CZ 40B How is it?

I had one and then I sold it to my friend so I get to shoot it almost every week. It has well over 1000 rounds through it with ZERO malfunctions of any kind that would effect reliablity. The only problem is the rear sight keeps comming loose. Did the Lock Tite thing but that didn't hold for long. It needs some light gunsmithing to get it to stay on. Not a huge problem but it is a pain.

Accuracy is very dependant on ammo. It will not shoot most ammo very accuratly. We have found ONE type of ammo that was accurate out of about 12 types. The DA trigger is O.K. but the SA trigger is creepy, gritty and heavy. The DA trigger is too far forward for me, that is why I sold it to my long fingered friend. He loves it.

The Fit and finish of the exterior and working parts is quite good for the price but the inside of the slide and other internal parts looks like it was machined in Pakistan. The materials are good also. It has some features that are only found in more expensive guns like a coiled wire recoil spring, nice touch.

For a reliable defense gun, it works. For a target gun, it don't do so well. I would say that it preforms as well as a Ruger auto but it is made better. If I had to choose between the Ruger and the CZ at the same price, I may take the Ruger but only because it fits me better. I think the CZ-40 and the Ruger guns are both good solid guns for the money. I don't think there is anything better at a cheaper price.

40S&W ammo is very expensive compared to 9mm and the money you save on the gun will be offset by the more expensive ammo. Get a Ruger P-95 in 9mm or even a used Beretta 9mm for a little more and you can shoot twice as much for the same amount of money on ammo.

I had one and it was a very good gun, it just didn't quite do it for me.

It was 100% reliable, in fact it was my only auto that never had a hiccup (wait, it might have had one or two in break-in the first hundred or two rounds, I don't remember anymore). It is made to CZ quality standards, which are very good (nearly up to the next class level- Beretta, SIG, etc). At first I didn't think it was particularly accurate (average, but not to CZ standards) but then I found that it is sensitive to bullet weights and with 165gr. bullets instead of 180s it lived up to my expectations. The rear sight did come loose but not bad enough to hurt function (it was still decently accurate) and it was nothing that locktite wouldn't fix (apparently the stuff comes in different strengths, ask around for which color loctite is for perminant jobs). The price is incredible. At under $400 (well under in some localities) it is probably the best bargain in .40S&W guns out there.

What didn't I like about it?

It was a .40. Not to start caliber wars but I'm a .45 and a 9mm guy in autos. I feel that 9mm can do just about anything a .40 can and when I want more the price difference isn't really there so I may as well step up to a .45. Maybe if I didn't already own a .45 I might not have felt that way. Also the .40 doesn't have the selection of cheap practice ammo 9mm has (though if Walmart came out with the Winchester White Box value packs for ~$15 a few months ago instead of now I'd probably still own the gun instead of selling to Spot77).

It is a compromise gun. I now have enough guns that I may as well have dedicated range/full-size guns and dedicated future CCW guns (for when I'm in a CCW state) and this one is kind of a compromise size where it tries to be a little of both. It is aluminum alloy so it is lighter (and slightly higher recoiling, at least in theory, though balance and feel is good) than an all steel gun so it isn't quite as controllable, yet it is 28oz so it isn't that much lighter than the full-size steel framed CZ 75 (~33oz). It has a 4" barrel so it does lose some accuracy and sight radius v. a full-size but it isn't that much shorter and it is very thick (much more so than my full-size CZ 75). For me the length could have been lived with (4" is noticably shorter then 5" after all) and same with the weight (you do notice 5oz after a period of time) but the thickness took away any advantage it might have had for potential CCW over my full-size options (the much narrower CZ 75B or 1911). It is simply too big and heavy to be a great CCW and too small and light (for the caliber) to be a great range gun, though it certainly is a good range gun and would probably be an acceptable CCW.

So I do think it is a good gun and great bargain. If you are in the market for a mid-sized .40S&W it is a good choice. However, it wasn't for me and I sold it to Spot77 here on this forum. Again, it was close enough that with more cheap practice ammo options I might have kept it and the new Value Packs of Win White Box out there might have caused me to keep it after all. Also, it was a good gun that I liked and I'm half tempted to buy another even though it got far less use than my other guns (this temptation only started when the cheaper ammo at Walmart came available- I wonder what I'd have to offer Spot to get the old one back, hmmm, he does want a revolver right now and I know a couple places with some really nice used wheelguns... ).

Excellent gun, never had the sights loosen, machine work is good on mine,
accuracy is "very good" especially with my reloads. Having said all that I am
not a big fan of the 40cal, but the cz is very good quality.

The gun is just another CZ 75 Variant. While the grip mimics a 1911 the trigger group and slide workings are all CZ75. What you get is a CZ with a different flavor. The 2 Ive shot were great guns and I feel very comfortable shooting a 1911 style grip and the standard CZ75..........

Your in Ut. Email me and we can hook up at a range. I dont have a 40 but have my Custom SA and PCR that you can shoot to see how you like CZ's.

Id get one.....where are you looking? There are a couple of better shops to get them if your on the Wasatch front.......

