CZ75 Shadow Mag Change technique for IPSC

[mb571]

Hi folks, just interested in feedback on shooting the Shadow 1 in competition.
I am wondering how others are initiating mag changes.
To date I have been moving the left hand to the pouch, with gun in right hand, forefinger on slide, middle finger on trigger guard, right thumb comes down to push safety.

The problem has been that once per match I will accidentally flip the safety on after the mag change while shifting the right thumb back up.
It kills a couple seconds realizing what has happened.

Does anyone hit the safety realise with their left thumb prior to going for the next mag, leaving the right thumb riding the safety? Does this increase the chance of not getting the finger out of the trigger guard during mag changes?
Not alot on youtube about this.
Thanks

 

[KaneZoR]

Can consider installing a low profile safety.

For me I much prefer the low profile as the enlarged safety gets in the way with my grip

 

[mb571]

Can consider installing a low profile safety.

For me I much prefer the low profile as the enlarged safety gets in the way with my grip

Yes. But where on earth would you find one these days.

Bought a used one off a guy here. It was too worn and did not function. The lobe on the cam was worn.
If you flipped up the safety by accident though, it would still fire. Thought that would be okay as you don't use it in competition.
But in practice, when it got flipped up then fired, it didnot allow the gun to cycle properly wedging the spent brass.

 

[5.45]

Bought a used one off a guy here. It was too worn and did not function. The lobe on the cam was worn.

More likely than not, the previous owner had a race hammer installed. These hammers have much less sear/hammer engagement, and usually safety won't flip into the "on" position without fitting sear to safety. This can be done by filing the sear leg (cheaper to replace if things go wrong or go back to stock) or the safety cam (suspect this could be your case).

If your Shadow still has the stock hammer, I would suggest either an OEM CZ race hammer + "pre-B" disconnector or Cajun Gun Works hammer + disconnector + adjustable sear (optional).

And no, you cannot use a gun with malfunctioning safety in competition.

 

[KaneZoR]

Yes. But where on earth would you find one these days.

Bought a used one off a guy here. It was too worn and did not function. The lobe on the cam was worn.
If you flipped up the safety by accident though, it would still fire. Thought that would be okay as you don't use it in competition.
But in practice, when it got flipped up then fired, it didnot allow the gun to cycle properly wedging the spent brass.

I believe Wolverine Supplies is the CZ warranty centre in Canada, I’m not sure if you’ve contacted them but if not I’d say it’s worth a shot to drop them an email and see what they might have available.

 

[adamg]

The technique you wrote sounds right. Except the middle finger on trigger guard part, it's vague and could be right or wrong. The middle finger shouldn't move in this process. EXCEPT in the case where your hands aren't big enough to reach the mag release with a firing grip, in which case there's a 'flip and press' technique that is very different.

I definitely preferred the flush/slim safeties on my Shadows, mainly for the reason you state, eliminating unintentional safety activation. Though I don't think I ever activated it while mag changing, it was more to do with one handed shooting and the transitions to it.

I wonder if your firing grip has the right thumb UNDER the safety, in which case I could see a problem when you restore that grip as the thumb comes up under the safety and sometimes presses it up. Ideally you want the right thumb on top of the safety. Check out the Bob Vogel Grip video on youtube for the technique on how to get your thumb higher than natural.

 

[Slavex]

there are also extra powered springs available for the left side safety in the USA. But flush safeties are the way to go. the lobe on the used one wasn't worn, it was fitted to a previous gun, there are two options for fitting new safeties to a cz, fit the safety or fit the sear, fitting the sear is the cheaper option if you fuch up, and allows for reselling the safety later.

 

[mb571]

The technique you wrote sounds right. Except the middle finger on trigger guard part, it's vague and could be right or wrong. The middle finger shouldn't move in this process. EXCEPT in the case where your hands aren't big enough to reach the mag release with a firing grip, in which case there's a 'flip and press' technique that is very different.

I definitely preferred the flush/slim safeties on my Shadows, mainly for the reason you state, eliminating unintentional safety activation. Though I don't think I ever activated it while mag changing, it was more to do with one handed shooting and the transitions to it.

I wonder if your firing grip has the right thumb UNDER the safety, in which case I could see a problem when you restore that grip as the thumb comes up under the safety and sometimes presses it up. Ideally you want the right thumb on top of the safety. Check out the Bob Vogel Grip video on youtube for the technique on how to get your thumb higher than natural.

My right thumb is on the safety. It comes down to hit the release then back up and past the safety to get back on top. I was rolling the gun in my hand and pressing the safety with the pad of my thumb. If I don't roll it, I have long fingers so the side of the first joint of my thumb is almost/not quite at the release button. The factory spring is very stiff so I don't seem to move my thumb sideways with authority to overcome the spring. I have one size thinner spring wire that I may try to make a new slightly lighter mag release spring with.