Hello. 1st time poster and looking for advice. I bought a new CZ P-01 9mm because I heard great things about its reliability and accuracy. I took it out for the 1st time today and it was horrible! I had to fidget with the slide, jiggling it forward and backward to try to coax a round into the chamber from the magazine with multiple total failures. In some cases I had to eject about 6 rounds before one would load. I also experienced at least 4 failure to fire jams today due to miss-feeds. I shot about 120 rounds before I simply quit due to frustration. I have two 10 round magazines and there was no difference in operational failures between the two. There was nothing wrong with the rounds themselves. They were new, not reloads. This sounds like a warranty return to me. Thoughts on why this would happen? Thanks.
Help! CZ P-01 jams!
- Thread starter Brewer LJ
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Tomac
Member
No offense, but did you do a good cleaning/lube before shooting it for the first time?
Tomac
Tomac
Wow! That is not good!! The only issue I have ever seen with any of my CZ pistols, is the nub on the slide stop contacting a feeding bullet, holding the slide open. Never had a feed issue other then that. Can you better describe your failure?
Clean, and lube it per the instructions in the manual. If it continues to fail call CZ-USA customer service. They will take care of it. Failures like this are very rare with CZ's. In fact this is the first I have read, or heard about in many years.
Seven High
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I would suggest having another shooter that is familiar with da/sa shoot the pistol. Also, lube the slide rails.
Walt Sherrill
Member
You never know -- it could be the gun. But, CZs are test-fired at the factory and come with a "proof" target. That sort of test firing generally catches big production problems that might cause the kind of problems you describe. If you're new to semi-autos a bad grip on the gun can cause problems, too. (Called "limp wristing.")
It could be something as simple as you, when holding the gun, allowing your strong-hand thumb to press slightly against the slide, slowing it somewhat -- but that probably isn't the case if you couldn't easily chamber a round manually after clearing a jam...
The most likely cause is crappy or slightly out-of-spec ammo. What ammo were you using?
If the ammo was something really cheap, try another brand. Winchester White Box isn't that great in many guns, Blazer has generally performed well in my CZs. Try some better-quality ammo before you spend any money on more expensive solutions -- like sending it back to the dealer where you bought it, or to CZ.. or a local gunsmith.
(I'll sometimes take a gun, even when it's under warranty, to a gunsmith for what might be a simple problem. I'll also take along a box of known good ammo. It's a lot quicker than shipping the gun off, and not always terribly expensive. The factory or dealer can't fix problems from bad ammo.)
It could be something as simple as you, when holding the gun, allowing your strong-hand thumb to press slightly against the slide, slowing it somewhat -- but that probably isn't the case if you couldn't easily chamber a round manually after clearing a jam...
The most likely cause is crappy or slightly out-of-spec ammo. What ammo were you using?
If the ammo was something really cheap, try another brand. Winchester White Box isn't that great in many guns, Blazer has generally performed well in my CZs. Try some better-quality ammo before you spend any money on more expensive solutions -- like sending it back to the dealer where you bought it, or to CZ.. or a local gunsmith.
(I'll sometimes take a gun, even when it's under warranty, to a gunsmith for what might be a simple problem. I'll also take along a box of known good ammo. It's a lot quicker than shipping the gun off, and not always terribly expensive. The factory or dealer can't fix problems from bad ammo.)
I worked with a P01 a while back that had a short chamber & would not reliably close on Speer Gold Dots.
Four or five other rounds worked fine.
The PCR I have now will not reliably chamber GDs, apparently still a short chamber.
Try other ammunition before you get with CZ.
Denis
Four or five other rounds worked fine.
The PCR I have now will not reliably chamber GDs, apparently still a short chamber.
Try other ammunition before you get with CZ.
