CZ 75 Custom Shadow 9mm 18 rd Mags Don't Drop Free

[1SOW]

Is there a DIY fix for this problem?
The Mec-Gar 19 rd mags and  CZ 16 Rd mags all drop free 100% of the time.
The (2) 18/19 Rd CZ mags drop a short way and hang on "most" drops. A pull releases them.

Frustrating at a match.  Any experienced help is greatly appreciated.

[pewpew4life]

What kind of grips are you running? Stock? Some VZ's? This was happening to me a couple of months ago. I use Copper Gun Grips and my Mags did exactly what you are talking about. I found there was some areas of the inside of the grips that were protruding past the frame. Sanded them down a bit, and now my Mags drop like hot butter. Other than that, you might try cleaning out the mag well and inside the grip. Also, you can try backing off your grip screws a tad.

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[larryflew]

Had  that problem when I put wood grips on my SP01 Shadow. Mecgar worked fine. Had to sand a little off of one inside grip to make cz mags work,

[1SOW]

The  Custom Shop's thin aluminum and my new LOK Bogies do the same.
I'll try it with NO grips mounted and see if they drop.  If so,  it should be an easy fix.
Thanks for the suggestion.

[pewpew4life]

Do your Mags not drop with both the grips, or just one set? My Mags drop flawlessly with my scale grips. Had the problem, as I mentioned before, with the CGG. But since sanding them down, the CGG's have been flawless as well. Let us know if it solves the problem [emoji1]

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[1SOW]

As said above,  same problem with both grips.
Tomorrow I'll try to find out if the grips are the problem.  If they are,  I'll look to see where the contact is parenting a clean drop.  I may compare thicknesses to the Mec-Gars
Others here have posted about the same problem.  Because the thin aluminum CZ grips,  I didn't think to check them as a cause.

[1SOW]

I took a look at the mags and the grips tonight.
The MecGar mags have a  different  curve radious on the mag's nose than the CZ mags.  It starts just above the mag release hole.  The taper is similar,  but the radius of the curve is very noticeably bigger on the CZ mags.

 If you look at the wear marks made by the mag release,  you'll see rub marks all the way to the very top of the mag with the CZs.  The wear marks stop at the mag release hole with the MecGars because the mag's curve is a smaller radius starting at the mag retention/release hole.

  The result is if you press the release button fully in,  the button end of the bar will contact the nose of the mag.  If you press the release button really fast and let go,  the back side of the release/retention bar catches on the mags tapered nose before the mag the mag "nose" has dropped below the release.  I f you press juuuust the right distance in and don't release the button until the tapered portion of the mag drops below the release bar,  it'll drop fast and smoothly.

The MecGars curved portion of the mag's front end (nose) above the mag release/retention bar never contacts the release bar..
They drop with a fast push on the release.

For someone with the thumb reach to press the button using the strong hand thumb without breaking their grip,  the button could be pushed just right or pushed a second time and it will release while the weak hand is reaching for the new mag.

Those that that have to use the weak hand thumb to jab the release on the way to get a new mag,  the CZ 18 rd mags frequently don't drop.

I don't see an easy fix.

Checked my grips and they clear the mag by a good margin.

Hope my poor typing on the cell phone made sense. 

[pewpew4life]

One thing I did to see if/where there was interference was to put a coat of ink with a sharpie on my Mags and run it up into the mag well. Where ever ink was on grips I removed material. My CGG's touched the Mags along the front edge and up into top front corner on both sides. Anyway, I know your results may be different than mine. But try the ink transfer method to see if any contact is being made.

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[ThompsonCustom]

I just looked at both of my shadows and the release nub seems to rub both the mec gar mags and the standard CZ mags above the release hole but i have no issue with them dropping free.

What about modifing the release so it engages the mag hole less and bending the mag release spring so that it takes less pressure to release the mag and the release would also put less pressure pushing on the mag.

[SPO1SHADOW]

I had to bend the bottom of the right side of the magazine release spring into roughly a 30 degree angle to stop this on my Shadow. What this does is prevents the magazine release button from going in too deep and trapping the factory magazines. It acts as an over travel stop but does not effect the tension or reliability of the mag release. I should have a picture somewhere or if not I can find one of what it takes to fix this.

[Scarlett Pistol]

I took a look at the mags and the grips tonight.
The MecGar mags have a  different  curve radious on the mag's nose than the CZ mags.  It starts just above the mag release hole.  The taper is similar,  but the radius of the curve is very noticeably bigger on the CZ mags.

 If you look at the wear marks made by the mag release,  you'll see rub marks all the way to the very top of the mag with the CZs.  The wear marks stop at the mag release hole with the MecGars because the mag's curve is a smaller radius starting at the mag retention/release hole.

  The result is if you press the release button fully in,  the button end of the bar will contact the nose of the mag.  If you press the release button really fast and let go,  the back side of the release/retention bar catches on the mags tapered nose before the mag the mag "nose" has dropped below the release.  I f you press juuuust the right distance in and don't release the button until the tapered portion of the mag drops below the release bar,  it'll drop fast and smoothly.

The MecGars curved portion of the mag's front end (nose) above the mag release/retention bar never contacts the release bar..
They drop with a fast push on the release.

For someone with the thumb reach to press the button using the strong hand thumb without breaking their grip,  the button could be pushed just right or pushed a second time and it will release while the weak hand is reaching for the new mag.

Those that that have to use the weak hand thumb to jab the release on the way to get a new mag,  the CZ 18 rd mags frequently don't drop.

I don't see an easy fix.

Checked my grips and they clear the mag by a good margin.

Hope my poor typing on the cell phone made sense.

I have never run into this issue, but a few days ago I saw this on the CZ Custom Facebook page (linked below). I didn't understand what in the world it was supposed to do,  but now I think I realize... I saw SP01Shadow's picture and the puzzle came together! Check out the links, I am pretty sure it's the solution. Hope this helps!

https://m.facebook.com/czcustom/photos/a.366216443456893.85185.211737505571455/1140207622724434/?type=3&source=48

http://czcustom.com/cz-75-sa-ts-trigger-al-gs.html

[M1A4ME]

I had to bend the bottom of the right side of the magazine release spring into roughly a 30 degree angle to stop this on my Shadow. What this does is prevents the magazine release button from going in too deep and trapping the factory magazines. It acts as an over travel stop but does not effect the tension or reliability of the mag release. I should have a picture somewhere or if not I can find one of what it takes to fix this.

More than one way to skin a cat.  Or when a bunch of people discuss a problem it's amazing at how simple the solution can some times be.  I'll try to remember this one in case I ever run across it.

[SPO1SHADOW]

This is outstanding! A much needed modification and looks a lot better than our DIY versions too.

[Scarlett Pistol]

This is outstanding! A much needed modification and looks a lot better than our DIY versions too.

Does that mean that product was the right solution? I was sort of throwing crap against the wall hoping it was helpful on this one...

[SPO1SHADOW]

Sho nuff. That will fix the problem.