CZ SP-01 Magazines

Well folks, as many of you might have noticed, high capacity magazines have become as scarce as an honest Chicago politician.    I was sitting on six factory CZ 18 rounders, and was a bit uncomfortable without a few more spares.

Having heard good things about Mec-Gar's CZ mags, and having heard they are actually the CZ OEM manufacturer, I put my best google-fu to work and snagged the last 5 17 round Meg-Gar's from Copes. (http://www.copesdistributing.net/).    I was able to run about 500 rounds over two range trips through them and was pleased with function.   A light cycle so far, but no failures.    I've since added the Mec-Gar +2 baseplates, bringing them up to 19 rounders.  It's part #F42099 if you're curious.   They have also functioned flawlessly with another 500 or so rounds spread over the 5 mags.

Going with the separate base plates cost a bit more.  But, when the masses are panic buying, a $40 19 rounder I can assemble myself is still better than the $33 19 rounder that is out of stock...  everywhere.

 

CZ Custom Shop - SP-01 Shadow Target SAO (Part 2)

A quick update to the earlier review of the SP-01 Shadow Target SOA:

It's only getting better as it breaks in.  It's still not had a jam or malfunction.   All six factory CZ magazines are getting run through the rotation, and after 1500 rounds I'm still waiting for my first issue.

But, the purpose of this post is to share out my initial hand load data.  (And I'll just go under the assumption that you know reloading is dangerous, work up your own data, use this information at your own risk.  If you maim, kill, disfigure or otherwise damage yourself, anyone else or something valuable, it's your own damn fault.)

This load has cycled flawlessly on two different SP-01 Shadow Targets.  

Accuracy was good and it was very soft shooting:
Montana Gold 124g CMJ 
Fed 100 SPP 
4.1g N320
1.140" COAL 
Brass: Once fired FC

(Seriously - this stuff is dangerous - use at your own risk)

I've done four batches of reloads with this combination and I think I've found my load assuming it plays out over the chronograph with sufficient velocity to make minor.  (From what I've read, others make it no issue at this level.)

Slightly off topic...


Most surprisingly, after doing some practice with the CZ last night, I jumped back to my stock Glock 34.  Sadly, it felt like I was trying to do brain surgery with a crowbar and sledgehammer.   The trigger was brutal, the sights limiting.  I used to love shooting that pistol..  perhaps ignorance was bliss. 

And for your viewing pleasure..

Reloading p0rn!  To answer your question, yes, sometimes the best Christmas presents are the ones you buy yourself.

(66 1/2 Pounds of MG CMJs - Yes, my postman hates me.)

CZ Custom Shop - SP-01 Shadow Target SAO

If I felt this way about another woman, my wife would have a reason to leave me.

I've always been more of a rifle guy than a pistol guy.  I'd looked at pistol as a tools.  They were on the same level as the hammer you used to frame up the new wall.  It was nice having a few 'good ones', but they were nothing to get worked up over..  I'll admit now..  I was wrong...  Very... Very.. Wrong.

It started out last year with an impulse buy of a CZ SP-01 Tactical.  (Yes - I had to swallow bile at buying something some marketing jerkoff thought sounded cool.)   That pistol rapidly became one of my favorites.  It was going to the range more than anything else, and just everyone who shot it, loved the damn thing.  For those who aren't aware, this is the pistol in question.  (http://cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-75-sp-01-tactical/)

Reconnecting with an old friend, I had an opportunity to shoot his CZ Custom Shop SP-01 Shadow Target.  To say that I was smitten would be an understatement.  I shot it Saturday, and put my own on order the following Monday.  I followed his lead and had them set it up as a single action only.  (http://czcustom.com/shadowtarget.aspx)


Let's jump right into the gun porn.

(SP-01 Tactical and SP-01 Shadow Target)

The CZ Custom Shop also provides you with a test target validating their work.  In case you're wondering, this one doesn't suck.

(Custom Shop Test Target)

Here's the rig I shot my first match with.  So far it's working well enough for a novice, maybe in another few years I'll be qualified to comment overall. 

(Blade-Tech Goodness)

Finding gear for the SP-01 can be a bit of a challenge.  Lots of folks make kit, but you're unlikely to find it a holster on the shelf.  The good news is that Blade-Tech offered an SP-01 holster on their 7-9 day rush order, and it worked well.  (As a bit of a side note, I ordered the dropped and offset model, but received just the standard SRB loop model.  They fixed my order, but in the end, I ended up taking off the offset and just going with the straight loop.  I found it more secure on the draw.)


The good news is that the Blade-Tech Glock 9/40 mag pouches work just fine.  Both the singles and doubles have an tension adjustment that lets you dial in what works.

So..the real question..  How does it shoot?

Beautifully.

Aside from the rather vexing fact that my buddy shoots it better than I do, it's a gem.  My group size is significantly small than with my SP-01 tactical.  It's incredibly smooth and really quick on the follow up shots.   

The trigger has to be felt to be believed.  It breaks about 3 1/2 pounds with no take up and a very fast reset.   The folks at CZ Custom do very nice trigger work.  It's nice enough that my SP-01 Tactical will likely be going in for the same treatment after the holidays.

As to reliability?  I'm probably close to 1000 rounds now through it an it's run without a hiccup.  No jams, issues or problems.  It's been fed a mix of Blazer brass cased, Magtech 115g and Federal 115g.   I'm planning on using 124g CMJs from Montana Gold for my comp load over V320.  We'll see how that works out over the next few months. 

About the only complaint I have, is that I'm still not comfortable with the aluminum grip.  I really like the hand feel of the rubber grips on the SP-01 Tactical, so I do believe shortly I'll be adding a set on the Target Shadow.

Time for some more practice..  Shooting matches around some of the Grand Masters we have around here is humbling..  

Part 2: http://guntinker.blogspot.com/2012/12/cz-custom-shop-sp-01-shadow-target-sao_28.html