Denis
Thanks for input
Thanks all. Tomac, no I didn't dismantle, clean and lube until after I shot it because it appeared clean and the action was smooth. I don't believe a gun should be so finicky that a clean, lubed out of the box gun should not operate. Also, it wasn't a limp wrist situation as the problem was not stove piping. Issue was strictly loading rounds snagging in the chamber and then hanging up preventing the slide from closing. Manually ejecting the round and allowing another in the chamber only caused a repeat of the problem. Rounds were Magtech.
I suspect two possible culprits: magazine springs are new and are too stiff causing the misfeeds. I suspect this because it didn't properly feed until the magazine was half empty after I ejected 6 failed feeds in a row. This exact scenario happened four or five times when I put in a full magazine. Otherwise perhaps the slide ramp to barrel junction is too abrupt and needs to be polished.
I'll take it out one more time with different ammo. The gun is now cleaned and lubed so we'll see. If I get a single jam, I'll send it in under warranty. Thanks again. Appreciate all of your comments. Happy holidays!
Thanks all. Tomac, no I didn't dismantle, clean and lube until after I shot it because it appeared clean and the action was smooth. I don't believe a gun should be so finicky that a clean, lubed out of the box gun should not operate. Also, it wasn't a limp wrist situation as the problem was not stove piping. Issue was strictly loading rounds snagging in the chamber and then hanging up preventing the slide from closing. Manually ejecting the round and allowing another in the chamber only caused a repeat of the problem. Rounds were Magtech.
I suspect two possible culprits: magazine springs are new and are too stiff causing the misfeeds. I suspect this because it didn't properly feed until the magazine was half empty after I ejected 6 failed feeds in a row. This exact scenario happened four or five times when I put in a full magazine. Otherwise perhaps the slide ramp to barrel junction is too abrupt and needs to be polished.
I'll take it out one more time with different ammo. The gun is now cleaned and lubed so we'll see. If I get a single jam, I'll send it in under warranty. Thanks again. Appreciate all of your comments. Happy holidays!
Tomac
Member
Brewer,
Oftentimes firearms are shipped w/a preservative coating that doesn't have good lubricating properties even though the firearm may look clean and properly lubed right out of the box.
I suggest you do a thorough cleaning & lubing of mags as well (at the very least flush the mags out w/aerosol brake cleaner or something similar, just read you've already cleaned the pistol) then try it again. I think the results might surprise you.
Keep us posted!
Tomac
Oftentimes firearms are shipped w/a preservative coating that doesn't have good lubricating properties even though the firearm may look clean and properly lubed right out of the box.
I suggest you do a thorough cleaning & lubing of mags as well (at the very least flush the mags out w/aerosol brake cleaner or something similar, just read you've already cleaned the pistol) then try it again. I think the results might surprise you.
Keep us posted!
Tomac
Walt Sherrill
Member
- Try different ammo FIRST!!
- See if anyone else shooting the gun has the same problems.
- If it's mag springs, just leaving the mags loaded for a week or two will cause them to take a small set -- but that's not going to be as noticeable as would be the case if they were high-cap mags left loaded.
- See if the underside of the mag feed lips are smooth. (That's not likely to be an issue, either, with new mags, but if they aren't smooth they could be slowing the round and slide as the round is stripped. Fine sandpaper will fix that.)
- Limp-wristing doesn't always lead to stove pipes. It can also cause failures to feed and chamber.
- The gun is clean when it comes to you, but it's not really lubed. The stuff they use when shipping is a light lube and solvent used to clear machining materials, etc. They used to come out of the plastic bag inside the case virtually dripping in that fluid. That should NOT have caused a problem, however.
- Don't mess with the feed ramp.
Items 1, 2, and 7 are the most important!!
I am the poster boy for CZ firearms!
Never had one even hiccup rifle or handgun.
You never mentioned what ammo you were using?? As many suggested try something else.
Springs are very tight when new. Leave the gun with the slide racked back for a day or 2 and leave the mags fully loaded,
Always field strip and clean a new gun even if it looks clean. Lube according to the manual.
Never had one even hiccup rifle or handgun.You never mentioned what ammo you were using?? As many suggested try something else.
