Project: IDPA SP01 Shadow...

Coho

Coho

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Ok, I have seen a bunch of places online where people have put their CZ 75B SP-01 Shadow's on a diet to get it to 39 oz. for IDPA.

I will be doing the same with mine to see how mine turns out. I will be slowly (as parts arrive) documenting the process with my fellow CGN'ers.


The brand new target pistol in as he came from the Shop : :D

i-pqXdBp3-XL.jpg


Came with 3 Magazines, couple of simple cleaning tools, CZ DVD, Warranty card, Owners manual Replacement spring & actual gun factory shooting test (4 shots firearm aimed at the cross from 25 meters & dark spot shows average).

The extra magazine I bought so I can at least meet the 4 mag minimum IDPA/IPSC to start.

Next step... start ordering grips...


.
 
Last edited:
Grips #1 Ordered

I ordered a set of the CZ Thin-Long AL grips in red from CZCustom.com **I am aware I will most likely have to go with the Marschal grips, but I am trying the AL's because they just look SLICK. (and CZCustom has made a 39 oz SP01 with the AL Grips... I am going to see if I can mimic it).

http://czcustom.com/cz_75-thin-red-grips.aspx

RedALGrips.jpg





Next step... Gun weight base measurement.
 
OK kids, here's the first weights on my SP01 Shadow.

(Had it out while cleaning it, so I weighed it)

Scale zero'd in ounces.
i-m9Cv4Kv-M.jpg


SP01 Shadow with 10 round magazine : 41.05 oz. (The magazine is not all the way in - just to show it's in there)
i-xVsd95t-M.jpg


**Need to take 3.05 oz of weight off !**

SP01 Shadow without Magazine : 38.35 oz (Sweet ! Meets IDPA 39oz mark - Bah... not gonna win without bullets).
i-mBpr4KM-M.jpg


CZ 10 round Magazine : 2.5 oz exact.
i-bg2PsSx-M.jpg


I'll pull the stock grips & weight them & the shadow next...
 
As I uderstand it from our friend Canuck 44 on this forum it's only about switching grips. Fourtunetly the stock rubber grips are uber heavy so switching to a light grip option os all it takes to reach the magic number.

And read the rules. You only have to meet weight with an unloaded magazine. Ammo is "free".

Other than the grips there's only one other possible and allowed mod you can do. The stock Novak style match rear sight is quite the lump of metal. A swap to a lighter and smaller combat sight would be the only other allowable mod for the gun that I can see from the rules. We're talking a couple of grams at this point but if for some reason you need that last little bit to make it that's your only other option.... other than balsa wood for the grips.... :D

If those bling'y red anodized grips work out weight wise the recesses on them are just BEGGING for some black skateboard grip tape. It would be a very nice touch and is allowable within the rules.
 
Very good info to know, I will go looking for Canuck44's posts. Ideally I'd like to get my shadow underweight but still looking something like this :

155go7s.jpg


BCRider said:
As I uderstand it from our friend Canuck 44 on this forum it's only about switching grips. Fourtunetly the stock rubber grips are uber heavy so switching to a light grip option os all it takes to reach the magic number.

And read the rules. You only have to meet weight with an unloaded magazine. Ammo is "free".

Other than the grips there's only one other possible and allowed mod you can do. The stock Novak style match rear sight is quite the lump of metal. A swap to a lighter and smaller combat sight would be the only other allowable mod for the gun that I can see from the rules. We're talking a couple of grams at this point but if for some reason you need that last little bit to make it that's your only other option.... other than balsa wood for the grips.... :D

If those bling'y red anodized grips work out weight wise the recesses on them are just BEGGING for some black skateboard grip tape. It would be a very nice touch and is allowable within the rules.
Click to expand...
 
I'm in the same dilemma. My wife is sold on the shadow. I'm trying to get her to shoot IDPA with me without changing weapons. I'm not sold on those Marschal grips either.

The aluminum ones look way slicker.

Good luck with your project. I look forward to seeing your progress.
 
I'm wondering if I take out 2 more notches from the picatinny - if it's allowed. Or hollowing the middle of the beavertail like the trigger (Aircraft style holes)...

Wait a sec... can I put a few holes in the SIDES of the magazine's metal?
 
If you modify your magazines by drilling holes in them to reduce weight, you'll be shooting 'open' in IPSC, so don't do that.

The best mods IMHO:

#1: grips- marshall's are the lightest out there. I have a set you are welcome to try on for size and weight before you take the plunge and order.

