Gunsmith reccommendations for a CZ build?

toxic

toxic

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So I've been shooting IPSC production for going on forever now with a Shadow. I'd like to shoot then occasional Standard match but I've gotten so used to using the Shadow that I want some familiarity. Before someone suggests it, I have thought about just getting a Tactical Sport but I don't really want to "learn" how to use a safety. I really like the dummy proof first shot DA stuff.

So I contacted CZ Custom in the U.S. and it appears I could do a build with a Shadow frame and a long slide tactical upper in .40SW. This would require some fitting. Delivery would be 4-6 weeks from them plus the time to import it to me through a third party. Also not cheap to all do with the current exchange rate.

So...I'm wondering who north of the border might be able to do this kind of build/fitting. Any recommendations for a Canadian smith?

Thanks.
 
Chalk said:
What magazines would you be using?
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Not 100% sure but CZ Custom didn't seem to think that would be an issue. There are SP01 mags in .40 out there because until it was discontinued, there was a Tactical model in .40 SW. I've tried in the past to find of those used but they seem pretty rare to find out there. I was on a wait list for over a year with Wolverine Supplies and unfortunately CZ discontinued production of them.
 
It’s an interesting project. But the mags would be an issue. I would suggest trying someone’s tac sport. The learning curve on using the safety is really not the big of a deal.
 
You know now that I think about it, I wonder if CZ Custom has in their head that I would use 9mm mags but put .40 in them. I suppose a slight mod to the mag could make that happen, but with our magazine laws that would not fly cause pinned to 10 rounds of .40SW they would be considered prohib being factory built as 9mm mags that could hold 12ish 9mm rounds. Insert poop emoji here I guess...
 
all my euro mags are marked 9mm/40 so just buy some of those. IRG had them at one time
 
Not my money to spend but seems like you'd be spending a crap ton of money on a build plus the import costs on the slide at the very least or the entire build if you can't find someone in Canada to do the build to simply avoid learning to click off a safety? You'll also be placing yourself at a disadvantage with the DA first shot versus the sweet SA of a TS or TSO. If you simply want to dabble in standard occasionally and want the comfort of the DA just shoot minor with your Shadow?

I shot 4 years of Production before trying Standard with a Tac-Sport, took all of a handful of draws before the safety became second natureI then shot all last year in PO with a Shadow again before switching to Open last match again the safety really is a non factor. Pick up a great deal on a used Tac-Sport and have some fun would be my advice!
 
Chilidip said:
Mec-gar make .40 mags as the CZ-75B came in .40 as well, there are some older Tac-Sports floating around with the small mag conversion that uses these mags as well.
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There is one here in the EE of that exact model mags included. I have and shoot one in Standard after shooting a Shadow in Production. My wife shoots the same model with the larger TS mags in Standard. They are great guns and you will not spend anywhere close to what you are thinking for a custom build.
 
Yes the 9/40 mags reliably feed both calibres.
There is no time penalty for having a DA trigger for the first shot, thats a myth
 
Just thought I'd do a follow up to this thread in case anyone down road is reading about turning a 9mm Shadow into a .40 SW.
I ended up finding a minty CZ SP01 Tactical in .40 at a fair price, so this project died - but only sort of.
A fellow shooter here had converted a Shadow to .40 so it is doable. His slide came from the Czech republic though so not overly easy to go that route I suppose. I asked

Here are a few things that I've learned along the way:
- Wolverine supplies about a factory .40 slide and they said CZ doesn't sell just the slide.
- The longslide that CZ Custom sells (but is always out of stock) apparently works on a Shadow.
- I'm sure CZ Custom does great work but after exchange and import fees it becomes really costly.
- The slide from a CZ SP01 Tactical (decocker) is not compatible with the CZ Shadow frame. I suspected this a couple weeks ago after almost buying a used Tactical just for the slide from a fellow Gunnut. The slide is just made different and when you drop the hammer, it does not fall all the way to the firing pin. Definitely something to do with the decocker model slide as the underside is made different, but I didn't mess around enough to figure it out further than that (I tried the slide on there for sh!ts and giggles late last night).
- Cajun gun works makes a kit to lessen the trigger pull on the Tactical model. I ordered one from Double Tap Sports. Years ago I put a factory lowered powered mainspring in my Shadow and it made a world of difference. I assume the same will happen in the Tactical model but it seems you need an extended firing pin and different firing pin spring to make that all work. I'll report how that goes once I have it all installed.
- MecGear (as someone mentioned) makes SP01 mags in .40 so that's not a big issues. The gun I have came with both factory and MecGear mags. 9mm rounds to not hold in the .40 Mecgear magazines as the "throat" is too wide a the top. I didn't actually try the factory mags (again it was late). Sounds like from Slavex posted there are Euromags that work with both.
- Dimensionally as you would expect the SP01 Tactical and Shadow model frames are identical. The barrel is wider on the .40 and putting a .40 barrel in a 9mm slide would require material be removed from the 9mm slide. I don't know what else would be required for fitting.
 
If the 40 mags don't reliably hold 9mm rounds, smack the feed lips tighter. I have a few dozen of the 9/40 mags and they work fine with both calibers.
 
toxic said:
- Cajun gun works makes a kit to lessen the trigger pull on the Tactical model. I ordered one from Double Tap Sports. Years ago I put a factory lowered powered mainspring in my Shadow and it made a world of difference. I assume the same will happen in the Tactical model but it seems you need an extended firing pin and different firing pin spring to make that all work. I'll report how that goes once I have it all installed
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So my SP01 Tactical trigger pull weights went from 10.5 lbs DA and 4.6 lbs SA in stock from, to 7.3 DA and 3.93 SA with the Cajun Gunworks Kits. There is another spring for soft primers that takes it down to 5.6 DA but I only installed that one to test it. Going to stick with the tighter spring.
That's still not as good as my Shadow which is 6.9 DA and 2.13 lbs SA with nothing changed but a new factory (reduced) mainspring. I did that years ago. Probably all the rounds that have gone through it also smoothed it all up!

Next upgrade for the tactical is a stainless steel guide rod to try and tame some recoil. Surprisingly though....not seeing that big of a difference between the .40 with 170 pf loads and the 9mm using 124 grain bullets at under 130 pf. Both Titegroup in case anyone is counting....:)
 
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