Shoot well

Picked my 40B up for $275.00 + tax @ a local dealer just prior to Christmas last year and have been very pleased.

Have made two changes:

1) Went w/ an 18# Wolff recoil spring - Seemed to tighten-up the gun and lesson 'felt' recoil.

2) Was having the same problems of the rear sight loosening; therefore, HAD to replace w/ XS Big Dots (Love these sights for a DG)

Agreed the gun is partial to lighter bullets (155-165gr)

The grip fits MY hand well. The trigger in DA is a bit far out there, but keeping the weapon @ half-cock works to alleviate the distance of the trigger (this is discussed @ www.czforum.com Apperantly is quite acceptable to use the half-cock as a dedicated hammer position)

Mine has an excellent SA; If dry fireing VERY slowly you do notice a SLIGHT creep; more a result of the hammer camming back ever so slightly as is common to all CZ's. There is absolutely NO overtravel w/ the trigger.

Overall; couldn't be happier, especially @ the price point of this gun.

2) Was having the same problems of the rear sight loosening; therefore, HAD to replace w/ XS Big Dots (Love these sights for a DG)

Click to expand...

Do these sights just drop in or is there gunsmithing invloved? With a new set of sights and the correct bullet weights, this gun would be as good as any on the market.

Firestar,

The sights were a drop-in for the existing dovetails.

The sights look & fit MUCH better than the factory sights.
The rear is much tighter (factory rear showed a ton of daylight) and uses two set screws instead of 1.

Mine was only the second 40B that they had done.
Best to contact either Bo or Steve @ XS for the exact sights needed, both nice guys.
www.xssights.com
888-744-4880

Jack,
Ive seen them at Gallensons in SLC..call them. They may make you a deal. Impact is not known for their great pricing...but are good in alot of other areas. Call "Get some guns" @ 801-562-1222 and ask them. Tell them the crazy holster guy sent you. They will treat you right.
Shoot well.

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I wonder what I'd have to offer Spot to get the old one back, hmmm, he does want a revolver right now and I know a couple places with some really nice used wheelguns...

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hmmmm....Breakfast at Denny's, a good wax job on my wife's car, a nice scrub and vacuum job on the pool, the grass cut, two tree stumps removed, a new roof on the house, and maybe a new top for the boat might make us a deal....

I still enjoy it too much...and you know, I have yet to tighten the rear sight on it. Sure it's loose, but it never actually moves or gets any looser. That's about the only thing bad I can say about the gun.

I've been using 180 grains with no problem (Wal-Mart:$8.87 per 50) but I just picked up 100 165's to try out.

hmmmm....Breakfast at Denny's, a good wax job on my wife's car, a nice scrub and vacuum job on the pool, the grass cut, two tree stumps removed, a new roof on the house, and maybe a new top for the boat might make us a deal

Click to expand...

Rats.

I am glad to hear that you are enjoying it. We need to get out shooting sometime before long. I have a few toys for you to try (I know I didn't have the Taurus 85 when we last went shooting) and I'd love to try the 40B again (and the Ruger you have coming).

I love mine.

Very accurate, reliable and a GREAT value (sub $300 price range). Colt quality at a CZ price.

Have you seen the Colt Z-40's made by CZ? They were made by CZ BEFORE their agreement went away.

Check out the Colt Z-40:

See: http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=10730696

for an example.



Rusty

Saying "Colt Quality" isn't always a strong recommendation -- as Colt has had better days.

The gun, as PCRCCW noted, is pure CZ-75. Nothing about it is COLT. (The top end is pure CZ, as is the frame, except for grip angle...

The grip angle is 1911-like, but because its double-stack, its really more Para-Ordnance or SVI than Colt in execution.

The only thing different between the CZ-40B and the Z-40 is that the Z-40 was DAO. Everything else was t he same. Those that I exchanged messages with who have a Z-40, however, say that the DAO trigger is a very, very nice trigger.

I put PT NITES on my 40B. The gun was very reliable with my loads, even reloads. I'm not a big fan of the 1911, and even though it was a CZ, never pointed well for me. I sold it to someone who just adores the 40B. The
big 97B fits me much better.

That they (40B) are no longer in production makes me want to buy another
for my collection, but then there are other CZs that i want more.

I didn't have a problem with a loose rear sight on my 40B, but did have it with another gun. You can have a gunsmith drill and tap the sight, and then put a screw in it, to lock the sight in place. Worked great for both a Norinco and an EAA Witness...

When I was shopping around for my 1911, I stopped into a gun store in Vacaville California.

The smith there, had recently customized one of these Colt/CZ handguns, and it was a pure work of art. I looked it over and liked what I saw, but at the time I wasn't looking for a custom gun.

I remember that it had a stippled front strap (nicely done), smooth flat black finish (parked maybe), and deep dark rose wood grips.

Plus it was smooth to operate the slide back and forth. The trigger work was amazing.

I have never fired a CZ before, but was surprised at their attention to detail on the other CZ's in the shop.

40B w/ XS Sights

Here are some pics of the 40B w/ XS 24/7 Big Dots

40B w/ XS

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