Springs are very tight when new. Leave the gun with the slide racked back for a day or 2 and leave the mags fully loaded,
Always field strip and clean a new gun even if it looks clean. Lube according to the manual.
Jim NE
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My CZ 75 compact has been ultra reliable like most of that type. My CZ 40 P, however, has not been as reliable with a wide variety of ammo, and it shares the P01 frame, I believe. I've basically had to tweak with mags to get it real reliable, and then it's only 100% reliable with certain ammo. Hornady Critical defense always works great, so that's what will be used with that gun. For practice, 165 grain Fiochhi I think has been 100% reliable, too.
But the P01 has a better rep that the CZ 40P. I'm not sure what's causing the OP's problems, especially in 9mm. But, for me, that frame and grip is the best feeling of all my semi-auto's, so I'll live with the ammo specific reliability realities.
I'd also say sending it to CZ would be a good idea.
But the P01 has a better rep that the CZ 40P. I'm not sure what's causing the OP's problems, especially in 9mm. But, for me, that frame and grip is the best feeling of all my semi-auto's, so I'll live with the ammo specific reliability realities.
I'd also say sending it to CZ would be a good idea.
ohbythebay
Member
Another vite to send it to CZ
Magtech ammo is not bad (though you could have a bad batch)
When you send it to them they will clean it (unless you have) and they will check the operation. why fool around ? There IS obviously something wrong because CZ's are reliable as hell and not really finicky on ammo. The will handle it in a heartbeat and you wont have the frustration or lack of confidence in the gun's reliability
Magtech ammo is not bad (though you could have a bad batch)
When you send it to them they will clean it (unless you have) and they will check the operation. why fool around ? There IS obviously something wrong because CZ's are reliable as hell and not really finicky on ammo. The will handle it in a heartbeat and you wont have the frustration or lack of confidence in the gun's reliability
Gordon
Member
I have one, the one California 10 round mag it came with also did not feed right, found out the early ones they hurriedly blocked the mag for the 10 round compliance in a way that made the spring bind fully loaded. I ordered three real CZ 14 round mags when I was residing in Oregon and it has never missed a beat. I blocked two of the mags when I returned to Ca. as it is a bedside gun and I would not want to be prosecuted by a overzealous DA or a bottom feeder attorney for the would be perp for my dangerous high capacity magazine.
Pretty sure it is the magazine from your decription. Strip it out and see if there is any rubbing or coil binding. Put 8 rounds in it (ball) and push the top round down to see if it returns up smoothly, my original mags would bind when I did this. Actually these are the MecGar mags I bought:
http://www.gregcotellc.com/cart/ind...id=589&zenid=9a278845c42ecb42e032b059ea75b63a
I ordered three real CZ 14 round mags when I was residing in Oregon and it has never missed a beat. I blocked two of the mags when I returned to Ca. as it is a bedside gun and I would not want to be prosecuted by a overzealous DA or a bottom feeder attorney for the would be perp for my dangerous high capacity magazine. Pretty sure it is the magazine from your decription. Strip it out and see if there is any rubbing or coil binding. Put 8 rounds in it (ball) and push the top round down to see if it returns up smoothly, my original mags would bind when I did this. Actually these are the MecGar mags I bought:
http://www.gregcotellc.com/cart/ind...id=589&zenid=9a278845c42ecb42e032b059ea75b63a
Back when I worked with the P01 & found the chambering problem with that GD load, I discussed it with CZ, who said the issue of a slightly short chamber that might not allow a certain bullet ogive & length to fully close into battery was known.
Supposedly, it was going to be addressed.
I've seen it mentioned elsewhere.
I've experienced it myself in that P01 & the newer PCR here.
Saying CZ pistols are not really ammo finicky as a broad statement may not be entirely accurate, and I'm not knocking the company in saying so.
I bought that PCR & a 75B after working with them & like several of CZ's products. I do approach the shorter compact 9mms with caution when it comes to ammunition, because of my experiences with them.
