tape is necessary for me.  It felt very good in this shoot.

Several of the targets were 3-hit and 2-hit gongs.  I'm shooting the 75 Shadow faster and not even pushing it.  REALLY nice 3# SA trigger and easy follow-on shots.
I'm not a great shooter, but my transitions were smooth and accurate today. 

Some new 1mm FO rod is on the way,  so I can make the front sight dot bigger.  1mm with almost no flare is too small for me.  The rear Hajo sight is a pleasure to use.  I honestly wouldn't change it in ANY way.
This sight really helps with the long distance small targets and plates, especially where no-shoot overlays are used.  I used to often "shoot the hostage".

The slide released easily with my mag Insert.
The 22rd extended CZ 19rd mag worked fine on the one stage that didn't require a mag change.

After another shoot, I may lighten the hammer spring to 11# +/- to lighten the DA first pull a little more.

All-in-all I'm very happy with this pistol AS IS. 
Believe me, It' a sweet-shooter.

finis   

[coolbox]

Good report!
I have always believed that the FO front sight helps in shooting faster, and accurately. The 3#SA will soon be 2.5#, and you will actually love it then.

[1SOW]

Thanks coolbox.
Actually the 3# SA trigger was better than my B's lighter SA trigger.  The Shadow's 'take-up' was shorter (no FPB) and the break was crisper. I'm having to be careful pre-staging the next shots because of the shorter take-up.
The DA pull is heavier.  I will work on that with the spring and maybe a little more detail polishing.  I'll probably just slip in my lighter 75B hammer spring to check for function.

[1SOW]

FWIW update.

I replaced the new Shadow's 13# hammer spring with the B's  lighter hammer spring.   Holy mackerel!!  I have to make a trip to the range tomorrow to see if the Shadow will fire Federal SPPS with this spring (two or three coils cut off a 13# spring---a long time back).  THE DA is not just lighter---I mean it's WAAAY lighter.  Maybe too light to fire.   

I sure hope it'll make Federals go bang.  I have a lighter spring for the extended FP, but the B never needed it.  I'll see.

[1SOW]

I don't have any target pics or other concrete data to show.  I just needed to add a last comment as it's well over 1K rounds even being rained out on three weekends. 
It hasn't had any failures  with 6-7 different bullets and loads, 124gr-125gr-130gr-rn-jhp-fp.   I've let it get dirty, and it doesn't seem to care. 

All I can tell you is my accuracy and scores have IMPROVED at my local matches.  The work 75 Shadow allows ME to be faster and more accurate.  Strong hand and weak hand shots are improved.  Transitions are also some better, but I've been working on those.

It's got one minor glitch that I haven't worked on with the mag drop, and part of it at least is likely my fault.  These small hands can't drop the mag strong handed.  I use the weak hand to do the drop, and if I press just tiny bit too hard, the mag hangs up.  If the extended mag release gets pushed too far into the well, it holds the mag.
I think I can remove a little metal from the left side and remedy the problem.  I'll get to that pretty soon, 'cuz it's adding  time to my scores .

This is the best production class pistol I've ever fired from a wide variety of CZs, XD and S&W striker-fired guns, and more that I've tried.  No Glocks.

This is a sweet pistol.

[coolbox]

1SOW
What grips are you using? Thin aluminium would help in your case. But I think working on the left side of the mag release is worth doing in any event.

What is SA weight after these 1000 rounds? Any lighter yet?