CZ75 SP-01 Side to Side Slide Play

[Subverto]

If you find that your CZ is a lot looser than others, I would not hesitate to send it in to have it checked out. You can't enjoy your CZ if you're always thinking there might be something wrong with it.

I unfortunately haven't been able to find an SP-01 at any local gun stores, nor do I even know anyone local that has any CZs (for as amazing as they are, they're still surprisingly hard to find in the wild).  So I cannot compare my SP-01 to anyone elses. However, I can compare it to my CZ75B, and it is definitely significantly looser. I think I'm going to go ahead and send it in to CZ to take a look. Worst case scenario they tell me they checked it out and everything is in spec. I think it's worth the peace of mind, because like you said it's hard to enjoy my SP-01 when in the back of my head I think it might be defective.

[Mathi]

Hi!

If it is looser even as your ordinary CZ75 it is definately to much.
Send it in and they will squezze the grip frame and lap the top onto it with no play whatsoever like this where oversized parts.

Best regards
Mathi

[Subverto]

Sent my SP-01 back last night. They said 4-6 weeks repair time. Now we play the waiting game. Looks like I might be shooting my next two IDPA matches with my high polish CZ75B.

[FreaknAZ]

I've got a Tactical that after over 1k rounds is as tight as the day I picked it up.
If I shake it, the only thing that you can barely hear is the FPB.
Good luck, I hope they're able to tune it up for you!

[Jeep_Nut]

My P01 has a little side to side play and it rattles some when shaken. I never really noticed it before. It doesn't seem to effect anything. The gun shoots beautifully and is way more accurate than I am.

[Rmach]

Some slide play is necessary to insure reliable cycling. However, nobody likes a handgun that rattles excessively. I would think .010 max slide clearance is acceptable on a metal frame, and .015 on a polymer frame. Just my opinion.

[Subverto]

Well it turns out the side to side play on my SP-01's slide was worse than I thought. Rather than trying to fix it, they're just going to send me a brand new SP-01. I guess it's kind of nice to be getting a brand new gun, but now I have to go through the break in process again, which kind of sucks.

[Rhino]

You get a brand new gun and get to shoot it a lot for initial break in.........WIN! WIN! I'm sure there was a major problem with the original gun probably something with the frame. If it had been the slide it would have been easier to replace the upper.

[bugboy]

but now I have to go through the break in process again, which kind of sucks.

What is the break in process on a semi-auto handgun?  Does it require some special procedure of shooting and cleaning?

[Subverto]

but now I have to go through the break in process again, which kind of sucks.

What is the break in process on a semi-auto handgun?  Does it require some special procedure of shooting and cleaning?

There's no real defined break-in for a semi-auto that I know of. My SP-01 is my night stand gun though, so my personal break-in to trust my life to a pistol is 200 flawless rounds of FMJ, and 50 flawless rounds of the JHPs I plan to run. So I'm looking at about $100 in ammo to break the new gun in for night stand duty. Hence my old SP-01 being replaced by a new one being kind of bittersweet. The other important thing to note is I only had my first one since August, and put about 500rds through it, so it was still pretty new itself.

[wdbutcher]

 It sounds like your concerns were justified. I'm glad CZ is taking good care of you. Congratulations, that's as good as it gets!

[Jeep_Nut]

Well it turns out the side to side play on my SP-01's slide was worse than I thought. Rather than trying to fix it, they're just going to send me a brand new SP-01. I guess it's kind of nice to be getting a brand new gun, but now I have to go through the break in process again, which kind of sucks.

Wow! How much play would you estimate was there between the frame and slide?

[Subverto]

Wow! How much play would you estimate was there between the frame and slide?

From an actual measurement standpoint, I have no idea. I have a hard time accurately estimating measurements less than inches. But from a feel standpoint, it felt like a lot. Shaking the pistol side to side would cause a loud clicking noise as the slide would hit the frame with each back and forth. You could also feel the slide moving side to side significantly when doing this. The reason I didn't notice the side to side play immediately when I got the pistol back in Auguest, was because when the hammer was down, or when there was a full magazine in the gun, the slide didn't move very much. In order to really see how loose it was, you had to have the hammer back with no magazine in.

[mszvetecz]

Echo others, my SP01 has no real play (yet smooth as can be) with both original slide, and with another upper I got here off the forum.  CZ competitor at the gun club I go to looked at it and remarked at how close the fit was even with the non-original slide.  My pre-B on the other hand, rattled like mad, not sure if it had much effect on how it shot but agree it could be annoying--I think that is typical for pre-B's (family member has 'borrowed' that one indefinitely).

[Subverto]

Got my new SP-01 in the mail today. There is absolutely no play whatsoever in the slide. It fits perfectly in the frame, and incredibly smooth. I didn't realize how bad my original was until handling my new one.