Try as many mainstream ammo variations in 115 & 124 weights as you can, and see if the problem persists. Watch your grip, have another experienced shooter try it, as Walt mentioned above.
Don't assume the pistol should or will shoot anything you can fit in it, and don't give up on it if it gags on a couple.
Speaking of fit- you can check for dimensional problems in chamber or cartridge by removing the barrel & using it as a cartridge gauge.
Muzzle down, drop a round into the chamber, see if it seats completely with the case rear flush. Try several, see if there's any variation between them.
Don't force any that don't want to EASILY seat fully.
If you get any that won't, that's an indicator.
Denis
Supposedly, it was going to be addressed.
I've seen it mentioned elsewhere.
I've experienced it myself in that P01 & the newer PCR here.
Saying CZ pistols are not really ammo finicky as a broad statement may not be entirely accurate, and I'm not knocking the company in saying so.
I bought that PCR & a 75B after working with them & like several of CZ's products. I do approach the shorter compact 9mms with caution when it comes to ammunition, because of my experiences with them.
Try as many mainstream ammo variations in 115 & 124 weights as you can, and see if the problem persists. Watch your grip, have another experienced shooter try it, as Walt mentioned above.
Don't assume the pistol should or will shoot anything you can fit in it, and don't give up on it if it gags on a couple.
Speaking of fit- you can check for dimensional problems in chamber or cartridge by removing the barrel & using it as a cartridge gauge.
Muzzle down, drop a round into the chamber, see if it seats completely with the case rear flush. Try several, see if there's any variation between them.
Don't force any that don't want to EASILY seat fully.
If you get any that won't, that's an indicator.
Denis
Thanks again. To allay any fears, I am personally NOT going to modify the gun in ANY way, i.e., polish the feed ramp, etc. If a new gun fails, the manufacturer can do that as warranty work if they think that is appropriate and necessary.
Again, I'll try another type of ammo--I used Magtech 115gr which shot fine when it actually made it into the chamber properly. I'll make sure it's not simply user error before sending it back to CZ. I'd rather sheepishly report that I am at fault rather than the gun.
Also, again, simply a feed issue not limp wristed shooting since the issue happens while loading a new full magazine. Feeds great with 4 in the magazine. Does not feed with 10 in the magazine. Five times with 10 in mag (I'm in restricted CA) I had to eject 6 misfeeds before one would load into the chamber correctly. After shooting I field stripped the gun. Nothing sticky or unusual noticed but I thoroughly cleaned and lubed including the slide rails. Hoping for a better day out next time. cheers!
Again, I'll try another type of ammo--I used Magtech 115gr which shot fine when it actually made it into the chamber properly. I'll make sure it's not simply user error before sending it back to CZ. I'd rather sheepishly report that I am at fault rather than the gun.
Also, again, simply a feed issue not limp wristed shooting since the issue happens while loading a new full magazine. Feeds great with 4 in the magazine. Does not feed with 10 in the magazine. Five times with 10 in mag (I'm in restricted CA) I had to eject 6 misfeeds before one would load into the chamber correctly. After shooting I field stripped the gun. Nothing sticky or unusual noticed but I thoroughly cleaned and lubed including the slide rails. Hoping for a better day out next time. cheers!
StrutStopper
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This is the second time today I read of issues with a new CZ. The first was a PCR, which is very similar to the P-01 (basically the same gun without a rail). The problem was that it didn't feed hollow points well because the top of the round would get hung-up at the top of the barrel (opposite of the feed ramp). The poster polished that area with a dremel and all was good. Unfortunately, I haven't tried hollow points in my PCR yet, but I've got a few boxes ready to go. Mine feeds round nose of various brands and weights with no issues at all. What type of ammo are you using that isn't feeding well?
Thompsoncustom
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If different ammo doesn't 100% fix the problem call CZ USA up and they will take care of it.
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