New CZ-85 Combat: long-winded report below

[Shear_stress]

Did a little horsetrading and found myself a new satin nickel CZ-85 Combat in 9mmP. For those unfamiliar with it, the 85 is lefty-friendly version of the CZ75B. As for the "combat" designation, it somehow means adjustable sights, adjustable trigger over-travel, and no firing pin safety (the firing pin is secured by a stop, Browning-style). That last feature also means that, like the older Pre-B CZs, the 85 Combat can be dry fired with impunity--no roll pin to break. This is a good thing (see below).

My desire to trade for a nice 9mm range-only gun drew me to either a CZ or FN High Power. I would have been happy with either, but found the CZ first. Besides, and this may be sacreligious, but my Arcus shoots so well I wasn't sure if I "needed" an FN. What really clinched the deal, however, was that finish. You just don't see many CZ85s in the first place, let alone those in satin nickel. Attractive and durable, it makes for a very, very handsome pistol. Plus, I've already got a stable of black and blue pistols. It was nice to try something different.

Out of the box, the trigger pull was very smooth for a CZ. No "click" in the travel where the firing pin safety disengages. The pull was quite heavy, and the over-travel that remained (despite the adjustment) tended to make the muzzle move laterally when the hammer dropped. Fortunately, my P-01 showed that CZ triggers improve greatly with use. I can already feel a difference after some dry firing and range time. Failing that, the 85 Combat is said to take a trigger job pretty well.

At the range, the trigger pull was not a problem. Reliability wasn't, either. The CZ flawlessly fed, fired and ejected 100 rounds of WWB. Accuracy was great at 25 yards, thanks to the long sight radius and basic good design. The gun also attracted attention from folks I would not have expected. An older fellow, who was sporting an Inglis High Power, recognized the CZ and asked to try just two rounds through it. At 25 yards, he left two holes touching on the paper.

Everything is not perfect, however. Though the 85 is said to have better fit and finish than other CZs, I did not find this to be the case. There were a couple of cosmetic flaws that appeared on close inspection. One was some ragged machine work on the ejector port. The other was an apparently miscast serrate on the front of the trigger guard.

That aside, I plan to get a lot of use out of my new gun.

 

[HSMITH]

Dang, that is an awfully nice gun you wound up with. Two High Powers in trade wouldn't get it if it was mine. You found a rare and fine CZ. Shoot the crap out of it and then report back. If you hate it I for one would be interested in buying it.

Oh, and just to pick nits a little, I would have let the old timer put a couple mags through it. I have a couple guns that have shot groups that I can't duplicate with old timers at the wheel......

 

[chris in va]

I haven't done a trigger job to mine, but I found a 16# hammer spring to work wonders on trigger feel. That 20 pounder really screws things up.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

The Combat should have an overtravel adjustment screw. Has yours been set?

And they're not particularly rare. Bunch of us on the CZ-Forum have them. Mine is satin nickel.

The Combat model also comes with a straight mag brake spring that allows drop-free mags, and an extended slide release. (Not extended much, but its a bit longer than the standard slide release.)

 

[Shear_stress]

Hi folks,

I wouldn't claim CZ-85s are rare in the sense of 45 ACP Lugers, but for a current production gun they aren't exactly Glock ubiquitous. Online, even J&G Sales and Impact Guns consider the satin nickel 85C to be a "special order item".

Anyway, I did mention the trigger overtravel screw, although a little reluctantly because I already buggered up the head trying to adjust it. I had flooded the screw with CLP and let it sit for a while before playing with it. No dice. They really glued that thing in at the factory. Can you recommend a good solvment for loosening that thing up?

Thanks.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

Take the trigger out, (get a replacement roll pin rather than a solid pin, which is a real pain to stake on both ends), take it to a local gunsmith, and have him install a new screw for you.

You can also take the cheap way out, and do the kind of trigger stop that the Kel-Tec Owner's Group talks about: a piece of hard (ink) eraser, cut and super-glued to the inside of the trigger guard behind the trigger. Trim it with a razor blad or light file until the trigger just breaks... (Color it with a magic marker to more closely match the frame color, or if yours is also nickel, leave it gray.)

A 16 or 17lb mainspring (hammer spring) from Wolff should help the trigger pull tremendously. Get one of both weights, to make sure you've got a lighter one that will ignite all primers.

And join us on the CZ Forum...

 

[Shear_stress]

Thanks, Walt.

Good to hear from someone who is a fixture in CZ circles.

At any rate, I actually "crafted" a temporary over travel stop out of a thin strip of single-side adhesive silcone that I attached to the back of the trigger. Seems to work well, and does not look unforgiveably ugly.

I would like to try the light main spring. Many people recommend beefier recoil springs as well, especially on older CZs that were prone to slide stop breakage. What's your take? These guns are built to last, but I'd rather have as much margin as possible.

I was pretty embarrased to have ruined that over travel screw so soon after I bought the CZ. Usually it takes me a while to mess up my guns. I'll probably have thescrew replaced if I ever scrape up the dough to send my 85 over to Miossi gun works for a trigger job. Maybe I'll have Jim install one of his competition sears while I'm at it.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

A number of us have come to believe that a heavier recoil spring is more likely to CAUSE slide stop breakage rather then prevent it. That's because the force of a heavier recoil spring is felt when the slide slams home, and then its the slide stop that must deal with the slamming slide, with much of the force stored in the spring. With a lighter recoil spring, the frame stop is taking a lot of the force -- which isn't totally stored in the spring.

A heavier hammer spring might be a better way to do protect both the frame and slide stop, or a variable weight recoil spring -- and with a properly tuned trigger, you won't have much problem with a heavier hammer spring. The SA trigger should be about the same, and heavy but smooth is manageable.

I've picked up some Browning HP springs for my CZs, as they fit the guide rods better than the EAA springs that Wolff offers for CZ. I noticed, right after my last order, that Wolff overs a variable-rate spring for the Browning. Seems like that would be a good option for a CZ. I'll try it, one of these days.

I had me stock 85 Combat sear replaced early on with a Champion sear.

At the time I was led to believe it was a subtly different sear. The gunsmith who installed it said it was much harder to fit (harder steel) than the factory sear.

Since then I've heard from folks that the Champion and 75B sear are the same. Perhaps things have changed. The gunsmith who worked on the Champion sear also tuned the first (stock) sear, too, so I have no reason to think he made it up. I do know, however, that Jim Miossi's sears are harder -- as I'm having one for a pre-B put into an AT-84S by a local gunsmith.

The only thing I shoot is IDPA, and I shoot the Glock 34 and the 85 Combat. Both are accurate, both are very reliable. I'm a hair faster with the Glock, but I enjoy shooting the 85 Combat more. (I use a 75B SA sometimes, and also have a custom AT-84S and a Sphinx [DAO].) And various other 9s.

 

[eerw]

very cool..
the 85 combat is one I would like to get someday..

right now I have a 75b and a SP01..both have been extremely reliable with factory and reloaded ammo..
Once I got used to the double action pull, I can shoot both guns pretty well..

thanks for sharing your report...

 

[Shear_stress]

Quick update:

Took the CZ out for another hundred rounds of WWB today. Again, accuracy was great and reliability was perfect. The trigger is also smoothing out gradually. I am really enjoying this gun.

In addition, I reserved my place in the queue for an action job over at Miossi Gun Works. It probably will be a few weeks until Jim will be able to get it. The time will give me a chance to save up a little money and run a pile of ammo through the gun. The trigger isn't bad as is, and more range time may render any smithing unnecessary.