#2: modify the rear sight with a 'cocking notch' so that it looks like most standard target sights. Costs nothing but some cold blue and some quality time with a bastard file. I'll post photos of mine in the coming days, but this mod alone saved me 0.8 grams and is both IDPA and IPSC legal.

#3: remove the mainspring cover. Last option IMHO, but some like it as they feel it does not impede the performance of the pistol or disrupt their reloads.
Benefits are it is easy to do, and costs nothing. I don't recall what the weight of the mainspring housing is worth, but I think it hovers in the 0.6 gram mark.
 
Ok, I just downloaded the IDPA rulebook (from the USA site - odd, says 2005, is that right ??)

1- Also I would appreciate trying those Marschal's - at the least just for grip feel and to see the gun's weight.

2- I'll have to find out if I can Swap the rear sight for something lighter but just as -or more- accurate. I don't really want to take the rear sight off JUST to measure it's weight. ( I haven't learned how to adjust the pistols sights yet)

3- I haven't pulled the gun apart yet, but later when I pull the grips to weight them, I will look into removing the dust cover and I'll weight it too (for reference)

Thanks Beltfed

beltfed said:
If you modify your magazines by drilling holes in them to reduce weight, you'll be shooting 'open' in IPSC, so don't do that.

The best mods IMHO:

#1: grips- marshall's are the lightest out there. I have a set you are welcome to try on for size and weight before you take the plunge and order.

#2: modify the rear sight with a 'cocking notch' so that it looks like most standard target sights. Costs nothing but some cold blue and some quality time with a bastard file. I'll post photos of mine in the coming days, but this mod alone saved me 0.8 grams and is both IDPA and IPSC legal.

#3: remove the mainspring cover. Last option IMHO, but some like it as they feel it does not impede the performance of the pistol or disrupt their reloads.
Benefits are it is easy to do, and costs nothing. I don't recall what the weight of the mainspring housing is worth, but I think it hovers in the 0.6 gram mark.
Click to expand...
 
With the Shadow's rear sight you can just put a witness mark from the sight to the slide and then use that to line it back again when you re-install it. It's not height adjustable, just windage. And the fine pencil line would allow you to get it back where it needs to be.

With smaller and lighter combat sights the gun would still be as accurate. But the combat sights won't have the nice "ventian blind" like rear face grooving which looks so black thanks to the angles that shadow the rear sight face. But if that's what you need to make the weight then so be it.

Another option would be to look into making up a Novak like rear sight but in aluminium then have it black anodized. It would be roughly 1/3 the weight of the steel one.
 
Ok, so I am only documenting ALL of this to help anyone else out in the future.

Here is the weight of the grip screws -it settled on 0.05 oz seen in the picture (sort of bounced between 0.05oz and 0.10 oz, so I would guess more like 0.075oz, my scale just doesn't get that accurate.)
i-tzJ6fGN-M.jpg


Weight of the OEM CZ SP01 Shadow grips : 2.30 oz
i-Q3MHJVJ-M.jpg


Weight of the Shadow without grips+screws : 36.10 oz
i-6DHtk3P-M.jpg


Ok, so here's the pistol without grips & with a magazine : 38.65 oz
i-qDgv2mb-M.jpg


- my current wiggle room JUST without grips : 0.35oz. Eep. I Curse you Picatinny rail !

**The good news is I can definitely see it can be done, like other people have accomplished, I just really hope I can do it with my Aluminum grips :D.

Next step- to figure out how to take out the Mainspring cover (properly - haha)

Found a decent CZ 75B SP01 Shadow 'Tear down' video, Mainspring removal at 2:00 : h ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiTTjPjWvC0
 
Just push or tap out the pin holding it in and it'll jump out. Putting it back in is a different issue. On my CZ's the lower mainspring base leans against the mag well brake plate so I can't get it back in without removing the spring base.

Later today I'll remove and weigh my light plastic grips for you. No aluminium ones here though.
 
The aluminum grips weigh over 2 Oz.

Unless you want to turn them into Swiss cheese, I'd suggest looking at an alternative.

You can also save weight by:
1) removing the mag break/mainspring cover. My gun won't make weight with it installed. Others seem to be able to.
2) install the standard CZ 75 safeties.
3) install the 13# mainspring
4) install the 11# recoil spring
5) install the the standard CZ 75 slide release
6) modify the rear sight (as per Beltfed's recommendation)
7) drill large holes in the plastic mag bases

Steps 2-7 may get you to the point where you can install a shaved-down mag break.

Also, you will have to weigh it WITH grip tape (assuming you want to use it).

At an IDPA match in Idaho I had to remove most of my grip tape to make weight.
 
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